Award Data

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Methamphetamine use among gay and bisexually identified men (GBM) and other men who have sex with men (MSM) is strongly associated with HIV infection due to the concomitant high-risk sexual behaviors that often occur while using the drug. As a result, HIV prevalence is significantly higher among MSM that report frequent use of methamphetamine and highest among ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary We propose to develop a non-invasive method to predict mammalian oocyte quality by analyzing the surrounding cumulus cells' gene expression patterns (cGEP). The result of the cGEP assay---a cGEP score---can be used to predict embryo quality and ultimately the embryo transfer (ET) results. This technology, if success, will for the first time ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Bacterial biofilm formation on medical implants is a serious clinical problem. Biofilms can turn a simple implant into a serious complication. Recently we showed that the covalent attachment of micrograms of organo-selenium to the surface of an orthodontic device will inhibit the formation of a biofilm without harmful side-effects. This has recently (2009) led ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Since its first use in the retina in 1961, fluorescein angiography (FA) has been the gold standard for objective characterization of retinovascular disease (e.g. diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, and choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD)). Despite its widespread use, FA is costly, invasive, and time con ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goals of this project are twofold: a) to develop a new technique for nanoscale Mass spectrometry imaging based on AFM based tip enhanced IR ablation (nanoIR-MS). b) to apply this technique towards the application ofSingle cell imaging. Information on the chemical composition within a cell has implications in the understanding of cell metabolism, division, d ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and invariably fatal degenerative dementia and the most common form of dementia that currently affects over 5 million Americans. The quality of life and economic costs are significant with estimated U.S. health care payments of over 200 billion in 2012, plus unpaid care by over 15 million Americans that is valued ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Bacterial interference creates an ecological competition between commensal bacteria and pathogenic species. Like microbial competition via fermentation in a ripening fruit, bacterial interference via fermentation has been found in the deep-seated skin abscesses where is an anaerobic microenvironment, allowing bacteria to ferment carbohydrates to short-chain fa ...

PROJECT ABSTRACT Excessive digital media use has been linked with several adverse health outcomes in childrenincluding obesitydisrupted sleepexternalizing behaviorand executive functioning deficitsbut measurement tools have not kept pace with the advancements in digital technology now used in most American householdsFor examplemost American families with young children now own a smartphoneor table ...

PROJECT SUMMARY Genomic instabilityinduced by DNA damageand partly mitigated by DNA repair and antioxidantsplays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many major human diseasessuch as neurodegenerationcancer and cardiovascular diseasetogether with agingThere is a critical need for automated assays that can perform these assessmentsand bring them into greater routine usewhich will help advance our ...

Most standard-of-care tools and techniques for evaluating neck disorders are subjective, unreliable, and do not provide actionable information for providers, payers, and organizations to deliver efficient and effective care. This lack of objective neck he