Ut Medical Group Inc

NESCC CARES ACT INSTITUTIONAL RELIEF FUND

STEM, LITERACY AND COMPUTATION IN EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL LEADERS (SLICE-SL)

ROLE OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR SIGNALING IN CARDIAC ISCHEMIA

TARGETING CNTF TO INCREASE ADULT FOREBRAIN NEUROGENESIS

TRAINING INNATE IMMUNITY: A NEW APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF SEPSIS

INNATE IMMUNITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION IN SEPSIS

THE TENNESSEE HEART HEALTH NETWORK - SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND OTHER ADVERSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH HAVE LONG CONTRIBUTED TO POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES PARTICULARLY IN NON-HISPANIC BLACK (NHB) POPULATIONS IN LOW-INCOME AREAS OF THE SOUTH. TENNESSEE (TN) RANKS 3RD IN THE NATION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) EVENT RATES, 7TH IN PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION (HTN), 6TH IN HEART DISEASE MORTALITY, AND 5TH IN STROKE MORTALITY AND THE BURDEN OF CVD HEALTH INEQUITIES IS GREATEST IN THE TN CENSUS TRACTS TARGETED BY THIS PROGRAM. HIGH RATES OF PREMATURE DEATH AND DISABILITY IN THESE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE PARTICULARLY DRIVEN BY CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS FROM STROKE AND HEART ATTACK LARGELY CAUSED BY HIGH RATES OF HTN IN THESE COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE IN TURN CAUSED BY HIGH RATES OF OBESITY AND POOR ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. FOR TN TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE ITS HIGH RATES OF CVD AND CVD DISPARITIES IT MUST FOCUS INTENSIVELY ON THE ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE PREDOMINANTLY NHB POPULATIONS LIVING IN ITS HIGHEST NEED NEIGHBORHOODS. THUS, THE TENNESSEE HEART HEALTH NETWORK (TN-HHN) INNOVATIVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PROGRAM WILL WORK TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH IN TN WITH AN INTENSIVE FOCUS ON ADULTS AGED 18 AND OLDER WITH A HTN CRUDE PREVALENCE OF 53% OR HIGHER (POPULATION OF FOCUS), AS SHOWN BY DATA SPECIFICALLY AT THE CENSUS TRACT LEVEL. ACTION FOCUSED ON THESE HIGHEST NEED CENSUS TRACTS TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH IN TN IS CRITICAL TO NATIONAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE DISPARITIES IN CVD HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MEET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030 GOALS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (LC) MEMBERS WILL WORK TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND, IMPLEMENT, AND DISSEMINATE INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED, AND PATIENT-CENTERED APPROACHES TO IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND BETTER SUPPORT THE POPULATION OF FOCUS. THE PROGRAM WILL BUILD ON AN EXISTING STATEWIDE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER HEART DISEASE AND STROKE LC, THE TN-HHN, BY ENHANCING ITS MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICE AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND PATIENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. THE TN-HHN LC WILL PROMOTE AND DISSEMINATE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS UNDERLYING ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES AND DISPARITIES. THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS SERVING TARGETED CENSUS TRACTS WITH HIGH PREVALENCE OF HTN TO IMPLEMENT ABCS, WITH PRIORITY ON CONTROLLING HTN. WORKING INTENSIVELY WITH THE LC PARTICIPANTS SERVING THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES, THE LC WILL FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING ON 3 MAJOR STRATEGIES: 1) TRACKING AND MONITORING CLINICAL MEASURES SHOWN TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND, HEALTH CARE QUALITY WITHIN APPROVED POPULATIONS OF FOCUS, AND IDENTIFY PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL, 2) IMPLEMENTING TEAM-BASED CARE TO PREVENT DETECT, CONTROL, AND MANAGE HYPERTENSION AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL WITHIN APPROVED POPULATIONS OF FOCUS, AND 3) ASSEMBLING OR CREATING MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO IDENTIFY PATIENTS’ SOCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT NEEDS WITHIN APPROVED POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. THROUGH THESE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS, THE PROGRAM WILL MEASURABLY IMPROVE SHORT-TERM PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES RELATED TO EACH STRATEGY; WITHIN TWO TO FOUR YEARS WILL IMPROVE INTERMEDIATE CLINICAL OUTCOMES INCLUDING BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL, DISPARITIES IN BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL, AND UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES; AND WITHIN FIVE YEARS WILL MEASURABLY REDUCE STROKES, HEART ATTACKS, AND CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AND DECREASE DISPARITIES WITHIN APPROVED POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. THUS, THE PROGRAM WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT RACIAL DISPARITIES IN STROKE, HEART ATTACKS, AND CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS RELATED TO UNCONTROLLED HTN AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL THROUGH INNOVATIVE PATIENT-CENTERED EQUITY-FOCUSED HEALTH SYSTEM INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED TO PREVENT, DETECT, CONTROL, AND MANAGE HTN AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL, INTENSIVELY TARGETING TN’S NEIGHBORHOODS IN GREATEST NEED.

RACIAL DISPARITY IN THE EXPRESSION OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR SPLICE VARIANTS (AR-SVS) IN PROSTATE CANCER

RETAINING THE DIVERSE CANDLE COHORT TO ADVANCE ECHO COHORT SOLUTION-ORIENTED RESEARCH AND IDENTIFY EARLY-LIFE MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS FOR OBESITY AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN - OVER 25% OF CHILDREN SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND/OR DEVELOP OBESITY. MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OFTEN EMERGE EARLY THROUGH A BROAD RANGE OF SYMPTOMS BEFORE CANALIZING INTO DISORDERS LIKE DEPRESSION, WHICH AFFECTS OVER 15% OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE U.S. RISK FOR OBESITY ALSO INCREASES WITH AGE FROM 13% IN EARLY CHILDHOOD TO 22% IN ADOLESCENCE. CHILDHOOD DISEASES GREATLY IMPACT ADULT HEALTH, AND ALARMINGLY, RATES OF CHILD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND OBESITY ARE INCREASING, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUTH OF COLOR. MYRIAD EARLY LIFE RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS, OFTEN INEQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED AND MADE MORE STRIKING BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THESE OUTCOMES; HOWEVER, WITHOUT LARGE NATIONAL SAMPLES AND SYSTEMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY FACTORS, CLEAR TARGETS FOR PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS REMAIN ELUSIVE. TO ADDRESS THESE CRITICAL ISSUES, OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM LEVERAGES THE UNIQUE POWER OF ECHO COHORT DATA TO CONDUCT ENVIRONMENT-WIDE SCANS FOR EARLY LIFE PREDICTORS OF ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION AND OBESITY TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE THE MOST POWERFUL TARGETS FOR PREVENTION, WITH A FOCUS ON SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS AND IMPROVING CAUSAL INFERENCE (AIM 1). WE ALSO TAKE A DEVELOPMENTALLY-INFORMED, HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN MATERNAL CHILDHOOD AND PREGNANCY STRESS WITH CHILDHOOD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RISK, AND IF ASSOCIATIONS ARE SEX- SPECIFIC OR BUFFERED BY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL PROTECTIVE FACTORS (AIM 2). TO DO THIS, WE CALCULATE A NEW, SPECIALIZED NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME, THE P-FACTOR, WHICH DRAWS ON MULTIPLE INDICATORS OF BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL HEALTH TO GENERATE A SINGLE LATENT FACTOR OF GENERAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE. THIS PARSIMONIOUS, TRANSDIAGNOSTIC MEASURE IS IDEALLY SUITED FOR POPULATION-BASED CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDIES THAT LACK DEEP MENTAL HEALTH PHENOTYPING. FINALLY, WE RETAIN THE SOCIOECONOMICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE CANDLE COHORT (64% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 30% WHITE; 700 MOTHER-CHILD DYADS IN THE ECHO PROGRAM (AIM 3). OUR SUCCESS COLLECTING ECHO COHORT DATA AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO DIVERSITY ARE SELF-EVIDENT: OF THE 69 ECHO COHORTS, CANDLE RANKS #1 IN AFRICAN AMERICAN PARTICIPANTS AND #3 IN RECORDS CONTRIBUTED TO ECHO’S REDCAP CENTRAL. OUR TEAM STRONGLY CONTRIBUTES TO COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE, LEADING MULTIPLE WORKING GROUPS, PUBLISHING AND DISSEMINATING ECHO COHORT FINDINGS, SUPPORTING MEASUREMENT DEVELOPMENT AND DATA HARMONIZATION, AND CO- LEADING DEI EFFORTS. IMPACT: WE WILL GENERATE ROBUST EVIDENCE FOR PREVENTION TARGETS, INCLUDING PROTECTIVE FACTORS, TO MITIGATE THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF CHILD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND OBESITY. WE EXAMINE SEX- SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS AND ENSURE THAT RESULTS ARE GENERALIZABLE TO YOUTH OF COLOR, ENHANCING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR FINDINGS TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY. A TRANSDIAGNOSTIC MEASURE OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHOPATHOLOGY (P-FACTOR) WILL BE USEFUL TO MANY INVESTIGATORS AND IS WELL-SUITED TO THE EXAMINATION OF MULTIPLE EXPOSURES. THE CANDLE STUDY NOTABLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE DIVERSITY OF THE ECHO COHORT, AND OUR EXPERIENCED TEAM’S CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS DURING THE NEXT PHASE OF ECHO WILL ADVANCE COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE TO IMPROVE CHILD HEALTH.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (JOHNSON CITY) UPWARD BOUND

STUDIES TO ADVANCE RECOVERY SUPPORTS (STARS) IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA

ACCESS ETSU

OPTIMAL GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT IDENTIFICATION: MAXIMIZING EFFICACY, EFFICIENCY, AND EQUITY

RESIDENCY TRAINING IN PRIMARY CARE

NOVEL ROLE OF LACTATE FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DYSFUNCTION IN SEPSIS

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

HEALTH CAREERS OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM - THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS (COHP) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (UTHSC) HAS A 50-YEAR HISTORY OF EDUCATING OUTSTANDING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. ANNUALLY, OUR 300+ GRADUATES SUPPLY A WORKFORCE OF MEDICAL LEADERS TRAINED IN INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (IPE) AND PREPARED TO PARTNER WITH PRIMARY CARE PROFESSIONALS IN PROVIDING INCLUSIVE CARE THAT MINIMIZES HEALTH DISPARITIES. IN ALIGNMENT WITH UTHSC’S CORE VALUES, THE COHP IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING THE EXCELLENCE THAT EMERGES FROM A DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE HEALTH COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTINUING TO DEVELOP OUR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS’ CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND FLUIDITY THROUGH A SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS. THE UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS’ RE-IMAGINING EDUCATION FOR ADVANCED CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE (REACH) PROJECT PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF TAILORED ENRICHMENT ACADEMIES THAT SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CAREER IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, OR PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE RETENTION, MATRICULATION, AND GRADUATION RATES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AS THEY ARE GUIDED THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE TO A GRADUATE HEALTH PROFESSIONS PROGRAM. IT ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING, EMPHASIZING EXPERIENCES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE COHP HAS OVER 400 CLINICAL PARTNERS, WITH ALMOST FIFTY PERCENT LOCATED IN AN HRSA-DESIGNATED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA (MUA). DURING THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, REACH WILL SERVE APPROXIMATELY 300 ELIGIBLE RISING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS/SENIORS, UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE HEALTH PROFESSIONS DEGREE STUDENTS THROUGH THREE STRUCTURED PROGRAMS – (1) HCOP SATURDAY ACADEMY, (2) HCOP PRE-MATRICULATION PROGRAM, AND (3) HCOP NATIONAL AMBASSADORS PROGRAM. EACH ACADEMY PROVIDES ITS TARGET POPULATION OF STUDENTS FROM EDUCATIONALLY OR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS WITH AN EVIDENCED-BASED CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES UTILIZING INNOVATIVE DESIGNS AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LIKE FLIPPED CLASSROOMS AND VIRTUAL, AUGMENTED, AND MIXED REALITY TOOLS. IN ADDITION, STUDENT SUCCESS WILL BE ENHANCED THROUGH FINANCIAL (STIPENDS, SCHOLARSHIPS), ACADEMIC (SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH CURRICULUM, TEST PREP), SOCIAL (TUTORS, MENTORS), AND PROFESSIONAL (CLINICAL PRACTICUM, SOFT SKILLS TRAINING) SUPPORT. COLLABORATIVELY, WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THESE RESOURCES CREATE A COMPETITIVE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE TO INCREASE THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND GRADUATION RATES OF UNDERSERVED STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS.

ADVANCED NURSE EDUCATION-SEXUAL NURSE ASSAULT EXAMINER PROGRAM

S100A9 AND MDSC DEVELOPMENT IN SEPSIS.

THE ROLE OF HISTONE DEACETYLASES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CHRONIC ALCOHOL EXPOSURE AND FEAR MEMORIES

NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

TARGETING BLOOD-DERIVED INTEGRIN SIGNALING AFTER STROKE

AWARD PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE EQUITY AND PROGRAM COMPLETION AMONG FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS, WHILE INCREASING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS A MEANS TO DRIVE IMPROVED EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED NORTHEAST STATE PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE STRENGTHENING EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE PROJECT TO ENHANCE EQUITY AND PROGRAM COMPLETION AMONG FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS OF STUDY WHILE INCREASING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS A MEANS TO DRIVE IMPROVED EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE REGION. CORE STRATEGIES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) IMPLEMENTING AN INTEGRATED COACHING AND PEER MENTORING MODEL; (2) MODIFYING CURRICULUM AND DEVELOPING A CYBER RANGE TO INTEGRATE APPLIED LEARNING IN COMPUTER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS; AND (3) DEVELOPING ENHANCED, COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT OF MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS. DELIVERABLES CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME #1: IMPLEMENT AN ENHANCED COACHING MODEL THAT INCORPORATES PEER MENTORING FOR CIT STUDENTS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR PROGRAM OF STUDY CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME #2: IMPROVE COMPUTER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CIT) PROGRAMS OF STUDY BY DEVELOPING A CYBER RANGE TO ENHANCE APPLIED LEARNING AND TRANSITIONS TO WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME #3: DEVELOP NEW CAPACITY TO ADDRESS EQUITY THROUGH ENHANCED, COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT OF MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY LOW-INCOME AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND THEIR FAMILIES. EQUITY OUTCOME #1: INCREASE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR IN CIT PATHWAYS EQUITY OUTCOME #2: INCREASE PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES AMONG FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR IN CIT PATHWAYS. INTENDED BENEFICIARY FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR IN COMPUTER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM OF STUDY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE DISLOCATED WORKERS, INCUMBENT WORKERS, AND/OR NEW ENTRANTS TO THE WORKFORCE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES EXTERNAL EVALUATION SERVICES

NURSE EDUCATION, PRACTICE, QUALITY AND RETENTION SIMULATION EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF FUNGAL SEPSIS IN THE CRITICALLY ILL PATIENT

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITYVETERANS UPWARD BOUND

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (KINGSPORT) UPWARD BOUND

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (BRISTOL) UPWARD BOUND

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITYTRIO RONALD MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROJECT

ANE - NURSE PRACTITIONER RESIDENCY PROGRAM

NESCC CARES ACT STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

CARES ACT HE INSTITUTION EMERGENCY FUNDING

CCAMPIS IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES STEM

EAST TENNESSEE STEM TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SOCIALLY NUTRITIOUS: ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

CCAMPIS IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

HEALTH CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

CCAMPIS GRANT TO FUND CHILDCARE EXPENSES AT CHATTANOOGA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR LOW-INCOME PARENTS AND TO EXPAND THE CENTER'S PROGRAM TO EVENING HOURS.

THE UBIQUITIN SENSOR P62 IS A NOVEL COMPONENT OF EBV LMP1 SIGNALOSOME - PROJECT SUMMARY EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS (EBV), THE FIRST IDENTIFIED HUMAN CANCER VIRUS, IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PANEL OF MALIGNANCIES OF LYMPHOCYTIC AND EPITHELIAL ORIGIN, AND SERVES AS A PARADIGM FOR THE STUDY OF HOST-VIRUS INTERACTION. EBV IS WELL KNOWN TO MANIPULATE THE HOST UBIQUITIN MACHINERY TO FACILITATE ITS LATENT PERSISTENCE AND ONCOGENESIS, EXAMPLIFIED BY EBV LMP1 SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION TO THE ACTIVATION OF MULTIPLE TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS, SUCH AS NFB AND THOSE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED INCLUDING IRF7/IRF4, WHICH CONTROL IMMUNE RESPONSE AND INFLAMMATION, AS WELL AS CELL SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. CONSTITUTIVE AND WELL BALANCED ACTIVATION OF LMP1 SIGNALING IS CRUCIAL FOR SURVIVAL OF EBV-TRANSFORMED CELLS, AND ITS DEPLETION OR OVEREXPRESSION LEADS TO CELL DEATH. IT IS THEREFORE VITAL TO DELINEATE THE DETAILED MECHANISMS UNDERLYING LMP1 SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION FOR UNDERSTANDING EBV-MEDIATED ONCOGENESIS. P62 (ALSO CALLED SQSTM1, SEQUESTOSOME 1) IS A UBIQUTIN SENSOR AND A SIGNAL TRANSDUCING ADAPTOR THAT INTERACTS WITH TRAF6 AND FACILITATES THE RECRUITMENT OF UBIQUITINATED SIGNAL INTERMEDIATORS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF NFB IN DIVERSE CONTEXTS. IN TURN, P62 IS INDUCED BY NFB ACTIVITY. EBV LMP1 IS KNOWN TO ACTIVATE NFB IN ITS LATENCY. HOWEVER, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN P62 AND EBV LATENCY HAS NEVER BEEN STUDIED. WE HAVE RECENTLY PUBLISHED INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT RESULTS, WHICH IMPLY P62 IN LMP1-MEDIATED FUNCTIONS IN EBV LATENCY. WE FURTHER SHOW THAT P62 IS UPREGULATED IN EBV LATENCY 3, DEPENDING ON LMP1/NFB PATHWAY ACTIVITY, AND THAT P62 INTERACTS WITH LMP1 AND SHRNA-MEDIATED P62 DEPLETION IN LCLS REDUCES CELL PROLIFERATION. THUS, WE HYPOTHSIZE THAT EBV LATENT INFECTION INDUCES P62 EXPRESSION THROUGH LMP1 SIGNALING, AND IN TURN, P62 PARTICIPATES IN LMP1 SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION LEADING TO NFB ACTIVATION. WE PROPOSE TO STUDY: AIM 1. THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF P62 BY THE LMP1/NFB AND LMP1/AP1 PATHWAY AXES; AIM 2. THE ROLE OF P62 IN LMP1 SIGNALING TO NFB ACTIVATION IN EBV LATENCY, INCLUDING THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS, WHICH INCLUDE: A) P62-TRAF6 INTERACTION; AND B) P62 AS A UBIQUITIN SENSOR THAT FACILITATES THE RECRUITMENT OF SIGNAL MOLECULES. FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY WILL IDENTIFY P62 AS A NOVEL AND CRITICAL PLAYER IN EBV LMP1 SIGNALING, AND LONG-TERM PURSUITS MAY IDENTIFY P62-MEDIATED FUNCTIONS AS A POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR EBV-ASSOCIATED MALIGNANCIES. THIS PROPOSAL INVOLVES A SERIES OF TECHNIQUES SPANNING DIFFERENT BIOMEDICAL DISCIPLINES, WHICH PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH THEIR INTERESTS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH BY BEING INVOLVED IN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, CRITICAL SCIENTIFIC THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND PRESENTATION.

WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WSCC) WILL PROVIDE CHILD-CARE ASSISTANCE SUBSIDIES AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO PELL-ELIGIBLE STUDENT PARENTS THROUGHOUT A TEN-COUNTY SERVICE REGION IN EAST TENNESSEE.

DISTANCE LEARNING GRANT

REQUEST FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A VEVO F2 ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT WE ARE APPLYING FOR FUNDS TO PURCHASE THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM FROM VISUALSONICS (FUJIFILM) TO BE USED BY THE INVESTIGATORS AT QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (QCOM), COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (ETSU). THIS IMAGING SYSTEM WILL REPLACE OUR CURRENT ULTRASOUND SYSTEM, THE VEVO 1100 FROM VISUALSONICS (FUJIFILM), WHICH IS NEARLY TEN YEARS OLD AND IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM WILL LEAVE OUR INSTITUTION WITHOUT AN ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM. WE CURRENTLY HAVE MANY CARDIOVASCULAR AND CANCER RESEARCHERS WHO USE THE VEVO 1100 AND HAVE PUBLISHED IMAGES ACQUIRED ON THIS MACHINE FOR NEARLY A DECADE. THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM BOASTS NEW AND UPDATED FEATURES COMPARED TO THE VEVO 1100, WHICH WILL MAKE THE SYSTEM USEFUL FOR OUR EIGHT MAJOR AND FOUR MINOR USERS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES OF HEART, VASCULATURE, AND ONCOLOGY RESEARCH. FEATURES SPECIFIC TO THE VEVO F2 THAT WILL BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL TO OUR INVESTIGATORS INCLUDE HD (HIGH DEFINITION) IMAGE PROCESSING TO GENERATE CLEARER IMAGES, ADVANCED SOFTWARE THAT INCLUDES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ALGORITHMS FOR IMAGE ANALYSIS, 4D IMAGING TO ENABLE DYNAMIC CHANGES OVER TIME, AND CARDIAC STRAIN ANALYSIS. THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM WILL PRIMARILY BE USED BY NIH-FUNDED INVESTIGATORS, BUT IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ULTRASOUND IMAGING ACCESS TO JUNIOR FACULTY WHO ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING NIH FUNDING. THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM WILL ENHANCE OUR IMAGING QUALITY AND SPEED TO MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE IN OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS. THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM WILL BE HOUSED IN A CENTRAL LOCATION TO ENSURE ACCESS TO ALL USERS. AN ABUNDANCE OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT WILL ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL USE OF THIS IMAGING SYSTEM AT ETSU. PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE DEAN OF QCOM, THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION (QCOM), AND THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (QCOM) TO FUND TWO COMPUTERS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM, A SUPPLEMENTAL VEVO ANALYSIS SOFTWARE PACKAGE, A STIPEND FOR OUR DEDICATED TRAINER, SALARIES OF THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND MANAGER, AN ANESTHESIA SYSTEM TO ACCOMPANY THE VEVO F2, AND FOUR YEARS OF A SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE VISUALSONICS, FUJIFILM COMPANY AFTER THE INCLUDED ONE-YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT EXPIRES. THE VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH AND CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER (ETSU) HAS ENDORSED THE ACQUISITION OF THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM. HIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SET-UP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW SYSTEM. AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE TRAINING, CALENDAR APPOINTMENTS, ANIMAL CARE, AND OVERALL USAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT. OUR USERS WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT NO OTHER OPTIONS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING CAPABILITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO US AT ETSU IF THE RETIRED VEVO 1100 IMAGING SYSTEM GOES DOWN. THUS, THE VEVO F2 IMAGING SYSTEM WOULD SATISFY A SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH NEED AT OUR INSTITUTION.

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPANSION - SCHOOL BASED SERVICE SITES (SBSS)

THE ROLE OF CARDIAC MITOCHONDRIAL ENERGETICS IN CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS AND SUDEP

TARGETING THE ONCOGENIC TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR IRF4 IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES - PROJECT SUMMARY THE ONCOPROTEIN INTERFERON REGULATORY FACTOR 4 (IRF4) IS A LYMPHOCYTE-SPECIFIC TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR THAT IS FREQUENTLY OVEREXPRESSED AND MUTATED IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES, INCLUDING EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS (EBV)- ASSOCIATED, AIDS-RELATED LYMPHOMAS (ARLS), WHICH ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF HIV/AIDS-RELATED CANCER DEATHS EVEN IN THE CURRENT ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) ERA. HOWEVER, THE PRECISE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING IRF4- MEDIATED ONCOGENESIS IS POORLY UNDERSTOOD. WE HAVE SHOWN THAT IRF4 IS CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL OF VIRUS (EBV, HTLV1)-TRANSFORMED CELLS, AND ITS DEPLETION CAUSES APOPTOSIS, AT LEAST THROUGH TRANSCRIPTIONAL UPREGULATION OF THE ONCOGENIC MIRNA MIR-155 AND THE ADAPTOR PROTEIN LIMD1 THAT IN TURN PARTICIPATES IN EBV LATENT TRANSMEMBRANE PROTEIN 1 (LMP1) SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND IS REQUIRED FOR OXIDATIVE STRESS-INDUCED AUTOPHAGY, AMONGST MANY OTHER IRF4 TRANSCRIPTIONAL TARGETS. WE HAVE ALSO SHOWN THAT IRF4 IS ACTIVATED THROUGH C-SRC- MEDIATED TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION DOWNSTREAM OF LMP1 SIGNALING, IN EBV-TRANSFORMED CELLS, WITH THE AID OF SEVERAL UNBIASED “STATE-OF-THE-ART” HIGH THROUGHPUT TECHNIQUES INCLUDING PHOSPHOTYROSINE PROTEOMICS, AND UBIQUITINOMICS. FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE COLLECTED SEVERAL LINES OF EVIDENCE IN THESE STUDIES SHOWING THAT IRF4 IS UBIQUITINATED WITH K63-LINKED UBIQUITIN CHAINS, AND THAT APOPTOSIS INDUCES A SMALLER SIZE OF IRF4, WHICH MAY BE A CASPASE-CLEAVED PRODUCT AND MAY REPRESENT A DOMINANT NEGATIVE MUTANT LACKING THE DNA-BINDING ACTIVITY. CORRESPONDINGLY, A POTENTIAL CASPASE-CLEAVAGE SITE PROXIMAL TO C-TERMINUS OF ITS DNA-BINDING DOMAIN WAS IDENTIFIED. THUS, THE PROPOSED STUDY AIMS TO TEST TWO HYPOTHESES THAT: AND CONVERTS IRF4 TO A DOMINANT-NEGATIVE PRO-APOPTOTIC MUTANT; AND 1) 2) CASPASE-3 CLEAVES IRF4 IN APOPTOSIS LMP1 SIGNALING STIMULATES K63-LINKED UBIQUITINATION OF IRF4 THAT PROMOTES IRF4 TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY. THESE STUDIES WILL PROVIDE NOVEL MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO IRF4 POSTTRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS IN REGULATION OF ITS ACTIVITY AND FUNCTIONS IN VIRUS-ASSOCIATED HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES. FINDINGS FROM THESE STUDIES AND FUTURE LONG-TERM PURSUITS WILL SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IRF4 IN VIRAL ONCOGENESIS, AND MAY IDENTIFY THE LMP1-IRF4 REGULATORY NETWORK AS A POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR TREATING EBV-ASSOCIATED, AIDS-RELATED HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES.

HEMODYNAMIC MECHANISMS OF IMPAIRED RECOVERY AND PROGRESSION OF RENAL DISEASE FOLLOWING AKI IN PREEXISTING CKD STATES

NEUROINFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS OF GLUTAMATERGIC AND GABAERGIC NEUROPATHOLOGY IN THE ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

IDENTIFICATION OF CENTRAL NEURAL PATHWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR FGF21-INDUCED CHANGES IN SYMPATHETIC METABOLIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR ACTIVITY

THE ROLE OF ADENOSINE A(2A) RECEPTOR ACTIVATION ON THE BEHAVIORAL AND PLASTICITY RESPONSE TO NICOTINE IN A RODENT MODEL OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

DUAL SPECIFIC GENE EDITING DRUGS DELIVERED BY NANOPARTICLES TARGETING HBV/HIV COINFECTION - A HIGHER PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV), 7.4% GLOBALLY AND 15 TO 28% IN HIGHLY ENDEMIC AREAS, IS OBSERVED IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (PLWH). WHILE CURRENT COMBINED ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (CART) CAN RESTRICT HBV/HIV REPLICATION, CART CANNOT ELIMINATE THE HIV/HBV DNAS THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE HOST GENOME. AS SUCH, HBV AND HIV PERSIST IN CART-CONTROLLED INDIVIDUALS, AND CART CESSATION READILY LEADS TO VIRAL REACTIVATION AND DISEASE PROGRESSION. THUS, ANY CURATIVE STRATEGY SHOULD INCLUDE A MEANS TO ELIMINATE INTEGRATED VIRAL DNA FROM THE RESERVOIR CELLS THAT HARBOR HIV AND/OR HBV (HBV/HIV) DNA WITHOUT COLLATERAL CYTOTOXIC REACTIONS. CRISPR (CLUSTERED REGULARLY INTERSPACED SHORT PALINDROMIC REPEATS) CAS9 (CRISPR-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN 9)-MEDIATED GENE EDITING IS AN APPEALING APPROACH TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. THE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN THE CRISPR/CAS9 APPROACH ARE TO SELECT VIRUS-SPECIFIC TARGET GENES THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR VIRAL REPLICATION YET AVOID OFF-TARGET EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN GENOME AND ENSURE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF THE GENE-EDITING DRUGS TO TARGET CELLS. THE CURRENT CRISPR/CAS9 DELIVERY TECHNOLOGIES OFTEN REQUIRE VIRAL VECTORS, WHICH POSE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS IN HUMANS. SYNTHETIC CAS9-RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN (RNP) IS AN ATTRACTIVE NON-VIRAL FORMULATION FOR THE CRISPR/CAS9 SYSTEM DUE TO ITS QUICK DNA CLEAVAGE ACTIVITY, LOW FREQUENCY OF OFF-TARGET EFFECTS, LOW RISK OF INSERTIONAL MUTAGENESIS, EASY PRODUCTION, AND READINESS FOR CLINICAL APPLICATION. HOWEVER, EXISTING NON-VIRAL STRATEGIES FOR CAS9-RNP DELIVERY FACE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, SUCH AS HIGH CYTOTOXICITY, POOR IN VIVO STABILITY, LARGE PARTICLE SIZES, LACK OF SPECIFIC TISSUE- AND/OR CELL-TARGETING ABILITIES, VARIABLE LOADING OF THE RNP CARGO, AND POTENTIAL IMMUNOGENICITY. THESE CHALLENGES LIMIT THE APPLICATION OF CAS9-RNP FOR IN VIVO SYSTEMIC APPLICATION. THEREFORE, ADVANCES IN THE DISCOVERY OF NOVEL INTERVENTIONS TARGETING INCORPORATED VIRAL DNA ARE URGENTLY NEEDED FOR THE CURE OF HBV/HIV CO-INFECTION. TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS, WE HAVE: 1) SELECTED SPECIFIC HBV/HIV TARGET GENES THAT ARE CRUCIAL FOR VIRAL REPLICATION BUT SHARE NO OVERLAP WITH (OFF-TARGETING) THE HUMAN GENOME; 2) SYNTHESIZED GUIDE-RNAS (GRNA) AND CAS9-RNP AS THERAPEUTIC DRUGS; 3) DEVELOPED NOVEL NANOPARTICLES (NP) WITH LONGER CLEAVABLE POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) ARMS TO DECORATE THE HBV/HIV GRNA-CAS9 RNP AND SLOW THE RELEASE OF THE PRODRUG INTRACELLULARLY; AND 4) ESTABLISHED HBV/HIV CELLULAR MODELS TO TEST THE EFFICACY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF OUR GENERATED HBV/HIV GRNA-RNP. IN THIS STUDY, WE WILL TEST OUR NEWLY DESIGNED GENE EDITING DRUGS THAT TARGET VIRAL DNA BUT NOT THE HUMAN GENOME USING HBV/HIV CELLULAR MODELS. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT SPECIFIC CRISPR/CAS9 GENE EDITING DRUGS WILL ABOLISH HBV/HIV REPLICATION AND ELICIT MINIMUM CYTOTOXICITY IN THESE CELLULAR MODELS. WE PROPOSE TWO SPECIFIC AIMS TO TEST OUR HYPOTHESIS: AIM 1 WILL SCREEN AND TEST CRISPR/CAS9 GENE EDITING DRUGS USING A NUCLEOFECTION APPROACH IN OUR CELLULAR HBV/HIV MODELS; AIM 2 WILL GENERATE AND TEST HBV/HIV GRNA-CAS9 NPS AND COMPARE THEIR EFFICACY AND CYTOTOXICITY IN OUR CELLULAR HBV/HIV MODELS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO COLLECT CRITICAL INFORMATION, ESTABLISH NEW TECHNIQUES, AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ACHIEVING OUR LONG-TERM GOAL OF DISCOVERY A CURE FOR HBV/HIV CO-INFECTION.

CHARACTERIZING THE ROLE OF THE DORSOMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS AND RAPHE PALLIDUS IN THE CARDIOGENIC SYMPATHETIC AFFERENT REFLEX

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOSPHOMANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS IN C. AURIS - CANDIDA AURIS IS A RECENTLY EMERGENT FUNGAL PATHOGEN. THIS NEWLY EMERGENT SPECIES HAS RISEN WORLDWIDE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS SINCE ITS FIRST RECOGNITION IN JAPAN.THIS ORGANISM HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM DUE TO ITS ANTIFUNGAL RESISTANCE AND ITS ABILITY TO PERSIST IN CRITICAL CARE AND NURSING HOME FACILITIES. ONE OF THE REASONS BEHIND THIS ABILITY TO PERSIST IS THAT MANY OF THE CLINICAL ISOLATES SHOW MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE AND, IN RARE CASES, CAN BE PAN-RESISTANT. RECENTLY WE EXAMINED THE CELL WALL OF EIGHT C. AURIS ISOLATES AND DISCOVERED THAT C. AURIS MANNANS CONTAIN ADDITIONAL MANNOSYL PHOSPHATE (MA1-PO4) BRANCHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO THIS SPECIES. THIS IS A VERY EXCITING AND POTENTIALLY VERY IMPORTANT NEW FINDING. THE FACT THAT C. AURIS HAS AN OUTER COATING OF MANNAN THAT IS STRUCTURALLY DISTINCT FROM ALL OTHER CANDIDA SPECIES AND, INDEED, ANY OTHER FUNGAL PATHOGEN, SUGGESTS THAT THE MA1-PO4 STRUCTURE DISTINGUISHES C. AURIS FROM OTHER FUNGAL PATHOGENS. AT THIS POINT, VIRTUALLY NOTHING IS KNOWN ABOUT THE GENES WHICH CONTROL THE EXPRESSION OF THIS UNIQUE CELL WALL PHENOTYPE. IN C. ALBICANS THE MNT3, MNT5, AND MNN4 PROTEINS ARE PHOSPHMANNOSYLTRANSFERASES RESPONSIBLE FOR PHOSPHOMANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS. IN ADDITION THERE ARE SEVEN MNN4-LIKE PROTEINS THAT ARE FUNCTIONALLY REDUNDANT WITH MNN4 BUT DO NOT PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PHOSPHOMANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS. A SURVEY OF THE CANDIDA GENOME DATABASE REVEALED THAT C. AURIS ALSO CONTAINS THE MNT3, MNT5, AND MNN4 GENES IN ADDITION TO FIVE MNN4-LIKE GENES. DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES OF THE GENES IN C. AURIS TO THOSE OF C. ALBICANS WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE MNT3,MNT5 AND MNN4 GENES MAINTAIN A CONSERVED ROLE IN PHOSPHOMANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS, WHILE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE MNN4-LIKE GENES HAVE DIVERGED TO PRODUCE PROTEINS THAT IMPACT THE MA1-PO4 BRANCHING AND/OR PHOSPHORYLATION. WE WILL ASSESS THE ROLE THAT THESE GENES PLAY VIA CONSTRUCTION OF DELETION MUTANTS IN C. AURIS TO DETERMINE IF THEY IMPACT PHOSPHOMANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS AND THE ADDITION OF M1A-PO4 BRANCHING, USING HIGH FIELD NMR. IN ADDITION WE WILL DETERMINE IF THESE MUTANTS HAVE INCREASED OR DECREASED ATTRACTIVENESS TO HUMAN MACROPHAGES AND THEIR ABILITY TO KILL THE MACROPAHGES. FROM THIS WORK WE EXPECT TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MANNAN BIOSYNTHESIS IN C. AURIS. THE DATA GENERATED WILL HELP TO SERVE POTENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC AND VACCINE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

INTEGRATING ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY IN LEGACY AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAMS -TENNESSEE RANKS FIRST IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) MANUFACTURING, WITH MORE THAN 162,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE STATE SINCE 2013. GENERAL MOTORS AND FORD HAVE BOTH ANNOUNCED MAJOR NEW INVESTMENTS IN EV PRODUCTION IN TENNESSEE SINCE 2020. AS EV TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO ADVANCE AT A RAPID PACE AND THE NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD CONTINUES TO INCREASE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH MULTIPLE TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING STAND-ALONE PROGRAMS AND THOSE THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO LEGACY AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAMS. THIS WILL ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED FOR EV MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR TECHNICIANS STATEWIDE AND BEYOND. NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS TRAINED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, ENROLLING AN AVERAGE OF SIXTY STUDENTS EACH YEAR IN ITS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AND DOCUMENT THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH INTEGRATING EV TECHNOLOGY INTO A LEGACY AUTOMOTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM. OUTCOMES OF THIS EFFORT WILL INCLUDE FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, A JOB SKILLS ANALYSIS, AND CURRICULAR REVISIONS, ALL OF WHICH WILL IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN THIS HIGH NEED AREA. NORTHEAST STATE WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND A RECENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONSORTIUM (NEVC) TO SECURE FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONDUCT A JOB TASKS ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL EV MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES, REVIEW EXISTING EV MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR CURRICULUM, DEVELOP CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS GAPS, PILOT THE CURRICULUM, AND CONDUCT TARGETED RECRUITMENT TO INCREASE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE EDUCATION OF TECHNICIANS FOR THE ADVANCED-TECHNOLOGY FIELDS THAT DRIVE THE NATION'S ECONOMY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT OF SIPM-BASED SPECTROMETERS FOR THE UCNTAU AND UCNA+ EXPERIMENTS -THE FREE NEUTRON RADIOACTIVELY DECAYS INTO A PROTON, ELECTRON, AND ANTI-NEUTRINO. THE RATE AT WHICH THIS PROCESS OCCURS, AND THE DIRECTION OF THE EJECTED PARTICLES, IS DETERMINED BY PARAMETERS OF THE WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE. PRECISION STUDIES OF THESE PARAMETERS PROVIDE A WINDOW INTO THE FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS GOVERNING OUR UNIVERSE AND CAN IDENTIFY NEW PHYSICS. THE GOAL OF FUTURE EXPERIMENTS IS TO BE SUFFICIENTLY SENSITIVE TO DETECT NEW PHYSICS THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE STANDARD MODEL OF FORCES AND PARTICLES. TO INCREASE THE SENSITIVITY OF THESE EXPERIMENTS NEW MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES MUST BE INTEGRATED INTO THE EXPERIMENTAL METHODS. THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT THE INVESTIGATION OF SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIER BASED NEUTRON AND ELECTRON DETECTORS THAT WILL MITIGATE SYSTEMATIC UNCERTAINTIES IN PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF NEUTRON DECAY EXPERIMENTS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS WITH ESSENTIAL HANDS-ON TRAINING IN SKILLS THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR THE NATIONAL STEM WORKFORCE. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ULTRACOLD NEUTRON PHYSICS GROUP AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY THIS RESEARCH WILL ENABLE HIGHER PRECISION MEASUREMENTS OF THE NEUTRON LIFETIME, THE BETA-ASYMMETRY PARAMETER ?A?, AND A NEW SEARCH FOR THE NEUTRON?S ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENT. THREE EXPERIMENTAL GOALS ARE OUTLINED IN THIS PROJECT. FIRST, PROVIDE A SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIER-BASED SCINTILLATION DETECTOR FOR A <0.2% MEASUREMENTS OF ?A? FOR THE UCNA+ EXPERIMENT. THE DETECTOR WILL ELIMINATE THE MULTI-WIRE PROPORTIONAL COUNTER USED IN UCNA THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF BACKSCATTERING AND ENERGY LOSS SYSTEMATICS. THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL ENABLE A SIMILAR DETECTOR SCHEME FOR HIGH RATE COUNTING IN THE UCNTAU EXPERIMENT. SECOND, PROVIDE NEUTRON TIME OF FLIGHT SPECTROMETERS FOR ONLINE ASSESS OF THE ULTRACOLD NEUTRON VELOCITY SPECTRUM WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN ALL THE EXPERIMENTS HOSTED BY LANL. FINALLY, PROVIDE A DESIGN OF A LIGHTLY ENRICHED URANIUM INSERT FOR THE LANL ULTRACOLD NEUTRON SOURCE CAPABLE INCREASING THE PRODUCTION BY A FACTOR OF FOUR. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING IN THE TREATMENT OF VOCAL FATIGUE

ROLE OF GUT MICROBIOME IN DYSTONIA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EPIIC: BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTSTANDING SKILLS TRAINING IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FOR SOUTHEASTERN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES (BOOST) -THE BOOST PROJECT (BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTSTANDING SKILLS TRAINING IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FOR SOUTHEASTERN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES) ADDRESSES THE URGENT NEED FOR A SKILLED WORKFORCE IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WITHIN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (TCC) (VA), NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (NESCC) (TN), AND SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SCC) (SC). THE GOAL IS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A THRIVING INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM BY FOSTERING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO SUPPORT THE REGIONAL GROWTH OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. BY ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE NIMBLE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEMS, BOOST WILL PREPARE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS FOR CAREERS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, THEREBY MAINTAINING U.S. COMPETITIVENESS IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY, FOSTERING INNOVATION, AND PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT KEEP PACE WITH INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS. BOOST WILL ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH INVOLVING INSTITUTIONAL AND COHORT-LEVEL ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL BUILD INSTITUTIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES AND THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BY ORGANIZING PARTNERSHIP CONVENING EVENTS, REVITALIZING INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD ENGAGEMENT USING BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP TEAM (BILT) OR SIMILAR MODELS AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FACULTY AND STAFF. DEDICATED STAFF WILL BE EMPLOYED TO FOCUS ON PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PROCESSES AND PROGRAMMING WILL BE OPTIMIZED BY CREATING TOOLKITS, MODELS, AND RESOURCES FOR BEST PRACTICES TO BE SHARED BROADLY FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN PARTNERSHIPS, ENABLING COLLEGES TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO WORKFORCE NEEDS AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS. THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WILL BE TAILORED TO SERVE THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS ACROSS THE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS, ENSURING BROAD AND INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

HEALTHCARE ACCESS

TRANSLATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF AN FAK INHIBITOR FOR ACUTE CEREBROPROTECTION - SUMMARY. WE HAVE SHOWN THAT A PHARMACOLOGICAL FAK INHIBITION AND ASTROCYTE FAK DELETION ARE CEREBROPROTECTIVE AFTER ISCHEMIC MCAO STROKE IN FEMALE, BUT NOT MALE, MICE. A SYSTEMIC SMALL MOLECULE FAK INHIBITOR TREATMENT WAS EFFICACIOUS WHEN STARTED 6 H AFTER REPERFUSION FOLLOWING AN MCAO, AS SHOWN BY MOTOR FUNCTION AND HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE INJURY SITE. WE PROPOSE THE FAK INHIBITOR OR ONE IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR CANCER AS A CANDIDATE FOR PRECLINICAL ASSESSMENT BY THE SPAN TEST SITES, INCLUDING REPLICATION IN YOUNG ADULT MICE, IN AGED MICE, IN RATS AND ANIMALS WITH COMORBIDITIES. THIS FINDING IS BASED ON WORK OVER MORE THAN TEN YEARS IN OUR LAB AFTER WE DISCOVERED A NEW INTEGRIN-FAK-STAT3 SIGNALING PATHWAY THAT REGULATES CYTOKINE EXPRESSION. IN FEMALE MICE, PLASMA VITRONECTIN (VTN) THAT LEAKS INTO THE BRAIN INJURY ACTIVATES INTEGRINS TO EXACERBATE THE PROGRESSIVE INJURY OVER THE FIRST TWO DAYS WHICH IS MEDIATED IN LARGE PART BY ACUTE PRO- INFLAMMATORY IL-6 EXPRESSION IN THE BRAIN. STROKE INDUCED PLASMA VTN LEVELS IN FEMALES ONLY AND THE LEVELS CORRELATE WITH WORSE TISSUE INJURY. THE VTN-INDUCED IL-6 MECHANISM WAS NOT AFFECTED BY OVARIECTOMY SUGGESTING THAT SEX HORMONES ARE NOT INVOLVED. USING CRE-LOX MICE, WE IDENTIFIED ASTROGLIAL FAK AS THE MAJOR DRIVER OF THE DETRIMENTAL IL-6 PEAK IN FEMALE, BUT NOT MALE, MICE. MOREOVER, FAK14 WAS CEREBROPROTECTIVE IN WT FEMALES BUT NOT IN VTN-/- FEMALE LITTERMATES OR IN MALES. THUS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A PLEIOTROPIC MECHANISM THAT CAN BE INHIBITED BY A DRUG DOWNSTREAM OF A DETRIMENTAL BLOOD PROTEIN AND IRRESPECTIVE OF ITS LEVELS. IN AIM 1, THE HAGG LAB WILL DETERMINE A DOSE-RESPONSE CURVE IN MICE FOR THE TWO FAK INHIBITORS TO DEFINE THE LOWEST DOSE THAT HAS MAXIMAL EFFICACY, AND THEIR POTENCY. OUTCOME MEASURES WILL BE FAK PHOSPHORYLATION AND CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN BRAIN TISSUE AT 24 H AFTER INTRALUMINAL FILAMENT MCAO WITH REPERFUSION AND FOR REDUCING FUNCTIONAL DEFICITS AND BRAIN INJURY SIZE AT 7 D. THE TEST SITES WOULD RECEIVE THE MOST PROMISING OF THE TWO INHIBITORS AFTER QUALITY CONTROL FOR THE COMPOUNDS WE RECEIVE FROM SUPPLIERS. FOR AIM 2A, THE TEST SITES WOULD REPLICATE OUR FINDING THAT THE FAK INHIBITOR IS CEREBROPROTECTIVE AFTER MCAO IN YOUNG ADULT C57BL/6J FEMALES AND NOT MALES. OUTCOME MEASURES ARE INJURY SIZE, AS MEASURED BY REPEATED MRI, AND SENSORIMOTOR FUNCTION TESTS OVER 30 DAYS, AS DEFINED BY THE CURRENT SPAN. AIM 2B WOULD TEST IT IN AGED MICE AND AIM 2C IN YOUNG ADULT RATS. DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME, MOUSE OR RAT MODELS OF THE MOST COMMON RISK FACTOR COMORBIDITIES OF HUMAN STROKE, HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES, WILL BE TESTED IN AIM 2D. TO BROADEN THE POTENTIAL CLINICAL IMPACT, AIM 2E WILL TEST THE FAK INHIBITOR IN A CLOT-TPA REPERFUSION MODEL. IN AIM 3, OUR LAB WILL DETERMINE WHETHER HIGH VTN LEVELS CAUSED BY COMORBIDITIES ARE A RISK FACTOR FOR WORSE STROKE OUTCOMES BY ANALYZING PLASMA AND BRAINS FROM TEST SITE RODENTS. WE ALSO EXPECT THE RISK TO BE REDUCED BY THE FAK INHIBITOR. KEY MILESTONES WILL BE THE SELECTION OF THE FAK INHIBITOR AND ITS DOSING, REPLICATION AND WEIGHING ITS POTENTIAL CLINICAL PROMISE IN LIGHT OF SHOWING CEREBROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS IN DIFFERENT MODELS TESTED BY THE TESTING SITES. IF SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL CONTRIBUTE A NEW INTERVENTION WHICH TARGETS A SPECIFIC MECHANISM AND IS WELL-TOLERATED, FOR CLINICAL STROKE TRIALS.

STRONG START FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS

FY 2020 EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING (ECT)

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE REGION -ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, TENNESSEE RANKS FOURTH IN THE U.S. IN NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING JOBS - APPROXIMATELY 20,000 JOBS IN AUTO MANUFACTURING IN 2023. TENNESSEE ALSO RANKS FIRST IN THE SOUTHEAST IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) MANUFACTURING AND EMPLOYMENT. THIS GROWTH IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CRITICAL SHORTAGE IN THE WORKFORCE, WITH STUDIES PREDICTING THE SHORTAGE OF EV TECHNICIANS. EV TECHNICIAN SHORTAGES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS PROJECT BY THE CREATION OF AN EV ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT MOTLOW STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND AN EV BATTERY TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE AT CHATTANOOGA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED AND WILL HELP IN ENSURING THAT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDUSTRY HAS A WORKFORCE POOL THAT IS QUALIFIED TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT, STUDENTS WILL BE TRAINED TO HANDLE ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND WILL FILL IN THE SHORTAGE GAP THAT IS EXPECTED TO KEEP GROWING. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO HELP IMPROVE THE ECONOMY IN THE REGIONS THROUGH HIGH DEMAND SKILL TRAINING AND WILL PROVIDE THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WITH THE NEEDED SKILLED WORKFORCE. THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM WILL WORK TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS WITH A FOCUS ON GROUPS UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH DISSEMINATION OF PROJECT MATERIALS AND THROUGH OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED REGIONS AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES OF TENNESSEE. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE EDUCATION OF TECHNICIANS FOR THE ADVANCED-TECHNOLOGY FIELDS THAT DRIVE THE NATION'S ECONOMY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

THE CENTER FOR APPALACHIAN STUDIES AND SERVICES AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL PROCESS, PRESERVE, AND DIGITIZE RECORDS IN ITS COLLECTION THAT DOCUMENT THE PEOPLE AND CULTURES OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL APPALACHIA. THE COLLECTION CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS AND FIELD RECORDINGS OF VERNACULAR MUSIC PERFORMANCES, 1,500 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE REGION, AND 100 LINEAR FEET OF PAPER DOCUMENTS FROM THE EARLY 1900S TO THE EARLY THE 21ST CENTURY. THE CENTER WILL HIRE A PROJECT ARCHIVIST FOR TWO YEARS TO WORK WITH A GRADUATE ASSISTANT TO PROCESS AND REHOUSE THE COLLECTION. DIGITIZED COLLECTIONS CONTENT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL APPALACHIA.

CHARACTERIZATION OF MET ALTERATION USING GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENT-DERIVED XENOGRAFT MODELS - PROJECT SUMMARY GLIOBLASTOMA (GBM) IS THE MOST MALIGNANT TYPE OF BRAIN CANCER RESISTANT TO ALKYLATING AGENTS AND RADIATION. GLIOMA STEM CELLS (GSCS), A SUBPOPULATION OF HIGHLY INVASIVE GBM CELLS RESISTANT TO THE IRRADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY, ARE THE MAJOR TARGETS OF EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTICS. IDENTIFYING AND TARGETING MOLECULAR DETERMINANTS OF GSCS ARE IMPORTANT FOR TREATING MALIGNANT GBM. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO DEFINE AND DEPLOY WELL-CHARACTERIZED, CLINICALLY RELEVANT MET-DRIVEN GBM MODELS TO ENABLE EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF MET. ABERRANT MET RECEPTOR TYROSINE KINASE (RTK) ACTIVATION, SUCH AS MET AMPLIFICATION (METAMP), MUTATION, AND PTPRZ1-MET (ZM) FUSION, ARE FREQUENTLY FOUND IN PRIMARY OR SECONDARY GBM. ELEVATED MET SIGNALING PROVOKES TUMOR INVASION IN GBM AND IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR GSC MAINTENANCE AND INVASIVE REPOPULATION. CLINICALLY, BEVACIZUMAB TREATMENT INDUCING MET ACTIVATION IS A MAJOR MECHANISM OF TUMOR RECURRENCE WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE PHENOTYPE, FURTHER DEMONSTRATING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TARGETING MET PATHWAY IN GBM. ALTHOUGH MET TYROSINE KINASE INHIBITORS (TKIS) ARE ENTERING CLINICAL TRIALS, THEIR THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY REMAINS CONTROVERSIAL. FURTHERMORE, MET INHIBITOR THERAPY ALONE CAN BE DEFEATED BY ACQUIRED RESISTANCE. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE CLINICALLY RELEVANT GBM MODELS TO STUDY THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN ASSOCIATION TO THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO IMPROVE THE COMBINATION STRATEGY. IN THIS APPLICATION, WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT GBM PDX MODELS BEARING DIFFERENT GENETIC MET ALTERATIONS MANIFEST DISTINCT THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITY TO MET-TARGETING AGENTS AS WELL AS MECHANISMS OF ESCAPE FROM MET TKIS. WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN METAMP AND ZM FUSION MODELS AS BOTH MOLECULAR FEATURES INDICATE SENSITIVITY TO MET INHIBITORS. FOR THIS APPLICATION, WE WILL 1) CHARACTERIZE THE GBM PDX MODELS BEARING VARIOUS MET ALTERATIONS FOUND IN PATIENTS FOR THEIR MET PATHWAY ACTIVATION AND ORTHOTOPIC TUMOR GROWTH. 2) DETERMINE THE THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO MET INHIBITORS USING GSCS IN VITRO AND ORTHOTOPIC XENOGRAFT MODELS IN VIVO. FOR MET-TARGETING REAGENTS WE WILL APPLY MET TKIS AND SPECIFIC-MET TARGETING CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR (CAR) T CELLS DEVELOPED AT OUR LAB. WE WILL ALSO DETERMINE WHETHER IRRADIATION OR DNA REPAIR INHIBITION MAY ENHANCE THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF MET TKIS IN THESE MODELS, AND WHETHER MET TKI RESISTANT GBM MODELS MAY CONTINUE RESPOND TO MET-TARGETING CAR T CELLS. WE EXPECT TO UNDERSTAND HOW HGF/MET ALTERATION MAY SERVE AS BIOMARKERS TO INDICATE THE THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO MET INHIBITORS AS WELL AS THE COMBINATION STRATEGIES. IN ADDITION, THE GSC MODELS ESTABLISHED FROM THIS PROJECT WILL BECOME VALUABLE TOOLS FOR STUDYING MET-MEDIATED GBM BIOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES.

IN COLLABORATION WITH CUIS CULTURAL RESOURCES STAFF, THE EAT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS WILL CONDUCT AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND ETHNOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE SETTLEMENT AT BRICKHILL BLUFF FREEDMAN S VILLAGE SITE THE PROJECT WILL EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE BRICKHILL SETTLEMENT, THE TRANSITION FROM A SLAVE VILLAGE TO A FREEDMAN S SETTLEMENT, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OTHER ENSLAVED COMMUNITIES ON THE ISLAND, AND LAND USE AND LIFESTYLES DURING THE DIFFERENT OCCUPATION PERIODS

HEALTH PROMOTION/DISEASE PREVENTION

CALCITRIOL FOR THE TREATMENT OF BRAIN CALCIFICATION THROUGH UPREGULATION OF SLC20A2

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

AWARD PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY EMPLOYMENT FOR WORKERS WHO RESIDE IN THE APPALACHIAN AND DELTA REGIONS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN AND THRIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S STICS INITIATIVE IS A COLLABORATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO (1) ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY LEADING TO HIGH QUALITY JOBS IN INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS (ICS) WITH FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGES; (2) HOST ICS TARGETED CAREER OUTREACH EVENTS FOR POPULATIONS THAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN TECHNOLOGY FIELDS; AND (3) PROMOTE CULTURAL CHANGE WITHIN THE NESCC TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION TO CREATE A MORE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN. DELIVERABLES 1 INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS PROGRAM CREATED; 75 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN THE ICS PROGRAM; 40 PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE ICS CERTIFICATE; 15 PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE ICS ASSOCIATE DEGREE; 55 PARTICIPANTS SECURE NEW OR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT; ENROLLMENT OF WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGIES REACHES 15% OF HEADCOUNT; ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR IN TECHNOLOGIES REACHES 15% OF HEADCOUNT; COMPLETION RATE FOR WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGIES INCREASES BY 5%. INTENDED BENEFICIARY NEW ENTRANTS TO THE WORKFORCE, DISLOCATED WORKERS, AND INCUMBENT WORKERS, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA), SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP EDUCATION GRANT, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT GRANT, AND TRADE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP GRANT, FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2018

FY 2020 CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

SPANISH FOR THE PROFESSIONS [WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL DEVELOP EIGHT SPECIALTY AREA COURSES TO EXPAND THE CURRENT SPANISH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF SPANISH 2900 COURSE (PROBLEMS AND TOPICS IN SPANISH STUDIES), EACH COURSE INCLUDES FOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING, READING, AND WRITING) INCLUDING A CULTURAL FOCUS AND A FINAL CULTURAL PROJECT LINKING THE SPECIALIZATION COURSE WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS. A SECONDARY PROJECT FOCUS WILL CREATE ASSESSMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL, HIGH-QUALITY RESOURCE MATERIALS. LASTLY, THE COLLEGE WILL DISSEMINATE LEARNED INFORMATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES.]

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RESEARCH & EVALUATION

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

ANALYSIS OF MODULATION OF THE METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR TYPE 5 IN A NOVEL HERITABLE MODEL OF DRUG ABUSE VULNERABILITY - PROJECT SUMMARY SCHIZOPHRENIA IS A DEBILITATING MENTAL ILLNESS AFFECTING AN ESTIMATED 1% OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION. SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMORBIDITY IS COMMON IN A NUMBER OF MENTAL ILLNESSES, INCLUDING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, BIPOLAR DISORDER, AND SCHIZOPHRENIA, WITH NICOTINE BEING THE MOST COMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCE. THIS COMORBIDITY HAS SEVERAL DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS, INCLUDING REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCED EFFICACY OF TREATMENT. MY LAB IS THEREFORE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE THE REWARDING EFFECTS OF NICOTINE AND ALLEVIATE DEFICITS IN ENDOPHENOTYPIC MARKERS OF PSYCHOSIS. PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORK IN OUR LABORATORY HAS ESTABLISHED THAT RATS NEONATALLY TREATED WITH THE DOPAMINE D2-LIKE RECEPTOR (DAD2) AGONIST QUINPIROLE FOR THE FIRST 21 DAYS OF LIFE SHOW LIFELONG INCREASES IN DAD2 RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY, DISPLAYING A NUMBER OF BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPES OF RELEVANCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMORBIDITY IN PSYCHOSIS, INCLUDING ENHANCED NICOTINE CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE AND DEFICITS IN SENSORIMOTOR GATING. OUR LAB HAS MORE RECENTLY DEVELOPED A HERITABLE MODEL OF DRUG ABUSE VULNERABILITY IN PSYCHOSIS BY BREEDING RATS NEONATALLY TREATED WITH QUINPIROLE (NQ) TO EITHER ANOTHER NQ OR A SALINE (NS) TREATED ANIMAL TO PRODUCE A SUBSEQUENT F1 GENERATION. THIS F1 GENERATION DISPLAYS INCREASED DOPAMINE SIGNALING COMPARABLE TO NQ ANIMALS IN THE F0 GENERATION. DAD2 RECEPTORS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO FORM A FUNCTIONALLY DISTINCT HETERORECEPTOR COMPLEX WITH THE METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE TYPE 5 (MGLU5) RECEPTOR, SUCH THAT STIMULATION OF MGLU5 RESULTS IN REDUCED DAD2 AFFINITY. IN SPECIFIC AIM 1, I WILL OUTLINE PREDOCTORAL WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED WHICH HAS SHOWN THAT TREATMENT WITH THE POSITIVE ALLOSTERIC MODULATOR OF THE MGLU5 RECEPTOR 3-CYANO-N-(1,3-DIPHENYL-1H-PYRAZOL-5-YL)BENZAMIDE (CDPPB) REDUCES THE ASSOCIATIVE REWARDING PROPERTIES OF NICOTINE AND ALLEVIATES DEFICITS IN SENSORIMOTOR GATING IN F1 GENERATION ANIMALS, SUGGESTING THIS THERAPEUTIC AGENT MAY BE A PROMISING TARGET FOR THE DUAL TREATMENT OF TOBACCO USE DISORDER AND PSYCHOSIS. IN THE F99-PHASE OF THIS PROPOSAL, I WILL ESTABLISH THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF CDPPB IN PREVENTING RELAPSE-LIKE BEHAVIOR IN A SYSTEM SENSITIZED TO DOPAMINE USING OPTOGENETIC TOOLS TO MANIPULATE DOPAMINERGIC SIGNALING IN THE BRAIN REWARD PATHWAY. CHANGES IN SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF DOPAMINE SIGNALING MARKERS FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF CDPPB WILL BE ANALYZED USING SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONATION TO DETERMINE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF CDPPB. FURTHER, MECHANISMS OF HERITABILITY CONFERRING ENHANCED DAD2 SENSITIVITY IN THE F1 GENERATION WILL BE ASSESSED USING NEXT GENERATION RNA SEQUENCING TECHNIQUES. IN SPECIFIC AIM 2, I WILL SEEK A POSTDOCTORAL POSITION WITH A STRONG MENTORING TEAM THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO EXPAND MY TRAINING TO INCLUDE USE OF NEURAL RECORDING AND IMAGING TECHNIQUES TO ANALYZE HOW CHANGES ON A CELLULAR LEVEL TRANSLATE TO OBSERVABLE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS DURING THE K00 PHASE OF THIS PROPOSAL.

