The COBRE Mentoring Translational Researcher in Louisiana was the first program in Louisiana to focus and train a new generation of researchers on the intricacies of translating research from the bench to the bedside and back. Started in the immediate post-Hurricane Katrina crisis, the results of work supported by this COBRE went above and beyond expectations. COBRE funded research helped establish teams of highly productive researchers that developed unique translational research programs addressing the health issues that affect the citizens of Louisiana, in particular the underserved minorities. Research has centered on the scientific goal of understanding the cellular, genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating chronic inflammation as the initiator and promoter of disease. COBRE researchers developed unique observations on viruses, immunity and cancer; obesity and disease; and the molecular regulation of inflammation in cancer. They also established cutting-edge scientific cores, and catalyzed the development of infrastructure such as the Tumor and HIV/AIDS Biorepositories, the only AIDS Malignancy Consortium Center in the region, and the only state wide clinical trials program. COBRE research helped multiply the number of extramural grants, including an NIH Directors Transformative Award. In addition, unique and novel observations resulted in the development of major NIH supported programs including a new Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. This COBRE was also essential in recruiting established investigators that have expanded the depth and scope of our research. Phase III will provide investigators with an integrated one-stop shop research and support program that provides scientific planning and mentoring by senior researchers, access to cutting edge scientific cores, and a dedicated grants development team and administrative support to oversee the fiscal aspects of research. This approach will provide new opportunities for promising junior investigators (PJI) and senior researchers developing individual research projects or team-based investigation on the molecular determinants of inflammation and its impact on disease, with particular emphasis on minority populations. The scientific results and the grants obtained, and the integration of the scientific cores within the LSU Health Sciences Center will ensure the long-term stability and success of this research program. To achieve this we propose to: 1) Provide researchers with an integrated translational research support program; 2) Provide funding opportunities through a Pilot Projects Program to promising junior investigators (PJI) eager to develop independent research careers, or to teams of researchers developing highly innovative translational research; 3) Complete the integration of the Scientific Cores into the LSU Cancer Center at the LSU Health Sciences Center.

Public Health Relevance

The success of promising junior investigators or teams of researchers is dependent not only on the significance and innovation of their discoveries, but also the scientific core facilities that the latest research technologies, mentorship from experienced researchers, and grants development and administrative teams that helps identify funding opportunities and ensures the appropriate management of the project. The Phase III of this COBRE will provide this research support program to investigators in our region.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30GM114732-05
Application #
9733264
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1)
Program Officer
Davani, Behrous
Project Start
2015-07-01
Project End
2020-06-30
Budget Start
2019-07-01
Budget End
2020-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State Univ Hsc New Orleans
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
782627814
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70112
Ghonim, Mohamed A; Wang, Jeffrey; Ibba, Salome V et al. (2018) Sulfated non-anticoagulant heparin blocks Th2-induced asthma by modulating the IL-4/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6/Janus kinase 1 pathway. J Transl Med 16:243
Lassak, Adam; Dean, Mathew; Wyczechowska, Dorota et al. (2018) Molecular and Structural Traits of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1/LC3 Nuclear Structures and Their Role in Autophagy Control and Tumor Cell Survival. Mol Cell Biol 38:
Berger, Nathan A; Besson, Valerie C; Boulares, A Hamid et al. (2018) Opportunities for the repurposing of PARP inhibitors for the therapy of non-oncological diseases. Br J Pharmacol 175:192-222
Ungerleider, Nathan A; Rao, Sonia G; Shahbandi, Ashkan et al. (2018) Breast cancer survival predicted by TP53 mutation status differs markedly depending on treatment. Breast Cancer Res 20:115
Serrano-Gómez, Silvia J; Fejerman, Laura; Zabaleta, Jovanny (2018) Breast Cancer in Latinas: A Focus on Intrinsic Subtypes Distribution. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 27:3-10
Sanabria-Salas, María Carolina; Hernández-Suárez, Gustavo; Umaña-Pérez, Adriana et al. (2017) IL1B-CGTC haplotype is associated with colorectal cancer in admixed individuals with increased African ancestry. Sci Rep 7:41920
Loupe, Jacob M; Miller, Patrick J; Crabtree, Judy S et al. (2017) Acquisition of an oncogenic fusion protein is sufficient to globally alter the landscape of miRNA expression to inhibit myogenic differentiation. Oncotarget 8:87054-87072
Rawlik, Konrad; Rowlatt, Amy; Sanabria-Salas, María Carolina et al. (2017) Evidence of epigenetic admixture in the Colombian population. Hum Mol Genet 26:501-508
Al-Khami, Amir A; Zheng, Liqin; Del Valle, Luis et al. (2017) Exogenous lipid uptake induces metabolic and functional reprogramming of tumor-associated myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Oncoimmunology 6:e1344804
Garay, Jone; Piazuelo, M Blanca; Lopez-Carrillo, Lizbeth et al. (2017) Increased expression of deleted in malignant brain tumors (DMBT1) gene in precancerous gastric lesions: Findings from human and animal studies. Oncotarget 8:47076-47089

Showing the most recent 10 out of 30 publications