Alzheimer’s Disease, cerebral palsy, liver disease are just some of the conditions targeted in funded research projects
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy investigators continue to grow and expand the research goals of the college through securing collaborations and funding with private and federal sponsors.
Below is a list of COP-led projects that were funded at the university between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2023.
Jessica Alber
Alzheimer’s Disease Risk and Biomarker Disclosure (April 4, 2023, Butler Hospital, $61,240.18)
Alzheimer’s disease risk and biomarker disclosure: The aim of this study is to establish a multi-national cohort of individuals who are deeply phenotyped for Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, meaning they have brain imaging, blood, and retinal tests done and are followed over time to study the natural course of the disease.
Longitudinal validation of retinal biomarkers against cerebral imaging in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (June 5, 2023, NIH, $2,012,034.91)
This study provides foundational work toward the validation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk screening biomarkers in the human retina that can identify those who are at the earliest stages of AD, prior to the onset of clinical symptoms and loss of function. This study will also explore the added value of retinal biomarkers to cutting edge plasma biomarkers for the detection of AD.
Matt Bertin
The Northeast Bivalve Hatchery Health Consortium (NEBHHC): Managing larval mortalities in Northeast Hatcheries (May 4, 2023, University of Maryland, $14,670.25)
The goal of this project is to identify the causes of bivalve hatchery larval mortalities and crashes in the Northeast US through an integrated, collaborative, and proactive approach to sample collection and analysis. We will use this knowledge to develop strategies and protocols to minimize larval crashes in hatcheries.
Bongsup Cho
Rhode Island IDeA Network for Excellence in Biomedical Research (May 25, 2023, National Institutes of Health, $3,806,124.63)
RI-INBRE is a NIH-sponsored state-wide program grant and its major objective is to support and develop talented individuals, committed to research careers in Rhode Island, and to build the biomedical research capacity of Rhode Island higher education institutions.
Jeffrey Bratberg
Intervention to Increase Naloxone Engagement and Distribution in Community Pharmacies: A Four-State Randomized Trial (April 10, 2023, Brandeis University, $19,126.80)
Community pharmacies dispense naloxone and sell non-prescription syringes (NPS), but access barriers persist. R2P (Respond to Prevent) is a four-state randomized trial designed to increase naloxone, NPS, and buprenorphine provision in pharmacies through a multi-component educational and academic detailing intervention. This supplement is focused on writing and dissemination of results, as well as updates on the availability of over-the-counter naloxone.
Aisling Caffrey
Advance CTR – Budget Request – PD Core (Jan. 27, 2023, Brown University, $13,230.85)
The goal of this grant is to provide infrastructure to support, train and educate investigators conducting clinical and translational research in Rhode Island.
Aisling Caffrey and Kerry LaPlante
Real World Evidence for COVID-19 Antiviral Therapy in the Veterans Health Administration (Jan. 31, 2023, Ocean State Research Institute Inc, $97,646.04, Caffrey; Jan. 31, 2023, Ocean State Research Institute Inc, $97,646.04, LaPlante)
This study aims to assess the real-world impact of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in treating COVID-19 among diverse populations in the US. Limited data exist on the effectiveness of new COVID-19 therapies in actual clinical settings. We’ll investigate the utilization and effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, including its impact on severe cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and COVID-19 rebounds in the national Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System.
Richard Clements
Gene Delivery Approaches to Enhance Mitochondrial Supercomplex Assembly in Pulmonary Hypertension (Jan. 11, 2023, Ocean State Research Institute, Inc., $37,500)
This project seeks to determine if AAV9-PHB2 overexpression promotes cristae junction formation leading to increased SC assembly and RV function. We hypothesize that PHB2 will directly increase mitochondrial cristae junctions and promote supercomplexes thereby improving derangements in RV function and bioenergetics. This project also hopes to determine if overexpression of active mitochondrial BKCa channels enhances mitochondrial supercomplexes and improves respiration and RV function in PH.
Christine Eisenhower, Erica Estus and Anne Hume
Rhode Island Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (RI-GWEP) (April 21, 2023, Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, $37,500, Eisenhower; April 21, 2023, Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, $37,500, Estus; April 21, 2023, Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, $37,500, Hume)
The main objective of this grant is to develop and implement interprofessional geriatrics education in primary care settings to improve health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics into primary care delivery systems to provide coordinated, comprehensive, patient/family-centered health care. Additional goals include student training and patient education.
