Award Data

Project Summary / Abstract Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of oxaliplatin, a key drug in 1st line regimens for treating colorectal cancer. Dose-limiting CIPN prevents rt25% of patients from receiving full, maximally effective dose of oxaliplatin. In addition, 10-40% of patients receiving oxaliplatin-based therapy for colorectal cancer with develop chronic C ...

Abstract Radiation induced keratopathy results in significant ocular surface disease, stem cell deficiency, vision loss, discomfort, and subsequent poor quality of life, affecting up to 23% of patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck malignancies [1]. Studies have pointed out functional roles of corneal neurons and secretory cells of the lacrimal gland in the etiology of radiation in ...

Project Summary: Alzheimer’s Disease is associated with metabolic dysfunction, glucose and insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced exercise capacity. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction correlate with the development of beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposits, one of the hallmarks of AD that begin years before the onset of memory and cognitive decline. Moreove ...

ABSTRACT / PROJECT SUMMARYAcute ischemic stroke is poised for a revolution. With the advent of mechanical thrombectomy in the last decade, the worst clots can be removed. While thrombectomy has improved outcomes, most treated patients still have severe deficits, in large part due to secondary injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury. To solve this problem, many neuroprotective drugs were trial ...

Project Summary Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) occurs in both age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). While anti-VEGF treatment has improved the visual outcome considerably, they are far from achieving a 100% success rate (non-responsiveness between 8 and 50%). Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a group of heterogeneous, progressive, visually debilitating ...

Project Summary: Self-developing, instant radiochromic films based on the solid-state polymerization of diacetylenes (R-C≡C-C≡C- R’, where R and R’ are substituent groups) are used for measuring radiation therapy dose. Currently available radiochromic films, e.g., the GafChromicTM EBT films from Ashland (Bridgewater, NJ, USA), have many drawbacks such as they are very expensive, sensitive ...

PROJECT SUMMARY Colorectal cancer is still a major cause of cancer-related death in the world and only a small subset of patients benefits from therapy by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are covalently linked to cell-killing drugs and have emerged as a major modality in anti-cancer treatment. This approach combines high specific ...

Infection with the bacterium C. difficile is the most common and increasingly prevalent cause of diarrhea. In the United States, cases of C. difficile infection (CDI) are estimated to number 500,000 annually and to result in an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 deaths. The cost of these cases is thought to exceed $4.8 billion annually. CDI continues to cause discomfort, serious illness and sometimes deat ...

PROJECT SUMMARY Developing RNA therapeutics for rare neurodevelopmental disorders Monogenic diseases caused by mutations in single genes are individually rare, but collectively common affecting 10% of the world population. Many of these diseases are disabling or even life threatening with no available treatment. The underlying molecular mechanisms vary. Both loss of gene function and gain of toxic ...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is comprised mainly of Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and is characterized by a chronic non-resolving inflammatory response in the intestinal mucosa. Although the exact etiology is unknown, dysbiosis, genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors are all thought to play roles in this multifactorial disease. There are no cures, and in most cas ...