The faculty of the Department of Medicine is vigorously engaged in diverse research activities.  Their work spans the spectrum from basic molecular and cellular biology through applied physiology to clinical research, including participation and leadership of pivotal clinical trials.  The research program of the department has been exceptionally successful at attracting extramural support. Recent new awards are in excess of 14 million dollars support with an additional 9.8 million dollars pending.  Moreover, annual grant support awarded to the Department of Medicine has increased 9-fold in the past eight years. 

Department of Medicine Research

Grants and Awards FY 2007:

Project Title:  Epidemiology of Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  University of Minnesota

Project Title:  Etiology of Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Mortality
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  University of Alabama at Birmingham

Project Title:  Association of Thrombophilia and Inflammation with Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Renal REGARDS
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  University of Alabama at Birmingham

Project Title:  Socioeconomic Patterning of Inflammation and Hemostasis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  University of Michigan

Project Title:  Exceptional Aging: 12 Year Trajectories to Function
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  University of Pittsburgh

Project Title:  E Histolytica Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Host Cells
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Christopher Huston
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Gamma Delta T Cells and Cryptosporidiosis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Fas Regulates T Cell Development/Function in LPR Mice
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Ralph C. Budd
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Immunology/Infectious Diseases
PI/Fellow: Dr. Ralph C. Budd
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Molecular Mechanisms of Th1/Th2 Development
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Ralph C. Budd
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Regulation of p53 and Cell Cycle Checkpoint by p38 MAP Kinase in Early Thymocyte Development
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mercedes Rincon
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Autoimmune Disease and Neonatal Tolerance
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Cory Teuscher
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Genetic Basis for Gender Differences in EAE Susceptibility
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Cory Teuscher
Sponsor:  Drexel University

Project Title:  Genetics of Susceptibility to Anthrax Toxin In Vivo
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Cory Teuscher
Sponsor:  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Molecular Genetics of Lyme Arthritis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Cory Teuscher
Sponsor:  University of Utah

Project Title:  ATP - Sensitive K Channel in Renal Proximal Tubule
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Alan S. Segal/Dr. Tobin Hoppes
Sponsor:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Mechanics of Acute Lung Injury
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Jason Bates
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Assessment of Lung Function in Mice
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Jason Bates
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  ALA-Asthma Clinical Research Center
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Charles G. Irvin
Sponsor:  American Lung Association

Project Title:  Multidisciplinary Training in Lung Immunology
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Charles G. Irvin
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH, DHHS

Project Title:  Asthma Exacerbations:  Physiology, Upper Airway and Fibrin
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Charles G. Irvin
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Translational Research in Lung Biology & Disease
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Charles G. Irvin
Sponsor:  National Center for Research Resources/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Charles G. Irvin
Sponsor:  National Center for Research Resources/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Reciprocal Regulation of SDF-1 Between Marrow and Lung During Acute Lung Injury
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Benjamin Suratt
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Diabetes Therapy to Improve BMI and Lung Function in CF
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Laurie Whittaker
Sponsor:  University of Minnesota

Project Title:  Improving Functioning in Peripheral Arterial Disease
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Philip Ades
Sponsor:  Northwestern University

Project Title:  Role of Titin in Heart Function and Disease
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Martin M. LeWinter
Sponsor:  Washington State University

Project Title:  Post-Doctoral Cardiovascular Research Training Program
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Martin M. LeWinter
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Effect of Ovarian Supression on Substrate Metabolism
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Michael J. Toth
Sponsor:  National Institute on Aging/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Skeletal Muscle Contractile Dysfunction in Heart Failure
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Michael J. Toth
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Myofibrillar Remodeling in Human Valvular Heart Disease
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Peter Van Buren
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Chromium and Insulin Action
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Thomas Jetton
Sponsor:  Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University

