This grant proposal is being submitted to obtain funding for the University of Virginia Digestive Health Research Center (UVa DHRC). The Center's major theme is the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer. The UVa DHRC is a multidisciplinary program, including members in 12 different academic departments with 46 investigators (34 full members and 12 associate members). The major objective of the UVa DHRC is to promote digestive health related research in an integrated, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary fashion. In order to accomplish this goal, the proposed UVa DHRC will: 1) enhance the basic research capabilities of Center members, 2) develop and implement programs to support the independent development of young investigators in digestive health related research, 3) attract established investigators with varied expertise who are not currently involved in digestive health research to apply their expertise to this important area of investigation, and 4) facilitate the translation of basic research discoveries to the clinical arena. We have strong institutional support to increase the impact of digestive health research at the University of Virginia through the development of a UVa DHRC. The proposed UVa DHRC is organized around 3 broad thematic areas of research: 1) mucosal immunology/intestinal inflammation, 2) gastrointestinal host-microbial interactions, and 3) epithelial cell biology/tumorigenesis. The Research Base for the Center consists of $13.2 million, with 52% of these funds coming from the NIDDK. We are proposing 3 scientific cores to support this Research Base: 1) a Morphology/Imaging Core, 2) a Molecular Biology/Gene Expression Core, and 3) an Immunology/Cell Isolation Core. These core laboratories interface with a well-organized Administrative Core, which also supports Pilot/Feasibility and Named New Investigator Programs to support innovative research projects by investigators who are new to the area of digestive health. The Administrative Core also includes an Enrichment Program and a Translational Research Component, and oversees the financial management and operation of the UVa DHRC. The overall objective of the UVA DHRC is to increase the availability of core resources for Center members, with the goal of fostering research, collaborations, and new directions in digestive and liver disease research.
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