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RCMI Forum
Thursday May 12, 2011
11:00 am - 1:00 pm MEB 301
Making Invisible Resources...Visible

Marc Le Pape, Ph.D.

Junior Specialist/Resource Navigator
Department of Pediatrics
John A. Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii at Manoa
 

Application of Metabolomic Analysis to Anti-Malarial Drug Development

Sandra P. Chang, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology
John A. Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii at Manoa
People
Research studies conducted by Vivek Nerurkar and his colleagues Mukesh Kumar and Saguna Verma have been featured in the Winter/Spring 2011 edition of the NCRR Reporter. Nerurkar's team is seeking a vaccine for the West Nile Virus.

NCRR Reporter Article
Recent Grants Awarded

Peter Hoffmann
R01 AI089999-01 Hoffmann (PI)
07/01/2010 - 06/30/2015
NIH/NIAID
Selenoprotein K modulates calcium-dependent signaling in immune cells
The major goal of this project is to determine mechanisms by which selenoprotein K modulates activation of immune cells.

more information about Dr. Hoffmann's research

Brenda Hernandez
MM-1132-10/10 (Hernandez)
09/29/2009 - 09/30/2010
CDC
Evaluation of Genital Self-Sampling Methods for HPV Detection in Males
The major goal of this project is to evaluate self-sampling methods for HPV DNA detection in males.
Role: Principal Investigator

[Brenda Y. Hernandez, Ph.D., Associate Researcher, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, has been supported by the RCMI Clinical and Translational Science Bridging Fund.]

Jun Panee
R21 AT005139-01 Panee (PI)
09/01/2009 - 08/31/2011
NIH/NCCAM
Exploratory Studies on the Anti-Breast Cancer Function of Bamboo Extract
This project aims to delineate the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of bamboo extract on the initiation of chemically-induced mammary tumors in lean rats. Cutting edge Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used to quantitate the early growth of micro-tumors in the subjects.

more information about Dr. Panee's research
Research Highlights

Mukesh Kumar
Master's student Mukesh Kumar has been selected as one of five finalists for a regional Distinguished Master's Thesis Award. The award, sponsored by the Western Association of Graduate Schools and University Microfilms International, will be determined later this year. [ more... ]

 
Kumar's Publication
Research by Moti Chapagain and Vivek Nerurkar exploring the infection of human B lymphocytes by human polyomavirus JC was featured on the cover of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. An editorial commentary in the same volume disussed the findings.

Journal Cover and Caption
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial Commentary

Recent work by Pratibha Nerurkar exploring the anti-cancer properties of bittermelon was featured in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on March 7, 2010.

Star Bulletin Article
Abstract of Cancer Research Publication
Recent Publications From Pratibha's Laboratory

The Neuroprotective Functions of Selenoprotein M and its Role in Cytosolic Calcium Regulation

Abstract
Figures

Reversal of West Nile Virus-induced Blood-brain Barrier Disruption and Tight Junction Proteins Degradation by Matrix Metalloproteinases Inhibitor

Abstract
Figure

Recent Publications
Bennett SN. Evolutionary Dynamics of Dengue Virus. In Frontiers in Dengue Virus Research, eds. K. A. Hanley and S.C. Weaver, 2010, p. 157-172.

Bennett SN, Drummond A, Kapan DD, Munoz J, Pybus O, Holmes EC, Gubler DJ. Epidemic dynamics revealed in dengue sequence evolution. Mol Biol Evol. 2009. Dec. 4 [Epub ahead of print]; doi: doi:10.1093/molbev/msp285. [PMID: 19965886].

Chapagain ML, Nerurkar VR. Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) infection of human B lymphocytes: a possible mechanism for JCV transmigration across the blood-brain barrier. J Infect Dis. 2010 Jul 15;202(2):184-91. [PMID: 20550458].

Kang HJ, Arai S, Hope AG, Song JW, Cook JA, Yanagihara R. Genetic diversity and phylogeography of Seewis virus in the Eurasian common shrew in Finland and Hungary. Virol J. 2009; Nov 24;6(1):208. [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID: 19930716].

Kang HJ, Arai S, Hope AG, Cook JA, Yanagihara R. Novel hantavirus in the flat-skulled shrew (Sorex roboratus). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2010; Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID: 20426682]

Kumar M, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Pro-inflammatory cytokines derived from West Nile virus (WNV)-infected SK-N-SH cells mediate neuroinflammatory markers and neuronal death. J Neuroinflammation. 2010;Oct 31;7(1):73. [Epub ahead of print] [PMID: 21034511]

Nerurkar PV, Lee YK, Nerurkar VR. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) inhibits primary human adipocyte differentiation by modulating adipogenic genes. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010. Jun 29;10:34. [PMID: 20587058] [PMCID: PMC2911406]

Rai MA, Nerurkar VR, Khoja S, Kahn S, Yanagihara R, Rehman A, Kazmi SU, Ali SH. Evidence for a "Founder Effect" among HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) in Pakistan BMC. Infectious Diseases. 2010; 10:7. [PMID: 20064274] [PMCID: PMC2820481].

Reeves MA, Bellinger FP, Berry MJ. The Neuroprotective Functions of Selenoprotein M and its Role in Cytosolic Calcium Regulation. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling. 2009; Sep 21. [Epub ahead of print] [PMID: 19769485].

Verma S, Kumar M, Gurjav U, Lum S, Nerurkar, VR. Reversal of West Nile virus-induced blood–brain barrier disruption and tight junction proteins degradation by matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor. Virology. 2010 Feb 5;397(1):130-8. Epub 2009 Nov 18. [PMID: 19922973].

Other
Stimulus Grant to Build Research Resource Network

Nine institutions of different sizes, geographical location, and culture have come together to build and implement a Federated National Informatics Network that will allow any investigator across America to discover research resources that are presently invisible. The team, named Networking Research Resources Across America includes Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Jackson State University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Montana State University, Oregon Health and Science University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Hawaii Manoa, and University of Puerto Rico and truly spans America from coast to coast.

National Center for Research Resources Announcement

UH Press Release


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RCMI Exhibit Featured at 2011 Biomedical Sciences Symposium

The University of Hawaii RCMI Program prepared an exhibit that was presented at the 12th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities in Nashville last December. In April, this exhibit was featured in the lobby of the Medical Education Building of the John A. Burns School of Medicine as part of the 2011 Biomedical Sciences Symposium.

Research Outcomes Accelerating Discoveries for Medical Applications and Practice

The overall goal of the University of Hawaii RCMI Program is to significantly increase competitiveness for mainstream NIH funding by establishing a translational research interdisciplinary pipeline (TRIP) that leads to innovative medical applications and improved patient-care practices, particularly for diseases that disproportionately affect Asians and Pacific Islanders. [ more... ]

The University of Hawaii RCMI Program (G12RR003061) is funded by the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program, an initiative of the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health.