Some 250 grants awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health over the past year have featured applications of real-time PCR. Here, we summarize a selection of some of the largest of these grants, with concentrations on cancer and infectious diseases.
DNA Methylation and Chromatin Modifications: Mechanisms and Applications in CancerSamson T. Jacob
(5P01CA101956-02, National Cancer Institute, 08/01/07)
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
$2,215,284
Goal: To advance basic understanding of epigenetic regulation of gene expression (and its reversal) in cancer cells and rapidly translate understanding of molecular mechanisms into clinical practice.
Molecular-Nutrient Interactions in Intestinal Cancer(5U54CA100926-05, National Cancer Institute, 08/16/07)
Leonard H. Augenlicht
Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
$1,987,302
Goal: To understand how a Western-style diet interacts with genetic factors to increase probability of tumor formation in the intestinal tract.
Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research(5P20RR020159-04, National Center for Research Resources, 06/15/07)
Konstantin G. Kousoulas
Louisiana State University A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA
$1,924,234
Goal: Five integrated research projects investigating molecular and immunological aspects of viral infections.
HT-Film-Array: A System to Assess Respiratory Viruses with Emphasis on Influenza(1U01AI074419-01, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 08/07/07)
Steven F. Dobrowolski
Idaho Technology, Salt Lake City, UT
$1,793,553
Goal: To develop a dense format to concurrently assay for a panel of respiratory viruses, including influenza, and to characterize influenza H and N genes to differentiate strains.
Biological Breast Cancer Classification by qRT-PCR(5U01CA114722-03, National Cancer Institute, 06/01/07)
Matthew J. Ellis
Washington University, St. Louis, MO
$1,549,377
Goal: To identify prognostic classification of breast tumors via RNA expression profiling.
Sample Processing Cartridges for Rapid PCR TB Detection(5R42AI052523-03, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 08/14/07)
David Alland
Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA
$1,343,564
Goal: To integrate sample processing and real-time PCR diagnosis into a single, hands-free process.
Detection of Select Agents in Single-Well Assays(5U01AI056689-05, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 06/18/07)
David Alland
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
$873,498
Goal: To develop rapid, simple, robust, and specific assays for pathogenic bacteria (particularly potential bioterror agents) via novel approaches to real-time PCR that expand the number of different pathogens detectable in a single assay well.
Sensor Technology for Rapid Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing(1U01AI075565-01, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 06/25/07)
David A. Haake
Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA
$680,764
Goal: To develop all of the essential technological components needed to produce a biosensor for rapid high-throughput bacterial pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility determination, via an electrochemical sensor for rapid genotypical identification.
Data provided by NIH Sales, Inc., 2 Snowmound Ct., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Phone: 301-279-7175. www.nihsales.net
