Award Data

Space systems’ cyber vulnerabilities represent the “soft underbelly” of the U.S. satellite infrastructure. USSF SpOC Commander, Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting said governments such as China’s and Russia’s can attack satellites in orbit, but that cyberattacks offer a “lower bar to entry” to lesser powers, such as Iran or North Korea. In response to national security threats such as this one ...

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 In response to National Institute on Aging's (NIA) strategic plan and PAS-19-317, we propose novel therapeuticsto treat Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRDs). We have developed novel combinations of three natural product compounds, which modulate complementary pathways in multiple types of CNS cells (i.e., neurons, microglia) associated with AD pathology. These c ...

SUMMARY Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) experience low oxygen saturation, shortness of breath, low quality of life, and a short life span (lt10 years) following diagnosis. These patients frequently present to emergency rooms, and many are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), straining the health care system. Despite therapy with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, prostacyclin analogs, a ...

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 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 ...

SUMMARY The growth rate in the number of people diagnosed with Parkinsonism is substantial. Estimates indicate that from 1990 to 2015 the number of Parkinsonism diagnoses doubled, with more than 6 million people currently diagnosed. By 2040, there will be between 12-14 million people diagnosed with Parkinsonism. Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy Parkinsonian variant (MSAp), and p ...

PROJECT SUMMARYAn area of significant unmet need is the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive, fast-growing and lethal brain cancer that represents 48% of all malignant brain tumors. Untreated, GBM is fatal within three months, and due to its high rate of recurrence and invasive nature, the current standard of care, consisting of safe maximal tumor resection, radiation therapy and chemoth ...

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 ...