CHRB Awards Totaling $1,102,030 to 12 medical
and health researchers in Virginia
Chairman of the Commonwealth Health Research Board, Dr. Robert S. Call today
announced awards totaling $1,102,030 to 12 medical and health researchers in
Virginia. The researchers are from Eastern Virginia Medical School, James
Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia,
and Virginia Military Institute.
“The Commonwealth Health Research Board (CHRB) provides a great opportunity for
young investigators starting their research careers and for research on less
common diseases not funded elsewhere,” said Dr. Call. “Virginia’s own CHRB is a unique resource dedicated to help Virginia’s scientists achieve their dreams.”
The eight new grants funded this year include: examining how estrogen impacts the cardiovascular system; the use of novel new
drugs to treat glaucoma; the role of hormones in overuse/stress injuries; the
effect of novel antimicrobial agents on the bacterium Bacillus anthracis
(anthrax); a new treatment for bacterial ocular diseases; treatment of gut
mucosal damage in HIV; and prevention of re-closure of cardiac blood vessels
following deployment of a metal stent.
Four investigators have received a 2nd year of funding to enable them to
continue studies on the following areas: treatment of ovarian cancer; novel
treatment of antibiotic resistance; better understanding of the development of
diabetes in obese individuals; and developing effective vaccines to protect
against pathogenic bacteria that are biothreat agents.
“It is extremely gratifying to see the success of our competitive grant program
this year, “added CHRB Vice Chairman Kamlesh N. Dave. “The Board received 67 grant applications, many of which were excellent
proposals.”
The list of researchers, their respective research institutions, the amounts of
their awards, the matching funds supplied by the recipient institutions, and
the titles of the projects is attached.
The Board was established in 1997 by the Virginia General Assembly using funds
provided from the conversion of Trigon from a mutual company to a stock
company. The Board awards grants for traditional medical and biomedical
research as well as research related to health services and the delivery of
health care. From 1999 to 2008, the CHRB has awarded over $8 million dollars in research
grant funds.
The CHRB has the flexibility to provide grant funding for creative and
innovative research projects that have scientific merit and hold promise for
maximizing human health benefits for citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. CHRB grant recipients, for grant awards made in 1999 through 2003, have
leveraged $13.8 million in additional private and federal grant funds to
further their research studies.
The members of the Board are: Robert S. Call, M.D., Chairman, Richmond; Kamlesh
N. Dave, M.D., Vice Chairman, Hopewell; The Honorable George E. Broman, M.D.,
Forest; S. Lawrence Kocot, Alexandria; Dianne L. Reynolds-Cane M.D., Richmond;
and, Mark J. Werner, M.D., Roanoke.
