Achala Vagal, MD, MS, Professor, Department of Radiology

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke RF1

Title: APRISE Dementia (Assessing Population-based Radiological brain health in Stroke Epidemiology-Dementia)

Award Period: 8/15/2020- 5/31/2024

Award Sum: $1,963,399.00

Project Summary: This research aims to create a prediction model of post stroke dementia (PSD) incorporating imaging parameters in a biracial ischemic stroke/hemorrhagic stroke/TIA population using state-of-the-art modeling approaches. Researchers hypothesize that diagnosis of PSD (within five years from index stroke event) will be better predicted by incorporating imaging parameters compared to traditional vascular risk factors alone.

Alberto Espay, MD, MSc, Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Award

Title: The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative

Award Period: 11/1/2020- 10/31/2033

Award Sum: $2,152,338.00

Project Summary: The “Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative” is an observational study designed to evaluate and validate biomarkers of progression in patients with Parkinson’s disease, conducted at a network of clinical sites around the world, funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Clinical, imaging and biosample data are used to define biomarkers that may serve to guide further therapeutic efforts.

Alison Weiss, PhD, Professor Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology

National Institute of General Medical Sciences R25

Title: Biomedical Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program

Project Period: 9/21/2020- 8/31/2025

Award Sum: $1,575,141.00

Project Summary: The University of Cincinnati PREP program (PREP@UC) will provide training to prepare recent college graduates from underrepresented minority groups, disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities for entry into a biomedical doctoral program and successful completion of that program. PREP@UC will provide intensive mentoring, research training and an individually tailored program of academic preparation. The scholars will spend 75% of their time performing research and the remaining 25% time on other educational and mentoring activities.

Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Award

Title: COVID-19 Prevention Network

Award Period: 7/1/2020- 11/30/2020

Award Sum: $380,075.00

Project Summary: To help expand existing site capacity, these funds will be used to expand clinical, laboratory and staffing capacity to participate in large, Phase III vaccine or monoclonal antibody efficacy trials with large numbers of study participants. This capacity expansion includes community engagement and outreach to support enrollment and retention efforts.

 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Award 

Title: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Spike SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies in Preventing SARS-CoV 

Award Period: 7/1/2020- 11/30/2021 

Award Sum: $475,500.00 

Project Summary: This study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of co-administered REGN10933+REGN10987 combination therapy ("REGN10933+REGN10987") to reduce the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections and prevent the development of COVID-19 disease (symptomatic SARS-CoV2 infect ion), after household exposure to individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of REGN10933+REGN10987 will also be evaluated.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Award

Title: Phase 3, SARS-oV-2 Vaccine (Moderna TX, Inc.)

Award Period: 7/1/2020- 6/30/2022

Award Sum: $6,539,000.00 

Project Summary: The study is designed to demonstrate the efficacy of mRNA-1273 to prevent COVID-19 and evaluate the safety and reactogenicity of 2 injections of mRNA-1273 given 28 days apart.

Carolyn Price, PhD, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology
National Institute of General Medical Sciences R25 

Title: Biomedical Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program 

Project Period: 9/21/2020- 8/31/2025 

Award Sum: $1,575,141.00 

Project Summary: The University of Cincinnati PREP program (PREP@UC) will provide training to prepare recent college graduates from underrepresented minority groups, disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities for entry into a biomedical doctoral program and successful completion of that program. PREP@UC will provide intensive mentoring, research training and an individually tailored program of academic preparation. The scholars will spend 75% of their time performing research and the remaining 25% time on other educational and mentoring activities.

Charles Caldwell, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery

Shriners Hospitals for Children Ceramide

Title: Regulatory Role upon Neutrophil Chemotaxis after Burn Injury

Award Period: 1/1/2020- 12/31/2022

Award Sum:$749,913.00

Summary of Project: These studies will identify how burn injury disrupts Asm-mediated regulatory pathways necessary for functional neutrophil trafficking. This will enable potential therapeutics that can alter Asm activity and/or ceramide levels to beneficially regulate the host inflammatory response following burn.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences Sub Award

Title: Stratifying Patient Immune Endotypes in Sepsis (SPIES Study)

Award Period: 9/5/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $798,995.00

Project Summary: Researchers will assess whether stimulated T cell production of IFN-γ and stimulated monocyte production of TNFα, as quantitated by ELISpot, better predicts infectious and long-term outcomes in sepsis survivors than common static measurements based on protein levels, expression and nucleic acid concentrations; and to employ ELISpot assessment of IFN-γ production by T-cells and TNFα production by monocytes from sepsis survivors to examine ex vivo the comparative efficacy of different immune stimulants to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression.

Daniel Woo, MD, MS, Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine

National Institute of  Neurological Disorders and Stroke T32

Title: Cerebrovascular Fellowship Training Program

Award Period: 7/15/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $1,652,143.00

Summary of Project: This T-32 program has been training neurologists for 22 years and emergency physicians formally for 16 years with the goal of producing academic leaders and clinical researchers in the area of cerebrovascular disease and neurocritical care. The training program includes extensive hands-on experience in clinical research and trials within a broad array of NIH-funded, T-2-focused, translational research. The program includes close mentoring, well-defined course work, and unique training in the evaluation and treatment of patients with acute stroke and neurocritical care. 

Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology

Food and Drug Administration R01

Title: Phase I/II clinical evaluation of ABTL0812, a novel PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor, with a unique mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer

Project Period: 9/10/2020- 7/31/2024

Award Sum: $1,922,232.00

Project Summary: This is a phase I/II clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of ABTL0812 in combination with the standard of care chemotherapy gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced metastatic PaC at first line therapy.

David Hui, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine                 
Award: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease R01        
Project title: Intestinal LPC/LPA modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic disease            
Project Period: 9/20/2016- 6/30/2021 
Summary: The overall goals of this study are to identify the mechanism underlying the interrelationship between 1b phospholipase A2 (PLA2g1b) inactivation and bariatric surgery in modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolic disease risk, and test the hypothesis that pharmacologic PLA2g1b inhibition is a viable strategy for metabolic disease intervention. Completion of this study will fill a knowledge gap regarding how dietary nutrients modulate the gut microbiota and how modulating nutrient processing in the digestive tract may confer metabolic benefits.

Deeptankar DeMazumder, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute DP2

Title: Eavesdropping on heart-brain conversations during sleep for early detection and prevention of fatal cardiovascular disease

Award Period: 8/19/2020- 4/30/2025

Award Sum: $2,407,500.00

Project Summary: The research goal of this project is to determine remodeling of vagal signaling and autonomic-redox coupling in the heart on EEG and ECG signatures over progression of CV pathology. The research hypotheses that vagal afferents increase signal transmission to the cortex as vagal innervation density increases in the left ventricle.

Department of the Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity Award

Title: Novel sex-specific strategy for tuning the fight or flight reflex to reduce oxidative stress, reduce ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prevent sudden cardiac death

Award Period: 8/1/2020- 7/31/2021

Award Sum: $197,567.00

Project Summary: The research goal is to enhance cardiac function while reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death in a personalized manner. Researchers use gene transfer, optogenetics, implantable neurophotonic nanotechnology, and computationally-efficient artificial intelligence algorithms to continuously tune the flight-or-flight stress response by automated comparisons of historical responses and events in an individual. This system progressively tailors the stress response to achieve the highest order of functional optimization in a safe, effective and personalized manner.

Diego Perez-Tilve, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology

MBX Biosciences, Inc Award

Title: MBX Biosciences Sponsored Research Agreement

Project Period: 8/8/2020- 8/8/2021

Award Sum: $305,171.00

Project Summary: The goal of this project is to evaluate in preclinical rodent models the feasibility of applying recent advances in medicinal chemistry to generate peptide-based therapeutics with a range of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties suitable for the treatment of diseases pertaining to atypical hypoglycemia or hypoparathyroidism.

