The University Nebraska Medical Center received more than $16.8 million
in federal research grants during the first three months of fiscal year
2002-03. The first quarter includes the months of July, August and September.
This represents a $2.8 million increase over the first quarter total of
$14 million the previous year.
After crossing the $50 million mark last year, and looking at the substantial
first quarter opening this year, I think the university is clearly sustaining
solid momentum, said Thomas Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research
for UNMC. Nothing brings success like success. The ability of our faculty
and researchers to develop projects and obtain the grants needed to realize
their goals is the foundation of UNMCs reputation as a world-class academic
research institution.
The commitment and faith in our university that resulted in the new
Durham Research Center and the reputation of our bioterrorism response
systems that led to the recent visit by Gov. Tom Ridge, Homeland Security
advisor, all spring from the same roots research, investigation, grant
acquisition and the ability to do it again and again. The universitys
first quarter results are an excellent launch for what we anticipate will
be another outstanding year.
The list of recipients who received grants worth $100,000 or more reflects
a wide diversity of research activities. Investigators at the Center
for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CNND) received more than
$1.3 million combined. The scientists include Howard E. Gendelman, M.D.,
David T. Purtilo Distinguished Chair of Pathology and Microbiology and
founder and director of CNND; Yuri Persidsky, Ph.D., deputy director of
CNND and chief of neuropathology, and Anuja Ghorpade, Ph.D., chief of the
laboratory of cellular immunology and head of the Rapid Autopsy Program.
Their individual projects range from the study of HIV dementia and the
effect of alcohol on HIV immune responses in AIDS patients, to a training
program in the neuroimmunology of neurodegeneration the first training
grant in the neurosciences awarded to UNMC.
Irving Zucker, M.D., Theodore F. Hubbard Chair of Cardiovascular Physiology
and Biophysics, received $1.4 million combined for two separate projects
involving the study of chronic heart failure. Oksana Lockridge, Ph.D.,
associate professor in the Eppley Research Institutes molecular cell structure
and biology program, received $427,003 to study gene and protein therapy
for poisoning by organophosphorus agents. The project seeks ways to protect
people from the toxic effects of chemical nerve agents. After 30 years
of research, investigators have found a protective agent, a human enzyme
called butyrylcholinesterase. It works by scavenging poisons and must be
injected through a needle. To simplify the delivery of this protective
agent, the goal is now to find a method that would allow application through
the skin in a salve.
Pascale H. Lane, M.D., associate chair for research and associate professor
of pediatrics in the nephrology section, received $416,920 to study how
puberty affects the kidneys of diabetic patients. The project examines
hormonal changes of puberty to see if they play a role in promoting kidney
failure. Diabetes is epidemic in the United States and hits hard in many
minority populations. It is the most common cause of kidney failure in
the world, and it causes approximately half of all kidney failures in the
country. Kidney failure does not typically occur until after the person
is an adult, but there is evidence that this process begins in childhood.
Ann M. Berger, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Nursing
department of adult health and illness, received $312,375 to study interventions
for fatigue in breast cancer patients. Fatigue is the most frequent and
distressing symptom reported to oncology nurses by patients receiving chemotherapy.
When nurses look for advice for managing fatigue to give to their patients,
they find few interventions that have been tested and found to be effective.
The primary purpose of this controlled clinical trial is to promote sleep
and reduce fatigue in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.
The intervention is comprised of sleep hygiene counseling, relaxation therapy,
sleep restriction and stimulus control techniques.