Project Title:  Mechanisms of Beta Cell Mass Expansion
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Thomas Jetton
Sponsor:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  B-Cell Compensation in Partial Pancreatectomy Rats
PI/Fellow:  Dr. John Leahy
Sponsor:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Mechanisms of Beta Cell Compensation and Failure
PI/Fellow:  Dr. John Leahy
Sponsor:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Barriers to Optimum Diabetes Outcomes
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Benjamin Littenberg
Sponsor:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  A Curriculum for Clinical Research Training in Vermont
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Benjamin Littenberg
Sponsor:  National Center for Research Resources/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Proposal for the Vermont Center for Public Health Medicine Education at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Jan K Carney
Sponsor:  Association of American Medical Colleges

Project Title:  Program in Wise Prescribing
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Richard G. Pinckney
Sponsor:  Oregon Department of Justice

Project Title:  Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow with First Pass CT Perfusion Imaging
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Timothy F. Christian
Sponsor:  Nuclear Cardiology Foundation

Project Title:  New England, New York and Quebec Regional Clinical Center
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Martin M. LeWinter
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Novel Radiofrequency Catheter Tip Designs in Canine Thigh Muscle Preparation:  Evaluation of BW 8mm Tip RF Catheter
PI/Fellow: Dr. Daniel L. Lustgarten
Sponsor:  Biosense Webster, Inc.

Project Title:  Role of Diastolic Tone in Diastolic Dysfunction
PIFellow:  Dr. Markus F. Meyer
Sponsor:  American Heart Associate (Northeast Affiliate)

Project Title:  Linking Relevant Biomarkers with Beta Cell Mass Compensation During Insulin Resistance
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Thomas L. Jetton
Sponsor:  Lilly Research Laboratories

Project Title:  Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Beta-Cell Mass Compensation During Insulin Resistance
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Thomas L. Jetton
Sponsor:  American Diabetes Association, Inc.

Project Title:  Outpatient Prescription Errors
PI/Fellow: Dr. Amanda G. Kennedy
Sponsor:  Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality/DHHS

Project Title:  Age-Related Changes in Glutathione Synthesis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Naomi Fukagawa
Sponsor:  National Institute on Aging/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Vermont Immunobiology/Infectious Diseases Center
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Ralph C. Budd
Sponsor:  National Center for Research Resources/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Molecular Mechanism of Entamoeba Histolytica Phagocytosis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Christopher Huston
Sponsor:  American Society for Clinical Investigation

Project Title:  Susceptivility and Resistance in Loci in EAE
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Cory Teuscher
Sponsor:  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Campylobacter Jejuni Challenge Model Development:  Dose-Ranging Study
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick
Sponsor:  Ace BioSciences A/S

Project Title:  Phase II, Randomized Multicenter Evaluation of Different rPA102 Vaccine Foundations
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick
Sponsor:  VaxGen, Inc.

Project Title:  Campylobacter Jejuni CHallenge Model Development: Dose Ranging Study
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick
Sponsor:  Clinical Research Management, Inc.

Project Title:  Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Albuterol-Induced 11B-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11B-HSD1) Activity in Airway Epithelial Cells
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Matthew Poynter
Sponsor: Sepracor, Inc.

Project Title:  Use of CF Cord Blood Stem Cells for CF Lung Disease
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Daniel J. Weiss
Sponsor:  Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Project Title:  Mechanisms of Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Remodeling of Aged Emphysematous Lungs
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Daniel J. Weiss
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Development of Lung Epithelium from Cord Blood Stem Cells
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Daniel J. Weiss
Sponsor:  Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Project Title:  Clinical Research Facilitation RFA
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Laurie Wittaker
Sponsor:  Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc.

Project Title:  Regulation of Cell Proliferation
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Robert J. Kelm
Sponsor:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS

Project Title:  Serum Sex Hormone Levels and Subclinical Atherosclerosis
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Mary Cushman
Sponsor:  Northwestern University

Project Title:  Comparison of Stromal Gene Expression Profiles in Cancer and Non-Cancerous Breast Tissue
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Hyman Muss
Sponsor:  Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Project Title:  A Pilot Study of the Effect of Intravenous Iron in Addition to Erythropoietin for the Anemia of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
PI/Fellow:  Dr. George Philips
Sponsor:  Watson Laboratories, Inc.

Project Title:  Telephone-based Genetic Counseling:  An Equivalence Trial
PI/Fellow:  Dr. Marie Wood
Sponsor:  Georgetown University