College of Medicine
UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Investigator-Initiated Peer-Reviewed Research Grants

Kuan-Hau Chen, PhD

Award Year(s): 2023-2025
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R00AG59947-06)
Title: Behavioral and physiological linkage in people with frontotemporal dementia and spousal caregivers

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05) Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG096386-01)
Title: Influence of Social Connectedness on Early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in Rural Nebraska

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: University of California - Berkeley
Title: Predicting Risk for Adverse Outcomes in Dementia Caregivers

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG096578-01)
Title: Hearing loss, social disconnectedness, & cognitive change in rural farmers living with risks of Dementia

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (2R01AG017177-20)
Title: Longitudinal Investigation of Digital and Biological Biomarkers for Early Detection and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG084775-01A1)
Title: Digital Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease and Dementia

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association
Title: Influence of family connectedness on early AD progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Title: Negativity bias, social disconnectedness, & mental health in aging dyads

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association
Title: Hearing loss, social disconnectedness, & cognitive change in rural farmers

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: University of California - San Francisco
Title: Biobehavorial synchrony markers of dyadic social connectedness in Alzheimer's disease

Raj Dave, PhD

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation (15825-02)
Title: National NeuroHIV Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Data Coordinating Center

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05) Cognitve Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05)
Title: Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center

Anna Dunaevsky, PhD 

Award Year(s): 2020 - 2025
Principal Investigator: Anna Dunaevsky, PhD
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH P20GM130447)
Title: Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center

Award Year(s): 2024-2027 
Funding Source: DOD  
Title: The role of astrocyte in sleep impairments in ASD 

Award Year(s): 2024-2025 
Funding Source: Edna Ittner Trust 
Title: Cholesterol dysregulation in Fragile X Syndrome 

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P2GM130447-05)
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS137084-01A1) Contribution of Glia to Sleep/Wake Disturbances in FXS

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIAA (1R01AA031026)
Title: Cellular mechanisms of auditory processing deficits in a mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS146454-01)
Title: Role of MyD88 signaling in seizures and memory loss in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (1R01CA298882-01)
Title: Pre-clinical Studies on A Nanoformulation of Metformin (P4-MET) as a Radiosensitizer and Immunomodulator on Adult and Pediatric High-Grade Giloma

Pierre Fayad, MD

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS 5P20GM130447-05)
Title: This project investigates in peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS137084-01A1)
Title: Contribution of Glia to Sleep/Wake Disturbances in FXS

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: U.S. Army/USAMRAA/CDMRP (HT94252410161)
Title: The role of astrocyte in sleep impairments in ASD

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIAAA (1R01AA031026-01A1)
Title: Cellular mechanisms of auditory processing deficits in a mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Edna Ittner Trust (2878.3)
Title: Cholesterol dysregulation in Fragile X Syndrome

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (1R01CA298882-01)
Title: Pre-clinical Studies on A Nanoformulation of Metformin (P4-MET) as a Radiosensitizer and Immunomodulator on Adult and Pediatric High-Grade Glioma

J Americo Fernandez, MD

Award Year(s): 2023-2024 
Funding Source: Mass General Hospital 
Title: ALL ALS East - ALL ALS Consortium project 

Award Year(s): 2022-2025
Funding Source: Muscular Dystrophy Association - National
Title: MDA Care Team Project

Award Year(s): 2020-2025
Funding Source: Mass General Hospital
Title: Task Order# 1: Platform - Level Site support

Award Year(s): 2020-2025
Funding Source: Columbia University (NY) (SPASPF CU19-3055)
Title: PLS Natural History Study

Award Year(s): 2023-2027
Funding Source: PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
Title: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, PK, and Biomarker Effects of PTC857 in Adult Subjects with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (CARDINALS)

Award Year(s): 2023-2030
Funding Source: Clene Nanomedicine, Inc. (CNMAu8.EAP02)
Title: Intermediate Expanded Access Protocol (EAP) 

