PHR: This proposed Research Career Scientist award is to support the activities of Dr. Nihal Ahmad’s research that focuses on identifying 1) mechanism of cancer development and progression, and 2) novel strategies for the management of cancer, especially focusing on melanoma. This research is highly relevant and significant to the healthcare of our Veterans. Based on the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry (VACCR), melanoma is among the five most frequently diagnosed cancers among VA cancer patients. The US military personnel, particularly in the deployed environment, routinely experience large amounts of ultraviolet radiation exposure, leading to increased melanoma risk. Based on available data, the melanoma incidence seems to be higher in the Veteran population. Therefore, Dr. Ahmad’s VA funded research aimed at defining the molecular mechanism and identifying potential druggable targets for melanoma may lead to novel approaches to manage this deadly neoplasm. Therefore, Dr. Ahmad’s research has strong relevance to the healthcare of Veterans.

PI_NAMEs: AHMAD, NIHAL  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Academia;Affect;Afghanistan;anti-cancer research;Antioxidants;Area;Award;Berry;Biochemical;Biology;Book Chapters;Cancer Biology;cancer diagnosis;Cancer Patient;Carcinoma;career;Chemopreventive Agent;Clinical;Collaborations;Country;Data;Deacetylase;Department of Defense;Dermatology;Development;Dioxins;druggable target;editorial;Environment;Event;experience;Exposure to;Extramural Activities;Faculty;Family;frontier;Funding;Funding Agency;Goals;Grapes;Hand;Healthcare;Herbicides;Human;improved;Incidence;indexing;Industry;interest;International;Investigational Therapies;Iraq;Journals;Laboratories;Life;Malignant neoplasm of prostate;Malignant Neoplasms;Melanoma;Melatonin;member;Mentors;Micronutrients;Middle East;Military Personnel;military veteran;Mission;Mitotic;Molecular;Names;neoplasm registry;Neoplasms;Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide;novel;novel strategies;Nuts;Oncogenes;Oncology;operation;Paper;Peer Review Grants;Pharmacology;Photobiology;Photochemistry;phytoalexins;Pineal gland;PLK1 gene;Positioning Attribute;Postdoctoral Fellow;Prevention;Protein Family;Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases;Publishing;Qualifying;Radiation;red wine;Reporting;Research;Research Personnel;Resveratrol;Risk;Role;Scientist;Selenium;Serine;Services;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;Signal Transduction Pathway;Sirtuins;Skin Cancer;Source;Study Section;Therapeutic;Toxicology;tumor progression;ultraviolet irradiation;undergraduate student;United States Department of Veterans Affairs;United States National Institutes of Health;Universities;UV Radiation Exposure;Veterans;Veterans Health Administration;Vietnam;Vitamin E;Wisconsin;Work;World War II


ADMINISTERING_IC: NR

ARRA_FUNDED: N

ED_INST_TYPE: UNIVERSITY-WIDE

FUNDING_MECHANISM: TRAINING, INDIVIDUAL

IC_NAME: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NURSING RESEARCH

NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Basic Behavioral and Social Science;Behavioral and Social Science;Brain Disorders;Depression;Health Disparities Research;Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research;Mental Health;Mental Illness;Pediatric;Prevention;Serious Mental Illness;Social Determinants of Health

ORG_CITY: ANN ARBOR

ORG_COUNTRY: UNITED STATES

ORG_FIPS: US

ORG_NAME: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR

ORG_STATE: MI

PHR: Project Narrative. Understanding how social determinants of health in childhood, namely socioeconomic disadvantage, operate in conjunction with cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to foster poor mental health in adolescence is critical to addressing the current youth mental health crisis in the US. The proposed project will be the first to assess this complex relationship by applying multiple sophisticated statistical modeling techniques using the large, diverse and longitudinal Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study dataset. The knowledge to be gained from this study is important for shaping future policy and research agendas, the allocation of scarce resources, and better identifying subpopulations in the clinical setting that are at greater risk for poor mental health.

PI_NAMEs: MOORE, CHELSEA  (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: SEAY, JULIA SUSAN

PROJECT_TERMS: abuse neglect;Address;Adolescence;adolescent health;adolescent mental health;adverse childhood events;Advocacy;Age;Anxiety;anxiety symptoms;biological sex;Birth;Black race;career;child depression;child poverty;Child Welfare;Childhood;childhood adversity;Clinical;Clinical assessments;Complex;Data;Data Set;depressive symptoms;Distal;early childhood;ethnic diversity;Ethnic Origin;experience;Exposure to;faculty mentor;Family;Fellowship;Fostering;Future;health equity;Hispanic;Household;implementation intervention;Individual;Individual National Research Service Award;insight;Interpersonal Violence;Knowledge;Low income;Low Income Population;Mediating;Mental Depression;Mental disorders;Mental Health;Mentorship;Methods;Michigan;Modeling;National Research Service Awards;Nursing Research;Outcome;Participant;Personal Satisfaction;Policies;Poverty;pre-doctoral;Prevention;Prevention strategy;Primary Prevention;programs;Public Health;Public Policy;Race;racial diversity;Research;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;Resource Allocation;Resources;Risk;Risk Factors;Role;Sampling Studies;School Nursing;Schools;secondary analysis;Shapes;skills;social;social factors;social health determinants;Social Work;socioeconomic disadvantage;Statistical Models;Strategic Planning;suicidal;Surgeon;Surveys;Techniques;Time;Training;Trauma;United States;Universities;Update;Work;Youth

PROJECT_TITLE: Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage, cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences, and adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms

STUDY_SECTION: NRRC

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Nursing Science Review Committee[NRRC(85)]


ADMINISTERING_IC: VA

FUNDING_MECHANISM: NON-SBIR/STTR RPGS

IC_NAME: Veterans Affairs

ORG_CITY: AUGUSTA

ORG_NAME: CHARLIE NORWOOD VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: GA

PHR: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and life-threatening cause of acute respiratory failure affecting Veterans more than non-Veteran population. It is also a common complication among military casualties in combat. It is a pressing problem for Veterans and current estimates suggest that more Veterans will die from ARDS each year than from lung cancer. Thus, it is very important to understand the mechanism of ARDS. This proposal will determine the mechanism of lung vascular barrier disruption in acute lung injury associated to ARDS. Completion of this project will help find novel treatments for ARDS and in turn improve the life and care of Veterans.

PI_NAMEs: SU, YUNCHAO  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Actins;Acute Lung Injury;Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome;Acute respiratory failure;Affect;Antibiotics;Attenuated;Bacterial Toxins;Binding;Blood Vessels;Calcium;Calpain;calpain inhibitor;Caring;Caspase;Catalytic Domain;combat;Complication;Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5;Cytoskeletal Modeling;Cytoskeleton;Data;Ectopic Expression;Endopeptidases;Endothelial Cells;Endothelium;Endotoxins;Escherichia coli;Family;Focal Adhesions;Functional disorder;Gram-Negative Bacteria;Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections;gram-negative sepsis;Head;Human;improved;In Vitro;in vivo;Infection;insight;Integrins;Intensive Care;interdisciplinary approach;Intervention;knock-down;Knock-out;Life;Lipopolysaccharides;Lung;lung microvascular endothelial cells;Malignant neoplasm of lung;Mammalian Cell;Mediating;Mediator;Military Personnel;Molecular;mortality;mouse model;mutant;Myosin Light Chains;myosin phosphatase;novel;overexpression;Pathway interactions;Patients;Permeability;Phosphorylation;Plasma;Plasmids;Population;prevent;Protein Dephosphorylation;Proteins;Proteolysis;Pseudomonas aeruginosa;Pulmonary Edema;Resistance;rho;Rod;Role;Stress Fibers;Talin;Testing;TLR4 gene;Ubiquitination;Vascular Endothelium;Veterans

PROJECT_TITLE: Calpain-mediated lung endothelial barrier modulation in acute lung injury


ORG_CITY: CHICAGO

ORG_NAME: JESSE BROWN VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: IL

PHR: Studies suggest that veterans are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than the rest of the population. The metastatic spread of breast cancer cells from the primary tumor to surrounding tissues and to distant organs remains the primary cause of breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Despite the deleterious consequences of metastasis, a robust understanding of how the process is initiated, the metabolic signatures and signaling components involved in regulating the same are still nebulous. During invasion, cancer cells show altered and decreased cell–matrix interaction and this interaction is further reduced in the circulation. An inevitable outcome of matrix detachment is reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and enhanced anti-oxidant defenses permit cancer cells to survive as circulating tumor cells in vivo. Thus, understanding the mechanism by which metastatic cells combat ROS could lead to therapeutic strategies that eradicate breast cancer metastatic cells.

PI_NAMEs: HAY, NISSIM  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase;Acids;Address;aggressive breast cancer;Antioxidants;Applications Grants;Atherosclerosis;Attenuated;bone;Brain;Breast Cancer Cell;Breast Cancer cell line;breast cancer metastasis;Breast Cancer Risk Factor;cancer cell;Cancer Patient;cancer type;Cause of Death;CD36 Antigens;CD36 gene;Cell Death;Cell membrane;Cell Survival;Cells;Circulation;combat;Consumption;Data;Development;Disease;Distant;Doxycycline;Extravasation;fatty acid oxidation;Fatty Acids;Glucose;glucose uptake;high risk;Homeostasis;Human;Impairment;Implant;In Vitro;in vivo;inhibitor;Invaded;Knock-out;Knockout Mice;long chain fatty acid;Malignant Breast Neoplasm;Malignant Neoplasms;Mammary gland;MDA MB 231;Mediating;Metabolic;Metabolism;Metastatic breast cancer;Metastatic Neoplasm to the Lung;Micrometastasis;migration;military women;Morbidity - disease rate;mortality;Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus;mouse model;Mus;NADP;Neoplasm Circulating Cells;Neoplasm Metastasis;neoplastic cell;obese patients;Organ;Outcome;Pathway interactions;Pentosephosphate Pathway;Pharmacotherapy;Phosphorylation;polyoma middle tumor antigen;Population;Primary Neoplasm;Process;Publications;Reactive Oxygen Species;Rest;Role;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;Site;Solid Neoplasm;targeted cancer therapy;Therapeutic;Time;Tissues;translational impact;translocase;Transplantation;tumor;tumor initiation;Tumor Promotion;Tumor stage;tumorigenesis;tumorigenic;Tumorigenicity;Veterans;Woman

PROJECT_TITLE: The role of AMPK and CD36 in breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis


FUNDING_MECHANISM: OTHERS

ORG_CITY: CHARLESTON

ORG_NAME: RALPH H JOHNSON VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: SC

PHR: Methylprednisolone, currently used to treat spinal injury (SCI), has limited efficacy and directly attributes to skeletal muscle degeneration, further promoting impaired movement. Thus, our studies are focused on determining the effect of a novel SNP-E2 treatment on neuronal injury as well as skeletal muscle stability and integrity. Protection of neural function in SCI following treatment with SNP-E2 should protect neurons and preserve and stabilize muscle fibers and bone density. While PD has been associated with loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra, damage to spinal cord (SC) and inflammatory events are also involved. Thus, our goal is to develop therapeutic strategies to block infiltration of inflammatory cells in both brain and spinal cord to control disease progression and ultimately improve function in Veterans. In MS, the exact cause is unknown, and hence, there is no cure. We will investigate whether a distinct calpain isoform targets both inflammation and neurodegeneration using MS patient samples and EAE animals.

