NJMS Researchers Receive Nearly $40 Million in Funding

Spring 2007 brought with it a harvest of more than $40 million in new grants for 13 New Jersey Medical School investigators.

Dr. Stephen Vatner, Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, and his research team were recently awarded $10.1 million for a Program Project (P01) Grant entitled "Longevity and Stress Resistance" from the National Institute of Aging to continue their mammalian study on lifespan and stress resistance.

Dr. Vatner and his research team have been focusing on an enzyme, Adenylyl Cyclase Type V (AC5), in the sympathetic nervous system and its potential effects on the heart and cardiovascular function. Using a genetically altered mouse model in which the gene encoding AC5 was deleted, or "knocked out," investigators in Dr. Vatner's group were able to examine the role of the AC5 enzyme in longevity and stress.

Recent findings from these studies suggest that Adenylyl Cyclase could have far-reaching implications in cancer, osteoporosis and other diseases.

Also, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded Dr. Robert W. Hobson a five-year, $24 million extension on a previous R01 grant to conduct a Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial. This award brings the institute's total funding of CREST to $46.4 million. The trial is part of a continuing effort to contrast the relative efficacy of carotid artery stenting with carotid endarterectomy in preventing stroke, myocardial infarction or death during a 30-day peri-procedural period or ipsilateral stroke 30 days post-procedural in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe carotid occlusive disease.

Among other researchers at NJMS to receive funding were Dr. Padmini Salgame, Professor of Medicine, and Dr. William Gause, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Medicine. Drs. Salgame and Gause will test the hypothesis that parasitic infections alter host immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and modulate the course of tuberculosis disease. The studies, which are the subject of a five-year $2.7 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will provide information that will be important for vaccine design and treatment against tuberculosis.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has also awarded a five-year $3.6 million R01 grant to Dr. Karl A. Drlica, Professor at the Public Health Research Institute Center. Dr. Drlica's research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the mechanism(s) by which quinolones kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A goal of the study is to identify structural features of quinolones and gyrase that enhance lethal action, particularly with non-growing bacteria. The work is expected to provide information for the design of a new generation of quinolones characterized by rapid killing of non-growing bacterial cells. If successful, this line of investigation could result in shortening treatment for tuberculosis with the potential of lessening the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains of TB.

Other principal investigators whose research projects have received funding include:

Dr. Alicia M. Mohr of the Department of Surgery - a five-year $513,000 K08 Mentored Career Development Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for "Neuroendocrine regulation of erythropoiesis following trauma;"

Dr. Ronaldo Ferraris of the Department of Pharmacology/Physiology - a two-year $428,844 R21 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for "Regulation of intestinal phosphate uptake by dietary carbohydrate;"

Dr. Andreas Ivessa of the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine - a four-year $260,000 grant from the American Heart Association for "The role of MAP kinases in regulating oxidative stress and longevity;'

Dr. Purnima Bhanot of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine - a four-year $260,000 grant from the American Heart Association for "Study of a potential drug-target in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium casein kinase I;"

Dr. Peiyong Zhai of the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine - a four-year $260,000 grant from the American Heart Association for "The role of GSK-3a in cardiac growth, the development of cardiac hypertrophy, and the progression to heart failure;'

Dr. Eldo Kuzhikandathil of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology - a three-year $198,000 grant from the Heritage Affiliate of the American Heart Association for "Identifying molecular mechanisms that regulate expression of the D1 dopamine receptor gene in the kidney;"

Dr. Roman Shirokov of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology - a three-year $198,000 grant from the Heritage Affiliate of the American Heart Association for "Selectivity filter as a gate of ion-dependent inactivation in L-type calcium channels;" and

Dr. Diego Fraidenraich of Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine- a three-year $198,000 grant from the Heritage Affiliate of the American Heart Association for "Correction of vascular defects in Id knockout hearts by Wnt5a-induced compensatory mechanisms."

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