The UNMC College of Medicine recently received grants and awards representing more than $15 million in new funding. The following individuals received awards:
- Shibiao Wan, PhD, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, received a grant of $1,569,867 from NSF for “Collaborative Research: FEC: Converging AI, Biomechanics, and Genomics to Engineer Lodging Resilient Field Crops.” Dr. Wan also received a $307,000 grant from DHHS/NIH/NCI for the study “Molecular Categorization of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Based on Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Data.”
- Sajid Shahul, MD, anesthesiology, received a grant of $765,185 from DHHS/NIH/NHLBI for “Collaborative Research: FEC: Converging AI, Biomechanics, and Genomics to Engineer Lodging Resilient Field Crops.”
- Steven Yeh, MD, ophthalmology and visual sciences, received a grant of $593,177 from DHHS/NIH/NEI for a study of clinical and molecular biomarker surveillance in Mpox-related ocular disease.
- Stacy Gilk, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $497,936 from the DHHS/NIH/NIAID for a study concerning coxiella manipulation of cholesterol in the intracellular niche.
- Jingwei Xie, PhD, surgery-transplant, received a grant of $415,113 from DHHS/NIH/NIGMS for the study “Immunomodulation, Drug Delivery, and Biomaterials for Combating Wound Infection and Promoting Wound Healing.”
- Lee Korshoj, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $404,831 from DHHS/NIH/NIAAA for a study of a single-cell transcriptomic atlas for the formation and fate of microbial communities.
- Jieqiong Wang, PhD, neurological sciences, received a grant of $402,938 from the Nebraska DHHS/NIH/NIAAA for the study “Unveiling Adolescent BNST Development with Deep Learning: Implications for Alcohol Use and Negative Affect.”
- Bhavana Chhunchha, PhD, ophthalmology and visual sciences, received a grant of $383,750 from DHHS/NIH/NEI for a study of oxidative stress and Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in eye lens pathobiology during aging.
- James Ahodantina, PhD, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, received a grant of $300,000 from AASLD Foundation for a study of how HEPLISAV-B treatment overcomes immune tolerance to eliminate hepatitis B virus.
- Kaushik Patel, PhD, cellular and integrative physiology, received a grant of $250,000 from DHHS/NIH/NIDDK for a study on autonomic dysfunction in diabetes via hypothalamic mechanisms: role of renal nerves : via changes in NO mechanisms at the level of penis.
- Jeonghoon Lee, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $230,250 from DHHS/NIH/NIAID for the study “Characterization of Pkn1 as a Regulator of Chlamydial Cell Division.”
- Armen Petrosyan, MD, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $219,118 from DHHS/NIH/NIAAA for the study “Novel Mechanisms of Alcohol-Induced ER Stress and Golgi Disruption in Prostate Cancer Progression.” Dr Petrosyan also received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for a study on the loss of ER-PM junctions: novel prognostic criteria in prostate cancer metastasis.
- Annabel Barraza, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $160,352 from DHHS/NIH/NIAID for the study “Therapeutically Targeting Kinases in KSHV Disease.”
- Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD, pediatrics-critical care, received a grant of $150,000 from the American Cancer Society for the study “Activating Ferroptosis Through Iron Overload Mitigates Medulloblastoma Aggressiveness.”
- Kate Hyde, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $150,000 from American Society of Hematology for an evaluation of the nanoparticle PAMD-Ch17 as an anti-leukemic and siRNA delivery agent.
- John Davis, PhD, obstetrics and gynecology, received a grant of $140,425 from VA Medical Center-Omaha as an IPA for Rachel Reith.
- Kusum Kharbanda, PhD, internal medicine-GI, received a grant of $140,425 from VA Medical Center-Omaha as an IPA for Satish Perumal and a grant of $73,721 from VA Medical Center-Omaha as an IPA for Sundrarajan Mahalingam.
- Kyle Hewitt, PhD, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, received a grant of $75,000 from University of Utah Health Sciences Center for the Hematology Central Coordinating Center (HCCC) for the NIDDK Hematology Centers Program: “Establishing Human Organoid Models of Hematologic Disease.”
- Bhopal Mohapatra, PhD, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for the study “CBL Proteins-Mediated Metabolic Changes Fuel TNBC Stemness and Metastatic Spread.”
- Maher Abdalla, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for the study “Disrupting Heme Homeostasis to Overcome Radioresistance in Prostate Cancer.”
- Ashu Shah, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for a study on a novel Fc-optimized immunostimulatory antibody regimen for treating pancreatic cancer.
- Parvez Khan, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for a study on how neuropeptide CGRP orchestrates tumor immune microenvironment in SCLC.
- Aditya Bade, PhD, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for the study “AI-Enhanced CEST MRI for Mapping Nicotine-Associated Brain Molecular Connectivity.”
- Ranjana Kanchan, PhD, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $65,000 from NE DHHS-LB506 for the study “Targeting the Kinetochore-MYC Axis in High-Risk Group 3 Medulloblastoma.”
- Bryant England, MD, PhD, internal medicine-rheumatology, received a grant of $63,166 from VA Medical Center-Omaha for the Kwizerimana Merit IPA 2026-2028.
- Jill Beck, MD, pediatrics-hematology/oncology, received a grant of $50,000 from COG Research Foundation for the COG NCTN Network Group Operations Center and a grant of $9,999 from COG Research Foundation for the Children’s Oncology Group NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base Grant, as well as a grant of $4,000 from COG Research Foundation for a work order on chronic health conditions in survivors of Down syndrome-associated leukemia.
- Kia Liermann-Wooldrik, biochemistry and molecular biology, received a grant of $160,352 from DHHS/NIH/NCI for the study “Altered Adipose Tissue Metabolism Following Radiation Drives Prostate Cancer Metastasis.”
- Joshua Mammen, MD, PhD, surgery-surgical oncology, received a grant of $265,000 from the Oregon Health and Science University for the SWOG Network Group Operations Center of the NCTN.
- Shubham Agarwhal, MD, internal medicine-DEM, received a grant of $7,511 from the Nebraska Educational Biomedical Research Association as an ICA for Jenna Eggert.
- Faruq Pradhan, MBBCh, internal medicine-GI, received a grant of $1,500 from the American Gastroenterological Association for “Hepatology Night Shift: A Multi-Institutional AI-Augmented Narrative Game for Medical Students.”
Industry-sponsored grants and contracts.
The following industry-sponsored grants and contracts were received.
- Kathleen Moore, MD, obstetrics/gynecology, received funding for a study of NTB-928, a FRα-targeting bispecific T cell engager, in subjects with relapsed/refractory ovarian carcinoma. Dr. Moore also received funding for a study of CTIM-76, a Claudin-6 (CLDN6)-directed bispecific antibody, in patients with recurring ovarian cancer and other advanced solid tumors, as well as a first-in-human study of ATX-295, an oral inhibitor of the kinesin motor protein KIF18A, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- Scott Lundgren, DO, internal medicine-cardiovascular, received funding for “NORM-guided Congestion Management in Heart Failure) Pivotal Study Protocol.”
- Cyrus Desouza, MBBS, internal medicine-DEM, received funding for a study of the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of selnoflast in reducing vascular inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis. Dr. Desouza also received funding to assess the efficacy and safety of once-monthly PF-08653944 in adults with overweight or obesity.
- Kate Muir, DO, internal medicine-hematology/oncology, received funding for a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Silevertinib, an oral EGFR inhibitor, in combination with Temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with unmethylated MGMT promoter and EGFRvIII,
- Andrew Rorie, MD, internal medicine-allergy/immunology, received funding for a study to prospectively describe the real-world effectiveness of Depemokimab in patients with asthma with Type 2 inflammation – STRIDE-A.
- Jared Schober, MD, surgery-urologic surgery, received funding for a study of expanded access use of recombinant bacillus calmette-guãrin in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.