PI_NAMEs: BANIK, NAREN L (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Affect;Animal Diseases;Animal Model;arm;Attenuated;attenuation;Autoimmune Diseases;Axon;Biochemical;Biodistribution;Bladder;Bone Density;bone loss;Brain;Calpain;calpain inhibitor;career;Cell Death;cell motility;cell type;Cells;chemokine;Chemotaxis;Chronic;Clinical;Complex;cytokine;Data;Degenerative Disorder;Disease;Disease Progression;disorder control;Doctor of Philosophy;dopaminergic neuron;Dose;Drug Delivery Systems;Estrogens;Event;F-Box Proteins;functional improvement;Gel;Goals;Health;Immobilization;Immune;Impairment;improved;In Vitro;in vivo;Inflammation;Inflammation Mediators;Inflammatory;Inflammatory Infiltrate;Injury;Investigation;Kinetics;Laboratories;Lesion;Link;Medical;medication safety;Methylprednisolone;Microglia;Modeling;motor impairment;MPTP mouse;MPTP treatment;Multiple Sclerosis;multiple sclerosis patient;muscle degeneration;Muscle Fibers;muscle RING finger 1;Muscular Atrophy;Myelin;myelin degeneration;Myoblasts;nanoparticle;Nerve Degeneration;Nervous System Trauma;neural;Neurodegenerative Disorders;Neurologic Deficit;Neuronal Dysfunction;Neuronal Injury;Neurons;Neurophysiology - biologic function;neuroprotection;novel;novel strategies;novel therapeutics;Parkinson Disease;Pathway interactions;Penetration;Plasma;Play;preservation;Process;programs;Property;Protein Isoforms;Rattus;Recovery;Recovery of Function;Regulation;Research;Research Activity;research clinical testing;Research Project Grants;Role;Safety;Sampling;Scientist;Site;Skeletal Muscle;skeletal muscle wasting;South Carolina;Spinal Cord;Spinal Cord Contusions;Spinal cord injury;Spinal Injuries;Substantia nigra structure;T cell infiltration;T-Cell Activation;T-Lymphocyte;Techniques;Testing;Therapeutic;Tissues;Toxic effect;translational potential;Universities;Veterans

PROJECT_TITLE: Research Career Scientist for Naren Banik, PhD


ADMINISTERING_IC: ES

ED_INST_TYPE: SCHOOLS OF PHARMACY

IC_NAME: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Digestive Diseases;Liver Disease;Social Determinants of Health

ORG_CITY: PITTSBURGH

ORG_DEPT: PHARMACOLOGY

ORG_NAME: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH

ORG_STATE: PA

PHR: Title: Xenobiotic Receptors in Mediating the Environmental Effects on Human Disease and Morbidity Project Narrative The goal of this R35 program is to fill the gap between the exposure to environmental chemicals and the pathogenesis of human diseases. Through their ability to sense and be activated by environmental chemicals, xenobiotic receptors, such as PXR, CAR and AhR, are critical mediators for the environment-gene interactions. The outcome of xenobiotic receptor-mediated gene regulation is impacting the metabolism of xenobiotics and endobiotics and by doing so, impacting the pathogenesis of human diseases. Results from this R35 program cannot only deepen our understanding of the environment-gene interaction and the implications of this interaction in human diseases, but also establish xenobiotic receptors and their target xenobiotic enzymes and transporters as potential therapeutic targets to manage human diseases and morbidity. The insights gained from this R35 program can also be used to design intervention strategies to manipulate these pathways via therapeutics or to guide human behavior or the human environment in a manner that is most beneficial to the sensitive populations.

PI_NAMEs: XIE, WEN  (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: HUMBLE, MICHAEL C

PROJECT_TERMS: Alcoholic Liver Diseases;Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor;Behavior;Chemical Exposure;Chemicals;Chronic Disease;constitutive androstane receptor;design;Disease;Environment;environmental chemical;Environmental Risk Factor;Enzymes;experience;Exposure to;Extrahepatic;Fibrosis;Freedom;Functional disorder;Funding;gene environment interaction;Gene Expression Regulation;Genetic;Goals;Grant;Health;Hepatic;Hepatic Tissue;Homeostasis;Human;human disease;human morbidity;insight;Intervention;knockout gene;Knockout Mice;Lead;Ligands;Mediating;Mediator;Metabolic syndrome;National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences;Nervous System Disorder;Nuclear Receptors;Outcome;Pathogenesis;Pathogenicity;Pathway interactions;pharmacologic;Physiology;Play;Population;pregnane X receptor;Prevention strategy;Principal Investigator;programs;receptor;Regulation;Risk;Role;Scientist;Seminal;Signal Transduction;Testing;Therapeutic;therapeutic target;therapy design;tool;Toxicology;transcription factor;Vision;Xenobiotic Metabolism;Xenobiotics


ADMINISTERING_IC: EB

ED_INST_TYPE: BIOMED ENGR/COL ENGR/ENGR STA

IC_NAME: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL IMAGING AND BIOENGINEERING

NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Aging;Bioengineering;Biotechnology;Eye Disease and Disorders of Vision

ORG_CITY: Columbus

ORG_DEPT: ENGINEERING (ALL TYPES)

ORG_NAME: OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

ORG_STATE: OH

PHR: PROJECT NARRATIVE Many chronic conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, rely on frequent local injections for disease management, which are associated with barriers to care including patient discomfort, high cost, and adverse events. The overall objective of this project is to develop and validate an injectable, biodegradable microcapsule that can be tuned to extend release of therapeutics of varying sizes, including anti-VEGF and triamcinolone acetonide, at least 12 months, thereby reducing the need for frequent injections. Theoretical modeling will be combined with in vitro and in vivo experimental studies to optimize the microcapsule system and predict therapeutic release.

PI_NAMEs: SWINDLE-REILLY, KATELYN E (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: FALCONE, JESSICA

PROJECT_TERMS: Adverse event;adverse event risk;Affect;Age related macular degeneration;Anti-Inflammatory Agents;barrier to care;bevacizumab;Biological Assay;biomaterial compatibility;Bolus Infusion;caprolactone;capsule;Cells;Chitosan;Chronic;Chronic Disease;Clinical;common treatment;computerized tools;controlled release;cost;Coupled;Data;Degenerative polyarthritis;design;Device Designs;Devices;Differential Equation;Disease;Disease Management;Disease Progression;Drug Delivery Systems;drug distribution;Drug Kinetics;Drug Modelings;Drug or chemical Tissue Distribution;Encapsulated;Endothelial Cells;Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;Experimental Designs;experimental study;Eye;Eye diseases;Fluorophotometry;Frequencies;Goals;Healthcare Systems;improved;in silico;In Vitro;in vivo;Individual;Infection;Inflammation;inflammatory marker;Injectable;Injections;innovation;Label;Life Expectancy;Liquid Chromatography;Malignant Neoplasms;mathematical model;Measurement;Measures;Methods;Microcapsules drug delivery system;Modeling;Molecular Weight;novel;Oral;Oral Administration;Oryctolagus cuniculus;Patient Compliance;Patient-Focused Outcomes;Patients;Performance;Persons;Pharmaceutical Preparations;pharmacokinetic model;Polymers;Porosity;pre-clinical;prevent;Property;Publishing;Quality of life;Research;Retina;Risk;Safety;Salts;Sampling;small molecule;Specific qualifier value;standard of care;symptom management;System;Techniques;Testing;Theoretical model;Therapeutic;Therapeutic antibodies;therapeutically effective;Thick;Time;Tissues;Treatment Cost;Treatment Efficacy;Treatment outcome;Triamcinolone Acetonide;Tube;Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors;Vision;Work

PROJECT_TITLE: Predictive Drug Release from a Tunable Injectable Capsule

STUDY_SECTION: BMBI

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section[BMBI]


ADMINISTERING_IC: CA

ED_INST_TYPE: SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE

IC_NAME: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

ORG_CITY: DALLAS

ORG_DEPT: INTERNAL MEDICINE/MEDICINE

ORG_NAME: UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: TX

PHR: PROJECT NARRATIVE Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) were recently approved to treat advanced BRCA2 mutant prostate cancers, yet little is known about the molecular response of these tumors to this therapy. This proposal employs novel model systems of BRCA2 mutant prostate cancer to explore the molecular alterations that occur in response to PARPi therapy, with specific focus on extracellular matrix (ECM) pathways identified in preliminary results. The proposed studies will interrogate the impact of PARPi on ECM modulation and examine the contribution of the ECM gene SERPINE1, with the long-term goal of utilizing the knowledge gleaned to develop novel targeted therapies.

PI_NAMEs: HOFSTAD, MIA E (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: PURI, ANU

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;advanced breast cancer;advanced prostate cancer;Affect;androgen independent prostate cancer;ATAC-seq;Binding;Biochemical;Biological;Biological Assay;Biological Models;BRCA2 gene;Breast Cancer Treatment;California;cancer cell;Cancer Patient;carcinogenesis;Cell Line;Cell Survival;Cessation of life;Chromatin;Clinical;clinical prognosis;Clinical Trials;clinically relevant;Collagen;Collagen Type I;Data;Deposition;DNA Damage;Extracellular Matrix;Extracellular Matrix Degradation;Failure;Fibronectins;Fibrosis;Gene set enrichment analysis;Genes;Genetic Transcription;Genomics;Glean;Goals;Grant;Hormonal;Hour;Impairment;In Vitro;in vitro activity;in vivo;in vivo Model;Incidence;inhibitor;inhibitor therapy;Knowledge;Laminin;Link;Malignant neoplasm of prostate;Malignant Neoplasms;Measures;men;Metalloproteases;Modeling;Molecular;mutant;Mutation;new therapeutic target;novel;overexpression;Pathogenicity;Pathologic;Pathway interactions;patient derived xenograft model;Patients;Phosphotransferases;Plasmin;Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1;Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor;Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases;Polymerase;prevent;Promoter Regions;Prostate;prostate cancer model;Proteins;Recurrence;Resistance;Resistance development;response;Risk;RNA analysis;Role;San Francisco;SERPINE1 gene;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;small molecule;Solid Neoplasm;Stains;System;therapy resistant;Tissues;transcription factor USF;Transcriptional Activation;transcriptome sequencing;treatment response;Trichrome stain;tumor;United States;United States Food and Drug Administration;Universities;Up-Regulation;Urokinase

PROJECT_TITLE: Elucidating mechanisms of therapy response in BRCA2 mutant prostate cancers


ORG_CITY: Aurora

ORG_NAME: VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

ORG_STATE: CO

PHR: Sepsis, manifested as systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction, is the most common in elder people including veterans, and the elderly patients with sepsis are more vulnerable to multiple organ dysfunction. Therefore, sepsis is an important healthcare issue in the veterans and the general aging population. This project will investigate the mechanistic role of aging-related hyper-inflammation in renal and cardiac damage caused by sepsis and elucidate the mechanism underlying aging-related hyper-inflammation. Proposed studies will explore strategies for organ protection through downregulation of inflammation. The major goal of this project is to provide information for the development of effective therapeutic approach for protection of vital organs against damage in elderly patients with sepsis.

PI_NAMEs: MENG, XIANZHONG  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Affect;Age;Aging;aging population;aging related;Animal Model;animal old age;anti aging;Anti-Inflammatory Agents;Attenuated;cecal ligation puncture;Clinical;Cultured Cells;cytokine;Development;Down-Regulation;Elderly;Endotoxemia;Functional disorder;Goals;Healthcare;Healthcare Systems;Heart;heart damage;Heart Injuries;improved;Infection;Inflammaging;Inflammation;Inflammation Mediators;Inflammatory;Inflammatory Response;Injury;injury recovery;Injury to Kidney;insight;Investigation;Kidney;kidney dysfunction;klotho protein;Modeling;mortality;Mus;Myocardial dysfunction;Myocardium;novel;novel therapeutic intervention;old mice;older adult;older patient;Older Population;Organ;organ injury;Patients;Persons;Phase;Play;pre-clinical;pro-aging;Production;Recombinants;Recovery;renal damage;Risk Factors;Role;Sepsis;septic;septic patients;Septic Shock;Stimulus;systemic inflammatory response;Testing;Therapeutic;therapeutically effective;Tissue Preservation;Tissues;Veterans

PROJECT_TITLE: Downregulation of Inflamm-aging for Protection Against Organ Damage in Sepsis


ORG_CITY: LOS ANGELES

ORG_NAME: VA GREATER LOS ANGELES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

ORG_STATE: CA

PHR: Vision impairments, which include acuity loss, blurred vision, photophobia and blindness from ocular disease and trauma, are serious and chronic clinical problems, which dramatically reduce the Veteran's quality of life. These disorders result from a reduction of retinal ganglion cells in the eye and their axons in the optic nerve. This research program is aimed at elucidating both a) normal retinal synaptic and cellular physiology mediating visual image processing, and b) the early cellular changes, which impact on ganglion cell death following retinal and optic nerve injury. The overall goal of the VA supported studies is to understand visual image processing in normal and pathophysiological conditions and how vision loss associated with retinal ganglion cell death can be reduced or prevented. These studies have the potential of unveiling novel therapeutic approaches to ameliorate ocular damage and vision loss, and to develop efficacious treatments for eye disease and injury.

