2008-2009 Seed Funding Awards Announced

Patricia Hurn, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Research Center for Gender-Based Medicine (RCGBM) , and Nabil Alkayed, M.D., Ph.D., RCGBM associate director and chair of the Seed Funding Program, are pleased to announce the Center’s second seed funding awards.

The committee selected the following four projects for this funding cycle:

Studies to Prevent and Reduce Trauma in Athletes (SPARTA)
Diane Elliot, M.D., Principal Investigator
Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Health Promotion & Sports Medicine, OHSU
Associate Director, Human Performance Laboratory, OHSU
Science Director, Center for Health Promotion Research, OHSU

Female athletes are at higher risk for injury, compared to young male athletes, yet there have been limited studies to understand factors that may contribute to this increased risk. The focus of this project is to evaluate the relationship among lifestyle variables, psychological factors and sport injury risk in male versus female high school athletes in order to establish gender-specific injury models and to develop gender targeted team-based curricula aimed at reducing sports injuries and improving well-being in both genders.

Role of Hormones, in Particular Estrogen, in Vascular Dysfunction
Monica Hinds, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Engineering, OHSU

This research will investigate whether sex (genotype) and estrogen treatment affect the hemostatic and antithrombotic functions of endothelial cells (EC). The sex and hormone-specific effects will be investigated under controlled shear stress conditions, which are relevant and critical to the natural state of ECs and affect their functions. This is a new approach to in depth learning about the sex-specific function and ultimate failure of ECs to prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Sex-Dependence of Myocardial Ischemic Tolerance Due to Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition
Donna Van Winkle, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine, OHSU
Director of Research, Operative Care Division, Portland VA Medical Center

This project will determine if diHETs, the hydration product of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), is protective in mice treated with myocardial I/R in a sex-specific manner. diHETS are measured in wild type (high) vs sEH knockouts (low) and effect on infarct size will be determined.

Dopamine Cells and Movement Disorders: Identifying a Cellular Basis for Rett Syndrome
John Williams, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Senior Scientist, Vollum Institute, OHSU

We know that Rett Syndrome (RTT) is caused by mutations of a gene on the X chromosome. This proposal will examine the electrophysiological properties of basal ganglion dopamine neurons in a mouse model of RTT.

The goal of the RCGBM Seed Funding Program is to stimulate research in areas of gender-based medicine by supporting the generation of preliminary data that will form the basis for career development proposals for junior investigators or NIH R01-type proposals for established investigators interested in developing new gender-based research programs. The Center supports both translational bench and clinical studies directly applicable to human disease and therapy.

Watch for the 2009-10 Seed Funding Opportunities, which will be announced in summer 2009.

Other funding opportunities in gender-based research:
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-07-381.html
http://orwh.od.nih.gov/research/pa-rfa.html
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-GM-08-126.html