Award Data

p53 performs both positive and negative roles in cancer in that it 1) acts faithfully over time as a tumor suppressor by causing apoptosis and cell growth arrest in response to genotoxic stresses and 2) is responsible for the severe toxicity to normal tissues during cancer treatments. Roughly 50% of human tumors lack functional p53 and recent work has shown that an inhibitor of p53 has the potenti ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to advance the development of a novel tumor- targeted antineoplastic drug conjugate. Our concept is based on the use of the vitamin folate to deliver a potent, covalently-attached chemotherapeutic drug to folate receptor (FR)-positive tumors in vivo and to ...

Description (provided by applicant): High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) phased arrays allow flexibility in beam steering, beam shaping, and dynamic focusing. These features enable them to create large and contiguous tissue lesions of predetermined shape with high efficiency, resulting in shorter treatments, increased accuracy, and ease of operation. The g ...

Description (provided by applicant): Electrocoagulation products such as the electrocautery knife and, more recently, the argon beam coagulator are ubiquitous; both employ thermal techniques for cauterizing small, severed blood vessels, as well as gross damage to the capillary bed. However, these devices are largely ineffective for attaining hemostasis in highly v ...

DESCRIPTION(provided by applicant): The MUSE System delivers personalized experiences to museum visitors on a handheld tablet computer based on their preferences, special needs, and other contextual information. The system will be built on Universal Design standards and developed with user participatory design methods to help ensure the product will serve the bro ...

Three million people die each year from tuberculosis (TB) in spite of the use of the existing anti-mycobacterial antibiotics and the BCG vaccine. Clearly, a better vaccine and better ways to treat TB are needed. The purpose of this STTR Phase I feasibility study is to evaluate Mycobacterium tuberculosis-binding interactions with several human cell types and pathogen recognition molecules. Pathogen ...

Group B streptococcus (GBS) causes invasive infections of newborns, pregnant women and adults with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or cancer. Despite antibiotic treatment, estimated case fatality rates of 5-20% in neonates and 15-32% in adults establish the prevention of GBS infections as a public health priority. Peptide immunogens that mimic the structure of GBS capsular polysach ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad, long term objective of this project is to develop a Java-based software technology that will allow a wide range of Internet-enabled computers, including computationally-limited handheld computers, to access an Internet-based library of medical decision models. The specific aims are to: (1) develop and evaluate an updated PC-based interactive Type 2 d ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Of the 120 million diabetics in the world, one half are undiagnosed and therefore deprived of the proven benefits of tight glucose control in curbing diabetes-related complications. Recognizing this problem the American Diabetes Association and National Diabetes Data Group advocate screening for undiagnosed diabetes to be an important health-care endeavor. Owin ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific innovation proposed for this Phase I project will combine an advanced, novel low-frequency sonic energy technology with the production of fungal secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance. The Phase 1 project will demonstrate the use of a novel fermentation reactor to provide improved agitation and aeration during the in vitro cultivation o ...