The UNMC College of Medicine recently received grants and awards representing more than $18 million in new funding. The following individuals received awards:
- Matthew Rizzo, MD, neurological sciences, received a grant of $5,118,225 from DHHS/NIH/NIGMS for the Great Plains IDeA-CTR.
- Prasanta Dash, PhD, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, received a grant of $2,571,326 from DHHS/NIH/NINDS for the study “Exploring the molecular link between bioenergetics, latency, and neuro-cognitive impairment during HIV-associated progressive aging.”
- Zhenguo Liu, MD, PhD, internal medicine-cardiovascular medicine, received a grant of $696,655 from DHHS/NIH/NINDS for the study “Fine particulate matter exposure and small cerebrovascular inflammation.”
- Michele Plewes, PhD, obstetrics/gynecology, received a grant of $650,000 from U.S. Department of Agriculture for the study “Hormonal regulation of hippo signaling in the corpus luteum.”
- Bin Duan, PhD, internal medicine-cardiovascular medicine, received a grant of $597,289 from DHHS/NIH/NIDDK for the study “Combining zwitterionic hydrogels with S100A9 inhibition for postoperative abdominal adhesion prevention.”
- Lynda Harris, PhD, obstetrics/gynecology, received a grant of $568,925 from DHHS/NIH/NICHD for the study “Making healthy babies: holistic evaluation and optimization of targeted nanomedicines to treat placental dysfunction in common pregnancy complications.”
- Kusum Kharbanda, PhD, internal medicine-gastroenterology and hepatology, received a grant of $145,124 from V.A. Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System for an interagency personnel agreement with Ramachandran Rajamanickam.
- Aaron Barksdale, MD, emergency medicine, received a grant of $139,112 from DHHS/NIH/NHLBI for the study “A randomized controlled trial comparing renal effects of vancomycin combined with either piperacillin/tazobactam or meropenem: VPT Patient Safety (VPS) Study.”
- Daniel Surdell, MD, neurosurgery, received a grant of $119,183 from University of California-San Francisco for “specimen collection for the evaluation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers in adults.”
- Caroline Ng, PhD, pathology, microbiology and immunology, received a grant of $94,969 from Purdue University for the study “Development of covalent PI4K inhibitors to treat malaria.”
- Jill Beck, MD, pediatrics-hematology and oncology, received a grant of $75,952 from Children’s Nebraska for the study “Consolidated non-federal PHI work orders under the PHI master agreement.”
- Bryant England, MD, PhD, internal medicine-rheumatology, received a grant of $53,172 from V.A. Medical Center-Omaha for an interagency personnel agreement with Roul Merit.
- Jill Poole, MD, internal medicine-allergy/immunology, received a grant of $42,838 from V.A. Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System for an interagency personnel agreement with Amy Nelson.
- Ella Rowe, cellular and integrative physiology, received a grant of $41,119 from DHHS/NIH/NHLBI for the study “Exploiting the surfaceome to develop new drug delivery targets for atrial fibrillation.”
- Ted Mikuls, MD, internal medicine-rheumatology, received a grant of $37,976 from V.A. Medical Center-Omaha for an interagency personnel agreement with Duryee Merit.
- Kathleen Moore, MD, obstetrics/gynecology, received a grant of $17,049 from Washington University in St. Louis for the study “Route 66 endometrial cancer SPORE.”
- Ruben Quiros Tejeira, MD, pediatrics-gastroenterology, received a grant of $1,500 from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for the “Global Alagille Alliance Study (GALA).”
Industry-sponsored grants and contracts:
- Omar Abughanimeh, MBBS, internal medicine-medical oncology, received funding for a trial of intravenous Obrixtamig in combination with Atezolizumab, Carboplatin and Etoposide vs. Atezolizumab, Carboplatin and Etoposide as first-line treatment in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (DAREON-Lung-1.)”
- Andy Bi, MD, PhD, internal medicine-medical oncology, received funding for the study “SHP-1 activation by sorafenib derivatives as a novel therapeutic strategy for mantle cell lymphoma.”
- Brad Brabec, MD, pediatrics, received funding to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a multivalent group b streptococcus vaccine in healthy pregnant women and their infants.”
- Cyrus Desouza, MBBS, internal medicine- diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism, received funding for the study “Zenagamtide use for the reduction of risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and either overweight or obesity (AMBIENCE.)”
- Lakshman Arcot Jayagopal, MD, neurological sciences, received funding for a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAP-219 in adult participants with focal seizures” (RAPPORT).”
- Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, internal medicine-diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism, received funding for a study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of IMVT-1402 in adult patients with graves’ disease (IMVT_Extn.) Dr. Kotwal also received funding for a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Efgartigimod PH20 SC PFS in adult participants with Graves’ disease inadequately controlled with antithyroid drugs (VitaliThy)” and for a study to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy of YB-101 in participants with graves’ disease (YB-101-201).”
- David F. Mercer, MD, PhD, surgery-transplant, received funding to evaluate the safety and efficacy of choline chloride for injection (Low dose) (THRIVE-3).”
- Jill Poole, MD, internal medicine-allergy/immunology, received funding for the “MODIFY study: A phase 3b/4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study evaluating the impact of early intervention with depemokimab on exacerbation rate, clinical remission, lung function decline, and safety in adults and adolescents with at risk type 2 asthma, conducted up to 156 weeks.”
- Faruq Pradhan, MBBCh, internal medicine-gastroenterology and hepatology, received funding for a study to evaluate MGL-3196 (resmetirom) in patients with MASH who have undergone liver transplant for MASH cirrhosis or other etiologies (GI-MASH.)”
- Chittalsinh Raulji, MBBS, pediatrics-hematology and oncology, received funding to investigate the efficacy and safety of fitusiran prophylaxis in male participants aged 1 to less than 12 years with hemophilia A or B with or without inhibitory antibodies to Factors VIII or (ATLAS-Peds).”
- Bhavina Sharma, MD, internal medicine-medical oncology, received funding for a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ABBV-706 versus standard of care in subjects with relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer.”
- Jonathan Thompson, MD, surgery-vascular, received funding for a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of REGN7508 and REGN9933, monoclonal antibodies against Factor XI, in participants with recent lower extremity revascularization for symptomatic peripheral artery disease (ROXI-PALISADE).
- Ronald Zolty, MD, PhD, internal medicine-cardiovascular medicine, received funding for a study to assess the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic effects of REGN13335, an anti-PDGF-B monoclonal antibody, in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (ILLUMINATE).