Biomedical Research Funded in 2000


Editor's Note: The CFRI Research Advisory Committee voted to fund only one cycle of funding in future years. Research proposals requesting funding in 2001 must be submitted to the CFRI office no later than July 2nd.  The final vote by the Board of Directors and the General Membership on the RAC's recommendation for funding will occur at the end of October, 2001. The total funds awarded in 2000 amounted to $173,787.

Spring Cycle

  1. Jeff Wine, Ph.D., Stanford University, Stanford, California, Principal Investigator and Rabin Tirouvanziam, Ph.D., Research Scientist.

    CFTR, Glutathione (GSH) and Neutrophil Function.
    This study is testing whether cells lacking the CF chloride channel release less glutathione (GSH) into their environment such that microbe-killing mechanism of the neutrophils is impaired. Dr. Tirouvanziam's goal is to provide a model for the small airways which provides understanding on the use of CFTR to transport GSH and support neutrophils during the microbe-killing process.
    Amount funded: $44,287
     

  2. John LiPuma, M.D., University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, Principal Investigator.

Prevalence of Sputum Culture Negative Burkholderia Cepacia Colonization in Northern California CF Centers.
This is a request for an additional six months of funding to study gram negative cultures in Northern California CF centers.
Amount funded: $23,000

 Fall Cycle

  1. Jonathan Widdicome, Ph.D., Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA.  Program Director of the CFRI Bay Area Fellowship/Post-Doctoral Training Program in Cystic Fibrosis. 

    The CFRI Fellowship Training Program continues to expand. Ultimately, annual funding will reach $175,000 per year for a five-year commitment.
    Funds allocated in 2000: $32,500

     

  2. Tomas Ganz, Ph.D., M.D., Professor of Medicine and Pathology, University of California,  Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.

    Antimicrobial Deficiency of CF Airways Secretions.
     
    This research project has proposed to identify protein determinants of CF airways colonization by identifying and comparing microbicidal components of non-CF and CF nasal fluids. The studies will examine differences in the number and activity of natural antibiotics, called antimicrobial peptides or "AMPs". Also studies will compare the protein patterns of nasal fluid from CF patients to both non-CF donors and Staph-carriers. These two lines of investigation will determine components specifically defective in CF airways. Defective antimicrobials could ultimately be therapeutically replaced to restore the natural antibiotic activity of CF airways secretions.

    Amount funded:
    $54,000
     

  3. Martin Kharazzi, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Genetic Disease Branch, Department of
    Health Services in Berkeley, California for the state of California.


    Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Frequencies in Hispanic Adults.

    This study seeks to analyze and determine the most frequent CF mutations for Hispanics and other minorities in California in an effort to support a newborn screening process adequate for the cross-cultural population of the state. Currently many mutations common to the Hispanic population are unknown.

    Amount funded:
    $20,000