Researchers celebrate NIH-funded advances at USF Health during ResearchOne

Significant advances made by USF Health scientists and clinicians, with the support of National Institutes of Health funding, were featured at the presentation “Research Means Hope: News from the Front Lines,” 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12.  The event, part of the university’s campus-wide ResearchOne celebration, was held in the USF Health Rotunda and Nursing Atrium.

Some of USF’s top medical researchers presented sessions on the following hot topics:

• “Toward More Effective Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease,” led by Huntington Potter, PhD, professor of molecular medicine at USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute

• “The Promise of Adult Stem Cells and Cell Therapies,” Leslie Miller, MD, professor and chief of cardiovascular sciences

•  “The Pursuit of a Cure: Juvenile Diabetes,”  Henry Rodriguez, MD, professor and clinical director of USF Diabetes Center, Department of Pediatrics

• “Drug Development for World-Wide Killers,” Michael White, PhD, professor of molecular medicine and global health

U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor attended the event and emphasized the growth and economic impact of leading research conducted at USF.

In fiscal year 2009-10, USF attracted more than $125 million in NIH funding — driven largely by grants and contracts to USF Health researchers.  The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported that USF ranked 57th among the top 100 institutions for federal research and development expenditures in 2009 – a jump from the university’s 68th place ranking in 2005.

“NIH funding is vital to helping researchers at USF and other institutions find new cures and prevent disease and disability,” said Phillip J. Marty, PhD, associate vice president of research for USF Health. “Medical research is a long-term investment in the future of our community and our country.”

Other ResearchOne events at USF Health included Oct. 12 tours of the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute and the Human Functional Performance Laboratory at the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences. On Friday, Oct. 15, the College of Nursing will sponsor tours of the college’s George and Marian Miller Center for Virtual Learning and Biobehavioral Laboratory.

For more information on the benefits of NIH-supported research, visit www.ResearchMeansHope.org.   For the full list of ResearchOne events, click here.

Story by Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications