Award Data

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/ABSTRACT The cysteine protease caspase-6 (Casp6) has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases for over fifteen years. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Casp6 is colocalized with amyloid plaques and tau tangles in human brain, and both human and animal model data indicate that activated Casp6 contributes to neuronal inflammation, neurodegeneration, and cleavage of proteins to to ...

ICU delirium is a devastating complication of illness, acute trauma, and surgery often resulting in prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer lengths of stay, and long-term disability. Delirium is associated with over 12 times increased odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). In addition, delirium accelerates cognitive decline in AD/ADRD patients. Likewise, pa ...

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT CMTx Biotech is a drug development company working to rescue, develop and commercialize a proprietary clinical-stage drug candidate, incyclinide (CMT-3 / COL-3), for the treatment of sepsis patients at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least 1.7 million American adults develop sepsis annually, re ...

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 ...

ABSTRACT We propose a novel holistic paradigm to help solve the opioid crisis by using proteome scale deep learning approaches to design optimal nonaddictive analgesics. We will design compounds that target specific proteins and pathways the combine the pain relieving effects of long acting drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine while modulating additional interactions to ensure optimal pharma ...

Project Summary The proposed project will develop a breakthrough endovascular sensor technology to allow for real-time quantification of the mitral coaptation force (MCF) of the mitral valve during both open and percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR). Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common heart valve disorder in the U.S. population, with over 2 million individuals affected. Current methods ...

This project will achieve a computerized system that supplies digital content, both lexical and graphical, suitable for children, students and working adults of the Visually Impaired (VId) community, to increase their autonomy and potentiate their Quality of Life and societal contribution. While there is notable academic research, such as a high-density pin display tablet, there is no commercial, ...

PROJECT SUMMARY Radiation therapy is a widely used treatment modality for pelvic malignancies such as prostate and cervical cancer; however, the high doses needed to confer therapeutic benefit often inflict significant damage on the normal issue in and surrounding the radiation field. The most frequent complication of pelvic radiation is proctitis, which nearly all patients experience acutely and ...

PROJECT SUMMARY Data is a critical and highly valuable commodity, driving meaningful change in our society, especially when it pertains to patient care and biomedical research. Currently, institutions pay inordinate sums to increase, regain, and complement their data panels. As an extra burden, data legislation and privacy protection regulations introduce barriers to forming effective partnerships ...