Projects Selected for Spring 2023 Seed Funding Grant
Two faculty teams from Touro University California were awarded Seed Funding Grants from Touro University System for their research projects this year.
The Seed Funding Grant program within the Touro University System awards up to $50,000, and is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, colleges, and campuses, focusing on the biomedical and health sciences.
Its primary objective is to support the initiation of innovative research projects with a strong likelihood of obtaining external funding in the future, encouraging the development of novel ideas and initiatives. The program’s emphasis is on nurturing new research directions rather than providing bridge support for existing projects, thereby stimulating impactful research within the institution's academic community.
Interaction between hERG and beta-catenin in Activity Dependent Modulation of Neuronal Morphology
A major paradigm in neurobiology is that electrical activity strongly impacts structural and functional development of neuronal circuits. This project will determine how increasing the membrane localization of an ion channel by linking it to a cell adhesion molecule impacts morphology and electrical activity of a developing neuron. This will define a novel cellular mechanism for the development of neuronal circuits that may be both conserved and diversified across different neuronal circuits and species. With this seed grant, this project will also expand involvement of students from local high schools, Napa Valley Community College and TU-CA MSMHS program, many of whom are from underrepresented backgrounds, in course-based and summer research internships in our laboratories.
Tamira Elul, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Touro University California/College of Osteopathic Medicine/ Department of Basic Sciences
Vanishree Rajagopalan, Ph.D., M. Pharm. Associate Professor, Touro University California/College of Pharmacy, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Alan Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Program Director, Touro University California/College of Osteopathic Medicine/ Department of Basic Sciences
Identifying the Unmet Psychosocial Needs of Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
The first step in self-management of diabetes involves patients developing a good understanding of the condition, along with the medications and lifestyle modifications needed to manage this chronic condition. To accomplish this goal, healthcare professionals are at the forefront of educating patients on diabetes self-management, which includes pathophysiology, treatment strategies, glucose monitoring, potential complications resulting from suboptimally managed diabetes, and lifestyle modifications. This proposed study seeks to understand the experiences and journeys of those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using semi-structured interviews – collecting qualitative data -- to identify unmet psychosocial needs. The study results will serve as the building blocks for developing a system within the primary care setting to help address the needs and concerns of these patients, empower them, and increase their self-efficacy in managing and living with T2D.
Clipper Young, Pharm.D., M.Ph., Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacist Touro University California/College of Osteopathic Medicine/ Department of Primary Care
Elizabeth Unni, Ph.D., M. Ph., Associate Professor, Chair Touro College of Pharmacy/Department of Social, Behavioral, and Administrative Sciences