Ongoing Research at UAB (6-28-06)
Selected Research Program and Center grants (P grants)

Research Program Projects (P01 mechanism)
The NIH funds Program Project Grants for the support of a broadly based, multidisciplinary, often long-term research program which has a specific major objective or a basic theme. A program project is directed toward a range of problems having a central research focus, in contrast to the usually narrower thrust of the traditional research project. These scientifically meritorious projects should demonstrate an essential element of unity and interdependence, i.e., a system of research activities and projects directed toward a well-defined research program goal. Currently, UAB has nine P01 awards.

1. Immunity to Bacillus anthracis: Spore-Host Interactions; John Kearney, PhD
2. Program Project in the Genetics of SLE; Robert Kimberly, MD
3. Familial IgA Nephropathy: Genetic and Metabolic Studies; Jiri Mestecky, MD
4. Innate and Adaptive Microbial Immunity in IBD; Charles Elson, MD
5. Mechanism of Species Dependent Environmental Lung Injury; Edward Postlethwait, PhD
6. Amphipathic Motifs, Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis; Jere Segrest, MD
7. Mechanisms and Therapy of Ischemic Sudden Cardiac Arrest; Raymond Ideker, MD
8. Mechanisms of Alcohol and Polyphenol Cardioprotection; Victor Darley-Usmar, PhD
9. Mutations and biochemistry of GFAP in Alexander Disease; Michael Brenner, PhD

Exploratory Grants (P20 mechanism)
The NIH funds exploratory grants for new programs, expansion, or modification of existing resources, and feasibility studies to explore various approaches to the development of interdisciplinary programs that offer potential solutions to problems of special significance to the mission of the NIH. These exploratory studies may lead to specialized or comprehensive centers. The SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer is a current P20 award.

Center Core Grants (P30 mechanism)
The NIH funds Center Core grants to support shared resources and facilities for categorical research by a number of investigators from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint research effort or from the same discipline who focus on a common research problem. These competitive awards foster high-quality research, innovation, and multidisciplinary communication between basic scientists and clinical investigators. Currently, UAB has 11 P30 awards.

1. Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility; Karlene Ball, PhD
2. Center for AIDS Research; Michael Saag, MD
3. UAB Core Center for Basic Skeletal Research; Jay M. McDonald, MD
4. Rheumatic Diseases Core Center; Robert P. Kimberly, MD
5. Skin Disease Research Core Center; Craig A. Elmets, MD
6. Comprehensive Cancer Center Core Support; Peter Emanuel, MD
7. UAB Clinical Nutrition Research Unit; David Allison, PhD
8. Vision Science Research Center; Kent Keyser, PhD
9. UAB Mental Retardation Research Center; Alan Percy, MD
10. UAB Recessive PKD Research and Translational Center; Lisa Guay-Woodford, MD
11. UAB Neuroscience Core Center; John Hablitz, PhD

Specialized Center (P50 mechanism)
Specialized Center grants are used to support any part of the full range of research and development from the very basic to clinical. The spectrum of activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. These grants differ from program project grants in that they are usually developed in response to an announcement of the programmatic needs of an Institute or Division and subsequently receive continuous attention from its staff. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes (such as the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Research Center; Daniel Marson, PhD, PI). SCOR, SCCOR, and SPORE grants (described below) are typically funded with this mechanism.

SCOR Grants
Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR) programs are initiated by select institutes of the NIH to encourage research to translate basic science findings to the clinic in high priority areas. The SCOR concept envisions a research effort comprising both basic and clinical research projects focused on diseases and clinical problems relevant to the Institute's mission. UAB's Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Center, headed by Eric J. Sorscher MD, has received a P50 SCOR "Mechanistic Studies of CF Pathogenesis and CL- S" (Sorscher, PI). Funded by the NIDDK, the 5-year competitive grant continuation will continue to investigate the complex biomolecular processes of cystic fibrosis.

SCCOR Grants
The NHLBI changed its Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR) program into a new program called the Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) program. The new SCCOR program still requires both basic and clinical scientists working together on a unified theme, but much more emphasis is placed on clinical research. The changes reflect the desire of the Institute to accelerate translating of basic research advances to clinical application. The Center for Heart Failure Research, led by Louis J. Dell'Italia, MD, has received a P50 SCCOR "SCCOR in Cardiac Dysfunction and Disease" (Dell'Italia, PI). Its mission is to identify common and unique pathogenic mechanisms for chronic heart failure and to employ novel therapeutic strategies in patients in order to design targeted interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to heart failure.

SPORE Grants
UAB's four multimillion-dollar SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence) grants place it in an elite group. With a goal of reducing cancer mortality and improving outcomes, the NCI awards the highly competitive SPORE grants to institutions with proven records of multidisciplinary, disease-specific translational research.

1. Ovarian Cancer SPORE; Edward Partridge, MD
2. Breast Cancer SPORE; Kirby Bland, MD, PI
3. Brain Tumor SPORE; G. Yancey Gillespie, MD, PhD
4. Pancreatic Cancer SPORE; Selwyn Vickers, MD

Comprehensive Center (P60 mechanism)
The purpose of the Comprehensive Center grant is to support a multipurpose unit designed to bring together into a common focus divergent but related facilities within a given community. It may include specialized centers, program projects and projects as integral components. Regardless of the facilities available to a program, it usually includes the following objectives: to foster biomedical research and development at both the fundamental and clinical levels; to initiate and expand community education, screening, and counseling programs; and to educate medical and allied health professionals concerning the problems of diagnosis and treatment of a specific disease.

1. Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center; Robert P. Kimberly, MD
2. Regional Deep South Project Export Center (RESPECT); Selwyn Vickers, MD

Sources: NIH Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) and
UAB Extramural Support Information System (ESIS)
Date of Information Retrieval: June 28, 2006