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Recent Grants

The Center and its core facilities have been instrumental in developing public and private partnerships and have played a key role developing and submitting to federal agencies cross-disciplinary grant applications for research on nanomedicine technologies including successful renewal of the Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE) and establishment of the Carolina Cancer Nanotechnology Training Program (C-CNTP).

Kristy Ainslie, Ph.D.

  1. Host Targeted Therapy for Drug Resistant Salmonella and Francisella infection
    5R01AI125147
    NIAID, 04/22/2016 – 03/31/2021; Role: PI
  2. Nanofiber Matrices to Improve Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Cancer Therapy
    5R01NS097507
    NINDS, 06/01/2016 – 05/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator
  3. Advancing Formulation of Sting Agonist For Universal Flu Vaccine
    1R41AI140795
    NIAID, Immvention Therapeutix, Inc., 06/01/2018 – 10/31/2019; Role: PI
  4. Biomaterials to Study Tolerance Immune Induction Kinetics
    1R01AI137525
    NIAID, 08/14/2018 – 07/31/2023; Role: PI

Eric Michael Bachelder, Ph.D.

  1. Host Targeted Therapy for Drug Resistant Salmonella and Francisella infection
    5R01AI125147
    NIAID, 04/22/2016 – 03/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator
  2. Nanofiber Matrices to Improve Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Cancer Therapy
    5R01NS097507
    NINDS, 06/01/2016 – 05/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator
  3. Advancing Formulation of Sting Agonist For Universal Flu Vaccine
    1R41AI140795
    NIAID, Immvention Therapeutix, Inc., 06/01/2018 – 10/31/2019; Role: Co-Investigator
  4. Biomaterials to Study Tolerance Immune Induction Kinetics
    1R01AI137525
    NIAID, 08/14/2018 – 07/31/2023; Role: Co-Investigator
  5. Micro-Particle Delivery of a Potent Intracellular Adjuvant for a Universal Flu Vaccine
    1R01AI141333
    NIAID, 12/14/2018 – 11/30/2023; Role: PI

Edward Moreira Bahnson, Ph.D.

  1. Cell-Mediated Targeted Redox Intervention for the Prevention of Restenosis in the Injured Vasculature
    CTSA KL2, 05/01/2017—04/30/2020; Role: PI
  2. Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis in Mutant ApoE Deficient Rats
    Burroughs Wellcome Fund, 06/01/2018—12/31/2019; Role: PI

Elena Batrakova, Ph.D

  1. Cell-Based Platform for Gene Delivery to the Brain
    1R01NS102412
    NINDS, 03/01/2018 – 11/30/2022; Role: PI

Soumya Benhabbour, Ph.D.

  1. Development and Pre-Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Polymer-Based In-Situ Forming Implant (ISFI) for Long-Acting HIV PrEP
    5R01AI131430
    NIAID, 03/06/2017 – 02/29/2020; Role: PI
  2. Innovative 3D Printed Intravaginal Rings: Reengineering Multipurpose Intravaginal Rings for Prevention of HIV, STIs and Unintended Pregnancy
    1R61AI136002
    NIAID, 08/08/2018 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI

Yevgeny Brudno, Ph.D.

  1. Biomaterial-Assisted In Situ Generation of CAR-T Cells
    Flash Grant
    North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 04/01/2019 – 12/31/2019; Role: PI
  2. Refillable Therapeutic Depots for Treatment of Brain Disease
    Junior Faculty Development Award
    UNC Chapel Hill, 01/01/2019 – 01/31/2020; Role: PI
  3. Local Immunotherapy Made Possible by Click-Enabled Refillable Therapeutic Depots
    Faculty Research and Professional Development Program
    NC State University, 09/01/2018 – 09/30/2019; Role: PI

Paul Dayton, M.D.

  1. Ultrasound Molecular Imaging to Assess Therapeutic Response
    5R01CA195051
    NCI, University of Colorado, 04/13/2015 – 03/31/2020; Role: PI
  2. The Application of Enhanced Cavitation to Enable DNA and Chromatin Extraction from Archived Tissues
    1R33CA206939
    NCI, 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2020; Role: PI
  3. High Frame Rate 3-D Super Resolution Ultrasound Microvascular Imaging
    1R01CA220681
    NCI, 08/10/2017 – 07/31/2022; Role: PI
  4. An Academic Industrial Partnership for the Development of High Frame-Rate Transcranial Super Resolution Ultrasound Imaging
    5R01EB025149
    NIBIB, 09/30/2017 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  5. Treating Tumoral Hypoxia via Ultrasound-Guided Oxygen Release for Improving Radiation Therapy
    1R01CA232148
    NCI, 06/01/2018 – 05/31/2023; Role PI
  6. Acoustic Angiography Using Dual-Frequency and Ultrawideband CMUT Arrays
    1R01EB026897
    NIBIB, NC State University, 07/01/2018 – 03/31/2022; Role: PI
  7. Towards Commercialization of Cavitation-Enhancing Nanodroplets for DNA Sample Fragmentation in NGS Applications
    1R43CA232902
    NCI, Triangle Biotechnology, Inc., 07/05/2018 – 06/20/2019; Role: PI

Zongchao Han, M.D., Ph.D.

  1. Targeting Retinitis Pigmentosa Using Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of Genomic DNA
    1R01EY026564
    NEI, 04/01/2016 – 03/31/2021; Role: PI

Shawn D. Hingtgen, Ph.D.

  1. Nanofiber Matrices to Improve Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Cancer Therapy
    5R01NS097507
    NINDS, 06/01/2016 – 05/31/2021; Role: PI
  2. 3D Printing of Fibrous Tissue Engineered Medical Products: A New Paradigm for Tissue Biofabrication and Therapeutics
    NCSU GRIP, 02/01/2017 – 1/31/2020; Role: PI
  3. Engineering Stem Cell Therapies to Understand and Overcome Glioblastoma Adaption
    1R01NS099368
    NINDS, 09/26/2017 – 06/30/2022; Role: PI
  4. Native and Bioprinted 3D Tissue Array Platform for Predicting Cancer Metastasis and Drug Response
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2018—05/31/2020; Role: PI

 Leaf Huang, Ph.D.

  1. Nano Approaches to Modulate Host Cell Response for Cancer Therapy
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  2. Developmental Program
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  3. Administrative Core
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  4. Project 1: Nanotherapies for Vemurafenib Resistant Melanoma
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  5. Targeting Tumor Associated Fibroblasts to Enhance Therapy
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2019 – 05/31/2021; Role: PI

Michael Jay, Ph.D.

  1. Non-Opiate Topical Formulations for Treating Pain Associated with Molar Extractions
    1R41DE028208
    NCI, Arcato Laboratories, 09/18/2018 – 09/17/2019; Role: PI

Alexander Kabanov, Ph.D., Dr. Sci.

  1. PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and Pluronic Combination for Cancer Therapy
    5R01CA184088
    NCI, 01/01/2015 – 12/31/2019; Role: PI
  2. Carolina Cancer Nanotechnology Training Program (C-CNTP)
    5T32CA196589
    NCI, 07/01/2015 – 06/30/2020; Role: Director
  3. Targeted Core Shell Nanogels for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    5U01CA198910
    NCI, 08/14/2015- 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  4. Project 4: High Capacity Polymeric Micelle Therapeutics for Lung Cancer
    5U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  5. Systemic Targeting of Mononuclear Phagocytes for Parkinson’s Disease Gene Therapy
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2017 – 05/31/2020; Role: PI
  6. Targeted Magneto-Mechanic Nanotherapeutics for Cancer
    1R21CA220148
    NCI, 08/1/2017 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  7. Nanoparticle Delivery of Cas9 and Therapeutic gRNAs to the Brain
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2018 – 05/31/2020; Role: PI
  8. Targeting of Inflamed Monocytes for Gene Therapy of Cancer
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2019 – 05/31/2020; Role: PI
  9. Targeting Tumor Associated Fibroblasts to Enhance Therapy
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2019 – 05/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator

Melina Kibbe, M.D.

  1. Bioengineering Catalytically Active Grafts for Vascular Surgery
    5I01BX002282
    VA, Durham VA Medical Center, 10/01/2014 – 09/30/2019
  2. Development of a Targeted Intravascular Therapy to Stop Non-Compressible Torso Hemorrhage
    Air Force Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, 10/24/2016 – 10/23/2019; Role: PI
  3. Targeted, Niche-Responsive Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers as Injectable Drug Delivery Vehicles to Treat Atherosclerosis
    American Heart Association, 07/01/2018 – 06/30/2020; Role: PI
  4. A Novel Endovascular Approach to Remove Atherosclerotic Plaque Lesions In Situ
    1R01HL129156
    NHLBI, 01/01/2019 – 12/31/2022; Role: PI

Sam Lai, Ph.D.

  1. Enhancing AAV Gene Therapy via Bispecific Fusion Proteins that Block anti-AAV Antibodies while Conferring Active Targeting
    NCBC, 11/01/2017 – 10/31/2019; Role: PI
  2. Overcoming anti-PEG Immunity to Restore Prolonged Circulation and Efficacy of PEGylated Therapeutics
    1R01HL141934
    NHLBI, 05/10/2018 – 04/30/2022; Role: PI
  3. In Vivo Engineering of T-cells for CAR-T-based Therapy
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2018—05/31/2020; Role: PI
  4. An Integrated Neural Network Analysis and Video Microscopy Platform for Fully Automated Particle Tracking
    1R41GM130202
    NIGMS, AI Tracking Solutions, 09/13/2018 – 09/12/2020; Role: PI

Rihe Liu, Ph.D.

  1. Targeted Core Shell Nanogels for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    1U01CA198910
    NCI, 08/14/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  2. Nano Approaches to Modulate Host Cell Response for Cancer Therapy
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  3. Inhibition Of GTPases and G Proteins to Treat Human Disease
    5R01GM120291
    NIGMS, 09/15/2016 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  4. Nanoscintillator-Based X-ray Sensitizers to Enable Efficient Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment with X-ray Irradiation
    5R01EB022596
    NIBIB, University of Georgia, 03/15/2017 – 01/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator
  5. A Wholly Protein-Based Self-Assembly Nanoplatform for Tunable Cancer Immunotherapy
    Eshelman Institute for Innovation, 06/01/2018—05/31/2020; Role: PI

Chad Pecot, M.D.

  1. Tumor Angiogenesis Regulation by the miR-200 Family
    MRSG-14-222-01
    American Cancer Society, 01/01/2015 –12/31/2019; Role: PI
  2. Targeting Lung Squamous Metastasis with CCR2 Inhibitors
    Free to Breath, 02/14/2017 – 12/31/2019; Role: PI
  3. HDAC11 Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis via the Lymphatic Route
    Susan G. Komen for the Cure; 08/07/2017 – 08/06/2020; Role: PI
  4. Immune Regulation of Lung Squamous Metastasis
    1R01CA215075
    NCI, 09/21/2017 – 08/31/2022; Role: PI

Marina Sokolsky, Ph.D.

  1. Targeted Magneto-Mechanic Nanotherapeutics for Cancer
    1R21CA220148
    NCI, 8/1/2017 – 7/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  2. BCL-xL-regulated Apoptosis in Cerebellar Development and Medulloblastoma Treatment
    1R01NS102627
    NINDS, 06/01/2018 – 04/30/2023; Role: Co-Investigator

Alexander Tropsha, Ph.D.

  1. Nano Approaches to Modulate Host Cell Response for Cancer Therapy
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  2. Integrating Cheminformatics and Molecular Simulations for Virtual Drug Screening
    5R01GM114015
    NIGMS, 08/15/2016 – 05/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  3. Drug Repurposing for Cancer Therapy: From Man to Molecules to Man
    5U01CA207160
    NCI, 09/01/2016 – 08/31/2019; Role: PI
  4. Carolina Biomedical Data Translator Technical Feasibility Assessment and Architecture Design
    1OT3TR002020
    NCATS, 09/24/2016 – 12/31/2019; Role: PI
  5. Chemoenzymatic Synthesis, Mode of Action and Evolution of Natural Product-Based Macrocycles
    1R35GM125005
    NIGMS, 09/05/2017 – 08/31/2022; Role: Co-Investigator
  6. Carolina Biomedical Data Translator Technical Feasibility Assessment of Reasoning Tool
    3OT2TR002514
    NCATS, 01/05/2018 – 01/04/2020; Role: PI
  7. Dual Mechanism Thiopeptide Analogs for TB Drug Development
    1R21AI138058
    NIAID, 05/10/2018 – 04/30/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  8. Drug Repurposing for Alzheimer’s Disease Using both Observational and Chemical Genomics Data
    1R56AG059428
    NIA, 08/15/2018 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI

Nick Tsihlis, Ph.D.

  1. Development of a Targeted Intravascular Therapy to Stop Non-Compressible Torso Hemorrhage
    Air Force Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, 10/24/2016—10/23/2019; Role: Co-Investigator

Andrew Wang, M.D.

  1. Carolina Cancer Nanotechnology Training Program (C-CNTP)
    5T32CA196589
    NCI, 7/01/2015 – 6/30/2020; Role: Co-Director
  2. Targeted Core Shell Nanogels for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    5U01CA198910
    NCI, 08/14/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  3. Project 3: Combining Radiotherapy and Nanotechnology for Immunotherapy
    1U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: PI
  4. Automatic Pelvic Organ Delineation in Prostate Cancer Treatment
    5R01CA206100
    NCI, 09/01/2016 – 07/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator
  5. Nanoscintillator-Based X-ray Sensitizers to Enable Efficient Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment with X-ray Irradiation
    5R01EB022596
    NIBIB, University of Georgia, 03/15/2017 – 01/31/2021; Role: Co-Investigator

William Zamboni, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

  1. Duke-UNC-Wash U Partnership for Early Phase Clinical Trials in Cancer
    5UM1CA186704
    NCI, Duke University, 04/04/2014 – 02/29/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  2. Liposomal Doxorubicin and Pluronic Combination for Cancer Therapy
    5R01CA184088
    NCI, 01/01/2015 – 12/31/2019; Role: PI
  3. Targeted Core Shell Nanogels for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    5U01CA198910
    NCI, 08/14/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  4. Project 4: High Capacity Polymeric Micelle Therapeutics for Lung Cancer
    5U54CA198999
    NCI, 09/01/2015 – 07/31/2020; Role: Co-Investigator
  5. Overcoming Anti-PEG Immunity to Restore Prolonged Circulation and Efficacy of PEGylated Therapeutics
    1R01HL141934
    NHLBI, 05/10/2018 – 04/30/2022; Role: PI