Award Year(s): 2023-2025
Funding Source: Mass General Hospital (DNL343)
Title: Take Order #12 - Regimen-Specific Appendix (RSA) G to Master Protocol DNL343

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Mass General Hospital
Title: ALL ALS East - ALL ALS Consortium project

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Mass General Hospital
Title: Master Agreement: ALL ALS East - ALL ALS Consortium project

Award Year(s): 2023-2030
Funding Source: Clene Nanomedicine, Inc. (CNMAu8.EAP02)
Title: Intermediate Expanded Access Protocol (EAP)

Award Year(s): 2023-2027
Funding Source: PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC857-CNS-001-ALS)
Title: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallell Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, PK, and Biomarker effects of PTC857 in Adult subjects with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (CARDINALS)

Howard Fox, MD, PhD 

Award Year(s): 2023-2024 
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation 
Title: National NeuroHIV Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Data Coordinating Center 

Award Year(s): 2021 - 2026
Principal Investigator: Howard Fox, MD, PhD
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH U01DA053624)
Title: Uncovering HIV/Opioid Effects in the Brain at the Single Cell Level:  Transcription, Chromatin Accessibility, and Reservoir Analysis in the SIV/cART/Morphine/Rhesus Monkey Model

Award Year(s): 2021-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS Great Plains IDeA-CTR- Cycle 2 (5U54GM115458-09)
Title: Goal: To transform the culture at partner institutions to bolster CTR capabilities, translate laboratory research to measurable health outcomes, and bring community and clinician-generated ideas and experience back to the lab specific aims.

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF-0256411)
Title: Elucidating the role of PINK1/PRKN in cell type-specific responses to alph-synuclein pathology

Award Year(s): 2022-2027
Funding Source: Drexel University (900251-UNMC)
Title: Benzodiazepine mediated mechanisms of transcriptional semi-quiescence in discrete myeloid populations.

Award Year(s): 2022-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5T32AG076407-03
Title: UNMC Training Program in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Drug Discovery

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05) Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHH/NIH/NIDA (1R01DA061306-01)
Title: Mechanistic studies of opiate withdrawl-induced sleep disturbances

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (5R01MH132517-03)
Title: Preventing Alzheimer's Disease-like Brain Pathology in HIV Infection by Targeting CCR5

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (5R03DA060076-02)
Title: Impact of cannabidiol on HIV infection and methamphetamine abuse associated neuroinflammation

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R01DA060753-01)
Title: Epigenetic regulation of astrocyte-specific NLRP6 inflammasome and PANoptosis in HIV Tat and methamphetamine-mediated neuroinflammation

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R01MH143135-01)
Title: In vivo study to determine the role of T-Cells in HIV neuroinvasion and reservior reactivation

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01DA065084-01)
Title: Mitochondrial Metabolic Signatures of HIV and Impacts of Methamphetamine at Single Sell Resolution

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS144742-01)
Title: Pink1/Parkin-dependent metabolic rewiring shapes T cell responses to alpha-synuclein: Implications for PD pathogenesis

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS136276-01A1)
Title: Role of Pink1/Parkin in the regulation of alpha-synuclein proteostasis: relevance for Parkinson's disease

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS140415-01)
Title: Role of myeloid lineage cells in Pink1/Parkin-linked Parkinson's disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG092465-01)
Title: Integrated transcriptome, translatome, and degradome analysis of the dysregulated proteostasis network in neuronal tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R21MH1461644-01)
Title: Local interactions mediating neuroinflammation and HIV persistence in the brain

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association (1375712)
Title: APOE Effects on Nonmutant Tau-Induced Neuroinflammation

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Michale J. Fox Foundation
Title: An in vivo approach to elucidate the pathobiology of PD - associated genes using human diseased neurons

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R01DA063474-01)
Title: Comprehensive analysis of brain mitovesicles in HIV/SIV and methamphetamine comorbidities

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
Title: Methamphetamine, HIV integration and latency in the brain

