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The Department would like to recognize Professor of Radiology and Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Research Program Director Zibo Li, PhD, for serving as UNC’s investigative lead in a spring 2021 institution/industry partnership sponsored ($20K) by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and conducted under subcontract with Research Triangle Park-based Zymeron Corporation, a biotechnology research company.

In a study entitled, “SBIR: Prophylactics for Ionizing Radiation-induced Hematopoietic Subsyndrome of ARS,” Dr. Li contributes field expertise and UNC’s cutting-edge radiochemistry resources (a Cs-137 radiation instrument) in assisting Zymeron with conducting ionizing radiation treatment on cells protected by Zymeron prodrug formulations to reformulate chemoprotectant generic amifostine. Via this partnering process, Zymeron seeks to develop a safe, easy-to-use prophylactic medical countermeasure (MCM) with prolonged protection of the hematopoietic system in the occurrence of the radiation-induced hematopoietic subsyndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome.