ECU receives over $2 million in grants

The Brody School of Medicine and researchers from ECU have received grants totaling more than $2 million from the National Institutes of Health, which will be handed out this spring.

The grants - nine in all - will allow more than two dozen ECU faculty members from the College of Health and Human Performance, the Brody School of Medicine, and the Harriot College of Arts and Sciences to further their research that ranges from studies in pancreatic cancer and cell transport to aspects of the metabolic process in diabetes.

Many of the grants will fund longtime research projects.

The entire grant total is $2,071,520.

"At a time when federal funding, particularly NIH funding, is increasingly difficult to obtain, it is gratifying to see this level and extent of support for ECU's researchers," said Deirdre Mageean, vice chancellor for ECU's Division of Research and Graduate Studies. "It speaks highly of the quality and maturity of the research enterprise at ECU."

According to Mageean, the research is often collaborative in nature and requires the contributions of researchers in many of ECU's departments, and in some cases with other universities.

"It is typical of the type of translational, applied research which we emphasize here, involving interdisciplinary teams to address the vexing health problems of our state and nation," Mageean said. "The work of these fine researchers can result in a significant range of health benefits to patients and enrich the training of our medical and science students."

The grants were awarded to a diverse group of researchers.

$139,650 was awarded to Shaw M. Akula, professor of microbiology, to study "Analysis of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpes virus Infection Using Roman Tweezers" with colleague Yong-qing Li (physics).

$258,379 was awarded to G. Lynis Dohm, professor of physiology, to study "Muscle Glucose Metabolism in Diabetes and Obesity" with colleagues Joseph A. Houmard (exercise science), Walter J Pories (surgery) and Kenneth G. MacDonald (surgery).

$295,502 was awarded to Robert C. Hickner, professor of exercise science and physiology, to study "Reduction in CVD Risk In Children By Physical Activity" with Matthew T. Mahar (exercise science), Michael R. McCammon (human performance laboratory); John M. Olsson (pediatrics), Joseph P. Garry, (family medicine), Chuck Tanner (human performance laboratory); Katrina Dubose (exercise science) and Kimberly Heidal (nutrition and dietetics).

$267,210 was awarded to Joseph A. Houmard, professor of exercise science, to study "Age Related Insulin Resistance, Muscle and Exercise."

$115,000 was awarded to Houmard to study "Peripheral Effects of Exercise on Cardiovascular Health" with colleagues at Duke University as well as $196,653 to study "Physical Activity Following Surgery-Induced Weight Loss" with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh.

$211,304 was awarded to Larry H. Toburen, professor of physics, to study "Electron Transport in 'Tissue-Like' Material," with colleagues Jefferson L. Shinpaugh, Michael Dingfelder, Edson L. Justiano (physics) and Gerhard Kalmus (biology).

$342,219 was awarded to Christopher J. Wingard, professor of physiology, to study "Cardio-vascular Impact of Inhaled Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes" with colleagues Robert Wardle, Michael R. Van Scott and Robert M. Lust (physiology).

$245,603 was awarded to Emmanuel Zervos, professor of surgery, to study "KLH Pulsed Dendritic Cells plus TNFerade in Pancreatic Cancer."

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.