January 19, 2021

Many thanks to the faculty and staff who participated in the 2020-2021 Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) formula grant program competition.  After an internal call for proposals, a scientific review panel met on December 18, 2020 to evaluate the applications that were submitted.  The panel was comprised of faculty members from across the University.

The following collaborative projects were selected for submission to the PA Department of Health’s CURE grant program for funding:

Peptide-Foam Delivery System for Gut Microbiome Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Nicolas J Alvarez, PhD, Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering 
Co-investigator: 
Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, PhD, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Stimulation of Viral Replication
Principal Investigator: Michael J. Bouchard, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
Co-investigators:
Irwin M Chaiken, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
Sandhya Kortagere, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine

Prototype Electrode for Intramuscular Single Unit Myography and Electrodiagnostics
Principal Investigator: Simon F Giszter, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy, College of Medicine
Co-investigators: 
Glenn N Williams, PT, PhD, ATC, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions 
Benjamin I Binder-Markey, BME, DPT, PhD, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions 
Arun Ramakrishnan, PhD, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Depth of Anesthesia Monitoring via Cerebral Hemodynamics
Principal Investigator: Kurtulus Izzetoglu, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems 
Co-investigators: 
Michael S. Green, MD, Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University
Shadi N. Malaeb, MD, Pediatrics, College of Medicine; Neonatology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Meltem Izzetoglu, MS, PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Villanova University
Patricia A. Shewokis, MS, EdS, PhD, Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Investigating a Novel Antimalarial Drug Target
Hangjun Ke, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine
Co-investigator:
Akhil Vaidya, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine

Development of Novel HIV-1 Tat Inhibitors: From Latency to Cure 
Principal Investigator: Zachary A Klase, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology, College of Medicine
Co-investigators:
Simon Cocklin, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
Michael Nonnemacher, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine
Rachel VanDuyne, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology, College of Medicine
Adel Rashad, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine

Real-time Ex Vivo Modulation of ERK1/2 Signaling in Dopamine Neurotransmission  
Principal Investigator: Ole V Mortensen, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology, College of Medicine
Rodrigo España, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy, College of Medicine

Non-Opioid Analgesic Treatment of Neuromuscular Pain 
Principal Investigator: Mark E Schafer, PhD, School ofBiomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems 
Co-investigators:
Margaret A. Finley, PT, PhD, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions 
Peter A. Lewin, MSc, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems 

Telehealth Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy for Seniors: A Feasibility Study 
Principal Investigator: Minjung Shim, PhD, Creative Arts Therapy, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Co-investigators:
Katherine Fisher, PhD, Graduate Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Sungchul Park, PhD, Health Management and Policy, Dornsife School of Public Health
Arun Ramakrishnan, PhD, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Fengqing Zhang, PhD, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Mechanisms of Synaptic Refinement in Developing Neural Circuits 
Principal Investigator: Catherine R von Reyn, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems 
Co-investigator:
A. Denise Garcia, PhD, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
Cortical Silence During Delta Oscillation Facilitates Memory Consolidation 
Principal Investigator: Dong Wang, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy, College of Medicine
Co-investigator:
Hualou Liang, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems