Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) awards 24 investigators with grants as part of the 13th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP). The CTRFP is the largest internal grant funding program of the ICTS. Grant awardees are required to submit projects for funding that promote the translation of scientific discoveries into improvement in human health. For 2020, awards were considered across three project categories: general clinical/translational, collaborative, and community-engaged research.
Annually, the CTRFP receives over 100 applications and awards approximately $1M for investigator-initiated projects. These grants are supported with funding from the ICTS and partner institutions including: The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Funding is made available to the awardees effective March 1, 2020.
PI: Luigi Adamo, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Department of Medicine – Cardiovascular Division
Murine studies suggest that myocardial B cells are an ideal therapeutic target to treat cardiac dysfunction. However, our current understanding of human myocardial B cells is minimal. The translational potential of these findings is therefore unclear. We propose a set of focused analyses to start closing this knowledge gap. We suggest to complete this work within an innovative framework of early community engagement in basic scientific research.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Ream Al-Hasani, PhD, St. Louis College of Pharmacy: Center for Clinical Pharmacology
The goals of this research are two-fold: to develop a clinically relevant model of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which in turn will allow for the study of associated neurodevelopmental deficits and facilitate a better understanding of the role of dynorphin in the characteristic withdrawal behaviors.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
PI: Rhonda BeLue, PhD, Saint Louis University, College for Public Health & Social Justice: Health Management & Policy
We propose strengthening our St. Louis–African immigrant community infrastructure by engaging mental health providers in conversation with AIR communities, in order to improve mental health outcomes. Second, we will engage in a community-based participatory research approach to develop an intervention, implementation and dissemination framework that helps AIR families negotiate health encounters.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and Saint Louis University.
PI: Aadel Chaudhuri, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Radiation Oncology
Bladder cancer is the 6th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. Treatment for muscle-invasive disease involves chemotherapy followed by radical surgery. This surgery is unfortunately morbid and typically lowers the patient’s quality of life. Here we propose to use a new technology we developed called uCAPP-Seq to track tumor DNA in the urine to identify which patients respond well to chemotherapy, and could have been treated without surgery.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Ling Chen, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Biostatistics
We propose two innovative statistical approaches to analyze bivariate mixed interval- censored failure time data arising from the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) with time to develop primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) as the outcome. Both methods incorporate baseline demographic and clinic prognostic factors which are believed to predict onset of POAG. The methods innovatively address special features of this data.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Lane Clarke, DVM, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine: Biomedical Sciences
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and CF mouse models experience intestinal inflammation of unknown origin. Based on preliminary data, this project investigates the hypothesis that production of thick, tenacious mucus in CF intestinal goblet cells prevents antigen sampling by the white blood cells that are necessary to recognize the intestinal microbiome as normal. Successful investigation will discover an underlying cause of intestine inflammation.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
PI: Eric Dubberke, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Department of Medicine – Infectious Diseases
Clostridioides difficile is classified as an antibiotic resistant urgent threat by the CDC, its highest threat level. A better understand on how to prevent C. difficile infection is needed. This study will identify genetic features of C. difficile that increase its ability to be spread from person to person. We will then look for ways to better understand how these help C. difficile spread in order to identify new ways to prevent transmission.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Jane Garbutt, MD, MHSc, Washington University, School of Medicine: Pediatrics – Allergy, Immunology & Pulmonary Medicine
In this project, we will start to evaluate Woebot-A, an intervention designed to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy through a phone app. The evaluation will include a pilot randomized trial among 40 adolescents newly diagnosed with depression and will assess if Woebot-A is usable by teens and likely to provide benefit, and acceptable to adolescents, their parents and primary care providers.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Kirsten Gilbert, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Psychiatry
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe treatment-resistant psychiatric disorder. AN is characterized by inflexibility, a need for control, and ‘heightened performance monitoring and overcontrol’ (HPM/OC). This study characterizes behavioral and neural HPM/OC in healthy and AN adolescents. We then test a novel treatment for adolescent AN that directly targets HPM/OC, examining whether treatment changes neural and behavioral HPM/OC in adolescent AN.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Andrea Granados, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Pediatrics – Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes
Low carbohydrate diets have gained popularity in the care of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Yet, evidence on the safety and impact of low carbohydrate diets in children with T1D is lacking. In addition, children may have difficulty adhering to it. In our proposal, we aim to evaluate the feasibility or ability to adhere to the dietary recommendations, safety and impact of low carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Joy Jiang, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Surgery
The proposed project aim to provide a rigorous statistical ground for the design and analysis of n-of-1 trials incorporating sequential monitoring.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Jaqueline Limberg, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Medicine: Nutrition & Exercise Physiology
This project examines sex disparities in the neurovascular response to intermittent hypoxia, the effect of obesity, and a role for the ß-adrenergic receptors in humans.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
PI: Yongjian Liu, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, Radiology: Radiological Sciences
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an abnormal enlargement in the lower part of the major vessel that supplies blood to the body (aorta). It mostly affects males over 65 years old in western countries with 80-90% mortality if ruptured. There is no diagnosis available to predict the rupture of aneurysm clinically. Herein, we propose to use our FDA approved imaging agent to image AAA in patients for the prediction of rupture.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Jerry Lowder, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Obstetrics & Gynecology
This project aims to determine the impact of the natural sugar D-mannose on recurrent urinary tract infections, which are common in postmenopausal women. Additionally, this project focuses on women with a bladder condition that has long been ignored clinically but may reflect an inflammatory state that enhances risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Patrick Lyons, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Hospitalized oncology patients clinically deteriorate more frequently than general inpatients. We created a preliminary Early Warning System for oncology patients using discrete-time logistic regression on electronic health record data. In this project, we will create and evaluate machine learning and deep learning algorithms to improve the Onc-EWS for adult oncology patients hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Michael Montana, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Anesthesiology
Tonsillectomy is the most common major pediatric operation performed in the United States. More than 500,000 surgeries are performed each year. The optimal pain medication regimen for this operation has not yet been determined. We will test two different opioid pain medications, hydromorphone and fentanyl, to see if one provides better pain control for children compared to the other.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Ginger Nicol, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Psychiatry
In this application, we propose to study the mechanism of psilocybin, a serotonin receptor 2A agonist. If funded, this project will be the first of its kind at Washington University to apply cutting edge functional brain imaging tools to elucidate the immediate and lasting effects of psilocybin on cortical and cortico-subcortical brain networks in healthy participants. Findings will lead to a future clinical trial of psilocybin for depression.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Rajan Sah, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Department of Medicine – Cardiovascular Division
Diabetes and associated diseases are major global health concerns. This proposal is relevant to the mission of the ICTS because it examines the therapeutic tractability of SWELL1 modulators for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Exploring this therapeutic approach and testing a series of SWELL1 modulators will expand our understanding of novel therapeutic avenues and delineate an innovative target for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Jianguo Sun, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia, Statistics
The main goal of the proposed research is to develop proper and realistic screening methods for high-dimensional data related to AD with focus on identifying prognostic factors such as SNPs, predicting AD conversion and for AD classification. Specifically, the proposed research will consist of two aims, developing both model-based and model-free screening methods for high-dimensional AD data.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
PI: Laneshia Tague, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Department of Medicine – Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Clonal hematopoiesis is the expansion of hematopoietic cells with certain somatic mutations. This can be directly influenced by cytotoxic agents and can confer differential risk for various clinical conditions such as cytopenias, cardiovascular events and malignancy. We aim to assess how immunosuppression agents influence the process of clonal hematopoiesis and how different clonal populations influence outcomes after lung transplantation.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Steven Weintraub, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: VA Hospital
ACE inhibitors are among the most important and widely prescribed drugs. They reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. Unfortunately, their use carries the risk of causing life- threatening airway swelling in some patients. There is currently no treatment for this condition. We will study a novel treatment approach that may reduce or completely reverse the swelling.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Neil White, MD, Washington University School of Medicine: Pediatrics – Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes
This is a phase 1b pilot and feasibility study to assess feasibility, safety and tolerability of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) to treat Wolfram Syndrome. Wolfram Syndrome is a serious rare genetic disease that currently has no specific treatment or cure and results in considerable disability during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood and death usually in the 3rd or 4th decade of life.
This project is funded by Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.
PI: Melanie Yarbrough, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Pathology & Immunology
Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are associated with invasive infection in newborns. Maternal colonization with NTHi may be a potential source of infection but little is known about the frequency of NTHi colonization in pregnant women. Our objective is to develop a robust and sensitive culture method for isolation of NTHI from genital specimens of pregnant women to determine point prevalence of NTHi colonization in this population
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
PI: Tiezhi Zhang, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine: Radiation Oncology
Proton therapy is one of the most advanced radiation treatment technique. It is of paramount importance to develop an imager that can effectively measure proton treatment fields. In this project, we will develop a multi-layer ionization chamber (MLIC) that is capable of measuring both the spatial and energy information of a pencil beam scanning proton beam, as well as radiography imaging.
This project is funded by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.