NC TraCS $5K-$50K Pilot Program Third Round Awardees

The NC TraCS Institute is pleased to announce awardees of the third cycle of TraCS $5K-$50K grants for clinical and translational research projects. 26 applications were received and 10 were chosen for funding. Awardees include investigators from UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Dentistry and School of Medicine. These awards are comprised of NC TraCS funding matched by funds from UNC Schools, Departments, Centers and funding from partner organizations. The 10 projects are listed below, alphabetically by PI last name.

1. Kristina Abel
   Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
   Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque
   School of Dentistry
   Project Title: Biomarkers in Oral Fluids -- Predictors of HIV Progression?
2. A. Sidney Barritt
   Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
   Project Title: Simulating donor liver availability and quality in the context of increasing donation after cardiac death, donor diabetes and obesity: assessing the uncertain future of liver transplant
3. Aysenil Belger
   Psychiatry, School of Medicine
   David Rubinow
   Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
   Project Title: Gonadal Steroids and Neural Function in an Experimental Model of Postpartum Depression
4. Lynn Dressler
   Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
   Fatimah Jackson
   Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
   Project Title: Addressing ethnic disparities in participation in cancer genomics studies in North Carolina
5. Nigel Mackman
   Pharmacology; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
   Brian Bennett
   Genetics, School of Medicine
   Jian Jin
   Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy
   Lisa Makowski
   Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health
   Project Title: Role of the Tissue Factor/FVIIa-PAR-2 Pathway in Obesity
6. Terry Noah
   Pediatrics, School of Medicine
   Project Title: Body mass index and influenza vaccine responses in children
7. W. Kimryn Rathmell
   Genetics; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
   Wui Chong
   Radiology; OB/GYN, School of Medicine
   Paul Dayton
   Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy
   Project Title: Non-Invasive Assessment of Renal Masses in Renal Insufficiency
8. Oliver Smithies
   Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
   Project Title: Localization of Immune Complex Deposition in the Renal Glomerulus
9. Til Sturmer
   Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health
   Project Title: Analysis of the Relationship between the Use of Incretin-based Therapies and Cancer Incidence
10. Dhiren Thakker
    Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy
    Project Title: Role of Transporters in the Efficacy of Metformin in Breast Cancer