PI_NAMEs: BRECHA, NICHOLAS C. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acetylcholine;Address;Affect;Aging;aging population;Amacrine Cells;AMPA Receptors;Animals;antagonist;Award;Axon;Biology;biophysical properties;blast exposure;Blindness;Blurred vision;Calcium;career;Cell Death;Cell Physiology;Cell Survival;cell type;Cells;channel blockers;Chronic;Clinical;Communication;Communities;Cytoprotection;Dendrites;Development;Diabetic Retinopathy;Diagnosis;Disease;DRADA2b protein;effective therapy;efficacious treatment;Enzymes;experimental study;extracellular;Eye;Eye diseases;Eye Injuries;Feedback;Functional disorder;Funding;gabapentin;gamma-Aminobutyric Acid;ganglion cell;gene therapy;Genetic;Glaucoma;Goals;Health;Healthcare;horizontal cell;image processing;information processing;Injury;Interneurons;Investigation;Knowledge;Long-Term Effects;Macular degeneration;Mammals;Mediating;mild traumatic brain injury;military veteran;Modeling;Nature;nerve injury;Neurons;neuroprotection;novel therapeutic intervention;Optic Nerve;optic nerve disorder;Optic Nerve Injuries;Paper;Pathologic;patient population;Peer Review;Peptides;Permeability;pharmacologic;Pharmacology Study;Photophobia;Population;prevent;programs;Prosthesis;Publishing;Quality of life;Recovery;Regulation;Reporting;Research;response;Retina;Retinal Degeneration;Retinal Diseases;Retinal Ganglion Cells;Role;Science;Scientist;Series;service member;Signal Transduction;Signaling Molecule;Small Interfering RNA;Spermine;stem cell therapy;Stem cell transplant;Synapses;System;Testing;Transcriptional Regulation;Translational Regulation;Trauma;Traumatic Brain Injury;treatment strategy;United States Department of Veterans Affairs;United States National Institutes of Health;uptake;Veterans;Vision;Vision research;Visual;Visual disability;visual dysfunction;Visual impairment;visual information;Visual System

PROJECT_TITLE: BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award


ORG_CITY: MATHER

ORG_NAME: VA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE SYS

PHR: Enzalutamide is the next-generation anti-androgen approved for the treatment of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Resistance to enzalutamide occurs frequently and the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Lin28, a RNA binding protein, acts as an oncogene inducing cell proliferation and transformation. Data suggest that Lin28 promotes castration resistant prostate cancer progression and is associated with resistance to androgen ablation treatment. The proposed studies will identify and characterize a novel resistance mechanism involving Lin28 and evaluate targeting Lin28 to overcome resistance to the current therapies in men with CRPC.

PI_NAMEs: GAO, ALLEN C. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: abiraterone;Ablation;Androgen Antagonists;androgen deprivation therapy;androgen independent prostate cancer;Androgen Receptor;Androgens;Award;Biological;Biomedical Engineering;career;Caring;Cell Culture Techniques;cell growth;Cell Proliferation;cell transformation;Cells;CWR22Rv1;Data;docetaxel;Drug resistance;enzalutamide;Human;improved;In Vitro;in vivo;Interleukin-6;knock-down;Length;LNCaP;male;Malignant neoplasm of prostate;Malignant Neoplasms;Mediating;men;MicroRNAs;Molecular;mortality;new technology;next generation;novel;novel strategies;novel therapeutics;Oncogenes;Oncogenic;overexpression;Pathway interactions;Patients;Production;prostate cancer cell;prostate cancer progression;Proteins;Relapse;Research;Resistance;Resistance development;resistance mechanism;response;RNA;RNA Splicing;RNA-Binding Proteins;Role;Scientist;Signal Transduction;Small Interfering RNA;System;targeted treatment;Technology;Testing;therapy resistant;tumor growth;Tumor stage;tumor xenograft


PHR: The research program of Dr. Alrefai is focused on understanding how disturbances in cholesterol balance leads to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and stroke. Notably, the diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia such as diabetes mellitus are highly prevalent among the veterans. Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Current available therapeutic options are not fully satisfactory and fail in many cases to reduce blood cholesterol and meet the low therapeutic target in patients with high risk for CVD. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel and effective approaches to lower blood cholesterol. Dr. Alrefai’s research is focused at investigating mechanisms that efficiently decrease intestinal cholesterol absorption and lower blood cholesterol. The research of Dr. Alrefai is, therefore, relevant to the VA patients as well as the general patient population.

PI_NAMEs: ALREFAI, WADDAH A. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: absorption;Address;Alkynes;Atherosclerosis;Award;Bile Acids;Binding Proteins;Blood;Cardiovascular Diseases;cardiovascular disorder risk;career;Caring;Cells;Chemistry;Cholesterol;cholesterol absorption;Cholesterol Homeostasis;cholesterol transporters;Collaborations;Complex;Coronary heart disease;Development;Diabetes Mellitus;diabetic patient;Diet;Discipline;Disease;DNA Methylation;Doctor of Philosophy;Dyslipidemias;Education;Educational process of instructing;Epithelial Cells;Equilibrium;ezetimibe;fatty liver disease;Fellowship;Functional disorder;Funding;Future;General Population;Generations;Genes;Goals;Grant;Grant Review;gut-liver axis;Health;Hepatitis C;Hepatitis C Therapy;Hepatitis C virus;High Prevalence;high risk;Homeostasis;hypercholesterolemia;Infection;inhibitor;innovation;insight;interest;intestinal epithelium;Intestines;invention;Laboratories;LDL Cholesterol Lipoproteins;Lipids;Liver;liver development;Liver diseases;liver injury;Maintenance;Measures;Mediating;Mentors;Metabolic;Metabolic Diseases;Methods;military veteran;Mission;Molecular;Molecular Biology Techniques;mouse model;Nature;novel;novel strategies;overexpression;Pathway interactions;patient population;Patients;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Physicians;Physiology;Plasma;pre-doctoral;Predisposition;Prevalence;Process;programs;Promoter Regions;Recommendation;Regulation;Research;Research Personnel;Response Elements;Risk;Risk Factors;Role;Scientist;stem cells;stemness;Sterols;Stroke;Students;Therapeutic;Therapeutic Intervention;therapeutic target;Time;tool;Transgenic Mice;undergraduate student;United States National Institutes of Health;Universities;Veterans

PROJECT_TITLE: BLRD Research Career Scientist Award Application


ORG_CITY: SAN DIEGO

ORG_NAME: VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

PI_NAMEs: PATEL, HEMAL H (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: 7 year old;A kinase anchoring protein;Acute;Age;aged;Aging;American Heart Association;Applications Grants;Area;Award;Biochemical;Biological Assay;Biology;Biology of Aging;Blood Vessels;Body System;brain cell;Cancer Biology;Cardiac;Cardiac Myocytes;Cardiovascular Diseases;Cardiovascular Physiology;cardiovascular risk factor;Cardiovascular system;career;Caveolae;caveolin-3;Caveolins;cell growth;Cell Physiology;Cells;Cellular biology;Circulation;Clinical;Communities;comorbidity;Complex;Development;Diabetes Mellitus;Disease;Electron Microscopy;Electrons;endothelial dysfunction;Etiology;Event;exosome;experience;experimental study;Fellowship;Frameshift Mutation;Functional disorder;Funding;Future;General Population;Genus Hippocampus;Grant;Health;healthcare burden;healthy aging;Heart;heart cell;Heart Diseases;heart function;Heart Hypertrophy;Heart Injuries;high risk;Human;Hypertrophy;Injury;insight;Institution;interest;International;Intervention;Investigation;Ischemia;Journals;Kidney;Kidney Failure;Laboratories;Link;Lipids;Liver diseases;Lung;Lung Diseases;Malignant Neoplasms;Manuscripts;Mediator;Membrane;Membrane Microdomains;Metabolic;Metabolism;military veteran;Mitochondria;mitochondrial metabolism;Molecular;Molecular Target;Morbidity - disease rate;mortality;Mus;Muscle;muscle physiology;Mutation;myocardial injury;Myocardium;Nature;Neonatal;Nephrology;Nerve Degeneration;Neurosciences;novel;older patient;Operative Surgical Procedures;Opioid;Organ;overexpression;Paper;Pathology;Pathway interactions;Patients;Peer Review;pharmacologic;Physiology;Postdoctoral Fellow;Predisposition;primary pulmonary hypertension;Process;Progeria;Protein Isoforms;Protein Kinase Interaction;Proteins;Publications;Publishing;Pulmonary Hypertension;Regulation;Reperfusion Injury;Research;Research Personnel;Respiration;response;Risk Factors;Role;Scientist;Secondary to;Severities;Smooth Muscle Myocytes;Stress;stressor;Structural Protein;Structure;System;targeted treatment;Techniques;Therapeutic;tool;Transgenic Mice;Translating;Urology;Vascular Smooth Muscle;Vesicle;Veterans;Viral Vector;Work

PROJECT_TITLE: BLR&D Merit Review Research Career Scientist Award Application


PHR: Project Narrative: Role of hypocretin in opiate addiction and withdrawal We have recently found an average 54% increase in the number of hypocretin (orexin) producing neurons and a 32% shrinkage of these neurons in human heroin addicts. This is the largest change that has been reported in neuronal morphology in opiate addiction. We plan to determine the cause of this change and test the hypothesis that this increase causes, and can be manipulated to prevent or attenuate, the opiate withdrawal syndrome.

PI_NAMEs: SIEGEL, JEROME M (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acute;addiction;Agonist;Amphetamines;Anatomy;Animals;antagonist;Attenuated;Back;Behavior;Brain;Buprenorphine;career;Cell Count;Cell Size;Cells;Chronic;Clozapine;Cocaine Dependence;Data;designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs;dosage;Dose;Drug Addiction;Drug resistance;Excision;Goals;Heroin;Human;hypocretin;Hypothalamic structure;In Vitro;indexing;Injections;interest;Knockout Mice;Link;Location;Mediating;melanin-concentrating hormone;Membrane;Methadone;molecular marker;Morphine;morphine administration;Morphine Dependence;Morphology;Mus;Naloxone;Narcolepsy;Nature;neurogenesis;Neurons;Obesity;Opiate Addiction;Opioid;opioid epidemic;Opioid Receptor;opioid use;opioid withdrawal;optogenetics;Oxides;patch clamp;Peptides;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Physiological;Physiology;Pilot Projects;Population;prevent;problem drinker;Production;Property;psychologic;Publications;Rattus;receptor;Relapse;relapse prevention;Reporting;Research;response;Ritalin;Role;Saline;Scientist;Site;Slice;Substance Withdrawal Syndrome;Symptoms;Synapses;Techniques;Testing;Therapeutic;Time;Transgenic Mice;Transgenic Organisms;Viral Vector;Wild Type Mouse;Withdrawal;Withdrawal Symptom;Work;γ-hydroxybutyrate

PROJECT_TITLE: BLRD Senior Research Career Scientist Renewal Application


PHR: In USA, over 300,000 cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) are diagnosed each year with a direct medical expense in billions of dollars. Aging population, mirrored by veterans, is highly susceptible to AKI. Moreover, AKI is an important factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease and mortality in aging patients including veterans. Dr. Dong is an internationally recognized investigator who has made seminal contributions to the research field of kidney injury and repair, which are highly relevant to veterans’ health. His current research is supported by a VA Merit and two NIH R01 grants, and may lead to important discoveries and novel therapies for AKI and post-injury CKD for the improvement of veterans’ health. In addition, Dr. Dong contributes significantly to training/mentoring, collaboration, and service at both local and national VA levels.

