Here are some of the top research grants over the past couple months:
Stephen Obaro, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., pediatrics infectious disease, has received a Gates Foundation award for $1.4 million. Dr. Obaro will contribute to the surveillance of co-morbidities in sub-Saharan, Nigeria. These observational studies will be used to inform implementation of appropriate public health control measures to reduce mortality rates in young children.
Kishor Bhakat, Ph.D., genetics, cell biology and anatomy, has received a National Institutes of Health R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This $792,000 award will further Dr. Bhakat’s work in elucidating the molecular basis of APE1 acetylation and its role in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation. Dr. Bhakat’s hope is that this mechanism may lead to new therapeutics to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tumor cells.
Javeed Iqbal, Ph.D., pathology & microbiology, has received a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society grant for his work in the underlying genomics of peripheral T-cell lymphomas. These aggressive tumors account for 10-15 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in the United States.
James Talmadge, Ph.D., pathology & microbiology, has received $249,000 Department of Defense research award to explore different formulations of adjuvants for vaccines.
Kelly Trujillo, Ph.D., biochemistry and molecular biology, has received a National Institutes of Health K22 Transition Career Development award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This $116,000 award will further Dr. Trujillo’s work in the role of H2B ubiquitylation in DNA replication a potential new target for the treatment of cancer.
Vikas Gulati, M.D., ophthalmology and visual sciences, is the recipient of a Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Gulati will use his $1 million award to fund his research program in humor dynamics while pursuing a doctoral degree. Dr. Gulati will build on his prior training and experience in aqueous humor dynamics research and clinical trials involving glaucoma diagnostics and therapeutics.
Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., ophthalmology and visual sciences, received a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services LB606 (Stem Cell) award. This $110,000 award will further Dr. Ahmad’s work in the role of retinal stem cells in retinal repair and the restoration of sight.
Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., surgery-general surgery, will manage a Foundation for Surgical Fellowships award for Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellows. The $125,000 MIS Fellowship offers an opportunity for fellows to acquire advanced skills in all aspects of laparoscopy including robotics surgical training. This is the third year that Dr. Oleynikov has received a training award from the foundation.
Industry-sponsored contracts
The following industry-sponsored contracts have been received. Here is more information on clinical trials enrolling patients at UNMC.
William Rizzo, M.D., pediatrics-metabolism, is the recipient of a “proof of concept” grant for the use of Betaine in children with Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorders. Dr. Rizzo also is the UNMC lead for a dosing trial on the safety and effectiveness of a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of PKU. This study is open only to prior participants of preliminary tests of the agent. Dr. Rizzo’s trial is the only Nebraska site.
James Talmadge, Ph.D., pathology & microbiology, is doing a stability study of normal donor apheresis products.
Weining (Ken) Zhen, M.D., radiation oncology, is the UNMC lead for an interventional, safety study of a chemotherapeutic agent to treat patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck who are receiving standard radiation therapy. This study is currently recruiting participants.
Carol Toris, Ph.D., ophthalmology and visual sciences and an expert on intraocular pressure measurements, is doing a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate a new device to measure ocular dimensional changes over time.
Greg Bociek, M.D., internal medicine-oncology/hematology, is the UNMC lead for a multi-center, comparative Phase III clinical trial on a combination chemotherapeutic regime for the treatment of advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Dr. Bociek’s trial is the only Nebraska site and is currently recruiting participants.
Quan Dong Nguyen, M.D., ophthalmology and visual sciences, is the UNMC lead for two multi-center, Phase III clinical trials on a new biologic agent for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis.
William Burke, M.D., psychiatry, is the UNMC lead for a Phase IV Clinical Trial on the effectiveness of transdermal application of a stimulant currently used orally for the treatment of apathy in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia.
Julie Vose, M.D., internal medicine-oncology/hematology, is the UNMC lead for a safety study on an investigational medication for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. This study is currently recruiting patients.
Howard Gendelman, M.D., pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, is the project lead on a National Institutes of Health funded program for immune cell gene therapy in the treatment of neuroAIDS.
Timothy McCashland, M.D., internal medicine-gastroenterology, is the UNMC lead for a Phase IV clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of a therapeutic agent alone or in combination on the delay of hepatic encephalopathy onset in subjects with cirrhotic liver disease. This study is currently recruiting subjects and is the only site in Nebraska.
Sandeep Rajan, M.B.B.S., internal medicine-oncology/hematology, is the UNMC lead for a trial on the safety of a new biologic agent to treat an autoimmune syndrome characterized by the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body. The syndrome can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and death and can affect both children and adults.
Timothy Greiner, M.D., pathology & microbiology, is the recipient of an award to identify antigen targets for the development of monoclonal antibody treatments in cancer.
Shirley Delair, M.D., pediatrics infectious disease, is the UNMC lead for a Phase I clinical trial of a combination intravenous treatment for infections resulting from antibiotic resistant gram positive pathogens.
Matthew Van Hook, Ph.D., ophthalmology and visual sciences, has received a Fight for Sight Foundation award for his work in the regulation of cone photoreceptor vesicle resupply and synaptic transfer kinetics.
Rana Zabad, M.D., neurological sciences, is the UNMC lead for a Phase IV clinical trial to explore genetic mutations which may make individuals susceptible or resistant to developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.