Award Data

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Chronic wounds that fail to respond to traditional therapeutic interventions afflict millions of people each year, and direct costs associated with treating these wounds are estimated at 5 to 10 billion annually. Eradication of pathogenic bacteria that have colonized chronic wounds is complicated by the propensity of these bacteria to form ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life shortening inherited disorder amongst Caucasians, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infections are the leading cause of mortality in CF patients. Treatment of patients infected with P. aeruginosa is complicated by the cell-to-cell signaling systems of this organism, which regulate biofilm formation, virulence gene ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): By the end of 2006, an estimated 23,000 adults and 15,500 children had received cochlear implants in the United States alone (www.nidcd.nih.gov). The complexity of the system as well as confounding factors such as brainplasticity and changing physiology require that these parameters be continually updated to maximize listening performance and user satisfaction. ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose developing a trans-molecular RNA-switch for scientists to measure miRNA activity in-vivo. While there are numerous methods to quantify miRNAs in vitro, we are not aware of any method that allows for in vivo analysis. The ability to observe specific miRNA generation in living single cells without requiring the destruction of the cell would be a signif ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Extraction of DNA from gels following electrophoresis is widely used to obtain purified size selected DNA fragments from mixtures. The DNA thus obtained is used for cloning and sequencing reactions. Gel extraction is part of next generation sequencing protocols that are becoming the primary source of genetic information. That information is widely used in trans ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Biochemical reactions used in the analysis and manipulation of DNA are important for many applications including forensics, diagnostic genetic testing and biomedical research. Enzymatic reactions to cut and insert DNA into cloning sites underpin many strategies for disease research and for use of microorganisms to express important proteins with medical value. ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) with weak currents is a non-invasive, low-cost, and well tolerated technique producing lasting functional changes in the central nervous system. There is increasing evidence supporting the use of tDCS to improve stroke rehabilitation. Behavioral and therapeutic outcomes of tDCS depend on the brain areas being t ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nearly two-thirds of all medical imaging procedures in the United States are performed in physician offices, yet few of these small healthcare providers can afford picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) needed to exchange these images with large hospitals. Without online access to previous imaging tests many procedures are repeated, leading to exces ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Polychromatic flow cytometry [FC] is one of the most powerful analytical techniques routinely used in immunology. Flow cytometry plays a critical role in several growing clinical applications: leukemia and lymphoma immunophenotyping for diagnosis and sub-categorization (now using 8-10 colors); in CD4/CD8 measurement in HIV-positive patients; and in HLA typing f ...

Problem to be Solved: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a deadly disease that accounts for 15-20% of all diagnosed breast cancers worldwide. Metastatic relapse of TNBC carries a poorer prognosis and lower survival rate compared to other breast cancersubtypes. Therefore, identifying novel targets and new therapeutics to treat patients diagnosed with TNBC remains a significant priority of the ...