P20GM144041

Molecular Center of Health and Disease - Overall Abstract

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are among the most prevalent health conditions in the United States, responsible for 7 out of every 10 deaths. Mississippi ranks first or second in 8 of the 10 leading causes of death, with 90% of the population having 1-2 chronic diseases.

While chronic diseases can be treated through early intervention, targeted medical therapies, and improved diet and exercise, an understanding of genetic susceptibility and molecular mechanisms involved in disease onset has the potential to halt progression and return an individual to a healthier state.

Advances in technology now allow for unprecedented insight into genome complexity and its interaction with the environment using genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets. The integration of these datasets with physiological information using computational approaches can provide systematic insight into the molecular, cellular, and overall physiology associated with the health-disease continuum.

We propose to establish a new Phase I COBRE, the Molecular Center of Health and Disease (MCHD), to facilitate research under a central theme of molecular physiology. This center aims to enhance the depth of education, mentorship, and training of researchers to generate unique opportunities in the application of omics technology and computational biology.

The MCHD will be comprised of multiple components, including an administrative unit, education and mentoring programs, a pilot project program, two research cores, and three major project investigators. The overall objectives of the MCHD are:

1. To develop infrastructure and state-of-the-art research core facilities essential for cutting-edge basic, clinical, and translational approaches to study the health and disease continuum. The MCHD, through Core B, will enhance existing omics technology (e.g., single-cell RNAseq and spatial transcriptomics), proteomic capabilities, and establish a new innovative core involving CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to interrogate gene function and biological pathways. Core C will establish critical computing infrastructure and computational biology analysis not currently available at the university.

2. To establish meaningful education, mentoring programs, and research support for promising new investigators to nurture them into productive, independently funded investigators who will be effective collaborators on multidisciplinary research teams. This will be accomplished through offering a "Genetic and Omics Academy" (didactic instruction and observer-ship) to strengthen researcher understanding of molecular and computational approaches, a robust mentoring program involving one-on-one and team mentoring, career development opportunities, and providing a high level of research support through each core.

3. To enhance collaborations and interactions among investigators across multiple disciplines at UMMC, promote cooperation between other IDEA-supported programs, including existing COBRE, IDEA-CTR, and external partnership with the Mississippi-INBRE.

University Of Mississippi Medical Center

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES (NIGMS) SUPPORTS BASIC RESEARCH THAT INCREASES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCES IN DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION. NIGMS ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN SPECIFIC CLINICAL AREAS THAT AFFECT MULTIPLE ORGAN SYSTEMS: ANESTHESIOLOGY AND PERI-OPERATIVE PAIN, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ?COMMON TO MULTIPLE DRUGS AND TREATMENTS, AND INJURY, CRITICAL ILLNESS, SEPSIS, AND WOUND HEALING.? NIGMS-FUNDED SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE HOW LIVING SYSTEMS WORK AT A RANGE OF LEVELSFROM MOLECULES AND CELLS TO TISSUES AND ORGANSIN RESEARCH ORGANISMS, HUMANS, AND POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, TO ENSURE THE VITALITY AND CONTINUED PRODUCTIVITY OF THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, NIGMS PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING THE TRAINING OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS, ENHANCING THE DIVERSITY OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE, AND DEVELOPING RESEARCH CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

93.859 - Biomedical Research and Research Training

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [HHS - NIH]

Jackson, Mississippi 392164500 United States

Single Zip Code

Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 (P20 - Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-19-313)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 63% from $4,567,500 to $7,446,505.