Grants 
Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging

• Cathy J. Hatcher, PhD, Associate Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Contributions of a Novel Cardiac Protein to Coronary Vessel Formation”
• Jocelyn Lippman-Bell, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Characterization and pharmacological targeting of the chronic behavioral consequences of early-life seizures in zebrafish”
• Heather L. Montie, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Generation and characterization of a zebrafish model of SBMA“
• Lindon Young, PhD, Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “The effects of PKC epsilon activator/inhibitor peptides on nitric oxide release and hypoxia/re-oxygenation induced cell death in human umbilical vein endothelial cells“

• Cathy J. Hatcher, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Ajap 1 in Congenital Defects of Coronary Vessel Formation”
• Abigail Hielscher, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Loss of stromal caveolin-1 on chemotherapy responses of breast tumor cells”
• Jocelyn Lippman-Bell, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Investigating dendritic spine plasticity after seizures”
• Heather L. Montie, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Does activation of AMPK abrogate SBMA pathogenesis?”
• Mary P. Owen, JD, PhD, Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Novel Mechanism Involved in Rapid Testosterone-Induced Vasodilation of Myogenic Tone in Mesenteric Resistance Microvessels”
• Srujana Rayalam, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Synergistic effects of phytochemicals and immunomodulatory glycan LNFPIII on the beiging of adipocytes: a novel therapeutic approach for obesity”
• Dianzheng Zhang, PhD, Associate Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “The mechanism of HP1γ-mediated prostate cancer progression through regulating de novo fatty acid synthesis”

No pilot grants were awarded this year.

• Vishakha Bhave, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Role of bile acid-FXR signaling in hepatocyte to biliary transdifferentiation”
• Cathy Hatcher, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “A Transgenic Mouse Model of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy”
• Abigail Hielscher, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “The role of matrix rigidity on morphological and functional characteristics of human mammary fibroblasts grown in 3D gelatin hydrogels”
• Huo Lu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Study Cerebellar Nuclei Output to Thalamus Using Autopatch Recording”
• Heather Montie, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Determining the role of SIRT3 in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy”
• Mei Xu, PhD, Associate Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Molecular manipulation to promote axon regeneration”

• Christopher Adams, PhD, Associate Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Bactericidal Implant Surfaces”
• Vishakha Bhave, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Role of programming factors in trans-differentiation of hepatocytes to biliary epithelial cells”
• Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “The role of mitochondria in acute hyperglycemia: activation of vascular NADPH oxidase and eNOS uncoupling”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Professor of Bio-Medical Sciences; PCOM – “Development of an in vitro, whole tooth model to study effects of endogenous matrix metalloprotease activity on resin restorations”
• Xinyu Wang PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Inhibitory effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on multiple myeloma cell growth: Nrf2 and NF-kB crosstalk”
• Richard White, PhD, Professor of Basic Science; PCOM Georgia– “Mechanisms of androgen regulation of the microvasculature”

• Christopher Adams, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “The mechanism by which osteoblast maturation regulates calcium and phosphate ion pair-induced apoptosis”
• Brian J. Balin, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in blood samples: A diagnostic screen for Alzheimer's disease”
• Marcus Bell, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology; PCOM – “Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae alters calcium-associated gene regulations and processes in neuronal cells and monocytes: Implications for Alzheimer’s disease”
  
  Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Role of acute hyperglycemia in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “Assaying endogenous matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) in acid-etched, dentinal cavity walls of an extracted tooth “
• Mandana Ghodrat, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice; PCOM Georgia – “Role of cathepsins D and L as novel markers in acute coronary syndrome in females”
• Lori Hardy, PhD, Associate Professor of Basic Science; PCOM Georgia – “CaMKIIb regulation of the actin cytoskeleton”
• Ramadevi Nimmanapalli, D Phil, Dipl ACVM, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Development of heat shock protein 70 inhibitory antibodies”
• Srujana Rayalam, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Vitamin D and phytochemicals for prevention of obesity and osteoporosis”
• Desuo Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Angiotensin II and glutamate additively or synergistically disrupt the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis of astroglia”
• Xinyu (Eric) Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences; PCOM Georgia – “Inhibitory effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on multiple myeloma cell growth”
• Mei Xu, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “A functional role of IMP2 in axon regeneration in localizing specific MRNAs”

• Christopher Adams, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “The role of osteoblast maturation in the regulation of calcium and phosphate ion pair-induced apoptosis”
• Denah M. Appelt, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Physiology; PCOM – “Analysis of autophagy and apoptosis gene regulation in neuronal cells infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae”
• Stacy Cahn, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology; PCOM – “Predictors of successful weight loss following bariatric surgery”
• Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “The role of NADPH oxidase and eNOS in acute hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress conditions”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “Effect of BodyJet and VASER liposuction technique on the validity and differentiation of adipose derived stem cells “
• Yue-Qiao (George) Huang, BSC, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Protein synthesis-dependent NMDA receptor trafficking after dopamine D-1 receptor activation”
• Frank Jenney, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry; PCOM Georgia – “Amelioration of ischemia/reperfusion injury with an anaerobic enzyme, superoxide reductase”
• John Kermode, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Meta-analysis of platelet receptor polymorphisms as risk factors for myocardial infarction and stroke”
• Michael Kuchera, DO, Professor of OMM; PCOM – “Exploring the use of intensive osteopathic lymphatic drainage treatment for loew extremity lymphedema in the elderly”
• Ramadevi Nimmanapalli, D Phil, Dipl ACVM, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Role of HSP70 in myeloma stromal cell interaction”
• Eric Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Identification of potential drug candidates for ameliorating oxidative stress involved ischemia reperfusion injury”
• James Wu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “The design and synthesis of amino acid or peptide prodrugs to improve delivery and targeting of anticancer agents”
• Mei Xu, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “Enhancement of axon regeneration by localizing specific MRNAs”
• Lindon Young, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “The effect of triascin-C on leukocyte-endothelial interactions by using intravital microscopy”