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG091722-01A1)
Title: Alterations of sleep and hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in a mouse model of tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH (1R01DA061691-01)
Title: Role of mitovesicles in SIV and Methamphetamine induced CNS dysfunction

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R21DA064022-01) 
Title: Attenuation of Methamphetamine Abuse Associated Microglial Activation and Behavior Impairments by Cannabigerol (CBG)

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA 
Title: DRP1/FIS1 mediated Mitochondrial dynamics in the HIV infection and Meth abuse

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (1P20GM156562-01) Nebraska Center for Cancer Prevention (NCCP) 
Title: To establish a Nebraska center for Cancer Prevention (NCCP) to build biomedical research capacity in cancer prevention at UNMC

Bernd Fritzch, PhD

Award Year(s): 2024-2028
Funding Source: University of Arizona
Title: Determinants of age-induced hearing loss and reversal strategies

Valentina Gumenyuk, PhD

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05) Cognitive Neuroscience of development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression.

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (5R37CA276928-02)
Title: Aging trajectories and outcomes of older adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R01MH135484-01A1)
Title: Adolescent brain's reward processing system on social media use, internalizing psychopathologies, and their bi-directional relations

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R01MH139800-01A1)
Title: Clinical Characteristics and Neurobiology if Tonic and Phasic Irritability in Adolescents

Abi Heller (Warren Lab)

Award Year(s): 2024-2029 
Funding Source: NIH/NIA F30AG084348-01A1 
Title: Measuring neurodevelopmental effects of genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease via cross-sectional study of brain, cognitive, and physical fitness variables in periadolescent children 

Amy Hellman, MD, FAAN

Award Year(s): 2021-2026 
Funding Source: Neurocrine Biosciences (NBI-98854-HD3006)
Title: Open-Label Rollover Study for Continuing Valbenazine Administration for the Treatment of Chorea Associated with Huntington Disease (KINECT HD 2)

Award Year(s): 2016-2025
Funding Source: CHDI Foundation, Inc
Title: A Prospective Registry Study in a Global Huntington's Disease Cohort

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: Creighton University (ADV ACCT)
Title: Bioelectrical markers of age-related neurodegenerative diseases derived from manifestations of central auditory processing

Oleg Korzyukov, PhD

Award Year(s): 2024-2026 
Funding Source: P20GM139762-04 Creighton COBRE Pilot  
Title: Bioelectrical markers of age-related neurodegenerative diseases derived from manifestations of central auditory processing 

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (5R37CA276928-02)  
Title: Aging trajectories and outcomes of older adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Award Year(s): 2025-2030 
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R01MH139800-01A1)
Title: Clinical characteristics and Neurobiology if Tonic and Phasic Irritability in Adolescents

Bethany Lowndes, PhD, MPH 

Award Year(s): 2021-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5U54GM115458-09)
Title: Goal: to transform the culture at partner institutions to bolster CTR capabilities, translate laboratory research to measurable health outcomes, and bring community and clinician-generated ideas and experience back to the lab specific aims

Award Year(s): 2022-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/CDC/NIOSH (5U54Oh010162-13) NIOSH Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health - 2022 (CASH)

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: Peraton Inc.
Title: Universal Patching and Remediation for Autonomous Defense (UPGRADE) Program

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINR (1R01NR022154-01)
Title: A ripple solution to organizational nurse burnout

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/CDC
Title: Enhancing Fall Prevention in Nebraska Assisted Living Facilities: Adaptation, Implementation, and Evaluation of the CDC STEADI Initiative

Award Year(s): 2025-2027 
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Title: Integrating Multifunctional Robotic Health attendant into Clinical Teams to Enhance Patient Care and Reduce Healthcare Worker Burden

Daniel Murman, MD, MS

Award Year(s): 2020-2026 
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R01AG017177-19) 
Title: Monitoring real-world driver behavior for classification and early prediction of Alzheimer's disease

Award Year(s): 2019-2026 
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R01AG064247-05)
Title: Measuring neurodevelopmental effects of polygenic risk of Alzheimer's disease via longitudinal study of brain and cognitive variables in periadolescent children

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation 
Title: National NeuroHIV Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Data Coordinating Center

Award Year(s): 2023-2025
Funding Source: EIP Pharma, Inc. 
Title: A Phase 2b Clinical Study of the P38 Alpha Kinase Inhibitor Neflamapimod in Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: Lilly USA, LLC (J1G-MC-LAKI)
Title: A study of Remternetug Versus Placebo in Early Alzheimer's Disease Participants at Risk for Cognitive and Functional decline (LAKI)

Award Year(s): 2025-2026 
Funding Source: Creighton University (ADV ACCT) 
Title: Bioelectrical markers of age-related neurodegenerative diseases derived from manifestations of central auditory processing

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG096386-01)
Title: Influence of social connectedness on early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) progression in rural Nebraska

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: University of California - San Diego
Title: Measuring empathy biomarkers in persons with dementia and their caregivers: Identifying psychological, hormonal, and neural ccorrelates of empathy, burden and stress

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association 
Title: Influence of family connectedness on early AD progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG093656-01A1)
Title: Tau-Mediated Regulation and Dysregulation of Butyrylcholinesterase

Meng Niu, PhD

Award Year(s): 2021-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (5U01DA053624-04)
Title: Uncovering HIV/opioid effects in the brain at the single cell level: transcription, chromatin accessibility, and reservoir analysis in the SIV/cART/morphine/rhesus monkey model

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (5R01MH132517-03)
Title: Preventing Alzheimer's Disease-Like Brain Pathology in HIV Infection by Targeting  CCR5

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation (15825-02)
Title: National NeuroHIV Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Data Coordinating Center

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF-0256411)
Title: Elucidating the role of PINK1/PRKN in cell type-specific responses to alpha-synuclein pathology

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NEI (2R01EY029778-05A1)
Title: Human Disease Modeling of Glaucomatous Neuropathy

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM4130447-05) Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG093656-01A1)
Title: In vivo study to determine the role of T-Cells in HIV neuroinvasion and reservior reactivation

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R21MH141644-01)
Title: Local interactions mediating neuroinflammation and HIV persistence in the brain

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01DA065084-01)
Title: Mitochondrial Metabolic Signatures of HIV and Impacts of Methamphetamine at Single Cell Resolution

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMDS (1R01NS144742-01)
Title: Pink1/Parkin-dependent metabolic rewiring shapes T-cell responses to alph-synuclein for PD pathogenesis

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS140415-01)
Title: Role of myeloid lineage cells in Pink1/Parkin-linked Parkinson's Disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1r01AG092465-01)
Title: Integrated transcriptome, translatome, and degradome analysis of thedysregulated proteostasis network in neuronal tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox Foundation
Title: An in vivo approach to elucidate the pathobiology of PD-associated genes using human diseased neurons

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NEI (1R01EY037280-01)
Title: Pluripotent stem cell approach to optic nerve regeneration

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association (1375712)
Title: APOE Effects on Nonmutant Tau-Induced Neuroinflammation

Vaishali Phatak, PhD, ABPP-CN

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R01AG01717719)
Title: Monitoring real-world driver behavior for classification and early prediction of Alzheimer's Disease

Award Year(s): 2021-2025
Funding Source: West Virginia University
Title: RECOVER initiative adult cohort

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R0AG096578-01)
Title: Hearing loss, social disconnectedness, & cognitive change in rural farmers living with risks of Dementia

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG096386-01)
Title: Influence of social connectedness on early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) progression in rural Nebraska

Award Year(s): 2026-2028
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Kearney
Title: Cognitive Health in Aging Across Rural and Urban Communities: A Short Longitudinal Neuroimaging and Behavioral Study

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: University of California - San Francisco
Title: Biobehavorial synchrony markers of dyadic social connectedness in Alzheimer's disease

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association (1289114)
Title: Hearing loss, social disconnectedness, & cognitive change in rural farmers

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association 
Title: Influence of family connectedness in early AD progression

Ezequiel Piccione, MD 

Award Year(s): 2023-2030
Funding Source: Abcuro, Inc. (ABC008) 
Title: A Phase II/III Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of ABC008 in the Treatment of Subjects with Inclusion Body Myositis (Abcuro IBM)

Award Year(s): 2022-2025
Funding Source: Muscular Dystrophy Association - National (492635) MDA Care Team Project 

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association 
Title: Influence of family connectedness in early AD progression

Padmashri Ragunathan, PhD 

Award Year(s): 2024-2029 
Funding Source: NIH R01AA031026-01A1 
Title: Cellular mechanisms of auditory processing deficits in a mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 

Award Year(s): 2024-2025 
Funding Source: Edna Ittner Trust 
Title: Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the auditory system 

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS137084-01A1)
Title: Contribution of Glia to sleep/wake disturbances in FXS

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: U.S. Army/USAMRAA/CDMRP 
Title: The role of astrocyte in sleep impairments in ASD

Meghan Ramirez (Warren Lab)

Award Year(s): 2024-2026 
Funding Source: NIH F99NS139537-01A1 
Title: Understanding the developmental impact of environmental risk factors on brain and cognitive systems vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease in children 

Matthew Rizzo, MD, FAAN, FANA

Award Year(s): 2021-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5U54GM115458-09) 
Title: Goal: to transform the culture at partner institutions to bolster CTR capabilities, translate laboratory research to measurable health outcomes, and bring community and clinician-generated ideas and experience back to the lab specific aims

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R01AG017177-19)
Title: Monitoring real-world driver behavior for classification and early prediction of Alzheimer's disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG084775-01A1)
Title: Digital Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease and Dementia

Award Year(s): 2026-2030
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation 
Title: Facilitating the Organization of Real-World Data to Advance Research in Alzheimer's disease and AD-Related Dementia project

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIAID (1R01AI189593-01)
Title: The multi-layer federated electronic health record study on long COVID impact on dementia development for tobacco users

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Title: Fair federated learning system for dementia progression prediction usig electronic health records and social determinants of health data

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Title: Negativity bias, social disconnectedness, & mental health in aging dyads

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA
Title: Influence of Social Connectedness on Early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Progression in Rural Nebraska

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA
Title: Pharmacologic Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease Using Electronic Health Records

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: U.S. Army/USAMRAA/CDMRP 
Title: The role of astrocyte in sleep impairments in ASD

Mara Seier, MD

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Ono Pharma USA, Inc (ONO-2808-03)
Title: A Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and potential efficacy of multiple doses of ONO-2808 in patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) (ONO MSA)

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: GE Healthcare (GE-278-001) 
Title: An open-label multicenter Phase 2 dose-evaluation study of Altropane (123I) Injection for striatal dopamine transporter visualization using SPECT brain imagine (Altropane)

Award Year(s): 2022-2026
Funding Source: Lundbec, Inc. (8331A)
Title: Interventional, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multi-center study to asses the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Lu AF82422 in patients with Multiple System Atrophy (Amulet)

Award Year(s): 2023-2025
Funding Source: Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JZP385-04)
Title: A Phase 2b, 12-week, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Parallel-group, Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of JZP385 in the Treatment of Adults with Moderate to Severe Essential Tremor (JazzET)

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: Lundbeck, Inc (20432A) 
Title: Interventional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, optional open-label extension trial of LU AF82422 in participants with Multiple System Atrophy (MASCOT)

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: Luncbeck, Inc 9(20432A)
Title: Interventional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, optional open-label extension trial of LU AF82422 in participants with Multiple System Atrophy (MASCOT)

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: GE Healthcare 
Title: An open-label multicenter Phase 2 dose-evaluation study of Altropane (123I) Injection for striatal dopamine transporter visualization using SPECT brain imaging (Altopane)

Miguel Situ-Kcomt, MD 

Award Year(s): 2020-2025
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (5UH3NS113769-05) 
Title: The goal is to better understand how the brain regulates sleep and how we can intervene therapeutically in sleep regulation in order to develop new therapies for sleep disorders both for patients with Parkinson's Disease and for other populations suffering from dysfunctional sleep

Brigette Soltis-Vaughan, MSN

Award Year(s): 2021-2025
Funding Source: Duke University
Title: Long-tern Antipsychotic Pediatric Safety Trial (LAPS_NICHD-2016LAp01) - Task order 9

Kelly Stauch, PhD 

Award Year(s): 2022-2027
Funding Source: Drexel University (900251-UNMC)
Title: Benzodiazepine mediated mechanisms of transcriptional semi-quiescence in discrete myeloid populations

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association (AARG-24-1309778)
Title: The Role of APOE4 in Synaptic Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF-0256411)
Title: Elucidating the role of PINK1/PRKN in cell type-specific responses to alpha-synuclein pathology

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NHLBI (1R01H175438-01) 
Title: The role of PKC in the modulation of Mitochondrial function in normal again and COPD

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox Foundation
Title: An in vivo approach to elucidate the pathobiology of PD-associated genes using human diseased neurons

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG093656-01A1)
Title: Tau-Mediated Regulation and Dysregulation of Butyrylcholinesterase

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01DA065084-01) 
Title: Mitochondrial Metabolic Signatures of HIV and Impacts of Methamphetamine at Single Cell Resolution

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: Michael J. Fox (026375)
Title: Determining PINK1 and PRKN enzyme activities in vivo

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: Parkinson's Foundation (PRTMPL154482) 
Title: New approaches for understanding dopaminergic neuro-specific Mitochondrial alterations

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R21AG091393-01A1) 
Title: The Role of APOE4 in Synaptic Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS144742-01)
Title: Pink1/Parkin-dependent metabolic rewiring shapes T cells responses to alph-synuclein: Implications for PD pathogenesis

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS140415-01) 
Title: Role of myeloid lineage cells in Pink1/Parkin-linked Parkinson's disease

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS136276-01A1)
Title: Role of Pink1/Parkin in the regulation of alpha-synuclein proteostasis: relevance for Parkinson's Disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R1AG092465-01) 
Title: Integrated transcriptome, translatome, and degradome analysis of thedysregulated proteostasis network in neuronal tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: Alzheimer's Association (1375712)
Title: APOE Effects on Nonmutant Tau-Induced Neuroinflammation

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R21MH141644-01) 
Title: Local interactions mediating neuroinflammation and HIV persistence in the brain

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R01AG91722-01A1) 
Title: Alterations of sleep and hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in a mouse model of tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH (1R01DA061691-01)
Title: Role of mitovesicles in SIV and Methamphetamine induced CNS dysfunction

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDDK (1R01DK144171-01) 
Title: Hibernation-like state in organ preservation for liver transplation: a strategy for reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury during normothermic regional and machine perfusion

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R21DA065250-01)
Title: DRP1/FIS1 medicated Mitochondrial dynamics in the HIV infection and METH abuse

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Defense
Title: Interrelationship between PINK1-PRKN Pathway Disruption and Tauopathy in the Pathophysiology of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease

Olga Taraschenko, MD, PhD

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05)
Title: This project investigates in peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression.

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: Neurona Therapeutics, Inc. (NTE001)
Title: A First-in-human (FIH) Study of Inhibitory Interneurons (NRTX-1001) in Drug Resistant Unilateral Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy MTLE) (Neurona)

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: Yale University
Title: New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE)

Award Year(s): 2018-2025
Funding Source: NeuroPace, Inc.
Title: RNS System Post-Approval Study in Epilepsy (PMA100026)

Pariwat Thaisetthawatkul, MD

Award Year(s): 2022-2025
Funding Source: Muscular Dystrophy Association - National MDA Care Tem Project

Jieqiong Wang, PhD

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/Office of the Director (1R03OD038391-01)
Title: Leveraging Heterogenous Commond Fund Data Sets and Beyond for Identifying Lung Cancer Subtypes

Award Year(s): 2021-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (3P30CA036727-37S5) Buffett Cancer Center Support Grant
Title: Goal and mission: promote innovative translational cancer research, excellence in cancer eduction and training, and outstanding patient-centered cancer care, and to reduce the burden of cancer and cancer health disparities across Nebraska and beyond.

Award Year(s): 2020-2025
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (3P20GM103427-22) Nebraska Research Network in Functional Genomics
Title: Goal: to enhance the research capabilities of underfunded institutions through infrastructure development and partnership

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: EMMES Corporation (15825-02) National NeuroHIV Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Data Coordinating Center

Award Year(s): 20123-2025
Funding Source: Nebraska EPSCoR (95-3101-006-412)
Title: RII Track 1: Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies (EQUATE) Substudy title: A machine learning framework to identify biomarkers of intrinsic brain networks across different psychiatric and neurological disorders

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05)
Title: This project instigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and can be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (1R35GM160448-01)
Title: Mechanisms of Biological Aging: Integration of Shared and Distinct Aging Patterns Across Multiple Scales

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (1P20GM156562-01) Nebraska Center for Cancer Prevention (NCCP)
Title: To establish a Nebraska Center for Cancer Prevention (NCCP) to build biomedical research capacity in cancer prevention at UNMC.

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (1P20GM161992-01) Nebraska Center for Cancer Prevention (NCCP)

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation
Title: Development of tumor growth rate (g-rate) based on machine learning model predicitng overall survival to assess drug efficacy using data from more than 40,000 United States veterans with metastatic prostrate cancer

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (1R01CA295513-01A1)
Title: Addressing Health Disparities for Breast Cancer by a Multi-Modal Artificial Intelligence Approach

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIAAA (1R21AA032098-01A1)
Title: Unveiling Adolescent BNST development with Deep Learning: Implications for Alcohol Use and Negative Affect

Award Year(s): 2025-2028
Funding Source: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) ASCO Career development Award

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (1R01CA309184-01)
Title: A Multi-Modal Artificial Intelligence Framework to Categorize Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Award Year(s): 2025-2029
Funding Source: NSF (2500836)
Title: SH: A Multi-Modal Transfer Learning Framework to Reduce Health Disparities for Breast Cancer

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (1r03CA309307-01)
Title: Molecular Characterization of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Based on Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Data

Award Year(s): 2026-2030
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Title: Interdisciplinary Center for Women's Health Research (ICWHER)

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R03DA064953-01)
Title: High-dimensional mediation analysis for adverse childhood experience influence on aolescent substance use disorder through impacting brain development

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: University of Nebraska - Omaha
Title: TMM: Validating Machine Learning Methods for Alzheimer's Disease Across Training Strategies, Model Architectures, and Modalities

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: DHHS (LB506)
Title: Categorizng T-ALL by a Novel Artificial Intelligence Framework

David Warren, PhD

Award Year(s): 2019-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (5R01AG064247-05)
Title: Measuring neurodevelopmental effects of polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease via longitudinal study of brain and cognitive variables in periadolescent children

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05) Cognitve neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Center
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings and and be used to evaluate Parkinson's Disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2023-2028
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NCI (5R37CA276928-02)
Title: Aging trajectories and outcomes of older adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Award Year(s): 2021-2025
Funding Source: West Virginia University RECOVER initiative adult cohort

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: University of Mississippi Medical Center (SP15111-SB19)
Title: Immulina as an Antiviral Immune Modulator for Patients with PASC and Persistent Inflammation

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R)1MH135484-01A1)
Title: Adolescent brain's reward processing system on social media use, internalizing psychopathologies, and their bi-directional relations