DLT GRANTS - SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER - MEDICAL

AWARD PURPOSE: THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS ONE OF THREE FUNDED AS PART OF A COORDINATED STATEWIDE ASIAN DEFOLIATOR SURVEY. EACH AGREEMENT WILL FUND SIX TRAPS PLACED AT 10 HIGH RISK SITES TARGETING 11 EXOTIC MOTH SPECIES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PHEROMONE TRAPS WILL BE PLACED AND MONITORED AT 10 SITES IN MIDDLE TN TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF 11 SPECIES OF ASIAN DEFOLIATORS. CATCH FROM ONE OF THE TRAPS TARGETING 5 IMPORTANT SPECIES (INCLUDING LYMANTRIA DISPAR ASIATICA) WILL BE SENT TO THE PPQ FOREST PEST METHODS LABORATORY FOR MOLECULAR ANALYSIS. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACROSS THE THREE COORDINATED SURVEYS MAKING UP THIS STATEWIDE SURVEY, PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR 11 IMPORTANT ASIAN DEFOLIATORS AT 60 HIGH RISK SITES WILL BE COLLECTED. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THE RESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT IN TN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY E NOUGH TO INITIATE AN EARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: N/A.

1. AWARD PURPOSE: THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS ONE OF THREE FUNDED AS PART OF A COORDINATED STATEWIDE ASIAN DEFOLIATOR SURVEY. EACH AGREEMENT WILL FUND SIX TRAPS PLACED AT 10 HIGH RISK SITES TARGETING 11 EXOTIC MOTH SPECIES. 2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PHEROMONE TRAPS WILL BE PLACED AND MONITORED AT 10 SITES IN MIDDLE TN TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF 11 SPECIES OF ASIAN DEFOLIATORS. CATCH FROM ONE OF THE TRAPS TARGETING 5 IMPORTANT SPECIES (INCLUDING LYMANTRIA DISPAR ASIATICA) WILL BE SENT TO THE PPQ FOREST PEST METHODS LABORATORY FOR MOLECULAR ANALYSIS. 3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACROSS THE THREE COORDINATED SURVEYS MAKING UP THIS STATEWIDE SURVEY, PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR 11 IMPORTANT ASIAN DEFOLIATORS AT 60 HIGH RISK SITES WILL BE COLLECTED. 4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THE RESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT IN TN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE AN EARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE. 5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: N/A.

ARD PURPOSE: THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT SURVEYS IN EAST TENNESSEE TO DETECT TARGETED HARMFUL AND ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANT PESTS. IN 2023, THESE SURVEYS INCLUDE EXOTIC BARK BEETLE AND FIELD CROP PESTS. EXOTIC PESTS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND OVERALL BIODIVERSITY IN NATURAL AREAS. DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE TO EXOTIC INTRODUCED PESTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR CONTINUATION OF TRADE, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND PROTECTION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES. 2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CONDUCT A TRAPPING SURVEY AT HIGH RISK SITES IN EAST TN TO ASSESS THE PRESENCE OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF EXOTIC BEETLES AND FIELD CROP PESTS. A TOTAL OF 10 EXOTIC PESTS WILL BE TARGETED IN THESE ACTIVITIES. 3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES IMPORTANT TO TENNESSEE AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. THIS DATA WILL HELP FACILITATESAFE TRADE, POSSIBLY LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION AND ERADICATION OF EXOTIC PESTS AND IMPROVE OVERALL PLANT HEALTH. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN MORE STATE RESIDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF EXOTIC PESTS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPREAD INTO UNINFESTED AREAS. 4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THE RESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT IN TN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE AN EARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE. 5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: N/A

1. AWARD PURPOSE: THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS ONE OF THREE FUNDED AS PART OF A COORDINATED STATEWIDE ASIAN DEFOLIATOR SURVEY. EACH AGREEMENT WILL FUND SIX TRAPS PLACED AT 10 HIGH RISK SITES TARGETING 11 EXOTIC MOTH SPECIES. 2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PHEROMONE TRAPS WILL BE PLACED AND MONITORED AT 10 SITES IN EAST TN TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF 11 SPECIES OF ASIAN DEFOLIATORS. CATCH FROM ONE OF THE TRAPS TARGETING 5 IMPORTANT SPECIES (INCLUDING LYMANTRIA DISPAR ASIATICA) WILL BE SENT TO THE PPQ FOREST PEST METHODS LABORATORY FOR MOLECULAR ANALYSIS. 3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ACROSS THE THREE COORDINATED SURVEYS MAKING UP THIS STATEWIDE SURVEY, PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR 11 IMPORTANT ASIAN DEFOLIATORS AT 60 HIGH RISK SITES WILL BE COLLECTED. 4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THE RESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT IN TN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE AN EARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE. 5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: N/A.

PROJECT ABSTRACT 1 USDA NIFA ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH CAPACITY PROGRAM (SECTION 1433) PROJECT ABSTRACT FORM SUMMARY THE PURPOSE OF USDA NIFA ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH CAPACITY PROGRAM FORMULA FUNDING (1433) IS TO PROMOTE ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH AT AVMA ACCREDITED COLLEGES OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONS (NARETPA SECTION 1433C). RECEIVED FUNDS ARE USED TO ADVANCE THE RESEARCH MISSION OF THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND RELATED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, TO DISCOVER NEW KNOWLEDGE, AND TO DISSEMINATE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO VETERINARIANS AND OTHERS TO ADVANCE HUMAN AND ANIMAL WELLBEING. THE COLLEGE PROMOTES A VISION TO BE AN EMPOWERED, DIVERSE ORGANIZATION WITH A COMMITMENT TO PERFORM WELL IN ALL MISSION AREAS, TO GRADUATE HIGHLY TRAINED VETERINARIANS AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTS, TO PROVIDE QUALITY PATIENT AND CLIENT SERVICES, AND TO ADVANCE MEDICAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE. THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE, IS ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES (SACSCOC) TO AWARD BACCALAUREATE, MASTERS, AND DOCTORAL DEGREES THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SERVES THE LAND GRANT MISSION BY ADVANCING ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON ADVANCING THE PROFESSIONAL DVM AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, FURTHERING OUR AGRICULTURAL AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS, DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY PATIENT CARE, AND PROVIDING STRONG OUTREACH TO VETERINARIANS AND SOCIETY. WE FOCUS OUR TEACHING ON DELIVERING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO ASPIRING VETERINARIANS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AS WELL AS PRACTICING VETERINARIANS AND THE PUBLIC. WE DELIVER A STRONG FOUNDATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND BIOMEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING. THE COLLEGE HAS A STRONG BASE OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY IN REHABILITATIVE SCIENCES, PARASITIC AND VECTORBORNE DISEASES, GENOMICS, AND IMMUNOLOGY. THE COLLEGE INVESTS IN PEOPLE TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS. THE COLLEGE PROVIDES VALUABLE OUTREACH TO THE STATE THROUGH ITS AMBULATORY FIELD SERVICES, CONSULTATIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF AG RICULTURE AND STATE VETERINARIAN, AND ITS SUPPORT OF THE STATE DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY. THE COLLEGES OUTREACH PROGRAMS CONNECT WITH MORE THAN 400,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. THE COLLEGES OUTREACH PROGRAMS PARTNER WITH OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN 189 PROGRAMS IN 24 TENNESSEE COUNTIES. THE GREATEST COLLEGE STRENGTH IS THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM; HIGH VALUE IS PLACED ON TEACHING STUDENTS AND MENTORING THEM IN RESEARCH. THE CVM HAS NUMEROUS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS, AND LEADERS IN CLINICAL SPECIALTY FIELDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES EXCELLENT RESEARCH AND QUALITY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES. SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY IS EXCELLENT AND INCLUDES VIDEOMICROSCOPY AND CONFERENCING, COMPUTER SUPPORT, LECTURE CAPTURE, AND ONLINE COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS. THE COLLEGES FACILITIES INCLUDE MULTIPLE SITES ON THE UTIA CAMPUS. THE MAIN CVM BUILDING HOUSES THE MAJORITY OF THE COLLEGES TEACHING, RESEARCH, HOSPITAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAMS. IT IS A 3STORY, 380,874 GSF BUILDING WITH A BASEMENT LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITY. THE VETERINARY MEDICAL CENTER CONSISTS OF 6 UNITS INCLUDING THE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, AVIAN AND EXOTICS HOSPITAL, EQUINE HOSPITAL, FARM ANIMAL HOSPITAL, EQUINE PERFORMANCE AND REHABILITATION CENTER, AND FIELD SERVICES FOR ONFARM SERVICES. IN ADDITION, THE VETERINARY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER IS A 23ACRE CAMPUS ACROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER FROM THE MAIN UTIA CAMPUS. TEACHING AND RESEARCH FACILITIES AT THIS SITE INCLUDE 4 BUILDINGS: FARM ANIMAL TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIT, EQUINE TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND THERIOGENOLOGY UNIT, A SMALL RUMINANT BARN, AND SPACE IN THE JOHNSON RESEARCH AND TEACHING UNIT. THE COLLEGE HOUSES THE WEBSTER C. PENDERGRASS AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE LIBRARY ( THE COLLEGE PROMOTES THE MISSION OF ADVANCING ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH CLINICAL TRAINING (RESIDENTS, INTERNS) AND GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (MS, PHD). TOTAL INTERN AND RESIDENT NUMBERS ALIGN WITH CURRENT RESOURCES AND CVM STRENGTHS IN ADVANCED CLINICAL EDUCATION. RESIDENTS AND INTERNS ENRICH THE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDING PRIMARY STUDENT INTERFACE, MOMENTTOMOMENT TEACHING, AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT. INTERNS AND RESIDENTS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN EDUCATING AND EVALUATING OUR CLINICAL STUDENTS, IN ASSISTING FACULTY IN MANY HANDSON LABORATORIES INCLUDING PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS, SURGERY, AND ANESTHESIOLOGY, AND IN LEADING DISCUSSIONS FOR MANY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING BASIC SCIENCE AND CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE. INTERNS AND RESIDENTS ARE FRONTLINE EDUCATORS AND ESSENTIAL ROLEMODELS FOR MANY STUDENTS; THEY: CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (COE) IN LIVESTOCK DISEASES AND HUMAN HEALTH. THIS COE WAS FOUNDED BY THE TENNESSEE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION IN 1984. FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY STATE ALLOCATION WITH A 50% CVM MATCH. THE CENTER IS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO IMPROVING LIVESTOCK AND HUMAN HEALTH. COE F UNDS PROVIDE SEED GRANTS TO HELP FACULTY DEVELOP PRELIMINARY DATA TO SUPPORT EXTRAMURAL GRANT SUBMISSIONS, OBTAIN NEW RESEARCH EQUIPMENT, UPDATE LABORATORY FACILITIES, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL INCLUDING GRADUATE STUDENTS, POST-DOCS, AND RESEARCH TECHNICIANS. SEED GRANT PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED BY THE COLLEGE RESEARCH COMMITTEE AND FUNDS ARE AWARDED BY THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES BASED ON COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 10-20 SEED GRANTS ARE FUNDED. FACULTY OFFER RESEARCH EXPERIENCES TO UNDERGRADUATE, PROFESSIONAL, AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. DEPENDING ON THE STUDY AND FUNDING, STUDENTS MAY BE PAID OR PARTICIPATE AS UNPAID RESEARCH ASSISTANTS. THE COESPONSORS UTCVM STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL VETERINARY SCHOLARS (NVS) PROGRAM, PROVIDING STIPENDS AND TRAVEL FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-6 VETERINARY STUDENTS ANNUALLY TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH. MORE INFORMATION ON THE CENTER IS AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://VETMED.TENNESSEE.EDU/RESEARCH/CENTER-OF-EXCELLENCE/. UTIA GENOMICS CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE. GENOMIC SCIENCES. THE UTIA GENOMICS CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019. THE GENOMICS CENTER IS COMMITTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE BY DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. CENTER FACULTY COLLABORATE TO ADVANCE ANIMAL HEALTH AND ENGAGE STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE THROUGH GENOMIC SCIENCES. THE GENOMIC CENTER’S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH INCLUDING GENETICS, ANIMAL HEALTH, REPRODUCTION, STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS, DISEASE ANDPEST RESISTANCE, HEAT TOLERANCE, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER SCIENCES. ONE HEALTH INITIATIVE. THE UT ONE HEALTH INITIATIVE (OHI), ESTABLISHED IN 2020, PROMOTES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PLANET. HUMANS, ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED, WITH THE HEALTH OF ONE AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF ALL. THE OHI CONCEPT RECOGNIZES THAT HEALTH ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED COHESIVELY INSTEAD OF INDEPENDENTLY USING A TEAM SCIENCE STRATEGY. THIS CONVERGENCE APPROACH IS ESSENTIAL CONSIDERING TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS AND EMERGING DISEASES AMONG HUMANS, LIVESTOCK, AND WILDLIFE. THE OHI PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE, PROFESSIONAL, GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND K-12 EDUCATORS. VECTOR BORNE DISEASES. DRS. HAMEEDA SULTANA AND GIRISH NEELAKANTA LEAD THIS RESEARCH FOCUS. DR. SULTANA IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR INTERESTED IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL THERAPEUTIC AGENTS OR TARGETS TO TREAT PAN-FLAVIVIRAL INFECTIONS IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS, WHICH INCLUDE MOSQUITO-BORNE WEST NILE VIRUS, ZIKA VIRUS, DENGUE VIRUSES (SEROTYPES 1-4), AND TICK-BORNE LANGAT AND POWASSAN VIRUSES. HER LABORATORY IS FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND SIGNALING CASCADES OCCURRING AT THE INTERFACE OF PATHOGEN-VECTOR-VERTEBRATE HOST INTERACTIONS. THE LABORATORY’S IMMEDIATE GOAL IS IDENTIFYING ARTHROPOD EXOSOMAL PROTEINS THAT FACILITATE FLAVIVIRAL TRANSMISSION AND VECTOR MOLECULES THAT PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES AT THE PATHOGEN-VECTOR-HOST INTERFACE. DR. SULTANA’S RESEARCH IS FUNDED THROUGH AN NIH R01 AWARD. DR. NEELAKANTA IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR. HIS LABORATORY RESEARCHES HUMAN AND ANIMAL TICK-BORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS HUMAN ANAPLASMOSIS, LYME DISEASE, RELAPSING FEVER, AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER. HE AND HIS LABORATORY TEAM USE MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO CHARACTERIZE MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS INVOLVING VECTOR-HOST-PATHOGENS. THE LABORATORY HAS CHARACTERIZED INTERESTING TICK AND BACTERIAL MOLECULES POTENTIALLY VALUABLE FOR VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AGAINST TICK-BORNE DISEASES. THE IMMEDIATE RESEARCH GOAL IS TO TEST VACCINE EFFICACY OF THESE MOLECULES IN ANIMAL MODELS. DR. NEELAKANTA’S RESEARCH IS ALSO FUNDED THROUGH AN NIH R01 AWARD. MERIT AND SCIENTIFIC REVIEW PROCESS USDA NIFA 1433 FORMULA FUNDS ARE AWARDED TO FACULTY THROUGH A RIGOROUS, INTERNAL COMPETITIVE AWARD PROCESS. THE PEER REVIEW PANEL IS MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF THE CVM RESEARCH COMMITTEE. EACH MEMBER CRITICALLY REVIEWS THE GRANT AND ASSIGNS SCORES USING AN ASSESSMENT RUBRIC. THEN, THE REVIEW PANEL DISCUSSES THE MERITS AND CONCERNS FOR EACH GRANT IN COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATION TO THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH, WHO SERVES AS THE PANEL MANAGER, AND ULTIMATELY SELECTS GRANTS TO BE AWARDED. STAKEHOLDER INPUT THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY UTILIZES SEVERAL PROCESSES TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK. THE COLLEGE UTILIZES A VARIETY OF MECHANISMS TO COMMUNICATE WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL; STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING RESEARCH SYMPOSIA AND PUBLICATIONS. THE COLLEGE ENJOYS STRONG SUPPORT FROM ITS CLIENT BASE AND HAS EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY STATE LEGISLATORS, THE TENNESSEE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AND THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU. WE HAVE AN ENGAGED BOARD OF ADVISORS AND ALUMNI COUNCIL. OUR TIES TO TENNESSEE AGRICULTURE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG AND WE ARE BENEFITTED GREATLY BY OUR ACADEMIC TIES WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE. THE COLLEGE USES AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD TO INFORM STAKEHOLDERS AND GAIN FEEDBACK RELATED TO MISSION PRIORITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION. THE EAB IS COMPOSED OF VETERINARIANS, CLIENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE EAB MEETS, IN-PERSON, TWICE A YEAR: SPRING AND FALL. AN EXTENSION VETERINARIAN IS JOINTLY APPOINTED WITH THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND UTIA EXTENSION. THIS POSITION SERVES TO KEEP THE COLLEGE INFORMED OF CURRENT AND EMERGING PROBLEMS IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, COMMUNICATES REGULARLY WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND STATE VETERINARIAN, PROVIDES IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR EXTENSION AGENTS, AND WRITES COMMUNIQUES ON TOPICS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE COLLEGE HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS THAT ARE OFFERED IN-PERSON AND ON-LINE TO COMMUNICATE RESEARCH INFORMATION AND NEW DISCOVERIES. RESEARCH DAY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT ONGOING CVM RESEARCH IN BOTH ON-LINE AND ONSITE FORUM. THIS CONFERENCE-LIKE VENUE INCLUDES ADVANCED SEMINARS ON VETERINARY RESEARCH AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO PUBLIC HEALTH. STUDENTS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH CAN PRESENT THEIR WORK AT RESEARCH DAY, GRADUATE SEMINARS, AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES.