VCRI Pioneer Awards

This new internal funding mechanism is designed to promote the development of pioneering research. It is intended for early- or conceptual-stage projects that lead to the development of highly innovative, untested, and potentially groundbreaking concepts. Three categories of awards are funded, for a total of $275,000. Initial grant period is 12 months with opportunities for renewed support in subsequent years. Grants were awarded to the following:

Early-Stage Investigator Award

($20,000)

Supporting early-stage investigators above the level of postdoctoral or clinical fellow to pursue a research project independent of their mentors.

Zachary Waldrip, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral fellow, Burdine Laboratory, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine Title: “Biotherapeutic potential of genetically modified yeast to prevent enterotoxin-associated disease”

Established Investigator Award

(up to $30,000)

Enabling an established investigator to venture into a new research area and expand his/her research horizon.

Donghoon Yoon, Ph.D.

($30,000), Assistant Professor, Myeloma Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine Title: “Bioactive Compounds from Herbal Medicine Prevent Multiple Myeloma via Gut Microbiota Changes”

Giulia Baldini, M.D., Ph.D.

($30,000), Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine Title: “Impacts of saturated fatty acids on glucose transporters of hypothalamic neurons”

Jia Liu, Ph.D.

($30,000), Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine Title: “Concurrent transcriptional and translational reprogramming targeting tumor-associated macrophages for immunotherapy of cancer”

Zhiqiang Qin, M.D., Ph.D.

($16,994), Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine Title: “Development of O'PROTACs-based Novel EIF4G1 Degraders for Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer”

Innovation Enhancement Award

($50,000)

Supporting established investigators seeking a second or third multi-year grant.

En Huang, Ph.D.

($50,000), Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Title: “Cefiderocol Heteroresistance and Resistance in Carbapenem-resistant Pathogens”

Fen Xia, M.D., Ph.D.

($50,000), Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine Title: “Target SIRT2 to Improve Therapeutic Ration in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment”

Hong-yu Li, Ph.D.

($50,000), Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Title: “Development of O’PROTAC as a Novel Drug Discovery Modality”