November 12, 2008

A scientific review panel met on November 5, 2008, to evaluate the 38 applications that were submitted for funding by the formula funds from the CURE settlement of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the tobacco industry. The panel contained faculty from the College of Medicine (basic and clinical scientists) and from other schools and colleges of Drexel University. The review was rigorous and conducted according to the traditional process used by NIH study sections.

Drexel Interdisciplinary Program Initiative

“Identification of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in 3D Hypoxic Breast Cancer”
Greg Johannes, PhD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Co-investigators: Fernando Garcia, MD (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Mauricio Reginato, PhD (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Drexel Translation Foundation Grants

“Role of the Inflammasome in Early Systemic Sclerosis Dermal Lesions”
Carol Artlett, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Co-investigator: Peter Katsikis, MD, PhD (Microbiology and Immunology)

“Developing Therapies for Treating Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia”
Peter Baas, PhD, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy
Co-investigator: Terry Heiman-Patterson, MD (Neurology)

“Role of CTF18 in Female Germ Cell Development and Fertility”
Karen Berkowitz, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

“A Novel Microfluidic-Platform Liver Model System for Testing Drug Toxicity”
Michael Bouchard, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Co-investigator: Moses Noh, PhD (COE: Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics)

“Role of OGT as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Prostate Cancer”
Mauricio Reginato, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Co-investigators: Keith Vosseller, PhD (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), Fernando Garcia, MD (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), Greg Johannes, PhD (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

“RNA-interference Based Therapy for HIV-1 Associated Neuropathy”
Laura Steel, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Co-investigator: Michele Kutzler, PhD (Medicine: Infectious Diseases)
Collaborator: Jeffrey Jacobson, MD (Medicine: Infectious Diseases)

“Somatostatin Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease”
Melanie Tallent, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology