Department of Health Awards Research Grants to Drexel

July 19, 2013

A number of Drexel University College of Medicine's exciting research projects have just gotten a big boost from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Department of Health Secretary Michael Wolf presented a check for $1.4 million to Drexel as part of the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Program.

Kenny J. Simansky, PhD, vice dean for research (on the right), accepts a $1.4 million check on behalf of Drexel University from PA Secretary of Health Michael Wolf.

Kenny J. Simansky, PhD, vice dean for research at Drexel University College of Medicine, accepted the check on behalf of the university during a press conference at Drexel's Paul Peck Alumni Center on July 18, 2013. Simansky also detailed the nine Drexel research projects which received funding from the CURE grants.

The CURE Program funds grants for health research with the purpose of discovering new scientific knowledge to help improve the health of all Pennsylvanians. These grants, allocated in the 2012-13 fiscal year, focus on specific research priorities established and reviewed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the Health Research Advisory Committee, a panel made up of universities and research institutes. By law, the grants must focus on clinical, health services, and/or biomedical research, with a goal of improving health status and access.

"Over the years, CURE grants have led to amazing medical advancements and new scientific breakthroughs in treating diseases and health conditions. This year's projects are no different," Wolf said. "The Department of Health is proud to fund such bold and innovative research projects."

Drexel projects which received funding this year focus on several different areas – from breast cancer to HIV/AIDS to pain and nervous system disease and ADHD.

"We are grateful for the commonwealth's continued support of medical research," said Daniel V. Schidlow, Annenberg Dean and senior vice president of medical affairs at Drexel University College of Medicine. "The CURE grants have given our faculty members the opportunity to pursue a number of worthy research projects with the collaboration of multiple investigators across Drexel University."

In addition to Drexel, Wolf also presented awards to The Wistar Institute, Monell Chemical Senses Center, and Fox Chase Cancer Center, for a total of $41.9 million. Since the grant program's inception the state has distributed nearly $800 million in total CURE awards.

More information about the CURE program is available on the Department of Health's website.

Drexel researchers join Dean Schidlow and Vice Dean Simansky in celebrating an award of $1.4 million in grant money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also pictured are PA Secretary of Health Michael Wolf (back row, first from left), and PA State Rep. William Adolph, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee (front row, second from left).