Three research teams from Duke University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU) were selected to receive supplemental funding to advance their innovation in biomedical research. The awards, which were available by invitation only to previous recipients of the Duke-NCCU Collaborative Translational Research Grants, provide $40,000 to each team for a six-month extension of their successful collaborations.
Sponsored by the Duke-NCCU Bridge Office and Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and administered by the CTSI Accelerator, this targeted funding aims to capitalize on promising opportunities that emerged from previously funded Duke-NCCU collaborations between 2018 and 2023. In addition to funding, the awarded teams will receive project management support from CTSI project leaders.
“These supplemental awards recognize the progress made by these teams through their initial collaborations,” said Deepak Kumar, PhD, associate provost, dean of research, and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at NCCU. “This exclusive funding opportunity demonstrates Duke and NCCU's commitment to cultivating successful research partnerships that show high potential for clinical implementation.”
Early Alzheimer’s Disease Detection
The first team, led by Shih-Hsiu "Jerry" Wang, MD, PhD, from Duke and Bin Xu, PhD, from NCCU, is developing new diagnostic tools for early Alzheimer's disease detection. Their approach focuses on creating less expensive and noninvasive tests to identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease. The team's innovative method combines advanced molecular detection techniques to create more accessible diagnostic tools for patients and healthcare providers.
Women’s Health
The second team pairs reproductive physiologist Friederike Jayes, DVM, PhD, from Duke with chemist Darlene Taylor, PhD, from NCCU to tackle a prevalent women's health issue. They are developing a novel, minimally invasive treatment for uterine fibroids as an alternative to surgery. Their technology is based on delivering a highly purified enzyme (collagenase) using a breakthrough injectable hydrogel-copolymer called LiquoGel™ that allows delivery of a high drug payload.
Cancer Drug Resistance
The third team, led by Kris C. Wood, PhD, from Duke and John E. Scott, PhD, from NCCU, is working to overcome drug resistance in cancer treatment. Their research focuses on developing new methods to identify selective inhibitors of PKN2, a recently discovered protein kinase that plays a crucial role in cancer drug resistance. The team's work builds upon their recent breakthrough published in Cancer Discovery, which identified PKN2 as a potential target for treating drug-resistant cancers.
“These grants are excellent examples of the Duke-NCCU Bridge Office’s commitment to strategically align institutional capabilities that will advance collaboration and support high-impact translational research,” said Bryan Batch, MD, faculty director for the Bridge Office. “Along with CTSI Accelerator, we are proud to work closely with Duke and NCCU leadership to create opportunities for investigators at all career levels to access resources and services to fuel innovative research like this. Congratulations to all the awardees.”
The grants run from January through June. For more information about the Duke-NCCU Collaborative Translational Research Program, contact Duke CTSI Accelerator at CTSIfunding@duke.edu.