NC TraCS announces COVID-19 awards

The NC TraCS Institute announced pilot grant awards to researchers focused on COVID-19.

In total, 34 applications were received and eight were chosen for funding. Awardees include investigators from UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, School of Social Work, and RTI International.

These awards are comprised of NC TraCS funding, the School of Medicine “Emerging Challenges in Biomedical Research” funding, match funds from UNC Schools, Departments, and Centers, and funding from CTSA partner organizations. The eight projects are listed alphabetically below by the PI’s last name.

NC TraCS COVID-19 Pilot Grants

• Ammerman, Alice, Dept. of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health
  Project Title: Understanding reach and implementation of school nutrition safety net programs for NC families during COVID-19: implications for policy and practice
• Baxter, Victoria, Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
  Heise, Mark, Depts. of Genetics & Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Effect of Prior Pathogen Exposure on SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and Immunity in Mice
• Lai, Samuel, Dept. of Pharmacoengineering & Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy
  Hickey, Anthony, Catalyst for Rare Disease, Eshelman School of Pharmacy; RTI International
  Project Title: Aerosol immunotherapy against COVID-19 based on muco-trapping mAb
• Mackman, Nigel, Depts. of Hematology and Oncology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine & Pharmacology, School of Medicine
  Key, Nigel, Depts. of Hematology and Oncology & Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
  Project Title: Measurement of plasma biomarkers to determine the mechanism of the coagulopathy in COVID-19 patients
• Platts-Mills, Timothy, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Emergency Department-Based Advance Care Planning in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: Planning for a Cluster Randomized Trial
• Rizo, Cynthia, School of Social Work
  Van Deinse, Tonya, School of Social Work
  Project Title: Responding to Violence Victims during COVID-19: Ensuring Equitable Access to Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment
• Zamboni, William, Depts. of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology, Eshelman School of Pharmacy & School of Medicine
  Heise, Mark, Depts. of Genetics & Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Evaluation of innate immune system (IIS) phenotype on COVID-19 incidence, severity and treatment outcomes
• Zimmerman, Sheryl, School of Social Work
  Sloane, Philip, Dept. of Family Medicine, School of Medicine
  Project Title: Long-Term Care Settings and Characteristics Associated With Entry and Transmission of COVID-19: A Statewide Study

NC TraCS is also pleased to announce an awardee for a $2K pilot grant related to the COVID-19 pandemic that was advanced for expedited review from the current cycle of proposals under review.

NC TraCS $2K Pilot Grant

• Marraccini, Marisa, School Psychology, School of Education
  Griffin, Dana, School Counseling, School of Education
  Sartain, Lauren, Policy, Leadership & School Improvement, School of Education
  Project Title: Understanding School Mental Health Supports for Adolescents with Suicide Risk during COVID-19: Improving Practice During Social Isolation

View a complete list of Pilot awardees at tracs.unc.edu/pilot.

Story by NC TraCS