Grants at a glance
NIDDK grant to support diabetes research
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded a five-year grant of more than $2 million to Rama Natarajan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism for diabetes research. Natarajan and her team will identify mechanisms for diabetes complications and diabetes-related inflammation of blood vessels, potentially leading to targets for new therapies.
Archstone Foundation continues training support
The Archstone Foundation presented a three-year, $900,000 grant to continue support of City of Hope’s End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) training in California. The project, led by Betty Ferrell, R.N., Ph.D., professor in the Division of Nursing Research and Education, will target intensive care unit nurses and geriatric care providers. ELNEC is a national education initiative developed by City of Hope to improve end-of-life care.
Australian Mushroom Growers Association funds trial
The Australian Mushroom Growers Association supported clinical trials in breast and prostate cancer with a two-year, $560,000 grant. The effort, led by Shiuan Chen, Ph.D., professor and director of the Division of Tumor Cell Biology, will study whether consuming mushroom powder can influence factors linked to breast cancer recurrence and prostate cancer growth. Previous research suggests mushrooms may reduce breast cancer risk.
American Diabetes Association Junior Faculty award goes to Reddy
The American Diabetes Association presented a three-year, $414,000 grant to Marpadga Reddy, Ph.D., assistant research scientist in the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism. The grant will help identify mechanisms to develop therapeutic strategies to prevent vascular complications of diabetes. Cardiovascular problems are among the most harmful results of diabetes and can lead to damage of several organs, including the heart, kidneys and eyes.
3M supports City of Hope’s Summer Student Academy
The 3M Company awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant to support City of Hope’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy for aspiring scientists. The summer program, which began in 1975, engages scientific curiosity and promotes the potential medical research careers of promising high school and college students.
The James S. McDonnell Foundation grant advances brain cancer research
The James S. McDonnell Foundation gave a one-year, $112,000 grant to support the brain cancer research of Yanhong Shi, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurosciences. Shi’s research will focus on the nuclear receptor known as TLX and its role in initiating brain cancer. The award is part of the McDonnell Foundation’s 21st Century Science Initiative, which supports neuroscience and brain cancer research.