ICTAS Awards Summary 2006
Notes:
1. For multi-year grants, funds guaranteed for only 1 year; funding for subsequent years contingent on performance and availability of funds.
2. Emphasis on hiring new Ph. D. students
3. Total proposals submitted: 21; recommended for funding: 14; unfunded: 7.
1. Investigators: Padma Rajagopalan (ChemE), T.M. Murali (CS)
Proposal Title: “Systems Biology of in vitro 3D Hepatic Architectures”
Description: The primary goal of this project is to study the detoxification profiles of engineered three-dimensional (3D) cellular architectures comprised of primary hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) that mimic several aspets of hepatic structure in vivo.
2. Investigators: Kathleen Meehan (ECE), Richey Davis (ChemE), David Cox (ChemE), Judy Riffle (Chem), Marion Ehrich (Biomedical Science and Pathobiology/VetMed), Bev Rzigalinski (Biomedical Science and Pathobiology/ VetMed
Proposal Title: “Engineered Nanoconstructs for Targeted Regulation of Intracellular Free Radical Concentration”
Description: The hypothesis that will be tested in the first year of this research project is that the nanotoxicity of the transition metal-based nanoparticles-specifically, Fe3O4-can be eliminated, resulting in a null effect on cell longevity, by incorporating CeO2 in the nanoparticles during synthesis.
3. Investigators: Scott Case (ESM), Michael Ellis (ME), Nancy Love (CEE/BS)
Proposal Title: “Environmentally Beneficial Energy Science and Technology (E-BEST) PEM Fuel Cell Program”
Description: To build a stronger alliance of researchers across campus and with other, strategically identified universities to establish a world-class reputation in the development and implementation of environmentally beneficial energy systems in the form of PEMFCs, including both biologically-derived and chemicall-derived PEM fuel cell systems.
4. Investigators: Brian Love (MSE), Aaron Goldstein (ChemE), Mark Van Dyke (Biomedical Engineering/Wake Forest), James Wampler (Biomedical Engineering/Wake Forest)
Proposal Title: “Getting the Tooth Fairy to Give Back:Bone Tissue Engineering from Voluntary Tooth Extractions”
Description: This project will generate the preliminary data in support of sorting and cell culturing of dental papilla stem cells isolated from voluntary bicuspid donations for used later in life as a viable cellular source for bone tissue engineered constructs.
5. Investigators: Amadeu Sum (ChemE), Richard Gandour (Chem), Alan Esker (Chem)
Proposal Title: “Development of Bionano-Constructs with Tethered Lipid Bilayers”
Description: This research is envisioned to achieve design, synthesis, and characterization of novel linkers for metal oxide and ceramic surfaces.
6. Investigators: Sanjay Raman (ECE), Charles Bostian (ECE), Allen MacKenzie (ECE), Jeff Reed (ECE)
Proposal Title: “Cognitive RAdio Front-end Technology (CRAFT)”
Description: This project will encompass preliminary investigation and development of concepts intended to lay the basic technical groundwork for much larger programs geared toward the realization of a single universal radio platform that can provide adaptation to both anticipated and unanticipated changes to the radio environment.
7. Investigators: Michael Hochella (Geosciences), Harry Dorn (Chem), Joerg Jinschek (MSE), Peter Vikesland (CEE), Linsey Marr (CEE)
Proposal Title: Development of “Environmental Nanoscience and Technology” at Virginia Tech
Description: This project is designed to serve as the catalyst to becoming a world-class, coherent force in the field of environmental nanoscience and technology, with the ability to bring in multi-million dollar grants from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, and DOD
8. Investigators: Nammalwar Sriranganathan (DBSP), Gary Pickrell (MSE), Randy Heflin (Physics), Ramanathan Kasimanickam (Large Animal Clinical Sciences)
Proposal Title: “Targeted Drug Delivery to Treat Diseases Due to Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens and Cancer”
Description: Through utilization of the basic principal of receptor/ligand; anti-gen/antibody; secreted peptides/proteins for the capture of essential nutrients by bacteria, the investigators plan to target specific intracellular pathogens.
9. Investigators: Maren Roman (Wood), YongWoo Lee (DBSP)
Proposal Title: “Bioconjugated Cellulose Nanocrystals for Immunotargeting”
Description: Attach antibodies, specifically anti-E-selectin, to the surface of nanometer-sized, rodlike particles of cellulose, and investigate the ability of the thus formed bioconjugates to block adhesion molecules of activated endothelial cells and ameliorate vascular inflammation.
10. Investigator: Giti A. Khodaparast (Physics)
Proposal Title: “Micro Injection of Nanoparticles and Real-time Spectroscopy in Biological Systems”
Description: Develop a micro-injection technique using near infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser pulses to manipulate living cells, to deliver extrinsic nanomaterial inside cells, and to develop real time measurements of their states and interaction using confocal microscopy.
11. Investigator: Guy Indebetouw (Physics)
Proposal Title: “Super Resolution in Scanning Holographic Microscopy of 3D Fluorescent Biological Specimens”
Description: Augment a method of scanning holographic microscopy to make it a multi-modal imaging instrument that could benefit structural and functional biological studies in unique ways.
12. Investigators: Rakesh K. Kapania (AE), Ron Moffitt (IALR), Amitabh Mishra (ECE), Nakhiah Goulbourne (ME)
Proposal Title: “Sensor and Wireless Network Design For Ultra Lightweight Inflatable Structures Health Monitoring (SHM) Research”
Description: Perform fundamental research in sensor design using nanotechnology and associated wireless network design that can transmit the information accurately and efficiently from the structure to a high-performance computer housing the software for feature extraction to identify the damage.
13. Investigator: Shuhai Xiao (Geoscience)
Proposal Title: “Using Materials Characterization Facilities to Study the Early Evolution of Life on Earth: Developing Preliminary Data for continuing NSF and NASA Funding”
Description: Study the ultrastructures, nanostructures, and carbon isotopic signatures of individual microfossils of ancient photosynthetic eukaryotes to establish ultrastructural and nanostructural criteria in the recognition of single-celled fossils as eukaryotes and to develop a carbon isotope proxy for pCO2 levels in ancient atmosphere.
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