VCU Quest Fund supports five School of Medicine research projects
With a focus on collaboration, the VCU Quest Fund prioritizes projects with potential for translation.
With topics ranging from cancer therapy to opioid withdrawal, five research projects led by School of Medicine faculty have received grants from this year’s VCU Quest Fund.
Now in its 11th year and administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), the VCU Quest Fund supports multidisciplinary research with high potential for translation to practice or market. Since its founding, it has funded more than 100 new, emerging and continuing projects led by university researchers with investments surpassing $3 million.
“The VCU Quest Fund mechanism has transformed to one of the OVPRI’s largest internal funding opportunities, with 10 years of investments and projects funded,” said P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. “The impact of these projects has the potential to truly save millions of lives and benefit our society for future generations.”
This year’s School of Medicine recipients:
Tiffany Kimbrough, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
Courtney Holmes, Ph.D., College of Health Professions
“Project Thrive: A Needs Assessment of Families in the Complex Care Clinic”
William Song, Ph.D., Department of Radiation Oncology
“Enhancing Precision and Safety in Brachytherapy for Cancer Treatment: In-Vivo Dosimetry Using Novel Scintillation Detectors”
Sarah Braun, Ph.D., Department of Neurology
“C-SMART for Patients with Primary Brain Tumors: A Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot of a Novel Neuropsychological Intervention”
Sidney Negus, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Helena Fetter Filippini, Ph.D., School of Dentistry
“Development and Validation of a Model of Dental Pain-Induced Behavioral Depression in Mice”
Hamid Akbarali, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Paul Whiteaker, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
“Role of Lynx1 Prototoxin in Opioid Withdrawal”
Send us your stories!
The School of Medicine communications team is always looking to highlight student success, faculty achievement, cutting-edge research and innovative initiatives around the MCV Campus. If you have an idea for a story, please submit your pitch to laura.ingles@vcuhealth.org.
