We request funds through the P30 grant mechanism (RFA-OD-09-005) to recruit Viviana Ferreira, Ph.D., to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Toledo College of Medicine as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. Dr. Ferreira's recruitment has already been approved by the University Board of Trustees and she Is scheduled to join our department In July, 2009. Dr. Ferreira Is a promising junior investigator with special expertise in complement regulatory proteins which play pathogenic roles In a number of inherited and acquired blood diseases. Her research program has been always directed toward improvement of human health - In fact, her recent work has unveiled novel pathogenic mechanisms of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Thus, her research area is directly relevant to the scope and mission of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Dr. Ferreira is a Hispanic woman with advanced education and training and an outstanding publication record. Thus, her recruitment broadens the diversity of the faculty body in our institution. Finally, Dr. Ferreira's expertise In the complement system fits perfectly with ongoing research projects in our department focused on Innate and adaptive Immunity, leading to strategic and synergistic growth of our overall multi-disciplinary translational research program. The requested funds will be used not only to hire Dr. Ferreira, but also to create four additional positions for highly educated Individuals and to equip her laboratory with Instruments and reagents manufactured by domestic companies. In summary, we believe that the proposed hiring of Dr. Viviana Ferreira will boost local and national economic growth, establish the scientific/technological advantage of the United States in an Important clinical/scientific field, and broaden the diversity of our biomedical research community. We are recruiting Viviana Ferreira, Ph.D., to the Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Toledo as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. Dr. Ferreira studies special proteins in the blood known as """"""""complement regulatory proteins,"""""""" which play pathogenic roles in a number of Inherited and acquired blood diseases. Her expertise in the complement system fits perfectly with ongoing research projects in our department, thus, leading to synergistic expansion of our multi-disciplinary translational research program

Public Health Relevance

We are recruiting Viviana Ferreira, Ph.D., to the Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Toledo as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. Dr. Ferreira studies special proteins in the blood known as complement regulatory proteins, which play pathogenic roles in a number of Inherited and acquired blood diseases. Her expertise in the complement system fits perfectly with ongoing research projects in our department, thus, leading to synergistic expansion of our multi-disciplinary translational research program.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30HL101317-02
Application #
7935343
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-E (O1))
Program Officer
Chang, Henry
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2012-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$594,848
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Toledo
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
807418939
City
Toledo
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43614
Blatt, Adam Z; Pathan, Sabina; Ferreira, Viviana P (2016) Properdin: a tightly regulated critical inflammatory modulator. Immunol Rev 274:172-190
Saggu, Gurpanna; Cortes, Claudio; Emch, Heather N et al. (2013) Identification of a novel mode of complement activation on stimulated platelets mediated by properdin and C3(H2O). J Immunol 190:6457-67
Cortes, Claudio; Ferreira, V P; Pangburn, Michael K (2011) Native properdin binds to Chlamydia pneumoniae and promotes complement activation. Infect Immun 79:724-31
Ferreira, Viviana P; Pangburn, Michael K; Cortes, Claudio (2010) Complement control protein factor H: the good, the bad, and the inadequate. Mol Immunol 47:2187-97