Donald Lynch, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute K23

Title: Platelets and Hemostatic Factors as Facilitators of the Inflammatory Response Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Award Period: 7/1/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $898,021.00

Project Summary: These studies are significant and innovative in that they will provide a mechanistic understanding of the cross-talk between the hemostatic factors, platelets and inflammatory systems in patients undergoing TAVR. The resulting findings from this study may provide a foundation for newer generation antithrombotic strategies, such as targeting contact factors or thrombin receptors, to optimize outcomes following transcatheter heart valve procedures. 

Award: Shriners Hospitals for Children Award           
Project Title: The Role of Vitamin D and the Vitamin D Receptor in Fibrotic Wound Healing  
Project Period: 1/1/2021- 12/31/2021 
Summary: This project will investigate the role of vitamin D signaling through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, in pathological scarring, which may reveal new therapeutic opportunities. This study will leverage the team's clinical strengths as a leader in pediatric burn care to study the therapeutic potential of vitamin D to promote regenerative healing. These studies will increase our understanding of the role of vitamin D in wound healing, determine the therapeutic potential for vitamin D in scar suppression, and may reveal the molecular basis for increased scar risk in ethnic minorities.

Francis X. McCormack, MD, Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Sub Award

Title: The Molecular and Genetic Pathogenesis of LAM

Award Period: 3/1/2020- 2/28/2025

Award Sum: $561,750.00

Project Summary: Researchers will determine the relative effect of varying levels of sirolimus on S6 phosphorylation in peripheral lymphocytes at baseline 1 hr, 12 hr and 24hr, and on VEGF-D over time. They will identify and validate additional mTOR dependent biomarkers through examination of the secretome generated by ScRNAseq of lungs from patients who were on, or not on sirolimus at time of transplant, and determine the relative effects of sirolimus on those markers in study patients.   

George Deepe, MD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases         
Award: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R21     
Project Title: Immunopathogenesis of Histoplasmosis and TNF       
Project Period: 4/1/2021- 3/31/2023  
Summary: Human infection with the fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, is often mild but in individuals taking the anti-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists the infection can turn deadly. These drugs have improved the lives of many with inflammatory diseases while jeopardizing their ability to combat this fungus. In this proposal, we identified a lymphocyte subset that we posit interferes with the ability of the body to fight this fungus.

Glenn Talaska, PhD, Professor, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences

Department of Labor Award Training

Title: Capacity Building in Trenching and Excavation

Project Period:9/30/2020- 9/30/2021

Award Sum: $162,000.00

Project Summary: The University of Cincinnati Continuing Education Program continues to build new training capacity by providing training in Trenching and Excavation Safety to a total of 400 workers and employers in the construction industry.

Hyacinth Hyacinth, MD, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine
Award: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01    Project Title: Mechanism of cerebral vaculopathy and stroke in sickle cell disease 
Project Period: 7/1/2021- 6/30/2022
Summary: The goal of this research is to define the potential role of leukocyteendothelial adhesion and vascular remodeling in the pathobiological mechanism of cerebral vasculopathy and cerebral infarct in sickle cell disease (SCD). The hypothesis is that the spontaneous onset and propagation of cerebral vasculopathy in SCD is due in part to aberrant leukocyte-endothelial interaction and vascular remodeling, mediated by increased endothelial activation and a proangiogenic milieu.

Irene Hamrick, MD, Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine              Award: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality           
Project Title: Project ECHO Nursing Home COVID Action Network Partnering Program (Extension for Community Health Outcome) 
Project Period: 9/24/2020- 7/23/2021 
Summary: This work will educate and support over 140 Ohio nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic using the ECHO model. As an expert on SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Hamrick worked with a local team from geriatrics, Drs. Davis, Swagerty, Arnold and Brown from infectious disease, our research division with Sarah Brubaker, Harini Pallerla, Dan Hargraves, Drs. Regan and Burnett, to educate and inform nursing homes (NH) weekly about the latest evidence on the virus and COVID-19 management. Partnering with Dr. Zafar and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) experts on quality improvement, the team taught NH staff to plan and implement a Quality Assurance and Program Improvement (QAPI) project. As vaccines began to roll-out, Dr. Hamrick & team informed NH’s about latest safety data and addressed vaccine hesitancy. NH’s also took opportunities to share best practices, tools and to support one another.

Award: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R38          

Project Title: Stimulating Access to Research in the University of Cincinnati Internal Medicine Residency Program

Award Period: 4/1/2021- 3/31/2025   

Summary: Without a substantial increase the pool of early stage physicians interested in embarking on a research career, the shortfall of successful physician scientists will continue to worsen. To address this challenge we will institute a program, University of Cincinnati-StARR, that provides internal medicine residents interested in a research career with the research tools available at UC and CCHMC to then transition to academic fellowships and a successful physician scientist career. This will complement an infrastructure that is already in place at that has focused more on enhancing academic fellowship training. 

Jagjit Yadav, PhD, Professor, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention R21

Title: Circulating Cell-free Antigens for Monitoring of Machining Fluids

Project Period: 9/30/2020- 9/29/2022

Award Sum: $214,998.00

Project Summary: This research will identify circulating cell-free mycobacterial antigens (and their key epitopes) predominant in field metalworking fluids (MWF) and designing of a multiplex immunoassay platform for routine fluid monitoring targeting the cf mycobacterial antigens (epitopes) in industrial in-use MWF.

Jane Yu, PhD, Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Department of the Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity Award

Title: Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism and actions in tuberous sclerosis complex

Award Period: 9/1/2020- 8/31/2023

Award Sum:$722,250.00

Project Summary: This research addresses the basic inadequacy of current tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) TSC therapy and, therefore, has the potential for a marked and fundamental long-term impact on treatment of patients with TSC. Importantly, by identifying the pathways that might be used by rapamycin and the ones that are activated when rapamycin stops working, new therapies distinct from rapamycin may be discovered that are more effective than this drug and that are, unlike rapamycin, curative.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Sub Award

Title: Uterine signaling networks in the pathogenesis of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

Project Period: 7/21/2020- 6/30/2024

Award Sum: $1,544,427.00

Project Summary: The overall goal of this project is to identify direct HOX/PBX1 targets and understand their disease promoting mechanism(s) in the LAM lung niche, thereby informing the development of novel remission-inducing therapeutic strategies for LAM patients.

Jayme McReynolds, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Systems

Physiology National Institute on Drug Abuse K01

Title: Recruitment of Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Ventral Tegmental Area and Stress Induced Escalation of Cocaine Intake

Award Period: 5/1/2020- 4/30/2021

Award Sum: $136,469.00

Project Summary: This research tests the novel hypothesis that repeated stress at the time of cocaine self-administration recruits the endocannabinoids (eCB) system in the intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) to regulate dopamine neuron activity and output which ultimately results in expression of escalating patterns of cocaine use. In order to test this hypothesis, researchers will utilize behavioral, neurochemical, and neurophysiological techniques to assess the involvement of the eCB system in the influence of stress on cocaine use.

Jeffrey Strawn, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience

Award: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Sub Award
Title: Improving the Effectiveness and Safety of Escitalopram in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Using Pharmacogenetically-guided Dosing
Award Period: 9/21/2020- 6/30/2021
Award Sum: $346,985.00
Project Summary: This research aims to test how pharmacogenetically-guided treatment of escitalopram, a commonly used antidepressant, influences efficacy and tolerability in pediatric patients with anxiety disorders. Researchers will measure the response after 10 weeks of treatment with the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale, a validated measure of anxiety symptoms in children. At the conclusion of this study, clinicians, patients, parents, and payers will have the necessary evidence to show whether there is clinical utility of pharmacogenetic-guided escitalopram dosing in youth with anxiety disorders.

Award: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Sub Award 
Project Title: Partners in Caring for Anxious Youth   
Award Period: 11/1/2020- 6/1/2025
Summary: The goal of Partners in Caring for Anxious Youth (PCAY) is to conduct a pragmatic clinical trial in pediatric primary care settings comparing the effectiveness of fully-dosed, flexibly-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to CBT + a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (COMB) for achieving patient and caregiver-reported remission and functional improvement at month 6 months (end of acute treatment) and 12 months (after 6 months follow-up) in anxious youth (ages 7-17 years). The projects represents a collaboration with three principal investigators at three sites, University of Cincinnati, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the University of California Los Angeles. PCAY focuses on youth ages 7-17 years in light of the early age of onset of the anxiety disorders and the potential public health benefits of early, successful intervention. Remission is the primary outcome, recognizing that youth who achieve this robust degree of improvement may experience better outcomes into adulthood and be able to discontinue treatment without loss of benefit.

Jennifer McGuire, PhD, Instructor, Department of Neurosurgery

Department of the Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity Award

Title: Rapid Ketone Infusion to Prevent Brain Energy Depletion and Secondary Brain Injury in Severe TBI with Hemorrhagic Shock

Project Period: 9/1/2020- 8/31/2022

Award Sum: $723,710.00

Project Summary: The goal of these studies is to determine whether providing “brain food” that can circumvent obstacles to glucose metabolism that occur after TBI will prevent metabolic crisis and the spread of damage into undamaged brain tissue adjacent to the injury. Researchers also suspect that providing metabolic support after severe injury will decrease the incidence of coagulopathic complications.

Jiajie Diao, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology                           Award: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R01            
Project Title: The role of VAMP2 in alpha-synuclein function and pathology            
Project Period: 4/15/2021- 3/31/2026
Summary: The goal of this research is to define and characterize critical protein factors that stabilize binding of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) on synaptic vesicles and test their effect on neuron function and α-Syn induced toxicity. The central hypothesis is that vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 stabilizes α-Syn in its functional conformation on SVs to mediate vesicle clustering and SNARE-complex assembly, and to prevent pathological aggregation.

Jun-lin Guan, PhD, Professor, Chair, Department of Cancer and Cell Biology

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R01

Title: Regulation of neural stem cells and neurogenesis by autophagy genes

Award Period: 9/1/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $1,896,967.00 

Project Summary: This research will significantly advance our understanding of the regulation of neural progenitor/stem cells  and neurogenesis by autophagy genes that may contribute to future design of effective therapies for neurodegenerative and other related diseases.

Award: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease    
Project Title: Investigating the Sex-Specific Roles of PKLR and CHCHD6 in Insulin Resistance and NAFLD          
Project Period: 2/12/2021- 1/31/2024 
Summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of end-stage chronic liver disease and is emerging as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. NAFLD occurs with greater frequency in people with insulin resistance and obesity, and in men. This study will investigate the gene-by-sex interactions and cellular heterogeneity driving the development of NAFLD focusing on two candidate genes.

Kyle Walsh, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine

American Heart Association Award

Title: Serial RNA-seq in Acute ICH Patients: Association with 90-day Outcomes and Identification of Novel Treatment Targets

Award Period: 1/1/2021- 12/31/2023

Award Sum: $300,000.00

Project Summary: The research will identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched biological pathways associated with 90-day (+/- 14 days) ICH clinical outcome, identify dynamic changes over time in DEGs and enriched biological pathways in the serial samples from ICH patients, and compare DEGs and enriched biological pathways in ICH patients with matched controls to identify genes induced by ICH and to explore ethnic/racial and sex differences in those genes. This research has the potential for significant impact through identification of new ICH therapeutic targets amenable to treatment with immunomodulatory medications.

