Minority Biomedical Research Support at NCCU

North Carolina Central University, Durham NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad long-term objective of the NCCU Support for Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) program is to enhance and expand the overall biomedical research capability at North Carolina Central University. Our targeted outcome is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who conduct biomedical research. NCCU's SCORE has two program goals--1) increased research productivity of PIs and 2) increased research interest and participation in biomedical research by non-MBRS departmental faculty members. Measurable objectives for these goals are 1) to increase the number of faculty publications in peer-reviewed journals 2) to increase the numbers and quality of collaborations for faculty investigators 3) to increase the number of faculty presentations at national scientific meetings; and 4) to increase the number of non-MBRS faculty members seeking and winning external support through MBRS and other funding sources. [unreadable] [unreadable] This application is a supplemental application that seeks support to add one of three new subprojects to the existing parent grant. The NCCU subprojects represent faculties in departments of Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and the Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute. In this application, Dr. Derek C. Norford requests support to evaluate the nitric oxide (NO) signal transduction stimulated by cannabinoid drugs in neuronal and glial cells. The long-term objectives of his studies are to characterize the biological effects of cannabinoid-stimulated NO production of these cells. The specific aims of his studies are 1) To determine regulation of nitric oxide syntases (NOS) by cannabinoids, and 2) To determine the effects of cannabinoid activation of NO production on cGMP production, and protein nitrosylation and nitration in mouse N18TG2 neuroblastoma and rat C6 glioma cells lines. Future studies will analyze the role of cannabinoid-included NO production on cytoskeletal reorganization in neuronal and glial cells. This subproject fits well within the scope of NCCU's biomedical sciences program, and will contribute significantly to its overall research capacity. [unreadable] [unreadable]