Grants
Dr. Shi-Fang Yan awarded NIH and NHLBI grants
Shi-Fang Yan, MD |
Dr. Shi-Fang Yan, Research Scientist, has been awarded an RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the mechanisms linking Early Growth Response-1 and atherosclerosis. Dr. Yan also RO1 grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for her work on the role of protein kinase C-beta and its downstream targets in restenosis (re-narrowing of the arteries). This work has important implications for the management of atherosclerosis and complications of angioplasty in human subjects.
Division of Surgical Science re-designated official JDRF Center for Diabetes Complications to continue studies of RAGE, type 1 diabetes
The Division of Surgical Science was recently named by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), for the second time in its history, as an official JDRF Center for Diabetes Complications. Led by Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt, a core group of Columbia researchers, and collaborators from the University of Miami, the center will continue studies of RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products, a cell-surface receptor with well-established relationships to several medical conditions) and its contributions to the development and complications of type 1 diabetes. Using animal models, the investigators specifically will test lead antagonists of RAGE for efficacy in the vascular complications of diabetes, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), kidney disease, and cardiac dysfunction. They also will assess the role of these antagonists in the autoimmune response that occurs after islet cell transplantation, a cutting-edge procedure that restores the cells responsible for insulin production and may someday effectively serve as a cure for type 1 diabetes. The researchers anticipate that their work within the center will allow them to identify the most potent and effective RAGE blockers for future clinical development.
Drs. Ann Marie Schmidt, Ravi Ramasamy, and Shi Fang Yan awarded competitive renewal of NHLBI grant to study RAGE, vascular dysfunction.
Drs. Ann Marie Schmidt, Ravi Ramasamy, and Shi Fang Yan of the Division of Surgical Science have been awarded a competitive renewal of their program project grant by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for their work on RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products) and vascular dysfunction.
Drs. Schmidt, Ramasamy, and Yan will further analyze the contribution of RAGE, a cell-surface receptor that exacerbates inflammation and damage when activated, to heart disease-related vascular injury, particularly in diabetes.
They will concentrate primarily on RAGE's relationship to blood vessel damage caused by high glucose and high lipids in the blood and blockage-related oxygen deprivation and blood flow problems.
The researchers ultimately hope to shed light on the effectiveness of RAGE blockade as a strategy to protect the stressed vascular system from irreversible injury in human diabetic cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Ravi Ramasamy receives competitive grant renewal to research Aldose reductase and Cardioprotection
Dr. Ravi Ramasamy, Division of Surgical Science, has been awarded a competitive grant renewal this year on the topic of Aldose reductase and Cardioprotection by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
This continuing grant has enabled Dr. Ramasamy to initiate studies to understand the mechanisms by which aldose reductase mediates ischemic injury and heart failure using transgenic mice overexpressing human aldose reductase.
Therapeutic agents that inhibit aldose reductase are being investigated for protection of ischemic myocardium.
In addition to the above grant, Dr. Ramasamy is also funded by another grant from NHLBI to investigate the role of polyol pathway in mediating ischemic injury in diabetics.
Dr. Shi Du Yan has been awarded a grant on mechanisms of cell stress and survival in neurodegenerative disorders
The National Institutes of Aging has awarded a program project grant on mechanisms of cell stress and survival in neurodegenerative disorders (especially Alzheimer's disease) to Dr. Shi Du Yan, Division of Surgical Science, and her collaborators in the Departments of Surgery, Pathology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Medicine. This grant analyzes the role of two molecular targets of amyloid-beta peptide, believed to be the key agent which causes neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, in genetically manipulated mice. Drs. Mayeux and Shelanski from the Taub Center are collaborators in this work.
Dr. Evanthia Lalla receives grant to conduct research on atherosclerosis and oral infection (School of Dental and Oral Surgery)
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a research grant on atherosclerosis and oral infection to Dr. Evanthia Lalla, School of Dental and Oral Surgery, and her collaborator, Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt, Division of Surgical Science.
This grant explores the multifactoral mechanisms underlying accelerated atherosclerosis in periodontitis.
It will analyze the factors accelerating vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in periodontitis.
Grant awarded to Dr. Regina Landsberg on RAGE and TMJ arthritis (School of Dental and Oral Surgery)
Dr. Regina Landsberg, School of Dental and Oral Surgery, has been awarded a grant from The National Institutes of Health on RAGE and TMJ arthritis.
This is a collaborative grant with Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt.
The grant will test the role of RAGE in joint/bone inflammation and destruction, and will assess the impact of pharmacologic blockade of RAGE, as well as genetic manipulation of the receptor in homozygous RAGE null mice.
If successful, these studies will identify new markers for disease activity in TMD, as well as new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Dr. Vivette D'Agati receives grant to conduct research on RAGE and glomerulosclerosis (Health Sciences, Department of Pathology)
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a research grant on RAGE and glomerulosclerosis to Dr. Vivette D'Agati, Department of Pathology.
Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt is a close collaborator in the research. The study proposes that identification of RAGE-dependent mechanisms that impart injury, especially early after triggering insults, such as administration of adriamycin in a model system, are essential steps to identification of new targets whose blockade may lead to novel therapies to prevent, stabilize or reverse the course of injury in chronic GS.
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