PI_NAMEs: DONG, ZHENG  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acute Renal Failure with Renal Papillary Necrosis;Aging;aging population;Alternative Splicing;Apoptosis;Area;Autophagocytosis;Award;Cancer Patient;cancer therapy;Cardiovascular Diseases;career;Cell Cycle;Cell Death;CHEK1 gene;chemotherapy;Chronic Kidney Failure;Cilia;Cisplatin;Collaborations;Communication;Development;Diabetes Mellitus;diabetic;diabetic patient;Diagnosis;Disease;DNA Damage;DNA Methylation;Epigenetic Process;epigenetic regulation;Fibroblasts;Funding;Grant;Health;hypoxia inducible factor 1;Impairment;improved;indexing;Injury;Injury to Kidney;insight;International;interstitial;Investments;Ischemia;Kidney;Kidney Diseases;kidney fibrosis;kidney repair;Laboratories;Malignant - descriptor;Medical Care Costs;Mentors;Metabolism;MicroRNAs;Mitochondria;mortality;Mus;Natural regeneration;Nature;nephrotoxicity;new therapeutic target;Normal tissue morphology;novel;novel therapeutic intervention;novel therapeutics;Pathogenesis;Pathogenicity;Pathway interactions;Patients;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Predisposition;Principal Investigator;Profibrotic signal;Publishing;Regulation;Renal Carcinoma;renal ischemia;renal ischemia/hypoxia;Renal tubule structure;Reperfusion Injury;Reperfusion Therapy;Reporting;Repression;Research;Research Personnel;response;Role;Science;Scientist;Seminal;Services;Signal Pathway;STAT1 gene;Testing;TP53 gene;Training;Tubular formation;United States National Institutes of Health;Veterans;Work

PROJECT_TITLE: BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application


PHR: This application is for a renewal of the SRCS program of Dr. Pradeep K Dudeja. His studies are aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying diarrheal diseases as it pertains to infectious diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) associated diarrhea and to develop better therapeutic interventions. Diarrheal diseases are very common in our Veterans due to high incidence of IBD, hospital acquired infections and deployment related chronic illnesses and severe stress. Our program utilizes state-of-the-art approaches including organ-donor human intestine, enteroids or mini guts, and molecular and in vivo approaches utilizing mouse models. We have also extensively defined the role of gut-microbe interactions in diarrheal diseases with respect to infectious diarrhea and the beneficial role of probiotics in these diseases. This current application is intended to highlight the success of our program and requesting renewal of this SRCS program as our program is highly relevant to Veterans diseases."

PI_NAMEs: DUDEJA, PRADEEP K (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: absorption;Acetates;Acute Diarrhea;age related;Antibiotics;Antidiarrheals;apical membrane;Area;Attention;Award;basolateral membrane;Butyrates;Calcium;career;Cell membrane;Chemicals;Chlorides;Chronic;Chronic diarrhea;Chronic Disease;Chronic stress;clinically relevant;Colon;comorbidity;Dehydration;Diarrhea;diarrheal disease;Disease;Disease remission;Doctor of Philosophy;dysbiosis;Electrolytes;enteric pathogen;Environment;Epithelium;Etiology;foodborne infection;foodborne pathogen;Functional disorder;Funding;Gastroenterology;Generations;Genetic Transcription;Goals;gut microbes;gut microbiome;Health;Healthcare;Height;hepatocyte nuclear factor;Homeostasis;Hormones;Human;Impairment;improved;In Vitro;in vivo;Incidence;Infection;Inflammation;Inflammatory Bowel Diseases;Intervention;intestinal epithelium;Intestines;Investments;Irritable Bowel Syndrome;Journals;Knock-out;Knowledge;Large Intestine;Liquid substance;Liver diseases;Maintenance;meetings;Mentors;MicroRNAs;Mission;Molecular;monolayer;Morbidity - disease rate;mortality;mouse model;multidisciplinary;Nature;Neurotransmitters;new therapeutic target;NF-kappa B;Nosocomial Infections;novel;Organ Donor;Oxalates;Pathogenesis;patient population;Performance at work;Persian Gulf Syndrome;Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders;posttranscriptional;Probiotics;programs;promoter;Propionates;Protein Kinase;Publishing;Rattus;Regulation;Reporting;Research;Research Peer Review;Research Personnel;response;Role;Scientist;Signal Pathway;SLC26A3 gene;Sodium;Solid;Stress;Structure;success;Techniques;Therapeutic;Therapeutic Intervention;therapeutic target;Time;Tissues;TNF gene;tool;Training;Transcriptional Regulation;Transgenic Mice;Traumatic Brain Injury;Tretinoin;United States National Institutes of Health;Universities;uptake;Veterans;Volatile Fatty Acids;War;waterborne pathogen;Work


ORG_CITY: TAMPA

ORG_NAME: JAMES A. HALEY VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: FL

PHR: The proposed renewal Research Career Scientist (RCS) application is to provide support for Dr. Kindy, to continue studies in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders that are a significant health care issue in the VA. Dr. Kindy’s past and current research efforts have focused on stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). With support of the VA (RCS, BLR&D and RR&D) he has been able to understand the mechanisms associated with these disorders and has made efforts to translate the information to the clinic. His current efforts are leading to more direct application to the disease models, bridging the gap between basic and the clinical sciences to provide a better understanding of the diseases that affect Veterans. He is developing models of metabolic disease to determine their impact on veterans and outcomes from neurological diseases. New efforts into novel mechanisms are being studied to provide new targets for therapeutic intervention.

PI_NAMEs: KINDY, MARK S. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Advanced Glycosylation End Products;Affect;Afghanistan;Age;Age Years;aged;Aging;Alzheimer's Disease;Alzheimer's disease risk;Amyloid;Amyloid beta-Protein;amyloid formation;amyloidogenesis;Amyloidosis;animal old age;Animals;Antibodies;Antigens;Antisense Oligonucleotides;Apolipoprotein E;Apoptotic;Area;Attention;Autopsy;Award;Beer;Binding;Blood;Blood Vessels;Boston;Brain;Brain Concussion;Budgets;C9ORF72;Cardiovascular Diseases;Cardiovascular Physiology;career;CASP1 gene;Cathepsins B;Cell Death;Cerebral Ischemia;Chronic Disease;Chronic Kidney Failure;chronic traumatic encephalopathy;Clinic;Clinical;Clinical Sciences;cognitive function;Collaborations;college;Common Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia;Complement;Complications of Diabetes Mellitus;cytokine;Dementia;design;Diabetes Mellitus;direct application;Disease;disease model;Doctor of Philosophy;Family;FGFR4 gene;Florida;Functional disorder;Gene Activation;Gene Deletion;Gene Expression;General Population;Generations;Genes;Goals;Grant;Health;health disparity;Healthcare;High Fat Diet;human disease;human old age (65+);Huntington Disease;Hydrophobicity;Hyperlipidemia;immunoglobulin receptor;Impaired cognition;improved;in vivo;indexing;Inflammasome;Inflammation;Inflammatory;inhibitor;Injury;interest;Interleukins;Iraq;islet amyloid polypeptide;Journals;knockout gene;learning ability;Left Ventricular Hypertrophy;Length;Lentivirus Vector;Ligands;Liver;Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor;Maintenance;Mediating;Medical center;Membrane;Memory Loss;Metabolic Diseases;Metabolic syndrome;Metalloproteases;military veteran;Modeling;mouse model;Mus;Natural Immunity;Nature;Neprilysin;Nervous System Disorder;neural;Neurodegenerative Disorders;neuroinflammation;Neurologic;Neurological outcome;neuromuscular;neuron loss;new therapeutic target;novel;Obesity;Outcome;overexpression;Paper;Parkinson Disease;Pathogenesis;Pathologic Processes;Pathway interactions;Peer Review;Peptides;Pharmacologic Substance;Pharmacy facility;Phospholipids;Play;Population;Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders;Process;Production;professor;programs;Protein Isoforms;protein TDP-43;Proteins;Publishing;Rattus;Reactive Oxygen Species;Reagent;receptor;receptor for advanced glycation endproducts;Recovery;Research;Risk;Risk Factors;Rodent Model;Role;Science;Scientist;Senile Plaques;Serum amyloid A protein;Serum Amyloid P-Component;Side;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;small molecule inhibitor;Sodium Chloride;soluble RAGE;Spinal cord injury;Stroke;stroke model;stroke outcome;superoxide dismutase 1;synuclein;tau Proteins;Tauopathies;Testing;Therapeutic;therapeutic development;Therapeutic Intervention;Tissues;Transgenic Animals;Transgenic Organisms;Translating;Trauma;Traumatic Brain Injury;tumor;Universities;validation studies;Veterans;Virus;Vitamin D;Work;Zinc


ORG_CITY: OKLAHOMA CITY

ORG_NAME: OKLAHOMA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: OK

PHR: Narrative: The demographics of the veteran population clearly demonstrate that illnesses that afflict the elderly are a major concern of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently, the number of veterans over 60 years of age represents over 50% of the total veteran population. It is noteworthy that the number of veterans 80 years and older is projected to increase 500% over the next 20 years. Research has shown that chronic, low-grade inflammation increases dramatically with age and that inflammation is a major risk factor for a variety of age- related diseases that affect elderly veterans, e.g., Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, frailty, etc. Dr. Richardson’s current research will be the first to study the effect of necroptosis on the age-related increase in chronic inflammation and will be translationally important because this research could potentially lead to therapies that reduce age-related diseases and improve the health of elderly veterans.

PI_NAMEs: RICHARDSON, ARLAN G. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Affect;Age;age acceleration;age effect;age related;Age related pathologies;Age Years;age-related disease;Aging;aging mechanism;aging related;Alzheimer's Disease;Alzheimer's disease model;Anesthesia procedures;Animals;anti aging;Antioxidants;Applications Grants;Area;Atherosclerosis;Attenuated;Award;base;Biological Assay;career;Caring;Carrageenan;catalase;Cell Aging;Cell Death;Cell Death Induction;Cells;Chronic;Cities;Cognition;Communities;cost;Cytolysis;Data;demographics;Diabetes Mellitus;Diet;dietary restriction;Disease;DNA Methylation;Elderly;Epigenetic Process;Epithelial Cells;Exercise;extend lifespan;Faculty;feeding;Female;Foundations;frailty;Funding;Future;Gene Expression;Genes;genetic manipulation;Genetic Transcription;Genome;Genotype;Geroscience;Glutathione;Goals;graduate student;Grant;hallmarks of aging;Health;Health Sciences;healthspan;Human;improved;in vivo;Inbreeding;Inflammation;Institution;interest;Intervention;Intestinal Mucosa;Intestines;Invertebrates;Knockout Mice;Laboratories;Lead;life span;Longevity;male;Malignant Neoplasms;Manuscripts;Measures;Medical center;Medical Research;Memory;military veteran;Molecular;mouse model;Mouse Strains;Mus;Necrosis Induction;Neurofibrillary Tangles;novel;Observational Study;Oklahoma;Organism;overexpression;Oxidation-Reduction;oxidative damage;Oxidative Stress;Paper;Parkinson Disease;Pathology;Pathway interactions;Pattern;pharmacologic;Play;Postdoctoral Fellow;Preparation;prevent;Primates;promoter;Publishing;Recombinants;Recovery;Reporting;Research;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;resilience;Resolution;response;Risk Factors;Rodent;Role;Scientist;Seminal;Shock;Sirolimus;Site;stem cells;Superoxide Dismutase;superoxide dismutase 1;System;Testing;Tissues;Transgenic Mice;Transgenic Organisms;treadmill;United States Department of Veterans Affairs;United States National Institutes of Health;Universities;Veterans


ORG_NAME: VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

PHR: Infections are a major source of morbidity and mortality in veterans with compromised immune systems as a result of AIDS, substance abuse, or stemming from treatment of malignancy, auto-immune disease, or organ transplantation. Persistent microbial lung infections in immunocompetent or mildly immunocompromised veterans results in chronic lung disease. Antibiotic therapies are often inadequate; thus enhanced knowledge of host defense is essential for the development of new therapies or vaccine strategies to treat these patient populations. Strategies designed to diminish or enhance immunomodulatory pathways hold the greatest promise for enhancing therapies of persistent infections, malignancy, allergies, autoimmune disease, or organ transplants. Dr. Olszewski’s studies identify and test the role of immunological pathways during infections. His studies also dissect interactions of microbial factors with host defenses to identify mechanisms of their evasion and potential therapeutic targets within microbes. These studies are an essential step in design of new therapies strategies against infections.

