Ochsner Translational Medicine Research Initiative (OTMRI)

‘Biomarkers during carotid plaque rupture: Transcriptomic and lipidomic approaches for their discovery’
Identification of novel non-coding RNAs and lipid mediators in sera of patients that present with acute carotid plaque rupture
Role: PI

University of Queensland (Australia)-Ochsner Seed Fund for Collaborative Research

‘Alteration of the transcriptome during acute atherosclerotic plaque rupture’ – $50,000 per year; Successful competitive renewal
Roles of new non-coding RNAs (microRNAs and their inhibitory circularRNAs) in carotid plaque rupture
Role: Co-PI (with M Brown [UQ])

Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center / National Institutes of Health

‘Plaque destabilization through shear stress mediated changes in non-coding RNA’
Elucidation of the roles of novel micro-RNAs (miR221/miR222) in acutely symptomatic carotid plaques
Role: Collaborating Investigator; TC Woods (PI)

Society for Vascular Surgery – Clinical Seed Grant

‘Biomarkers in carotid plaque rupture’ – $15,000
Identification of new serum micro-RNAs and other molecules associated with acute carotid-related stroke
Role: PI

National Institutes of Health – National Center for Research Resources (NIH-NCRR), Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)
NIH P20 RR018766

‘Role of inflammatory mediators in carotid plaque instability’ – $77,167 per year
Established and validated with various inflammatory marker a novel carotid biobank model to study atherosclerotic plaque rupture
Role: Developing Investigator; D Kapusta (PI)

NIH-NCRR, Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)
“Mentoring in Cardiovascular Biology” totaling $10.6M
NIH P20 RR018766, Competitive renewal

‘Inflammatory mediators lead to carotid plaque instability’ – $112,965
Identification of novel pro-inflammatory lipids and cytokines in symptomatic / recently ruptured carotid plaques
Role: Developing Investigator; D Kapusta (PI)