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: University of California - San Diego
Title: Measuring empathy biomarkers in persons with dementia and their caregivers: Identifying psychological, hormonal, and neural correlates of empathy, burden and stress

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH
Title: Developing Novel Statistical Methods for the RECOVER PASC Study

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIMH (1R01MH139800-01A1)
Title: Clinical Characteristics and Neurobiology if Tonic and Phasic Irritability in Adolescents

Award Year(s): 2025-2026
Funding Source: DHHS (LB506)
Title: Categorizng T-ALL by a Novel Artificial Intelligence Framework

Rana Zabad, MD

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: Johns Hopkins University (MS-1610-37115
Title: Traditional Versus Early Aggressive Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (TREAT-MS) Trial (IRB00143534)

Award Year(s): 2021-2025
Funding Source: Genzyme Corporation (EFC16035)
Title: A Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, efficacy and safety study comparing SAR442168 to placebo in participants with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PERSEUS)

Award Year(s): 2022-2025
Funding Source: EMD Serono, Inc.
Title: The MS Leadership and Innovation Network (MS-LINK) Outcomes Study: A Comprehensive Prospective Longitudinal Assessment of Patient and Clinical Reported Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Across North America - Study Addendum #1

Award Year(s): 2022-2027
Funding Source: Genentech, Inc. (MN43964)
Title: A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Extension, Rollover Study to evaluate the Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Ocrelizumab in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (OLERO)

Award Year(s): 2022-2026
Funding Source: Johns Hopkins University (2005880380)
Title: Traditional Versus Early Aggressive Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (TREAT-MS) Trial (IRB00143534)

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: TG Therapeutics, Inc. (TG-Azercel-101)
Title: A Phase 1, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Safety and Clinical Activity of Azercabtagene Zapreleucel in Participants with B-cell Mediated Autoimmune Disorder (Azercel)

Peng Zhong, PhD

Award Year(s): 2020-2026
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIGMS (5P20GM130447-05)
Title: This project investigates if peripheral immunometabolism changes correlate with neuroimaging findings can be used to evaluate Parkinson's disease (PD) onset and progression

Award Year(s): 2024-2029
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R01DA061306-01)
Title: Mechanistic studies of opiate withdrawal-induced sleep disturbances

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS137084-01A1)
Title: Contribution of Glia to Sleep/Wake Disturbances in FXS

Award Year(s): 2024-2027
Funding Source: U.S. Army/USAMRAA/CDMRP (HT94252410161)
Title: A role of astrocyte in sleep impairments in ASD

Award Year(s): 2024-2026
Funding Source: CurePSP, Inc. (703-2024-07)
Title: Mechanisms of Sleep Disturbances in Mouse Models of Tauopathy

Award Year(s): 2023-2026
Funding Source: American Heart Association -National (23TPA1064315)
Title: Ontogenetic activation of cardiac vagal neurons as a potential therapy for fatal ventricular arrhythmia in heart failure

Award Year(s): 2024-2025
Funding Source: Nebraska CPSCoR (95-3101-0060-418
Title: Excitatory Control of Sleep in the Mammalian Brain

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R01NS144662-01)
Title: Contol of non-REM and REM sleep by medullary circuitry

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIDA (1R01Da062676-01A1)
Title: Primary cilia, hypothalamic arousal circuitry and opioid withdrawal-induced sleep disorders

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NINDS (1R21NS145198-01)
Title: Characterization of a Novel Preclinical SUDEP Mouse Model: Targeting the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius and Sleep Dysregulation

Award Year(s): 2025-2030
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/IDA (1R01DA061301-01A!)
Title: Primary cilia in opioid-mediated sleep disorders

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: Parkinson's Foundation
Title: Curing sleep disturbances in Parkinson's Disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: U.S. Department of defense (PD240002)
Title: Mechanistic Studies of Insomnia in Parkinson's Disease

Award Year(s): 2025-2027
Funding Source: DHHS/NIH/NIA (1R03AG093238-01A1)
Title: Ciliopathies underlying sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease