Publications & Awards

Research from the Institute for Translational Neuroscience has been the subject of many publications and awards. This page continues a list of these prestigious recognitions. 

Publications

Awards

The faculty who are members of the Institute for Translational Neuroscience are highly respected and celebrated individuals. Below is a brief selection of recent awards these faculty have received.

Congratulations to Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D, William Beaumont Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Director of the Institute for Translational Neuroscience- She was just inducted as a Fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics! Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance pharmacology through their scientific achievements, mentorship, and service.

Congrats to Dr. Erick Messias on being named the August 2022 recipient of the Excellence in Professionalism Award through the Office of Professional Oversight.

• Dr. Messias is the chair of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience and was selected based on a nomination that highlighted his commitment and contributions to the learning environment. The Excellence in Professionalism Award recognizes educators (faculty, fellows, residents, students, nurses, administration, etc.) that exceptionally model the core principles of professionalism as stated below. Thank you, Dr. Messias, for your continued support of our educational mission and service to the School of Medicine!
  • Investment and engagement in learner education
  • Practices civility and an understanding of respect
  • Recognizes & honors the vast diversity within our learning environment
  • Displays patience, empathy and care
  • Is trustworthy and committed to the practice of medicine

2022 William Beaumont, M.D. Chair in Physiology Endowment

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., attended the university-wide investiture ceremony held on March 31, 2022.  She was honored with the William Beaumont, M.D. Chair in Physiology endowment.  

28th Annual Graduate Research Symposium

Rachel Schafer, a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Salvemini’s lab, won second place for her poster presentation. 

The Institute for Translational Neuroscience Research Award, Jan. 2022

• Gina Yosten, Ph.D., was the recipient. Her research was titled “Neuropeptides at the Intersection of Appetite and Stress: Role of CART and GPR160."
• Andrew Butler, Ph.D., was the recipient. His research was titled “Development of GPR19 fusion proteins for analyzing agonist interactions and HTS campaigns.”  
• Jinsong Zhang, Ph.D., was the recipient. His research was titled, “Exploring the role of G-protein pathway suppressor 2 in fetal brain development and neoplastic signals using innovative single-cell transcriptomics and knockout animal models.”

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., Awarded the 2021 Senior Faculty Scholarly Works Award

This award was for her paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, "GPR160 deorphanization reveals critical roles in neuropathic pain in rodents." This award was presented by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the Grant winner and Scholarly Works reception on Friday, May 18, 3-5:30 p.m. in the Sinquefield Stateroom in DuBourg Hall. The annual ceremony celebrates research excellence and recognizes success in publications and grant submissions from the previous year.

F30 National Research Service Award

Monica Goodland, a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Farr’s lab, was awarded an F30 National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This fellowship supports tuition, stipend, and fees for M.D./Ph.D. students, helping pave the road to becoming an independent physician-scientist. 

Sue Farr, Ph.D., Awarded Benter Foundation Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Sue Farr on her award from The Benter Foundation for a grant entitled "Vaccines for the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease."

New Grants Awarded

Dr. Andrew Butler was recently awarded a subcontract for a grant from the NIH titled Neurovascular protection by adropin in acute neural injury from subarachnoid hemorrhage. Adropin is a small peptide discovered by Dr. Butler's laboratory nearly two decades ago. His group has made seminal contributions to understanding the physiological functions of this protein, with recent research linking adropin to brain health during aging. The PI of the NIH grant is Dr. Brian Hoh, James and Brigitte Marino Family Professor and Chair of the Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a form of stroke and involves bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. It is often fatal, and the only treatment options currently available are surgical. The goal of the project is to demonstrate the potential neuroprotective role of adropin in subarachnoid hemorrhage-associated cerebral infarction. The research will help to understand the potential therapeutic value of adropin to reduce brain damage and improve neurological recovery following subarachnoid hemorrhage and could lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Gina Yosten Awarded $1,982,000 Grant by the Helmsley Charitable Trust

Dr. Gina Yosten, an associate professor of pharmacology and physiology, was awarded a $1,982,000 grant by the Helmsley Charitable Trust as part of a type 1 diabetes program initiative to prevent hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can lead to fainting, coma, or death and is the major obstacle to optimal glucose control for patients with type 1 diabetes. In previous studies funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust and others, Dr. Yosten and colleagues determined that in rodents and isolated human tissue that delta cells in the pancreas produce neuronostatin, a hormone previously discovered by Dr. Yosten and her colleague, Dr. Willis Samson. Neuronostatin acts locally within the pancreas to stimulate alpha cells to secrete glucagon. This suggests that neuronostatin could be a useful therapeutic target for the prevention of hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. Dr. Yosten will continue these efforts by determining how type 1 diabetes and the insulin analogs used to treat type 1 diabetes affect the production and function of neuronostatin both in isolated human islets and in human subjects. Dr. Yosten expects that this new project will confirm neuronostatin’s therapeutic value for preventing hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes.

NIH/NCI Awards a Five-Year $2,334,549 RO1: (2022-2027)

NIH/NCI awards a five-year $2,334,549 RO1 (2022-2027) to PIs Drs. Salvemini (Department of Pharmacology and Physiology) and Farr (Department of Internal Medicine). The grant, "Fingolimod and Ozanimod for the treatment and prevention of chemobrain," is the result of a fruitful four-year collaboration between the PIs and the Institute for Translational Neuroscience. The objectives of the research are to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms within the central nervous system whereby chemotherapy (specifically platinum-based drugs and taxanes) engage signaling at the S1PR1 receptor that culminates in the development of cognitive impairment, a major neurotoxicity of widely used chemotherapeutics for which there are no FDA approved drugs. The outcome of the work is anticipated to provide foundational support to repurpose already FDA-approved S1PR1 antagonists to treat and prevent chemo-related cognitive deficits. 

NIH/NINDS Awards Five-Year $2,713,856 RO1 (RO1NS128004)

PIs Drs. Salvemini (Department of Pharmacology and Physiology) and Arnatt (Department of Chemistry) have been awarded a grant, "Uncovering the roles of oxysterols in neuropathic pain," the result of a fruitful five-year collaboration between the PIs and the Institute for Translational Neuroscience. The objectives of the research are to understand the molecular mechanisms engaged by oxysterols in the spinal cord in the development of central sensitization associated with chronic neuropathic pain states and the development of non-opioid-based therapies. Additional members of the team include Drs. John Chrivia and Tim Doyle and Karen Galen (Department of Pharmacology and Physiology).  

1R21HD107596-01 Awarded $757,500

Gina Yosten (Pharm/Phys) has been awarded an R21 "Exploration of the role of CART/GPR160 in metabolism in the setting of Magel2 deficiency: Implications for Prader Willi Syndrome". 06/10/2022 – 06/09/2024, $757,500

Five-Year NIH R01 Grant Supporting the Investigation of Novel Therapeutics

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., was awarded a five-year NIH R01 grant supporting the investigation of novel therapeutics developed in her laboratory and their application in migraine and orofacial pain. Drs. Akerman and Romero Reyes in the Department of Neural and Pain Sciences at UMSOD joined the collaboration.

The Department of Pharmacology Received a New, Five-Year NIHGMS T32 Training Program

The Department of Pharmacology received a new, five-year NIHGMS T32 Training Program in Pharmacological Sciences that provides one year of support for five students per year starting July 1, 2022. Students receive a stipend ($26,353), tuition and fees (up to $12,120), travel ($300), and childcare, if applicable ($2,500). This grant also supports travel to the annual ABRCMS and SACNAS meetings for one PI and a student and funds for an external speaker chosen by the participating students. Drs. John Walker, Gina Yosten, and Terrance Egan serve as MPIs. 

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D. Awarded Department of Defense Grant

Dr. Daniela Salvemini was awarded a grant entitled “Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Subtype 1: A Novel Target in the Treatment of Chronic Migraine” from the Department of Defense. The funding period is July 1, 2021-June 30, 2025 and the funded amount is $1,280,322.  Migraine and post-traumatic headache (PTH) are widely prevalent disabling disorders. They are far more prevalent in military service personnel, as they are a common feature of mild traumatic brain injury, where a migraine predisposition is more likely to produce adverse outcomes.

Despite their high prevalence, there are major gaps in our understanding of their pathobiology. Moreover, our ability to treat the more frequent and chronically disabling forms of migraine and PTH are limited. The objectives of our proposal are to understand the roles of sphingolipids, and in particular S1P, in nociceptive mechanisms involved in the pathobiology of migraine-like headaches and the potential use of S1PR1 antagonists in these conditions.