The UNMC College of Medicine recently received grants and awards representing more than $7.5 million in new funding. Awards included:
- Siwei Zhao, PhD, surgery-transplant, received a grant of $435,373 from DHHS/NIH/NIBIB for a study of a novel and efficacious electrotaxis system for enhancing chronic wound healing.
- Amanda Brinkworth, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $417,845 from DHHS/NIH/NIAID for adaptation of an in vitro generated human skin model for tick feeding to study Borrelia burgdorferi transmission.
- Dhirendra Pratap Singh, PhD, ophthalmology and visual sciences, received a grant of $384,364 from DHHS/NIH/NEI to study a molecular approach to ameliorate the age-dependent loss of Clock protein Bmal1 andNrf2-antioxidant response in eye lens: Implications for eye lens health span.
- Ashu Shah, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $309,000 from the U.S. Army/USAMRAA/CDMRP for a study of axonal guidance molecule neuropilin-2 (NRP2) promotes perineural invasion (PNI) and pain in PDAC patients.
- Pooneh Bagher, PhD, cellular and integrative physiology, received a grant of $230,250 from DHHS/NIH/Office of the Director for a study on the development of transgenic mouse model resources for red fluorescence-based genetically encoded indicator studies.
- Pengwei Zhang, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $230,250 from DHHS/NIH/NIAID for a study of the mechanism of dynein-mediated early intracellular trafficking of human papillomavirus.
- Bin Duan, PhD, internal medicine-cardiovascular, received a grant of $149,826 from NSF for collaborative research on “EAGER” (Embedded Section-by-Section Bioprinting of Large-Scale Cellular Human Tissue Constructs), as well as a grant of $95,547 from Nebraska DHHS for the study “Porous Nerve Grafts with iPSC-SCs for Nerve Repair.”
- Sandipan Brahma, PhD, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, received a grant of $105,000 from Nebraska DHHS for a study on chromatin remodeling in an embryonic origin cancer.
- Kavita Bantwal Mallya, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $97,305 from DHHS/NIH/NCI for a study of novel models and biorepository for early detection and therapeutic intervention of pancreatic cancer.
- Shubham Agarwal, MD, internal medicine-DEM, received a grant of $56,045 from Nebraska Educational Biomedical Research Association for a research collaboration.
- Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD, pediatrics-critical care, received a grant of $22,921 from the University of Pennsylvania for “PROSpect” (Prone and Oscillation Pediatric Clinical Trial).
- Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, received a grant of $15,000 from the Nebraska Bankers Association Equipment Grants/U.N. Foundation for the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Industry-sponsored grants and contracts:
The following industry-sponsored grants and contracts were received.
- Cyrus Desouza, MBBS, internal medicine-DEM, received funding for a study to evaluate the impact of maridebart cafraglutide on cardiovascular outcomes in participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity. Dr. Desouza also received funding for a study comparing the efficacy and safety of once-weekly insulin Icodec and once-daily insulin Glargine u100, both in combination with insulin Aspart, in adults with Type 1 diabetes.
- David F. Mercer, MD, PhD, surgery-transplant, received funding for a study to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of DefenCath in reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in adult participants.
- Joseph Fernandes, MD, neurological sciences, received funding for a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DNTH103 in adults with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
- Christopher D’Angelo, MD, internal medicine-oncology/hematology, received funding for a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Zilovertamab Vedotin (MK-2140) plus R-CHP vs. Polatuzumab Vedotin plus R-CHP in treatment-naïve participants.
- Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received funding for pilot clinical evaluation of the SPOTFIRE warrior panel.
- Brad Brabec, MD, pediatrics-PHSS, received a funding for study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of Zavegepant in children 6 to less than 12 years of age with history of migraine.