18 Scientists, Eight Institutions Receive More Than $1 Million for Collaborative Research Projects

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February 3, 2010 | Print this page | Share This |

The Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) today announced the awardees of the 2010 Collaborative Research Awards program.  The awards will support six projects, representing 18 scientists from eight organizations throughout Rhode Island.

The program is designed to stimulate collaborative research projects that are well-positioned to attract significant follow-on funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health or are ripe for commercialization.

“Today we are allocating $1 million to support six projects from eight organizations in Rhode Island,” Governor Donald L. Carcieri said. “Whether it’s developing new drugs for cancer prevention or whether it’s identifying preventative strategies for brain damage in premature infants, to name just a few, these funds will not only assist our state’s researchers with their groundbreaking work, but they will also further our efforts to build an innovation economy and enhance the quality of life for our citizens. My congratulations to each of the scientists and organizations represented here today.”

Since the program’s inception in 2007, STAC has awarded approximately $5 million to 30 teams of 71 researchers from 27 organizations. This year, out of the 38 projects submitted for review, six projects that featured multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research with follow-on funding promise were chosen.
"These awards reflect the outstanding collaborative research taking place in Rhode Island," said STAC Co-Chair and Vice President for Research at Brown University Clyde Briant. "Each year we have so many exceptional applications, all of which reflect the wealth of talented researchers in our state. We are fortunate to have them, as their ideas and work will pave the way for future economic success."

The 2010 award recipients include academic and industry scientists pursuing research in disease prevention, pharmacotherapy, renewable energy and engineering. Priority was given to high-impact projects that are collaborative across Rhode Island institutions and well positioned to receive follow-on funding, particularly from federal agencies. Those with significant technology development and commercialization potential were also encouraged.

Awards will fund:
• Development of new drugs for cancer prevention and chemotherapy.
• Development of diagnostic kits to allow non-invasive monitoring of the concentration of immunosuppressive agents.
• Advancement in lithium battery technology.
• Identifying early-state bladder cancer.
• Development of preventative strategies for brain damage in premature infants. 
• Improving the diagnosis of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

"The funding available through the Collaborative Grant Award Program brings our researchers and industry partners together to build on shared resources and leverage federal funding opportunities,” said David Farmer, STAC Co-Chair and Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at University of Rhode Island. “These grants are an important investment of state monies and will lead to discoveries that will return follow-on funding and commercialization opportunities back to Rhode Island."

Winning teams include scientists from Organomed, Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Hospital, Lucidux Corporation, Women & Infants Hospital, ProThera Biologics and Astro-Med Inc.  “Through the Collaborative Research Awards program, STAC’s catalytic investment in cross-industry collaboration plays an important role in Rhode Island’s effort to create a stronger, knowledge-based economy,” said Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. “This level of collaboration is a critical element in leveraging the state’s resources to build a thriving research and development community in the state.”

About the Collaborative Research Awards Program
With the inception of the Rhode Island Research Alliance in 2007, STAC created a competitive, merit-based award program to support projects that promote inter-organizational, multi-disciplinary collaboration which are positioned to attract follow-on funding from out-of-state sources — the Collaborative Research Awards program.  With follow-on funding, Rhode Island has the potential of increasing its competitive research capacity, advancing technological development and boosting commercialization potential within the state.

To administer the program, STAC uses a competitive application process similar to that used by the National Science Foundation.  Peer reviewers who are scientific experts familiar with a proposal’s area of focus evaluate the proposal on the basis of scientific merit and broader impacts in the community.  A subcommittee of STAC members also review the proposals based on how well the proposal meets the objectives of the program.  Awardees represent the most exciting proposals which combine high scientific merit with opportunity for significant follow-on funding or substantial commercial potential, such as valuable licensing prospects or the creation of new companies, at the completion of the one-year grant cycle.    

More about the Awardees
Project 1: Development of Novel Agents for Cancer Prevention and Therapy from the Natural Spice Turmeric
This team is working to identify lead compounds from highly traditional plant products for the development of new drugs for cancer prevention and chemotherapy.  The team will study the active compounds found in the spice turmeric and identify their anti-cancer activity.
Collaborators:
James N. Jacob, Ph.D, Organomed
Wayne Bowen, Ph.D, Brown University

Project 2: Novel Oral Fluid Based Methods for Non-Invasive Determination of Total Exposure to Active Immunosuppresive Agents
This collaboration is working to develop diagnostic kits to allow non-invasive monitoring of the concentration of immunosuppressive agents in oral fluids as a substitute for blood concentration monitoring.  This method of monitoring immunosuppressive agents will hopefully lead to improved pharmacotherapy and result in the development of commercially diagnostic techniques.
Collaborators:
Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Ph.D, University of Rhode Island
Reginald Gohh, M.D, Rhode Island Hospital

Project 3: Development of Durable Silicon Thin-Film Anodes and New Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries
This team proposes to develop new and highly durable anode architecture for lithium batteries complemented by the development of new electrolytes that will form a stable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer.  This STAC grant will help RI align with the Department of Energy’s Energy Strategic Goal and contribute to cutting-edge advances in lithium battery technology.
Collaborators:
Pradeep Guduru, Ph.D, Brown University
Christopher Bull, Ph.D, Brown University
Brett Lucht, Ph.D, University of Rhode Island

Project 4: Early Cancer Detection and Treatment Using Advanced Three-Dimensional Surface Texture Visualization and Modeling
This project aims to develop 3D imaging technology to address limitations in visualization of the current minimally invasive surgical procedures that are rapidly replacing open surgeries.  The team will focus primarily on the problem of identifying early-state bladder cancer, the third-most prevalent cancer that ranks fourth in incidence.
Collaborators:
Gabriel Taubin, Ph.D, Brown University
George E. Haleblian, M.D, Rhode Island Hospital
Jason D. Harry, Ph.D, Lucidux Corporation, LLC
Gyan Pareek, M.D; Rhode Island Hospital

Project 5: Neuroprotective Anti-Inflammatory Strategies to Prevent Damage to the Premature Brain
As noted by the March of Dimes, an ever increasing incidence of preterm birth contributes to 50 percent of the cases of cerebral palsy and mental retardation.  This team will focus of the development of novel preventative strategies for brain damage in premature infants.  This project provides a unique alliance between two academic institutions and an emerging commercial research entity.  
Collaborators:
Barbara Stonestreet, M.D, Women & Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island
James Padbury, M.D, Women & Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island
Yow-Pin Lim, Ph.D, ProThera Biologics
R. Choudary Hanumara, Ph.D, University of Rhode Island

Project 6: Tripolar Concentric Ring Electrode Electroencephalogram (TCRE EEG) System - An Innovative Diagnostic Tool for Epilepsy
This collaboration between the University of Rhode Island, Brown University and Astro-Med Inc. will develop a commercially viable system to improve the diagnosis of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.  Epilepsy afflicts approximately 15 million Americans of all ages and misdiagnosis can lead to serious cognitive impairments and behavioral problems.
Collaborators:
Walter G. Besio, Ph.D, University of Rhode Island
John Gaitanis, M.D, Brown University
Michael Sullivan, M.S, Astro-Med Inc.