A team of UNC researchers is partnering with UT Southwestern Medical Center to create a new method of studying intercellular signaling. Their new tool utilizes fluorescent biosensors to visualize the activity in living cells, and learn about signaling networks and cellular processes.
UNC Lineberger’s Dr. Gaorav Gupta and Dr. Shivani Sud launch a new study that explores less invasive monitoring for patients at risk for cervical cancer. This study will determine whether tracking HPV levels in urine and blood is a reliable determinant of which patients are at greatest risk.
This important initiative will focus on studying trauma and stress-related psychiatric disorders. Clinical and basic science researchers will combine their expertise to improve understanding of these conditions, with the long term goal of developing innovative therapy options for stress-related disorders.
Dr. Zoe McElligott from the UNC Department of Psychiatry and UNC Department of Pharmacology has been awarded a $2M grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Her research will investigate synaptic plasticity of neurons in opioid use disorder.
Dr. John Buse will be leading the UNC School of Medicine in their collaborative partnership with Duke, Wake Forest and NC A&T to improve diabetes understanding, prevention and treatment options. This partnership is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases with the goal of promoting collaboration among investigators.
Dr. Jonathan Schisler from the UNC Department of Pharmacology and UNC Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine has been awarded a five-year $2.5 million NIH Grant. His research will focus on understanding how cellular deterioration is related to a loss in motor function, decrease in cognitive function and accelerated aging.
UNC Lineberger’s Pengda Liu, PhD is awarded a two-year $125,000 grant to support breast cancer research. He will study an enzyme called deubiquitinase OTUD6B, which is over expressed in basal-like breast cancers and could be a drug target for this cancer type.
The UNC Horizons Program is one of 19 organizations nationwide who will receive a portion of the $10.1 million grant from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE). UNC will collaborate with the N.C Correctional Institute for Women to provide treatment, recovery and relapse prevention support for women with opioid use disorders.
UNC School of Medicine researchers Drs. Mark Zylka and Ben Philpot are partnering with AskBio to develop a gene therapy treatment for Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder with no cure. Preclinical evidence has shown that gene therapy may improve motor outcomes and reduce seizures, potentially transforming the lives of people living with condition.
The NIH National Human Genome Research Insititute’s Genomic Medicine Group named UNC Department of Medicine and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s study as one of the top 10 advances in genomic medicine in 2019. This study found that continuous use of clopidogrel in patients who are genetic “non-responders” is associated with adverse outcomes.