Margaret Powers-Fletcher, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Sub Award

Title: SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence Study

Award Period: 8/1/2020- 7/31/2021

Award Sum: $1,748,107.00

Project Summary: This study is an evaluation of communities throughout the country, including Cincinnati, OH. It will evaluate the extent of COVID-19; assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19; model the potential impact of different prevention interventions; and guide future SARS-CoV-2 prevention studies and COVID-19 treatment studies in these communities. It will also provide valuable samples for important laboratory assessments related to the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Baccei, PhD, Professor, Department of Anesthesiology

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R21

Title: Role of Gucy2d in Spinal Nociceptive Processing

Project Period: 9/15/2020- 9/14/2022

Award Sum: $453,653.00

Project Summary: This research will have a positive impact on public health by providing valuable insight into new candidate approaches to restrict the output of the spinal nociceptive network without unwanted side effects on sensorimotor processing, cognitive function, emotional regulation or reward-seeking behavior. By identifying Gucy2d (encoding the membrane-bound guanylate cyclase GC-D) as a novel marker of a highly specific subset of inhibitory spinal dorsal horn interneurons that are dedicated to the suppression of pain and itch, these studies will raise the possibility that the design of new pharmacological approaches to selectively enhance the activity of the GC-D neuronal population may yield improved pain and itch relief with fewer adverse side effects that often result from the widespread distribution of a given therapeutic target across the nervous system.

Award: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sub Award        
Project Title: MEDTAPP Diabetes Consortium Project       
Project Period: 7/1/2020- 6/30/2021  
Summary: The diabetes Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is focused on improving outcomes for Medicaid adult and adolescent patients with diabetes. Collectively, this group will identify and disseminate relevant materials to clinicians across the state to change clinical practice while improving value and reducing costs for Ohio’s Medicaid population.

Michael D. Goodman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery

Department of the Air Force Award

Title: US Air Force Research Laboratory COVID-19 Breath Analysis Activity

Award Period: 7/28/2020- 11/16/2021

Award Sum: $228,170.00

Project Summary: The overall objective is to provide research project support and nasopharyngeal testing and analysis capability to the Air Force Research Laboratory for its COVID-19 study.

Award: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Award        
Project Title: PREPARE: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial Evaluating Pre-operative Alcohol skin solutions in FRactured Extremities        
Project Period: 2/1/2018- 1/31/2022  
Summary: The PREPARE trial will enroll at least 7,820 patients with open and closed lower extremity and pelvic fractures (6,280 closed fractures; 1,540 open fractures) and evaluate if alcohol-based pre-operative antiseptic skin preparation with iodine-povacrylex (0.7% free iodine) is more effective than 2% chlorhexidine gluconate at preventing surgical site infections and unplanned fracture-related reoperations.

Award: Department of Treasury Award
Project Title: Early Intervention Program: COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Surveillance
Project Period:7/1/2020- 12/30/2020
Summary: The purpose of this overall project is to increase capacity of testing in Hamilton County, OH, identify cases of COVID-19 within the community, specifically more vulnerable & densely congregated populations, conduct serological testing and other studies to understand the percent previously infected and asymptomatically infected, and to effectively respond to and contain outbreaks before they spread to create regional impact

Moises Huaman, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Department of the Army Award

Title: Convalescent Plasma to Stem Coronavirus

Project Period: 6/8/2020- 5/31/2021

Award Sum: $761,963.00

Project Summary: This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled, phase 2 study comparing the efficacy and safety of human coronavirus immune plasma vs. control (SARS-CoV-2 non-immune) plasma among outpatients with symptomatic COVID-19.

Natalie Kreitzer, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine                 
Award: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development K23     
Project Title: Caregiver Wellness after Traumatic Brain Injury (CG-WELL): An Intervention Designed to Promote Well-being in Caregivers of Acute Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries         
Project Period: 5/1/2021- 4/30/2026
Summary: Dr. Kreitzer’s long-term career goal is to improve caregiver and patient dyad outcomes by developing family centered psychosocial interventions that enhance education, support, and skill-building in caregivers of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI) survivors. This study aims to determine feasibility, satisfaction, and data trends of CG-Well; and understand how baseline psychosocial risk factors affect response to CG-Well compared to an Information, Support, and Referral control group.

Oluwole Oladimeji Awosika, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine                                   

American Academy of Neurology Career Development Award

Title: “Taking Steps Backward to Move Forward: A Novel Neurorehabilitative Approach in Stroke Locomotor Recovery”  

Award Period: 7/1/2020- 6/30/2023       

Total Award Sum: $450,000.00

The long-term goal of this study is to determine non-invasive and exercise-based approaches to maximize walking recovery after stroke. The immediate objective of this study is to investigate backward locomotion (non-bodyweight supported) treadmill training (BLT) as a novel exercise-based neurorehabilitative approach for improving overground walking in stroke survivors. The rationale for the proposed research is its expectation to determine the efficacy of BLT, investigate the biomechanical changes associated with BLT specific to this population, and determine the key temporal-spatial and biomechanical metrics that best predict walking recovery.

Onur Kanisicak, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01

Title: Regulators of extracellular matrix production during cardiac development and disease

Project Period: 8/20/2020- 7/31/2025

Award Sum: $2,021,562.00

Project Summary: Cardiac fibrosis is a grim consequence for almost all myocardial injuries, currently with no cure in sight. To date, studies failed to identify therapeutic targets mainly due to the heterogeneity in fibroblast biology between disease types and even between various anatomical regions in the heart. This research will utilize newly developed in vivo genetic tools to rigorously interrogate all of the extracellular matrix-producing fibroblasts within the heart in order to find common and disease-specific mechanisms underlying cardiac fibrosis.

Pooja Khatri, MD, MSc, Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine
Award: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Sub Award
Title: ACTIV-IV Inpatient Platform
Award Period: 11/16/2020- 5/15/2021
Award Sum: $3,831,601.00
Project Summary: The Acute Inpatient study is a multicenter, adaptive, randomized open label platform trial to compare the effectiveness of antithrombotic strategies for the prevention of adverse outcomes in COVID-19 positive inpatients. The goal of the study is to determine the most effective antithrombotic strategies for organ support and reducing death, and to assess the safety of those antithrombotic strategies.

Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, MBA, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease

National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease R01

Title: Slow myosin binding protein-C in skeletal muscle physiology

Award Period: 8/15/2020- 7/31/2025

Award Sum: $2,317,304.00

Project Summary: The long-term goal of this research is to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie reduced contractility in muscle disease and identify novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, this research will define the role of slow myosin binding protein-C in regulating skeletal muscle function using four different unique mouse models. The outcome of this translational study will shed light on the pathological mechanisms leading to structural and contractile dysfunction in distal arthrogryposis type 1 and lethal congenital contracture syndrome type 4 diseases, and determine whether skeletal myosin binding protein-C isoforms constitute a valid target for intervention in muscle disease.

Sarah Pickle, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine       
Award: Health Resources and Services Administration Award         
Project Title: Area Health Education Centers Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement  
Project Period: 9/1/2020- 8/31/2021
Summary: The purpose of the Area Health Education Centers is to develop and enhance education and training networks within communities, academic institutions, and community-based organizations. These network support strategic regional and national priorities to increase diversity among health professionals, broaden the distribution of the health workforce, enhance health care quality, and improve health care delivery to rural and underserved areas and populations.

Sean Davidson, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01

Title: The Molecular Basis for the Role of Apolipoprotein A-II in Cholesterol and Triglyceride Metabolism

Award Period: 12/15/2020- 11/30/2024

Award Sum: $1,940,628.00

Project Summary: An important goal will be to identify the apolipoprotein (apoA-II) sequences responsible with an eye toward developing cholesterol efflux boosting therapeutics. Using human proteins in human plasma-based experiments, researchers will determine how apoA-II affects the composition and structure of other VLDL proteins and assess the consequences with respect to activation of lipoprotein lipase and binding to cell surface receptors responsible for its plasma clearance.

Silvi Shah, MD, MS, FASN, FACP, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Award: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute K23           
Project Title: Sex Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease and Optimal Coronary Revascularization in Dialysis Patients
Project Period: 5/7/2021- 4/30/2026
Summary: The central hypothesis of this study is that among patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), women as compared to men, have a higher frequency of cardiovascular events and receive suboptimal revascularization treatment strategies, which results in higher cardiovascular mortality. The goals for the study are to examine the sex differences in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular events, coronary revascularization strategies, and clinical outcomes in dialysis patients.

Temugin Berta, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology                            Award: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R21            
Project Title: STING & PAIN: exploring a viral signaling protein in nociception and neuropathy      
Project Period: 4/15/2021- 10/14/2022
Summary: The goal of this study is to determine if the viral signaling adaptor protein known as stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in peripheral sensory neurons is mechanistically linked to pain hypersensitivity and painful peripheral neuropathies. The hypothesis is that STING expression in sensory neurons drives unconventional neuronal functions leading to pain hypersensitivity, and in maladaptive conditions to painful peripheral neuropathies.

Teresa M. Reyes, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Systems

Physiology National Institute of Nursing Research R01

Title: Identification of causal factors underlying cognitive deficits in a mouse model of childhood leukemia survival

Project Period: 9/7/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $2,716,808.00

Project Summary: Researchers will evaluate homocysteine lowering strategies (folate and B vitamin supplementation, or the antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide), test the necessity of IL-1 activity and the necessity of microglia in mediating the chemotherapy-associated cognitive deficits, as well as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, leading to gray and white matter damage, and altered synaptic pruning in the prefrontal cortex.

Thomas Thompson, PhD, Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology

National Institute on Aging R0A

Title: Regulation of GDF11 by extracellular mechanisms

Project Period: 9/15/2020- 5/31/2025

Award Sum: $2,764,533.00

Project Summary: This study will test the hypothesis that GDF11 and GDF8 exists in multiple ‘activity’ states that regulate a transition from a latent state to an active state, test the hypothesis that the ‘net’ GDF11/GDF8 activity in serum decreases with age, and test the hypothesis that GDF11 signaling and its regulation/extracellular antagonism can be decoupled.

Vanessa Nomellini, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery

National Institute of General Medical Sciences R35

Title: Utilizing Immune Phenotypes to Prevent Chronic Critical Illness

Project Period: 9/1/2020- 6/30/2025

Award Sum: $2,021,250.00

Project Summary: Successful completion of these studies will significantly advance the field of immune phenotypes and set the groundwork for developing individualized immune therapies for a variety of critically ill patients.

Yanbo Fan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01

Title: The role of TFEB in aortic aneurysms

Award Period: 6/1/2020- 5/31/2023

Award Sum: $1,616,822.00

Project Summary: Researchers will characterize the protective role of transcription factor-EB (TFEB) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and establish nitro-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a novel therapeutic strategy against AAA by targeting vascular smooth muscle cells TFEB. This mechanistic research will set a solid foundation for rapid translation into clinical utilization of nitro-CLA and may lead to a breakthrough for treatment or/and prevention of AAA.

Award: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R01           
Project Title: CRISPR-Induced cardiovascular progenitor cells to repair myocardial infarction  
Project Period: 4/1/2021- 3/31/2025
Summary: This research will provide a new regeneration strategy for MI therapy through convergence of CRISPR technology and tissue engineering in CPC development.