Image depicting rare diseases

CTSI awards funding to advance two early-stage translational research projects

CTSI is excited to announce funding for two early-stage translational research projects through its Translational Grant Program, which focused on rare disease during its 2017 grant cycle. 

Congratulations to:

  • Maneesh Bhargava, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine
  • Juergen Konczak, PhD, School of Kinesiology

The grant program, funded and managed by CTSI’s Office of Discovery and Translation (ODAT), supports early-stage projects that aim to develop a new therapeutic, diagnostic, medical device, or treatment approach, and ultimately puts promising ideas and discoveries on a path toward improved human health.

Both projects will receive support from a customized project development team that will help determine critical project milestones, identify key gaps, and strengthen its likelihood to be developed into a new product or treatment approach. Projects will receive support and funding for one year.

Translational project awardees

Maneesh Bhargava, MD, PhD

Congratulations to Maneesh Bhargava, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine, for his funded project titled, “Molecular Phenotyping in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.”

Dr. Bhargava’s project aims to identify subsets of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) unlikely to respond to standard therapy. Funding will support development of a biosignature, and evaluation of a precision-therapy approach for this patient population.

Dr. Bhargava is an Associate Professor with the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the Medical School’s Department of Medicine, and a former CTSI K-R01 and KL2 Scholar.

Watch a video of Dr. Bhargava describing the impact CTSI had on his research career

Juergen Konczak, PhD

Congratulations to Juergen Konczak, PhD, School of Kinesiology, for his funded project titled, “Wearable non-invasive neuromodulation technology for the symptomatic treatment of the voice disorder spasmodic dysphonia.”

The project aims to build a wearable device system for the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia (SD). Funding will support prototype development and pre-clinical testing.

Dr. Konczak is a Professor with the School of Kinesiology, part of the College of Education and Human Development.

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