Dennis Hilliard
2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program (May 2, 2023, Department of Public Safety, $66,140)
The Coverdell grant will fund the salary and benefits for a qualified candidate, hired as a Technician I, to complete one year of an anticipated two-year training program as a Criminalist II Firearms and Tool Mark Examiner. This position will assist in keeping our backlog manageable and will provide for succession planning in the Firearms section of the Laboratory.
MJ Kanaczet
Pitch: RIPCPC MHFA (February 28, 2023, RI Dept of Labor & Training, $65,943.28)
Mental Health First Aid is a high-impact certificate training that is listed in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices. MHFA addressed the need for front-line healthcare workers and administrative staff at RIPCPC to have the tools to recognize and appropriately support patients experiencing mental health concerns including how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health distress and how to support someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
E. Paul Larrat
PDI–Advancing the Biotech Ecosystem (CDCPF) Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2023 funds (June 14, 2023, US Department of Education, $1,212,000)
Funding will expand the Pharmaceutical Development Institute (PDI) facility’s ability to support the biotechnology /biopharmaceutical industry and entrepreneurial growth and advanced technical training in the state of Rhode Island and surrounding areas. This expansion of capabilities will include purchase of new, advanced equipment for training and development purposes, as well as renovation of facility spaces to allow for more effective workforce programming.
Deyu Li
NIH resubmission Deyu Li – Etheno adductome and repair pathways (April 10, 2023, National Institute of Health/DHHS, $389,123)
Reactive species from lipid peroxidation generated under disease conditions damage DNA and form etheno lesions, which are strongly cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. This project will characterize the repair of these etheno adducts by enzymes across two distinct pathways: base excision repair and direct reversal repair. Results will identify the differential repair fingerprints of such lesions and inform future translational studies that capitalize on these repair mechanisms to protect against genomic instability.
Chang Liu
Evaluations of the biological effects of Y&G’s botanical extracts (January 4, 2023, URI Research Foundation, $11,000)
The grant funds: It is unclear whether the combination of botanical extracts and CBD (or VA/NMN) can exert skin protective effects by ameliorating the inflammatory and oxidative stress in human skin cells. Herein, we propose to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of combinatorial samples containing botanical extracts and bioactive compounds, as well as their formulations, from Angrow using several in vitro methods.
Marin Manuel
Motoneuron mortality in neurodegenerative diseases induced by homeostatic dysregulation of excitability (January 12, 2023, Northwestern University, $153,405.89)
The goal of this project is to investigate the disruption of homeostatic plasticity in motoneurons as a central mechanism underlying the diverse cellular dysfunctions observed in ALS. By systematically assessing the response of ALS and control motoneurons to homeostatic challenges, the study aims to establish a foundation for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for ALS.
Rita Marcoux and Lisa Cohen
Rhode Island Department of Corrections Clinical Pharmacy Oversight (March 10, 2023, RI Department of Corrections, $516,937.60, Marcoux; March 10, 2023, RI Department of Corrections, $516,937.60, Cohen)
The Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC)’s funding supports their medical staff with clinical, regulatory, and pharmacy benefit management expertise provided by the PIs. This contract continues the ongoing work begun in 2005. The PIs will continue working on formulary management, patient care plan management, health care clinics, pharmacy budget management, and continuing education development and presentation for medical personnel.
Jyothi Menon, Angela Slitt and Xuerong Wen
Nanoparticle-Mediated Targeting of hepatic macrophages to Mitigate Inflammation in Alcoholic Liver Disease (February 24, 2023, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism/NIH/DHHS, $22,640.60, Wen)
This grant is to develop a targeted nanoparticle-based drug delivery system to provide combination therapy to Kupffer cells in the liver to mitigate liver inflammation seen in alcoholic liver disease.
Katharina Quinlan
Susceptibility of spinal nociceptors to developmental injuries (March 3, 2023, Brown University, $24,985.43)
This project characterizes the role of sensory afferents in cerebral palsy (CP). CP is the most common motor impairment in children and is caused by developmental injuries including a difficult birth. Most research focuses on motor pathways; however, we found sensory afferents (particularly nociceptors relaying noxious stimuli) have expanded. Our goal is to reduce both spasticity and pain in CP.
