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Newly Awarded 3i Seed Grant Projects Explore Immunities and Vaccines

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Author: Camille Aglaure

The Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease Initiative (3i) at the University of Utah Health has awarded seed grants to eight collaborative research projects. The funded projects will explore alternative treatments and diagnoses for many human disorders, including influenzas, cancers and infections. 

“A better understanding of our immune system is deepening our appreciation for its roles in many human diseases,” says Ryan O’Connell, Ph.D., director of the III Initiative and an associate professor in Pathology at U of U Health. “These seed grants explore novel aspects of immunity in key areas of research here at Utah, including colitis, Multiple Sclerosis, cancer and infectious diseases, through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach.”

These funded projects investigate an array of topics, from the result of malaria on blood platelets to the effect of osteoarthritis in breast cancer patients. Each grant was awarded up to $50,000 for one year. The 2018 awardees include:

Bacterial Infection and Drug Resistance
Virulence Determinants of Haemophilus influenzae Type A

Anne Blaschke, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in Pediatrics

Matthew Mulvey, Ph.D., professor in Pathology

Hillary Crandall, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in Pediatrics

Mark Yandall, Ph.D., professor in Human Genetics

 

Identification of ExPEC-encoded sRNA Targets

Matthew Mulvey, Ph.D., professor in Pathology

Demián Cazalla, Ph.D., assistant professor in Biochemistry

 
Infectious Disease and Global Health

Novel Immune Activities of Platelets During Malaria

Matthew Rondina, M.D., associate professor in Internal Medicine

Tracey Lamb, Ph.D., associate professor in Pathology

Paul Sigala, Ph.D., associate professor in Biochemistry

 
Microbiota and Mucosal Immunity

The Effects of Dietary Iron Limitation on Gut Immunity and The Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Diane Ward, Ph.D., research associate professor in Pathology

June Round, Ph.D., associate professor in Pathology

 
Neuroinflammation

Mathematical Modeling of T Cell Dynamics to Predict Autoimmunity
Brian Evavold, Ph.D., professor in Pathology
Fred Adler, Ph.D., professor in Mathematics

Molecular and Functional Role of Microglia in a Viral Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Tom Lane, Ph.D., professor in Pathology
Monica Vetter, Ph.D., professor in Neurobiology and Anatomy
Alejandra Bosco, D.Sc., research assistant professor in Neurobiology and Anatomy
 

T cells and Vaccine

T Cell-mediated Protection from Influenza Infection

Scott Hale, Ph.D., associate professor in Pathology

Matt Williams, Ph.D., associate professor in Pathology

Krow Ampofo, MBCHB, professor in Pediatrics

Michael Varner, M.D., professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology

 
Tumor Immunity

Effects of Osteoarthritis on Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone

Alana Welm, Ph.D., associate professor in Oncological Sciences 

Michael Jurynec, Ph.D., research assistant professor in Orthopedics

 

The funded projects promote collaboration among at least two independent investigators or research groups at U of U Health. This initial support provides investigators the ability to obtain preliminary data that will support future multi-investigator funding opportunities through other outlets.  Projects were prioritized in the following categories: bacterial infection and drug resistance, infectious disease and global health, microbiota and mucosal immunity, neuroinflammation, T cells and vaccines and tumor immunity.

Built on the foundation of more than 100 faculty members who conduct research across the university, 3i was created to improve diagnoses and treatment of many diverse disorders related to human health. The initiative hopes to integrate basic, translational and clinical research in these areas by enriching the 3i community and supporting collaboration.