UNMC second quarter research grants total $10 million

The University of Nebraska Medical Center received $10 million in federal

research grants during the second quarter of fiscal year 2002-03. The second

quarter includes the months of October, November and December.

We are pleased with the continuing growth of the research enterprise.

said Thomas Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research for UNMC. The

apparent drop-off in the growth rate that occurred in the second quarter

should be overcome when the federal budget is approved, and NIH grant dollars

are released. We remain optimistic that we can achieve an annual total

of $100 million in research funding sometime around the year 2005.

The list of recipients who received grants worth $100,000 or more reflects

a wide diversity of research activities.

James Turpen, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the department of

genetics, cell biology and anatomy, received $900,678 from the NIH-National

Center for Research Resources through their Biomedical Research Infrastructure

Network (BRIN) program.  The goals of the NE-BRIN are to increase

the research capacity of the state, to attract and support graduate students

into the biomedical Ph.D. granting programs at Nebraskas research universities,

and to provide infrastructure-related resources that will increase the

competitiveness of Nebraska scientists for NIH funding.

Pamela K. Carmines, Ph.D., professor in the department of physiology/biophysics,

received $363,500 to identify the cells of the kidney that produce excess

oxidant substances in diabetes, the enzymatic source of the oxidants, and

the potential therapeutic benefits of specific antioxidant compounds in

preventing the early alterations in blood vessel function that accompany

diabetes. The primary cause of end-stage kidney disease is diabetes, which

exerts harmful effects on the small blood vessels of the kidney. One mechanism

that might contribute to this process involves excess production of highly

reactive oxidant substances that exert

a variety of damaging effects on tissue, including the rapid breakdown

of beneficial substances. These studies should advance the understanding

of the processes that impair kidney function early in the course of diabetes

— events that are thought to ultimately contribute to the progressive

development of end-stage kidney disease.

Alexander Kabanov, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the

College of Pharmacy, received $349,125 to study how to enhance the brain

delivery of drugs across the blood brain barrier using a novel drug delivery

system. Achievement of this goal would allow for developing new therapeutic

modalities and enhance current therapies of neurodegenerative disorders,

including cancer, AIDS-related dementia, stroke and others.

Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of ophthalmology,

received $257,250 to research the biology of neural stem cells for their

application to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Wallace Thoreson, Ph.D., associate professor and director of research

in the department of ophthalmology, received $249,326 to research the mechanisms

that regulate calcium-dependent release of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate

from photoreceptors. Maintenance of low level of activity is essential

for normal vision and over-activity of calcium currents can produce photoreceptor

damage.

George Hemstreet, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of urology in

the department of surgery, received $175,590 to study the hypothesis that

certain biomarkers or proteins (increased or decreased) are present in

a high proportion of prostate cancers, and occur early in the process of

carcinogenesis.  This study will focus on these biomarkers as a basis

for identifying individuals at high risk of prostate cancer. Early detection

and better preventive measures will reduce the cost of medical care as

well as the pain and discomfort associated with multiple biopsy procedures

for individuals with elevated PSA.