PI_NAMEs: OLSZEWSKI, MICHAL A (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome;Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome;Animal Model;anti-fungal agents;Antibiotic Therapy;Antibody Therapy;antimicrobial;Area;Autoimmune Diseases;Award;Bioinformatics;Brain;Caliber;career;Cause of Death;Cerebrum;chronic infection;Chronic lung disease;Clinical Data;Clinical Research;Code;Collaborations;Communicable Diseases;Communities;COVID-19 pandemic;COVID-19 patient;COVID-19/ARDS;Cryptococcosis;Cryptococcus;Cryptococcus neoformans;CXCR3 gene;cytokine;Death Domain;Death Rate;Dendritic cell activation;Dendritic Cells;design;Development;Disease;Drug resistance;editorial;Effectiveness;Epigenetic Process;Exhibits;experience;Exposure to;Foundations;Funding;fungus;Future;Gastrointestinal tract structure;Genes;Genetic Transcription;global health;Goals;Grant;Healthcare;high risk;HIV;Host Defense;Host Defense Mechanism;Human;human data;Hypersensitivity;Immune;Immune Evasion;Immune response;Immune system;Immunity;Immunocompetent;Immunocompromised Host;Immunologics;Immunologist;Immunology;immunomodulatory therapies;immunopathology;immunoregulation;Immunotherapeutic agent;Immunotherapy;Individual;Infection;Inflammation;Inflammatory;Integration Host Factors;interest;Interleukin-10;Intervention;Knowledge;Location;Lung;Lung infections;Malignant Neoplasms;Mentors;Microbe;microbial;microorganism interaction;military service;Modification;Molecular;monocyte;Morbidity - disease rate;mortality;mouse model;mutant;Mycoses;National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease;neglect;neutrophil;novel therapeutics;novel vaccines;Organ Transplantation;Organism;Outcome;pathogen;Pathogenesis;Pathologic;Pathology;Pathway interactions;patient population;Patients;Phenotype;pre-clinical;Predisposition;prevent;Process;Productivity;programs;Publications;Published Comment;Publishing;receptor;Regimen;Research;Resistance development;response;RIPK3 gene;Risk;Risk Factors;risk stratification;Role;SARS-CoV-2 infection;scavenger receptor;Science;Scientist;Services;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;Site;Source;stem;Substance abuse problem;T cell response;T-Lymphocyte;Testing;Therapeutic;therapeutic target;TNF gene;Toxic effect;translational study;Transplant Recipients;tumor;United States National Institutes of Health;vaccine strategy;Validation;Veterans;Virulence Factors;Work


ORG_CITY: TUCSON

ORG_NAME: SOUTHERN ARIZONA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

ORG_STATE: AZ

PHR: The Veteran population is greatly impacted by Clostridioides difficile infection, a bacterial disease that particularly targets the elderly. Our research has three major foci supported by epidemiology, genetics, and translational components. First (epidemiology), we assess the prevalence of C. difficile infections in the Veteran population in Southern Arizona and provide feedback to clinicians with the goal of reducing disease incidence. Second (genetics), we use cutting-edge molecular techniques to understand the virulence mechanisms of C. difficile, especially strains from VA patients. Third (translational), we leverage this knowledge to develop, precision- focused, non-antibiotic interventions for mitigating C. difficile infection in Veterans/susceptible populations.

PI_NAMEs: VEDANTAM, GAYATRI  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Active Listening;acute care;Address;Animal Model;Animals;Anti-Infective Agents;Anti-Inflammatory Agents;antibiotic-associated diarrhea;Antibiotics;antimicrobial;Arizona;Australia;Award;Bacillus;Bacteria;Bacterial Infections;Basic Science;biobank;Biological Response Modifier Therapy;Book Chapters;Canada;capsule;Carbohydrates;career;Categories;Cells;Cellular biology;Clinical;Clostridioides difficile vaccine;Clostridium difficile;Collaborations;Communicable Diseases;Communication;Communities;comorbidity;cost effective;design;diarrheal disease;Disclosure;Disease;doctoral student;early-career faculty;Elderly;Eligibility Determination;Epidemic;Epidemiology;Escherichia coli EHEC;Faculty;Feedback;Fingerprint;First Generation College Students;Fostering;frontier;Funding;Genetic;Genomic Islands;Genomics;Goals;Health;Healthcare;Healthcare Systems;healthcare-associated infections;Hospitalization;Hospitals;Human;human old age (65+);Illinois;Immunocompromised Host;improved;Incidence;Infection;infection rate;Intellectual Property;Intercellular Junctions;interdisciplinary collaboration;International;Intervention;Intestines;invention;Investigation;Knowledge;Laboratories;Legal patent;Medical;Medical center;Medical Students;member;Mentors;Mentorship;Methods;Microbial Biofilms;Microscopy;military health system;military veteran;Molecular;Monograph;mortality;Nature;novel;Oral;Organism;Paper;Paris, France;pathogen;Pathogenesis;Pathogenicity;Pathway interactions;Patients;Peer Review;Physicians;Population;Positioning Attribute;Postdoctoral Fellow;pre-clinical;Preclinical Testing;Predisposition;Prevalence;Probiotics;product development;Production;Program Development;programs;prospective;Proteomics;Publications;Published Comment;Recombinants;recruit;Reporting;Research;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;Risk Factors;Role;Science;Scientist;Seminal;Services;Students;synthetic biology;systems research;Techniques;Technology;Textbooks;tool;Toxin;Training;Translational Research;ultra high resolution;undergraduate student;Underrepresented Minority;Universities;vaccine candidate;Veterans;Virulence;Vision;Work


ORG_CITY: SAN FRANCISCO

ORG_NAME: VETERANS AFFAIRS MED CTR SAN FRANCISCO

PHR: This Research Career Scientist award will support the growth of a research program that is uniquely well suited to benefit the mission of the VA Office of Research & Development. It will do so by leveraging its internationally recognized expertise in the study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to develop biomarkers and biologics for the experimental treatment of tissue inflammation and remodeling including in the cardiovascular system. The award will foster extensive collaborative research with clinician and basic scientists within the VA intramural research program, as well as at local, national and international sites to disseminate and improve its EV-based approaches to new biomarker and treatment development for diseases in priority areas to Veterans. This award will also lead to increased professional service to subcommittees within the VA, affiliate and other professional organizations, as well as to teaching and mentoring to next generation research investigators and clinician scientists within the VA research program to improve healthcare delivery to Veterans.

PI_NAMEs: RAFFAI, ROBERT  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: 2019-nCoV;Achievement;Address;adverse outcome;Alzheimer's disease model;Anti-Inflammatory Agents;Apolipoprotein E;Applications Grants;Area;Atherosclerosis;Award;Biological Markers;Biological Models;Biological Products;Biology;biomarker development;Blood Vessels;Cardiovascular Diseases;Cardiovascular system;career;Cells;Circulation;Clinical;Collaborations;Communication;Coronary Arteriosclerosis;Country;COVID-19;design;Detection;diabetic;Diagnosis;Diet;Disclosure;Disease;Disease Progression;Educational process of instructing;Engineering;experimental study;extracellular;extracellular vesicles;Faculty;fighting;Fostering;Foundations;Funding;Goals;graduate student;Grant;Growth;Health;health care delivery;Healthcare;Healthcare Systems;Heart failure;Hematopoietic stem cells;Host Defense;Human;Immune;Immune response;Immunologic Tests;improved;Inflammation;Inflammatory;insight;Institution;Intellectual Property;International;Intramural Research Program;invention;Journals;Laboratories;Legal patent;Los Angeles;Macrophage;Mediator;Medical center;Medical Research;Medical Students;Mentors;Methods;MicroRNAs;Mission;Molecular;muscle regeneration;muscle repair;Myocarditis;neuroinflammation;next generation;novel;novel therapeutics;Operative Surgical Procedures;Outcome;Pathogenesis;patient population;Peripheral;Postdoctoral Fellow;preclinical study;Principal Investigator;Process;Professional Organizations;programs;Property Rights;Publications;Publishing;Pulmonary Inflammation;recruit;Reporting;Research;research and development;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;Resources;RNA;Rodent Model;Role;Scientist;Services;Signal Transduction;Site;Skeletal Muscle;stem cells;systemic inflammatory response;Technology;Testing;Therapeutic;therapeutic evaluation;therapy development;Tissues;Translations;United States National Institutes of Health;Vascular Diseases;vascular inflammation;Ventricular Remodeling;Veterans;Virus;Virus Diseases


ORG_CITY: CINCINNATI

ORG_NAME: CINCINNATI VA MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH

PHR: Pneumocystis causes an oftentimes lethal pneumonia (PCP) in humans with compromised immune status. Today, this includes not only HIV (+) patients, but also those on a variety of immune- and chemo-therapies. Over 28,000 HIV (+) US veterans receive care from the VA; over 10,000 HIV (-) veterans take anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors for management of chronic arthritides; 40,000 have cancer diagnoses; and 42,000 have COPD in the context of HIV. All are at high risk for PCP. Previous studies supported by the VA allowed us to report several properties unique to echinocandin-treated Pneumocystis, including the depletion of asci, leading to the inability to transmit the infection while under treatment and when given prophylactically, could prevent the infection. We posit that the sexual cycle resulting in asci formation, is necessary for a productive infection. In this proposal, we will explore the mechanisms how an echinocandin, anidulafungin, suppresses the sexual cycle of these fungi and whether prolonged treatment will lead to clearance of the infection.

PI_NAMEs: CUSHION, MELANIE T (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: 3-Dimensional;Age;American;analog;Anidulafungin;anti-fungal agents;antimicrobial;Area;Arthritis;asexual;Award;Binding;Biological Assay;Bone Marrow;cancer diagnosis;candidate identification;career;Caring;Caspofungin;celecoxib;Cell Line;Cell Wall;Chemicals;chemotherapy;Chloroquine;Chronic;Chronic Disease;chronic inflammatory disease;Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease;Clinical;clinically relevant;Collaborations;comorbidity;Data;Development;Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor;Disease;Dose;Drug resistance;Drug Screening;efficacy testing;Evaluation;experimental study;Female;fungus;Gene Expression;Gene Expression Profile;Gene Expression Profiling;Gene Expression Regulation;General Population;Genes;Goals;Healthcare;Hematological Disease;high risk;HIV;HIV Seronegativity;HIV Seropositivity;Human;human old age (65+);Immune system;Immunocompromised Host;immunological status;immunosuppressed;Immunosuppression;Immunotherapy;In Vitro;infected vector rodent;Infection;Infection prevention;International;Interruption;knockout gene;Knowledge;Length;Life Cycle Stages;Lung;male;Malignant Neoplasms;Mammalian Cell;metabolic abnormality assessment;Methods;Micafungin;Microbiology;Microscopic;Midwestern United States;military veteran;Mission;Modeling;Morbidity - disease rate;mortality;mouse model;Mus;Mycoses;new therapeutic target;novel therapeutics;Ohio;older adult;Opportunistic Infections;Outcome;Partner in relationship;pathogen;pathogenic fungus;Patients;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Phase;Pneumocystis;Pneumocystis carinii;Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia;Pneumocystis Infections;Pneumonia;Poland;polyglucosan;Population;Portugal;pre-clinical;Preclinical Drug Development;Predisposition;Productivity;Proliferating;Property;prophylactic;Prophylactic treatment;Publications;Rattus;Reporting;Research;response;Rheumatoid Arthritis;Risk;Rodent Model;Role;Scientist;screening;Seminal;sex;sex as a biological variable;Sexual Reproduction;Societies;Sphingolipids;Stress;Sulfamethoxazole;targeted treatment;Therapeutic;therapy duration;Time;tool;Toxic effect;transcriptome sequencing;transmission process;Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole;tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor;United States;Up-Regulation;Veterans;Withdrawal


ORG_CITY: INDIANAPOLIS

ORG_NAME: RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: IN

PHR: The health relatedness of Dr. Alpini’s research program is focused on the investigation of chronic cholestatic liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and cholangiocarcinoma. These cholestatic liver diseases (characterized by coordinated proliferation/damage of biliary epithelial cells) along with other cholangiopathies represent a major clinical challenge due to the lack of effective therapeutic interventions resulting in the need for liver transplantation during end-stage liver disease. Management of cholangiopathies (including drug- or viral-induced liver injury) represents one of the major challenges for Veterans Health. The data generated by this research program can be expected to provide a greater understanding of cholestatic liver disease progression and to increase opportunities for the development of novel treatment paradigms for the management of chronic liver diseases.

PI_NAMEs: ALPINI, GIANFRANCO D (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: afferent nerve;Alcoholic Liver Diseases;Angiogenic Factor;Area;autocrine;Award;Basic Science;bile duct;Bile Duct Epithelium;Biliary;biliary tract;Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide;career;Cell Aging;Cells;Cholangiocarcinoma;cholangiocyte;Cholestasis;Chronic;chronic liver disease;Clinical;Clinical Sciences;clinically relevant;Collaborations;Cyclic AMP;Data;Development;Diagnosis;Disease;Disease Progression;Ductal Epithelial Cell;editorial;Educational process of instructing;end stage liver disease;Epithelial Cells;Faculty;Fatty Alcohols;Fatty Liver;Fibrosis;Foundations;Funding;Gastroenterology;Gastrointestinal Diseases;Genes;Goals;graduate student;Grant;Grant Review;Growth;Health;Hepatic Stellate Cell;Hepatobiliary;Hepatology;Heterogeneity;Homeostasis;Human;In Vitro;in vivo;Inflammation;Intervention;Investigation;Journals;knowledge translation;Liver Cirrhosis;Liver diseases;Liver Failure;Liver Fibrosis;liver injury;liver transplantation;Mediating;Medical;Medical center;Medical Students;meetings;Melatonin;member;Mentors;MicroRNAs;Modeling;Molecular;Nature;Neoplastic Cell Transformation;neuroendocrine phenotype;Neuropeptides;Neurosecretory Systems;Neurotransmitters;non-alcoholic fatty liver disease;nonalcoholic steatohepatitis;novel;paracrine;Pathogenesis;Pathway interactions;Patients;peptide P;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Pharmacologic Substance;Phenotype;Play;Population;Postdoctoral Fellow;Prevention;Primary biliary cirrhosis;primary sclerosing cholangitis;problem drinker;Productivity;prognostic tool;Program Development;programs;Proliferating;Publications;Publishing;Reaction;receptor;Regulation;repaired;Research;Research Personnel;response;Rodent;Rodent Model;Role;Sampling;Scientist;Secretin;secretin receptor;Seminal;senescence;senescence associated secretory phenotype;Sensory;Serotonin;Serum;Services;Signal Pathway;Signal Transduction;stem cells;Substance P;symposium;Therapeutic Agents;therapeutic development;Therapeutic Intervention;therapeutically effective;therapy development;tissue injury;Training;United States National Institutes of Health;Veterans;Viral


PHR: Approximately 11% of patients of VA are cancer survivors. Quality of life is a major issue for these patients including potential loss of independence. Many patients experience weakness in muscle either due to the effects of cancer or due to the effects of treatment. Loss of muscle in cancer patients is not simply due to poor nutrition and has so far proven irreversible. Therefore, effective therapies to restore muscle function will not only improve quality of life but will consequently prolong life. Our VA funded study examines molecular changes in skeletal muscle in breast cancer and develops biomarkers and therapies to overcome muscle defects. Knowledge gained from these studies is being applied to other cancers such as lung, pancreatic, bladder, and head and neck cancers. During this process, we learnt that men and women with the same type of cancer show differences in skeletal muscle biology paving the way for individualizing symptom management that considers sex of the patient as a variable factor.

PI_NAMEs: NAKSHATRI, HARIKRISHNA  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;Affect;African ancestry;African Women;Animal Model;anti-cancer research;Appearance;Atlases;Award;Biological;Biological Markers;Biology;biomarker discovery;Bladder;Body Weight decreased;bone;Book Chapters;Breast;breast cancer metastasis;Breast Cancer Model;Breast Cancer Patient;breast cancer progression;Breast Epithelial Cells;Cachexia;cancer cell;cancer initiation;Cancer Patient;cancer stem cell;Cancer Survivor;cancer type;carcinogenesis;career;Cells;Cellular biology;Cessation of life;Chemoprevention;Chemoresistance;chemotherapy;Chronic;Classification;Clinic;Clinical;Clinical Trials;Collaborations;Colorectal;Communication;Complement Factor H;Country;Defect;Dependence;Development;Distant;Drug usage;editorial;effective therapy;epithelial to mesenchymal transition;Estrogen Antagonists;estrogenic;Estrogens;Event;experience;Exposure to;Extramural Activities;Faculty;female sex hormone;Functional disorder;Funding;Future;Genetic;genomic aberrations;genomic data;Goals;graduate student;Grant Review;Growth;Head and Neck Cancer;Health;health disparity;Healthcare;high risk;High School Faculty;High School Student;Hormone Responsive;hormone therapy;Hormones;Human;improved;Inflammation;Infrastructure;inhibitor;Institution;International;Journals;Knowledge;Laboratories;lectures;Licensing;Life;Link;Lung;Malignant Breast Neoplasm;Malignant neoplasm of lung;Malignant neoplasm of pancreas;Malignant Neoplasms;Mammary Gland Parenchyma;Maps;Medical Students;member;men;Mentors;Methods;MicroRNAs;Mind;Modality;Molecular;Muscle;muscle form;Muscle function;Muscular Atrophy;Nature;Neoplasm Metastasis;nutrition;Oncogenes;Organ;Outcome;Oxygen;Pancreas;Pathway interactions;Patients;Persons;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Phenotype;Phosphotransferases;PI3 gene;PI3K/AKT;PIK3CG gene;Postdoctoral Fellow;prevent;Prevention strategy;Process;Productivity;programs;Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt;Publications;Published Comment;Publishing;Quality of life;receptor;Reporting;Research;Research Personnel;Resistance;Resistance development;Resources;Rest;Review Committee;Risk;Role;Scientist;Screening for cancer;Seminal;sex;Sex Differences;Signal Pathway;single cell genomics;single cell sequencing;Skeletal Muscle;skeletal muscle wasting;Socioeconomic Factors;statistics;stemness;summer research;symptom management;Systemic disease;Techniques;Technology;Testing;Therapeutic;therapy development;therapy resistant;Tissue Banks;Tissues;Toremifene;treatment effect;treatment response;tumor progression;Veterans;Woman;Work


ORG_CITY: BIRMINGHAM

ORG_NAME: BIRMINGHAM VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: AL

PHR: Project Narrative Colorectal (CRC) and lung cancers remain the leading causes of cancer deaths in the US veteran population. During the last 40 years, the proportion of CRC has increased by about 15% in the veteran population and thus constitutes a significant health risk for all veterans and their family members. The aberrant regulation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes plays a pivotal role in the transformation of normal epithelium into primary and metastatic cancer. STRAP, a cellular protein, is upregulated in CRC, promotes tumorigenicity, metastasis, cancer stem-like cells, and drug resistance, thus contributing to worse survival of patients with chemotherapy. This study will discover novel and less toxic nanoparticles targeting STRAP in CRC, which will be used to codeliver 5-FU and Oxaliplatin. The second ongoing project deals with smoking-induced loss of antitumor functions of TGF-ß in lung cancer progression and metastasis. The proposed studies are very crucial for the development of successful therapeutic strategies for colorectal and lung cancers.

PI_NAMEs: DATTA, PRAN K (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Academia;active duty;Afghanistan;Age Years;Alabama;American;anti-cancer research;Award;Basic Cancer Research;beta catenin;Binding Proteins;Biological Markers;Brain;Cancer Etiology;Cancer Patient;career;Cessation of life;Chemoresistance;chemotherapy;cigarette smoking;circulating microRNA;Clinical;clinical predictors;Cloning;Collaborations;Colorectal;Colorectal Cancer;combat;Combined Modality Therapy;Communication;Death Records;Development;Diagnosis;Diagnostic;Discipline;Disseminated Malignant Neoplasm;Distant Metastasis;Drug resistance;embryonic stem cell;Epithelium;Faculty;Family member;Fluorouracil;Funding;Gastroenterology;Grant;Health;Healthcare;Hematology;Hepatology;high risk;Human;in vivo Model;innovation;Institution;International;intestinal epithelium;Iraq;Journals;Knock-in Mouse;Knockout Mice;Korean War;Laboratories;Letters;Lung Neoplasms;Malignant neoplasm of lung;Malignant Neoplasms;Medical center;Mentors;Metastatic malignant neoplasm to brain;MicroRNAs;Military Personnel;military veteran;Molecular;mortality;Mus;nanocarrier;nanoformulation;nanoparticle;nanotherapy;Nature;Neoplasm Metastasis;Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma;notch protein;novel;novel strategies;Nucleic Acids;Oncogenes;Oncogenic;Oncology;Oncoproteins;Organoids;oxaliplatin;Paper;Pathogenesis;Patients;Pharmacologic Substance;Phase;Play;Population;Positioning Attribute;Postdoctoral Fellow;predictive marker;professor;programs;Protein Array;Proteins;Publications;Regulation;Research;research and development;Research Personnel;response;Risk;Role;Scientist;screening;Seminal;serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein;Serum;Services;Signal Transduction;Small Interfering RNA;Smoke;Smoking;stem-like cell;stemness;Therapeutic;therapeutic target;Tobacco use;Training;Transforming Growth Factor beta;Transforming Growth Factor beta Receptors;translational cancer research;Translational Research;tumor;tumor progression;Tumor Suppressor Genes;Tumorigenicity;Universities;Veterans;Vietnam;War;Woman;Work


PHR: Many of the 18.5 million living Veterans who served from the 1930s to mid-1970s are at risk of developing asbestos-related respiratory conditions because military occupations exposed them to harmful levels of the toxic substance during this era of rampant asbestos use. Most pipefitters, sailors, mechanics, radiomen and infantrymen eventually came into contact with asbestos at some point in their military career. Significant exposures also occurred in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, during missions that involved entering dilapidated and demolished buildings. Scarring in the lung occurs after inhalation of asbestos, but no one knows why. We believe that non-degradable particles reprogram cells in the lung to produce acid and enzymes in a futile attempt to dissolve them, which causes collateral injury and fibrosis in surrounding tissues. The tissue damaging cells have many similarities to osteoclasts, cells that dissolve bone, which are eminently targetable with bisphosphonates and other readily available and FDA approved agents if our theories are proven correct.

PI_NAMEs: MCCORMACK, FRANCIS XAVIER (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acids;Address;Adopted;Adoptive Transfer;Afghanistan;Alveolar;Alveolar Macrophages;Animals;Asbestos;Asbestosis;Asia;Automobile Driving;autosome;bisphosphonate;bone;Bone Marrow;Bone Matrix;burn pit;Calcitonin Receptor;Calcium;career;cathepsin K;Cattle;Cell Differentiation process;cell injury;Cell Physiology;Cell secretion;Cell Separation;cell transformation;Cells;Chloride Channels;Collagen;Complex;CSF1 gene;cytokine;Data;Defect;Development;Disease;Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;Enzymes;Epithelium;experimental study;Exposure to;FDA approved;Fiber;Fibrosis;fibrotic lung;Foreign-Body Giant Cells;Gene Expression;Genes;Genetic;genetic signature;Giant Cells;Gulf War;healing;Health;Histologic;Human;human RNA sequencing;Hydrochloric Acid;Hydroxyapatites;Hydroxyproline;In complete remission;In Vitro;indexing;Infiltration;Inflammation;Inhalation;Injections;Injury;inorganic phosphate;Integrins;Knockout Mice;Lavage;Liquid substance;Lung;Lung Compliance;lung injury;Macrophage;Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor;Maps;Measures;Mechanics;Mediating;Microspheres;Middle East;military operation;Military Personnel;military service;Minerals;Mission;MMP9 gene;monocyte;Mus;Mutation;Myeloid Cells;neutralizing antibody;novel;Occupations;Osteoclasts;Outcome;particle;Particulate;Pathogenesis;Patients;Peptide Hydrolases;pharmacologic;Phenotype;Physiological;Poison;pre-clinical;prevent;Production;programs;Proteins;Proton Pump;Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis;Pulmonary Fibrosis;pulmonary function;recruit;Residual state;respiratory;response;Risk;Role;Sailor;single-cell RNA sequencing;Slice;sodium-phosphate cotransporter proteins;Source;Specific qualifier value;Stains;Stereotyping;Structure of parenchyma of lung;surfactant;Tamoxifen;targeted treatment;tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase;Testing;theories;Tissues;TRANCE protein;Veterans;Vietnam;War;Zoledronic Acid

PROJECT_TITLE: Role of Pulmonary Osteoclast-Like Cells in Lung Injury


ORG_CITY: PORTLAND

ORG_NAME: PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER

ORG_STATE: OR

PHR: Studies carried out by my laboratory are highly relevant to the treatment of acute and chronic degenerative conditions of the central nervous system (CNS) that often afflict Veterans. We have developed of a novel therapeutic approach that targets a common underlying mechanism, the MIF/CD74 axis that promotes inflammation in the CNS and other tissues. Our unique therapeutic constructs, called RTL1000 and its second generation derivative, DRα1-MOG-35-55 competitively inhibit binding of both MIF and its homolog D-DT to a common receptor (CD74) and thus short-circuit MIF/CD74 signaling that drives essentially all of the VA targeted CNS conditions. Our work has demonstrated that DRα1-MOG-35-55, which can be administered without the need for tissue typing, could potentially be used to treat Veterans with multiple sclerosis as well as other devastating CNS afflictions including stroke, vascular dementia, traumatic brain injury and methamphetamine induced cognitive disability, thus addressing a critical unmet need for the VA.

PI_NAMEs: VANDENBARK, ARTHUR A. (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Acute;Address;Affect;Alcohol abuse;antagonist;Antigen-Presenting Cells;Autoimmune;Autoimmunity;Award;Binding;Biological;Blood;career;Cells;Central Nervous System;Chronic;chronic neurologic disease;Clinical Research;Clinical Trials;cognitive disability;cytokine;Degenerative Disorder;Demyelinations;design;Development;Disease;Dopachrome isomerase;Dose;Early treatment;Estrogen Receptors;Evaluation;Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis;Female;Generations;Genotype;Grant;Histocompatibility Antigens Class II;Histocompatibility Testing;HLA-DR2 Antigen;Homologous Gene;Human;immunoregulation;Inflammation;Inflammatory;Injury;interest;Laboratories;Ligands;Link;male;Marketing;Methamphetamine;MHC Class II Genes;Migration Inhibitory Factor;Mission;Molecular Chaperones;Molecular Conformation;molecular modeling;mouse model;Multiple Sclerosis;Mus;Nerve Degeneration;neuroimmunology;neuroprotection;new therapeutic target;novel;novel therapeutic intervention;oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein;Peptides;phase 1 study;Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders;preclinical study;prevent;Process;programs;Progressive Disease;Property;Publishing;receptor;recruit;Research;Risk;Risk Factors;Scientist;Sequence Homologs;Services;Signal Transduction;Small Business Technology Transfer Research;Stroke;Substance abuse problem;T-Cell Receptor;T-Lymphocyte;Testing;Therapeutic;Tissues;Traumatic Brain Injury;treatment effect;Vascular Dementia;Veterans;Work

STUDY_SECTION: RCSR

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Research Career Scientist[RCSR]


ORG_CITY: SALT LAKE CITY

ORG_NAME: VA SALT LAKE CITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

ORG_STATE: UT

PHR: The important role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the pathogenesis of hypertension and renal disease is highlighted by the wide use of its inhibitors for treatment of these diseases which affect a significant part of veteran’s population. The current research plan will address the role of renal site-1 protease/soluble (pro)renin receptor/AT1R pathway in the disease processes. The proposal has the potential to advance our understanding of the fundamental mechanism of hypertension and also to identify a novel target for antihypertensive therapies.

PI_NAMEs: YANG, TIANXIN  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Affect;Aldosterone;Angiotensin II;Anti-Hypertensive Agents;aquaporin-2;Area;Award;Biochemical;Biotechnology;blood pressure control;career;Chronic Kidney Failure;Clinical Treatment;commercialization;cost;Development;Diabetes Insipidus;Dinoprostone;Disease;Down-Regulation;drug development;Duct (organ) structure;Enzymes;epithelial Na+ channel;Excretory function;Extramural Activities;Funding;Generations;genetic approach;Grant;Health;Hypertension;in vivo;Inactive Renin;Inbred Dahl Rats;Infusion procedures;inhibitor;Insulin;interest;Journals;Kidney;Kidney Diseases;lectures;Legal patent;Licensing;lipid mediator;Lipids;Liver X Receptor;Mediating;Mediator;Metabolic Diseases;military veteran;Mission;mouse model;mouse PGE synthase 1;new therapeutic target;novel;Nuclear Receptors;Oleic Acids;Paper;Pathogenesis;Pathway interactions;Peer Review;Phase I Clinical Trials;Phase II Clinical Trials;Physiological;Play;PPAR gamma;preclinical evaluation;Process;programs;Progress Reports;Prostaglandins;PTGS2 gene;Publishing;receptor;Recombinants;Renal function;Renin;Renin-Angiotensin System;Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System;Reporting;Research;Role;Scientist;Seminal;site-1 protease;Sodium Chloride;Technology;Therapeutic Uses;Time;translational potential;United States National Institutes of Health;urinary;Urine;Validation;Veterans;Water;WFDC2 gene;Work


ORG_CITY: NEW ORLEANS

ORG_NAME: SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA VETERANS HEALTH CARE

ORG_STATE: LA

PHR: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Veterans. In 2010, prostate cancer contributed to 29% of the 46,170 new cancer cases diagnosed in Veterans. These numbers clearly indicate the high relevance of prostate cancer research to the Veterans' health and healthcare. Despite recent development of a number of new drugs for prostate cancer, metastatic prostate cancer remains a fatal disease. The proposed research is expected to provide a new biomarker to identify patients, including Veterans, with prostate cancers that will progress to lethal and to help develop a biomarker-based therapeutic strategy to treat these cancers according to their genetic makeup to stop disease progression. Thus, the proposed study is highly relevant to the Veterans' health and healthcare.

PI_NAMEs: DONG, YAN  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;aerobic glycolysis;Animal Model;anti-cancer research;Area;assay development;Attenuated;Automobile Driving;Biochemical;Biological;Biological Markers;Biological Models;Biology;biomarker driven;Cancer Relapse;Castration;Cell Line;Cells;Chromosomal Insertion;Chromosomal Rearrangement;Clinical;Clinical Data;clinically relevant;Data Set;design;Development;Diagnosis;diminished oxidative phosphorylation;Disease;Disease Progression;Ectopic Expression;effective therapy;Enzymes;Family;Foundations;Future;Genes;Genetic;genetic makeup;glucose metabolism;Glycolysis;Glycolysis Pathway;Goals;Growth;Health;Healthcare;Human;inhibitor;interstitial;Knock-out;Knockout Mice;Knowledge;Malignant neoplasm of prostate;Malignant Neoplasms;Mediating;Metastatic Neoplasm to the Bone;Metastatic Prostate Cancer;Modeling;Neoplasm Metastasis;novel;novel marker;novel therapeutics;Osteolytic;Oxidative Phosphorylation;patient derived xenograft model;patient population;Patient-Focused Outcomes;Patients;preclinical study;Prostate;prostate cancer model;prostate cancer progression;Prostate Cancer therapy;Research;Research Design;Resistance;Role;Sampling;subcutaneous;Testing;Therapeutic;Therapeutic Trials;TMPRSS2 gene;trial design;Tumor stage;Validation;VCaP;Veterans

PROJECT_TITLE: A role of FAM3B in suppressing prostate cancer progression


PHR: Ongoing experiments in my laboratory will study the mechanisms, tumor microenvironment and therapeutic targets of squamous cancer. This cancer type occurs more frequently in the veteran population than in the general population. Therefore, our VA research program directly addresses an important health issue relevant to health care at the VA. Our research findings have translated, and will continuously translate to innovations in clinical prognosis and therapeutic interventions in real-time. Our research program will strengthen our long-term goal to develop more effective therapeutic interventions for our VA patients, thus improving the healthcare outcomes of our veterans.

PI_NAMEs: WANG, XIAO-JING  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;Affect;angiogenesis;Apoptosis;Area;Award;Biological Models;biomarker identification;cancer cell;Cancer Patient;cancer site;cancer stem cell;cancer type;care outcomes;career;Cause of Death;CD44 gene;CD8B1 gene;Cell Lineage;Cells;Cessation of life;clinical diagnosis;clinical prognosis;Clinical Trials;Clonal Expansion;Collaborations;cytotoxic;Defect;design;Development;Disseminated Malignant Neoplasm;Distant Metastasis;DNA Damage;DNA Repair;DNA Repair Pathway;effective therapy;Epithelium;experimental study;Exposure to;Fibroblasts;Funding;General Population;Genes;Genetic Engineering;Genomics;Goals;Growth;Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma;Head and neck structure;Health;Healthcare;high risk;Human;human genome sequencing;Immune;Immune Evasion;Immune system;Immunologic Surveillance;Immunosuppression;Immunosuppressive Agents;Immunotherapy;improved;Indolent;innovation;Intervention;Invaded;Investigational Therapies;Laboratories;Link;liquid biopsy;Loss of Heterozygosity;Lung;MADH4 gene;Malignant Epithelial Cell;Malignant Neoplasms;Mediating;Melanoma;Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma;migration;military veteran;Modeling;mouse model;multipotent cell;mutant;Myeloid Cells;neoantigens;Neoplasm Metastasis;neoplastic cell;Oral cavity;Organ;Outcome;Pathologic;Patients;pharmacodynamic biomarker;PIK3CG gene;Play;Population;Predisposition;Production;prognosis biomarker;Prognostic Marker;prognostic value;programmed cell death ligand 1;programs;promoter;Property;Protein Secretion;Radiation therapy;recruit;Reporting;Research;Research Personnel;Resources;Role;Scientist;Site;Skin;skin squamous cell carcinoma;Squamous cell carcinoma;stem cell expansion;stem cell niche;Stratified Epithelium;Stromal Cells;T-Cell Receptor;T-Lymphocyte;targeted cancer therapy;therapeutic biomarker;therapeutic evaluation;Therapeutic Intervention;therapeutic target;therapeutically effective;Time;Tobacco-Associated Carcinogen;Transforming Growth Factor beta;Translating;tumor;tumor eradication;tumor heterogeneity;Tumor Immunity;tumor microenvironment;tumor progression;Tumor Suppressor Proteins;Tumor-associated macrophages;ultraviolet irradiation;Up-Regulation;Veterans;whole genome;WNT Signaling Pathway


ORG_CITY: PALO ALTO

ORG_NAME: VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS

PHR: The goal of our aging project is to provide mechanistic information by which aging-induced excessive oxidative stress contributes to the age-related decline in steroid synthesis in experimental rodent models. Successful completion of the proposed studies may identify novel target(s) that can be exploited in the management of clinical conditions such as hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and others in older Veterans and the general aging population. The studies under Project 2 should provide new insights into the mechanism by which SR-BI/selective HDL-CE pathway helps to eliminate excess cholesterol by the liver and steroidogenic cells. Such understanding will aid development of new drugs to treat heart and other diseases related to dyslipidemia and/or production of bile acids and steroids in both the general and Veterans population. Our work on NDGA and dual function mimetic peptides should enhance our understanding about the pathogenesis of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PI_NAMEs: AZHAR, SALMAN  (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;Adipose tissue;Adrenal Glands;Affect;age effect;age related;age related changes;age related decline;Aging;aging population;Alcohol abuse;Alcoholic Hepatitis;Aldosterone;Alzheimer's Disease;American;Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis;Androgens;Animal Experiments;Anti-diabetic Drugs;Antioxidants;Apolipoprotein A-I;Area;Arteries;Arthritis;Atherosclerosis;Attenuated;Autoimmune Diseases;Award;Basic Science;Bile Acids;Biliary;Biochemistry;Biology;Blood Glucose;Body Weight;Cardiovascular Diseases;Cardiovascular system;career;Caring;Catabolism;Categories;Cells;Central obesity;Cholesterol;Cholesterol Esters;Cholesterol Homeostasis;Chronic Disease;Cirrhosis;Clinical;clinical care;clinical investigation;Clinical Management;clinically relevant;comorbidity;Complex;dehydroepiandrosterone;Development;Diabetes Mellitus;diabetic;Disease;Dyslipidemias;Endocrinology;Engineering;falls;Fatty Liver;Functional disorder;Funding;Gastrointestinal Physiology;General Population;Genetic Transcription;Glucocorticoids;Goals;Health;Healthcare;Heart;Heart Diseases;Hepatic Tissue;Hepatitis C virus;high density lipoprotein receptor;high density lipoprotein-1;High Density Lipoproteins;Hormone secretion;Hormones;Human;Huntington Disease;Hydrocortisone;Hyperlipidemia;Hypertension;Hypoglycemic Agents;Hypogonadism;Impairment;improved;Inflammation;insight;Insulin;Insulin Resistance;insulin sensitivity;Journals;Laboratories;Larrea;Link;lipid metabolism;Lipids;lipoprotein cholesterol;Lipoproteins;Liver;Longitudinal Studies;Low-Density Lipoproteins;Malignant Neoplasms;Mediating;Medical;men;Metabolic;Metabolic syndrome;Metabolism;military veteran;Mineralocorticoids;Mission;Mitochondria;Modeling;Molecular;Molecular and Cellular Biology;mouse model;Muscle;Neurodegenerative Disorders;non-alcoholic fatty liver disease;Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus;nonalcoholic steatohepatitis;Nonesterified Fatty Acids;Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid;novel;novel therapeutics;Obesity;Ovarian;oxidative damage;Oxidative Stress;Parkinson Disease;particle;Pathogenesis;Pathway interactions;peptidomimetics;peroxiredoxin;Pharmaceutical Preparations;Physiology;Population;Post-Transcriptional Regulation;Pregnenolone;Primary carcinoma of the liver cells;Process;Production;Proteins;Publishing;Rattus;Reactive Oxygen Species;receptor;Regulation;Research;Research Activity;Research Personnel;response;reverse cholesterol transport;Rodent;Rodent Model;Role;Scientist;Sexual Dysfunction;skeletal tissue;SNAP receptor;SOD2 gene;Spermatogenesis;SR-B proteins;Steroid biosynthesis;steroid hormone;steroid hormone biosynthesis;Steroids;Stroke;System;Testosterone;Therapeutic;Tissues;Triglycerides;United States National Academy of Sciences;United States National Institutes of Health;uptake;Veterans;Veterans Health Administration;Work


NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Biotechnology;Cancer;Dietary Supplements;Digestive Diseases;Immunotherapy;Nutrition;Orphan Drug;Pancreatic Cancer;Rare Diseases

ORG_DEPT: RADIATION-DIAGNOSTIC/ONCOLOGY

ORG_NAME: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR

PHR: Project Narrative In pancreatic tumors, while nutrient-restrictive milieu governs NK cell exclusion and dysfunction, tumor cells sustain their growth through metabolic adaptations. This study will investigate the impact of vitamin B6 limitation in the tumor microenvironment on NK cell metabolism and function, with a parallel focus on targeting vitamin B6- dependent growth in tumor cells.

PI_NAMEs: MEHLA, KAMIYA  (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: MERCER, NATALIA

PROJECT_TERMS: Activated Natural Killer Cell;Adenocarcinoma Cell;Adoptive Transfer;Allogenic;Anabolism;Antitumor Response;Attenuated;attenuation;Biological Assay;Blood;cancer cell;Cancer Etiology;Carbon;Cell Degranulation;Cell Physiology;Cell Proliferation;Cell Survival;Cell Therapy;Cells;Cellular immunotherapy;Cellular Metabolic Process;Cessation of life;chemotherapy;Circulation;Coculture Techniques;Coenzyme A;cofactor;cytotoxic;Data;Dependence;Development;Diet;Exclusion;exhaust;exhaustion;Exhibits;Frequencies;Functional disorder;Glucose;Glutamine;Glycine;Glycogen;Glycogen Phosphorylase;glycogenolysis;Glycogenolysis Induction;Glycolysis;Growth;Hydroxymethyltransferases;Hypoxia;Immune;immune function;Immunotherapy;Impairment;improved;Incidence;Infusion procedures;inhibitor;Interferon Type II;Killer Cells;Kinetics;knock-down;Knock-out;Kynurenine;Label;Link;Malignant neoplasm of pancreas;Malignant Neoplasms;Mediating;Metabolic;Metabolic Pathway;Metabolism;Modeling;Monitor;mouse model;Mus;NADP;Natural Killer Cells;neoplastic cell;novel therapeutics;Nucleotides;Nutrient;Organoids;pancreatic cancer cells;Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma;pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell;pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model;pancreatic neoplasm;Pathway interactions;patient derived xenograft model;Patients;Phase;Phenotype;Play;Production;Prognostic Factor;Proliferating;rapid growth;Research Personnel;response;Risk;Role;Serine;standard of care;Starvation;success;Supplementation;Survival Rate;T-Lymphocyte;Therapeutic;Therapeutic Studies;tool;Treatment Efficacy;Tryptophan;tumor;Tumor Burden;tumor growth;tumor hypoxia;tumor microenvironment;tumor progression;tumor-immune system interactions;tumorigenesis;Vitamin B 6 Deficiency;Vitamin B6;Vitamin B6 Metabolism Pathway

PROJECT_TITLE: Vitamin B6 Modulates NK Cell Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer

STUDY_SECTION: CPSS

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Cancer Prevention Study Section[CPSS]


ADMINISTERING_IC: DK

ED_INST_TYPE: SCHOOLS OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

IC_NAME: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES

ORG_CITY: PASADENA

ORG_NAME: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

PHR: Project Narrative  Studies proposed in this renewal application for the DK039520 grant will address regulated protein degradation by the Pro/N-degron and Arg/N-degron pathways, specific proteolytic systems that are universal among fungi, protists, animals and plants. Inborn or acquired defects in specific proteolytic systems are a major cause of many human diseases, including cancer, infections, cardiovascular illnesses and neurodegenerative syndromes. Our studies of the Pro/N-degron and Arg/N-degron pathways will contribute to advances in fundamental biology, and may also lead to better therapies for specific medical problems.

PI_NAMEs: VARSHAVSKY, ALEXANDER J (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: SECHI, SALVATORE

PROJECT_TERMS: Acetylation;adaptive immunity;Amino Acids;Aminopeptidase;Animals;Apoptosis;Autophagocytosis;biological adaptation to stress;Biological Process;Biology;C-terminal;Calpain;Cardiovascular system;Caspase;Cathepsins;Cell Cycle;Cell Differentiation process;cell motility;Cell Nucleus;Cells;Chromosome Cohesion;Circadian Rhythms;Cytoskeletal Proteins;Cytosol;deamidation;Defect;Disease;DNA Repair;Enzymes;Eukaryotic Cell;fungus;Genes;Genetic Code;Genetic Transcription;Gluconeogenesis;glutamyl aminopeptidase;Grant;GTP-Binding Proteins;Health;Heme;Human;human disease;Immune system;Immunity;in vivo;Infection;Inflammation;Laboratories;Length;Link;lipid metabolism;Malignant Neoplasms;Mammals;Mediating;Medical;Meiosis;misfolded protein;Mitotic Checkpoint;Molecular Chaperones;multicatalytic endopeptidase complex;N-terminal;Names;Natural Immunity;Nerve Degeneration;neurogenesis;Nitric Oxide;oxidation;Oxygen;Pathway interactions;Peptide Hydrolases;Peptide Transport;Phosphotransferases;Physiological;Plants;Play;Process;Progress Reports;Proline;protein complex;protein degradation;Proteins;Proteolysis;recognins;Regulation;Research;Role;Route;Saccharomyces cerevisiae;segregation;Semantics;separase;Signal Transduction;Spermatogenesis;stem;stoichiometry;Syndrome;System;Terminology;Transcriptional Regulation;Translations;Ubiquitin;ubiquitin ligase;ubiquitin-protein ligase;Work;Yeasts

PROJECT_TITLE: New Mechanisms and Functions of the Pro/N Degron and Arg/N-Degron Pathways

STUDY_SECTION: MBPP

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Membrane Biology and Protein Processing Study Section[MBPP]


ADMINISTERING_IC: GM

ED_INST_TYPE: SCHOOLS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

FUNDING_MECHANISM: RESEARCH CENTERS

IC_NAME: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

ORG_CITY: STILLWATER

ORG_DEPT: VETERINARY SCIENCES

ORG_NAME: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER

PHR: PROJECT NARRATIVE Respiratory infections impose some of the most prevalent disease burdens worldwide and are recognized as a public health priority. The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused over 522 million infections and more than 6 million deaths worldwide thus far. Accomplishing the goals of the research projects will result in the development of drugs to prevent and treat respiratory infections and thus the current proposal addresses a public health priority.

PI_NAMEs: LIU, LIN  (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: CUPIT, PAULINE

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;Affect;Animal Model;Applications Grants;Area;Award;Bacterial Infections;Biomedical Engineering;Biomedical Research;burden of illness;career development;Centers of Research Excellence;Cessation of life;Collaborations;collaborative environment;college;combat;Communicable Diseases;Communities;Core Facility;cost;COVID-19;COVID-19 pandemic;Development;Diagnostic;Disease;drug development;Environment;Equipment;Faculty;Financial Support;Foundations;Funding;Goals;Grant;immunopathology;improved;industry partner;Infection;Infectious Diseases Research;Influenza;influenzavirus;Institution;inter-institutional;Journals;Lung infections;Medical Research;meetings;member;Modernization;Molecular Biology;multidisciplinary;Mycoses;new technology;nutrition;Oklahoma;Paper;Pathogenesis;Patients;Phase;Pilot Projects;Pneumonia;Population;prevent;programs;Pseudomonas aeruginosa;public health priorities;Publishing;Recovery;Research;research and development;research facility;Research Institute;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;Resources;respiratory;Respiratory Center;Respiratory Disease;Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections;Respiratory Tract Infections;Secure;Series;Services;Strategic Planning;Streptococcus pneumoniae;success;symposium;Technology;tenure track;Therapeutic;Tuberculosis;United States Department of Agriculture;United States National Institutes of Health;Universities;Vaccines;Viral

PROJECT_TITLE: Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases


FUNDING_MECHANISM: TRAINING, INSTITUTIONAL

NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Biotechnology

ORG_CITY: PISCATAWAY

ORG_DEPT: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

ORG_NAME: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.

ORG_STATE: NJ

PHR: 8. NARRATIVE The proposed training program produces highly trained graduates that apply the tools of science and engineering to significant research problems in biology and medicine. With their unique skills and perspectives, graduates of the program are well prepared to advance human health and welfare through original discoveries, and through the development of new drugs, materials, and devices for use in exploratory investigations, diagnosis, and therapy. These professionals will play a critical role in maintaining our country’s leading role in biotechnology on the world scene.

PI_NAMEs: STOCK, ANN M.;YARMUSH, MARTIN L (contact)

PROGRAM_OFFICER_NAME: DAVANI, BEHROUS

PROJECT_TERMS: Biotechnology;Training Programs

PROJECT_TITLE: Rutgers Biotechnology Training Program

STUDY_SECTION: TWD

STUDY_SECTION_NAME: Training and Workforce Development Study Section - B[TWD-B]


NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Building Research Capacity at Institutions with Limited NIH Funding;Clinical Research;Infectious Diseases;Lung

PROJECT_TERMS: Achievement;career development;Collaborations;Communicable Diseases;Ensure;Environment;Fostering;human subject;Oklahoma;Phase;Pilot Projects;Program Evaluation;Program Research Project Grants;programs;recruit;Regulation;Research;research and development;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;Respiratory Center;Respiratory Disease;Vertebrates;Vocational Guidance

PROJECT_TITLE: Administrative Core


NIH_SPENDING_CATS: Building Research Capacity at Institutions with Limited NIH Funding;Infectious Diseases;Lung

PI_NAMEs: HINSDALE, MYRON E (contact)

PROJECT_TERMS: Address;Animal Experiments;Animal Model;Animal Welfare;Animals;Anti-viral Agents;Applications Grants;base;biosafety level 3 facility;Breeding;Centers of Research Excellence;Collaborations;Communicable Diseases;Communities;Contracts;Coronavirus;COVID-19 pandemic;COVID-19 vaccine;Discipline;Documentation;emerging pathogen;Ensure;Equipment;Extramural Activities;Faculty;Fee-for-Service Plans;Fostering;Foundations;Funding;Genotype;Goals;Hand functions;Housing;IACUC;Immunology;Industry;industry partner;Infection;infectious disease model;Infectious Diseases Research;Infrastructure;Institution;Instruction;interdisciplinary collaboration;Knock-in;Knock-out;Letters;Medical Research;member;Mission;Modeling;Mycobacterium tuberculosis;Oklahoma;pathogen;Phase;Phenotype;Pilot Projects;pre-clinical;Productivity;programs;prospective;Protocols documentation;Qualifying;Regulation;Research;research clinical testing;Research Personnel;Research Project Grants;respiratory;Respiratory Center;Respiratory Disease;Respiratory Function Tests;respiratory pathogen;Schedule;Services;success;Technology;Training;Transgenic Animals;Universities;Vaccines;Viral;Viral Pathogenesis;virology;Work

PROJECT_TITLE: Animal Models Core