• Christopher Adams, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “Effect of liposuction technique on the validity and differentiation of adipose derived stem cells”
• Yun Bai, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Nerve growth factors intranasal delivery to the CNS for Alzheimer’s disease treatment”
• Brian J. Balin, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “The role of tryptophan metabolism in C. pneumoniae infected monocytes: Implications for Alzheimer’s disease”
• Ruth Borghaei, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; PCOM – “Effects of nicotine and glucose on production of inflammatory mediators in response to IL-1 and LPS in human gingival fibroblasts and CAL27 oral cancer cells”
• Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “The oxidative stress and inflammatory responses under acute hypoglycemic conditions”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy; PCOM – “Novel metalloprotease peptide derivative therapeutics for osteoarthritis“
• Susan Hingley, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Changes in expression of genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and β-amyloid processing due to infection of neuronal cells by Chlamydia pneumoniae and/or herpes simplex virus type 1”
• Huo Lu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anatomy; PCOM Georgia – “Optogenetic study of cerebellar circuit”
• Harish S. Parihar, RPh, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Design and synthesis of molecular probes for serotonin type 3 receptors and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor architecture and molecular-level function”
• Avadhesh Sharma, PharmD, PhD, Chair, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Ketamine-mediated modulation of NMDA and opioid receptors in activated platelets”
• Desuo Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science; PCOM Georgia – “Dually targeting L-type Ca2+ channel and type 4 phosphodiesterase for treatment of obesity”

• Adwoa Aduonum, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology; PCOM Georgia – “Methamphetamine modulation of synaptic plasticity”
• Brian J. Balin, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Modulation of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of THP1 cells following exposure to pDAG"
• Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “The role of the protein kinase C beta II in acute hyperglycemia induced leukocyte-endothelial interactions by using intravital microscopy”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy; PCOM – “Efficacy of collagenase 3 peptides in abrogation of tissue destruction in an animal model of osteoarthritis”
• Kerin Fresa-Dillon, PhD, Professor,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Efficacy of a vaccine against C. pneumoniae in prevention of respiratory infection and/or respiratory spread”
• Susan Hingley, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Investigation of mouse hepatitis virus entry into host cells using siRNA technology”
• Harold L. Komiskey, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology; PCOM Georgia – “Resveratrol, estrogen, and curcumin effect on manganese-induced toxicity of rat astrocytes”
• Lindon H. Young, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and dihydrobiopterin (BH2) in leukocyte-endothelium interactions by using intravital microscopy”

• Adwoa Aduonum, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology; PCOM Georgia – “Methamphetamine modulation of synaptic plasticity”
• Denah Appelt, PhD, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Physiology; PCOM – “Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae (Cpn) promotes Ab 1-42 amyloid processing in neuronal cells: A pathogenic trigger for Alzheimer’s Disease”
• Brian J. Balin, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Analysis of Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection and Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the human olfactory system”
• Denise Burns, DO, Assistant Professor, Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine; PCOM – “The effects of osteopathic manipulation versus laser treatments on hypothyroidism”
• Qian Chen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “PKC isoform inhibition in leukocyte-endothelium interactions by using intravital microscopy”
• Farzaneh Daghigh, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; PCOM – “Determination of the physiologically and pathophysiologically relevance of arginase isoforms in NO production by human gingival fibroblasts”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy; PCOM – “The protease sensitive hinge region of LTBP1 is a substrate for MMP-13”
• Randal Gregg, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM Georgia – “Modeled microgravity effect upon dendritic cell activation of tumor-specific CD8+T cells and melanoma growth”
• Francis E. Jenney, Jr, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry; PCOM Georgia – “Utilization of a small, hyperstable iron-protein, Pyrococcus furiosus rubredoxin, as a medical diagnostic and therapeutic tool”
• Michael L. Kuchera, DO, Professor and director, OMM Research/Human Performance and Biomechanics Laboratory; PCOM – “A multi-center pilot study to evaluate the effect of a pelvic orthotic and OMT protocol to reduce the impact of postural decompensation in L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis subjects with chronic, recurrent low back pain”
• Michael McGuinness, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy; PCOM – “Estrogen regulation of cell adhesion molecules and their role in Sertoli cell-spermatogenic cell interaction”
• Mary P. Owen, PhD, JD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology; PCOM Georgia – “Control of retinal arteriole smooth muscle vasodilation: Exploring the role of glucose, PGI2, BKca channels, and extravascular pressure”
• Lindon H. Young, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Administration of protein kinase C beta II Inhibitor during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy reduces free radical production”

• Denah Appelt, PhD, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Physiology; PCOM – “Effects on the apoptotic markers following a Chlamydial infection in neurons and astrocytes: implications for Alzheimer’s disease”
• Marina D’Angelo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy; PCOM – “Hypertrophic chondrocytes produce a large latent TGFb complex that includes MMP13”
• Stephanie H. Felgoise, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Psychology; PCOM – “Quality of life, coping, and psychological well-being in children with LQTS and their primary caregivers”
• Katherine D. Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Geriatric Medicine; PCOM – “The physician’s role in death: utilizing SP program to bring issues to life”
• Susan T. Hingley, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Development of a real-time PCR assay for the investigation of viral entry mechanisms”
• C. Scott Little, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology and Forensic Medicine; PCOM – “Development and immune modulation of peanut allergy in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice”