VCOM 2017 Annual Report

Internally Funded Research (continued)

Center: C erium-containing nanoparticles for amelioration of neurodegenerative conditions . Dr. Rzigalinski is co-principal investigator on this project in collaboration with researchers at VMCVM. In addition, Dr. Rzigalinski has a patent application that will be issuing soon: Cerium oxide nanoparticles for the treatment and prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease . Richard Williams, MD Dr. Williams is an associate professor for geriatrics at VCOM–Virginia. His research interests include treatment of diabetes, vascular diseases and myeloma using supplements as adjunct therapy and gemmotherapy treatment for vascular disease. Along with colleagues at VMCVM, Dr. Williams is co-principal investigator on a project investigating vascular disease: • VCOM and VMVCM One Health Research Center: Exploring the beneficial mechanisms of gemmotherapy-treated peripheral vascular disease using the ischemic hind-limb mouse model . VCOM and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMVCM) One Health Research Center: The role of tri-heteromeric NMDA receptors in stroke and its mitigation . Dr. Costa is co-principal investigator alongside colleagues at VMCVM. VCOM REAP: Clearance of brain metabolic waste in rat model of Alzheimer’s disease by cranial osteopathic manipulation . P. Gunnar Brolinson, DO, and Hope Tobey, DO, are clinical investigators on this project. • Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD VCOM REAP: Identification and verification of genetic markers for Autism . • Jim Palmieri, PhD VCOM and VMCVM One Health Research Center: Lyme disease in humans and dogs . Dr. Palmieri serves as co-principal investigator on this project, in partnership with researchers at VMCVM. • Robin Queen, PhD VCOM REAP: The ability of osteopathic In addition to their extramural funding, the following VCOM–Virginia faculty have internally-funded programs: • Blaise Costa, MPharm, PhD

structural evaluation to assess gait asymmetry . P. Gunnar Brolinson, DO, and Mark Rogers, DO, are investigators on this project. • Chris Reilly, PhD VCOM and VMCVM One Health Research Center: HDAC6 inhibition in SLE . Along with colleagues at VMCVM, Dr. Reilly serves as co- principal investigator on this project.

CAROLINAS Jack Caldwell, PhD

Dr. Caldwell is the discipline chair for pharmacology at VCOM–Carolinas. His research interests involve study of sex hormone binding globuins and their role in steroid actions. He is principal investigator on the following project: • VCOM REAP: Identifying the interaction of sex hormone binding globulin and estradiol receptor- β at the plasma membrane and within the cell . Scott Ochs, PhD, and Zoltan Hajdu, MD, serve as investigators on this work. Randy Gregg, PhD Dr. Gregg is an associate professor for microbiology and immunology at VCOM–Carolinas. The work in his laboratory is focused on understanding the nature of immune responses to cancers and infectious agents in order to develop approaches to modulate the response as a mode of therapy. He is principal investigator on the following internal project: • VCOM REAP: Effect of Zaire Ebolavirus soluble viral proteins upon the functions of innate immune cells . Jillian Bradley, PhD, is an investigator on this project, and Jennifer Arnold is also involved in the work. Zoltan Hajdu, MD Dr. Hajdu is an assistant professor for anatomical sciences at VCOM–Carolinas. His research career is focused on studying the cardiovascular system, with special emphasis on heart valves and hematopoietic bone marrow-derived cells. Dr. Hajdu is currently working on a VCOM-funded project: • VCOM REAP: In situ identification and in vitro characterization of human heart valve progenitor cells.

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