Pilot Grants

Pilot Projects

A Pilot Project Program has been established by the NIH to facilitate continued growth of the core group of scientists and projects within the NCCAM and ODS Botanical Research Centers. For The Center for Botanical Lipids, the Pilot Project grants are solicited from within the Wake Forest University System and must be relevant to the Center theme and research goals (Dietary Botanical Lipid Supplements). Projects are encouraged to utilize the collaborative strengths of the four research programs and the lipid analytical core laboratory within the center. The primary purpose of this support is to attract promising investigators to the centers and provide an opportunity for them to generate sufficient preliminary data to enhance the submission of new applications for peer-reviewed research.

The first cycle of applications has been solicited, reviewed by the internal Pilot Grant Review Committee and approved by the External Advisory Committee of the Center for Botanical Lipids, with the approval of ODS and NCCAM. Eleven excellent research projects were submitted and reviewed, and two have been selected for funding for this first cycle of awards.

2006-2007

Charles Morrow, Ph.D. - Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry. Role of lipid composition on MRP1 function and response of cells to isothiocyanates chemopreventive agents.

Steve Messier, Ph.D. - Wake Forest University, Department of Health and Exercise Science. Fatty acids, Arthritis, and Inflammation in the Elderly (FAME).

2007-2008

Kylie Kavanagh, D.V.M. - Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Pathology. Maternal consumption of natural botanical lipids are beneficial in in utero and neonatal programming of adult obesity and insulin resistance as compared to lipids in current western diets.

Qing Yang, M.D., Ph.D. - Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology. Omega-3 PUFA and Necrotizing Enterocolitis.