NC TraCS Award Announcements

The NC TraCS Institute is pleased to announce awardees for 2 programs:

• The 128th cycle of TraCS $2K pilot grants
• The 26th cycle of TraCS $2K Stakeholder Engagement vouchers

In total, 14 applications were received and 9 were chosen for funding. Awardees include investigators from UNC's School of Medicine and N.C. A&T State University. The 9 projects are listed alphabetically below by the PI's last name.

TraCS $2K Pilot Grant Program

• Jim Bedford, Psychiatry, School of Medicine
  Jessica Steinseik, Psychiatry, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Current Treatment Practices for Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Marcus Carden, Pediatrics; Dept. of Medicine, School of Medicine
  Andrew Smitherman, Pediatrics, School of Medicine
  Project Title: A pilot study assessing p16 levels in adolescent and young adult patients with sickle cell disease at UNC
• Hao Chen, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Finding cancer stem cells in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT)
• Baggio Evangelista, Biochemistry & Biophysics, School of Medicine
  Project Title: In vivo pilot study of an engineered molecular chaperone as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Serena Fiacco, Psychiatry, School of Medicine
  Project Title: The relationship between stress, inflammation, and sensitivity to social rejection in the menopause transition: A pilot study
• Vicki Mercer, Physical Therapy, School of Medicine
  John Grose, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery; Physical Therapy, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Role of Auditory Input in Postural Steadiness during Quiet Standing in Older Adults With and Without Hearing Loss
• Carolyn Quinsey, Neurosurgery, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Ketone Esters- Neuro Protection after Concussion

TraCS $2K Stakeholder Engagement Voucher Program

• Evan Dellon, Dept. of Medicine, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Developing patient stakeholder engagement in eosinophilic esophagitis
• Cassandra Germain, Psychology, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Engaging Community Stakeholders for Research with Caregivers of PwD

View a complete list of Pilot awardees at tracs.unc.edu/pilot.