David Rowley
Molecular Mechanisms of Interspecies Interactions In Mitigating Aquaculture Diseases (April 4, 2023, National Institute of Food and Agriculture/Department of Agriculture, $166,600)
The objective of this collaborative USDA grant between researchers in the COP and CELS is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin interactions between probiotic and pathogenic bacteria. A long-term goal is the development of safe and effective probiotic treatments to mitigate the effects of infectious disease outbreaks in aquaculture facilities.
Microbial solutions to improving larval resilience in shellfish hatcheries (June 30, 2023, National Institute of Food and Agriculture/Department of Agriculture, $74,820.28)
Aquaculture systems experience infectious disease outbreaks that compromise production. There is growing evidence that the host microbiome is an important factor in production outcomes. We previously discovered and developed a safe and effective commercial formulation of probiotic bacteria to reduce the threat of vibriosis in shellfish larvae. In this project, we will work with aquaculture industry partners to develop additional microbial products to combat problematic pathogens.
Joseph Schrader
Specificity of Brain Protein Biomarkers in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (January 9, 2023, Brown University, $37,500)
This project involves comparing brain proteomic analysis of a preclinical rat model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) will with other dementia models including Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension. CAA unique altered proteins will then be assessed in emergent stages of the disease. CAA specific altered proteins also altered in early disease stages will be selected as potential diagnostic biomarkers for CAA.
Navindra Seeram
Supplement – Routine Analysis of Maple Products (May 16, 2023, Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Produce, $21,000)
The purpose of this grant is to conduct chemical compositional analyses of maple syrup samples to detect variation in factors including geographical location, plant species and grades.
Angela Slitt
Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFAS (STEEP) Center – Renewal (June 15, 2023, National Institute of Health/DHHS, $230,140.88)
The project focuses on evaluating cellular mechanisms that contribute to perfluoroalkylsubstance (PFAS) absorption, distribution and excretion, with a focus on the mechanistic contribution of the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1b1 (Oatp2b1) transporter, ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2 (Abcg2) transporter, Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein (LFabp), and albumin.
Lynn Taylor
Optimization and multi-site feasibility of yoga for chronic pain in people in treatment for opioid use disorder (June 20, 2023, Care New England Health System, $14,085.54)
We use a factorial design to test intervention components intended to increase class attendance and home practice of yoga for chronic pain in people in opioid agonist therapy treatment for opioid use disorder.
Clinical outcomes of liver disease staging evaluations in chronic Hepatitis C (April 20, 2023, Boston Medical Center, $25,014.06)
This project seeks to determine current hepatic fibrosis staging requirements across representative state Medicaid and commercial payers; measure real-world costs of hepatitis C virus staging and treatment, plus clinical outcomes from staging misclassification; and compare clinical- and cost-effectiveness of staging strategies to determine which yield the best value for each payer.
William Van Nostrand
Structural Identification and Functional Consequences of Different Amyloid Strains in Alzheimer’s Disease (April 1, 2022, The Research Foundation for SUNY, $43,582)
Alzheimer’s Disease is a heterogeneous disease that can present as different neuropathological and clinical subtypes. The reason as to why these different subtypes develop and their different presentation of disease is unknown. The goal of this grant is to identify different structural features of amyloid deposits that accumulate in specific subtypes of AD and how these different amyloid structures promote distinct inflammatory profiles in the brain that may contribute to different clinical presentation of disease.
William Van Nostrand and Joseph Schrader
Effect of ApoE Genotype in a Novel Rat Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (March 16, 2023, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, $181,125, Van Nostrand; March 16, 2023, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, $20,125, Schrader)
The goal of this project is to investigate the effects of different Apolipoprotein E genotypes on the emergence and severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy using a novel gene-edited rat model of disease.
Ami Vyas and Christine Eisenhower
Social Determinants of Health and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Nationally Representative Analysis (April 21, 2023, Merck Inc. Investigator Studies Program, $67,345.97, Vyas; April 21, 2023, Merck Inc. Investigator Studies Program, $3,741.44, Eisenhower)
This research study will estimate the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in the US overall and by social determinants of health. In addition, the associations between social determinants of health and systemic lupus erythematosus will be examined.