Inflammatory Biomarkers in Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes: Research and Mentoring

简介（由申请人提供）：Pietro Galassetti，医学博士，加州大学欧文分校儿科和药学系副教授，同时担任临床和转化科学研究所（ICTS，前身为GCRC）代谢和生物营养核心主任。在过去的20年里，他一直参与以患者为导向的研究，目前是2项校外资助（包括NIH RO1）的PI，专注于定义代谢异常状态早期并发症发展的生化机制的项目，如肥胖，代谢综合征，1型（T1DM）和2型糖尿病（T2DM）。他目前的主要具体研究课题是：a)通过对呼出的挥发性有机化合物的综合分析，开发一种用于测量血浆葡萄糖、胰岛素和脂质的无创技术；b)肥胖和代谢综合征儿童运动过程中炎症和氧化应激机制的定义。这些项目完全以患者为导向，本质上是转化的。在未来几年，为这些项目的发展维持和改善足够的研究经费将是一项挑战。有了这个申请，Galassetti博士50%的专业工作被要求得到支持，其中一半，或者他总时间的25%，将致力于完成上述两个研究领域的新颖的探索性实验，旨在促进获得额外的研究资金。Galassetti博士在高影响力期刊上发表了大量关于翻译研究主题的文章（仅在过去5年中发表了35篇同行评议论文，总共78篇）；他是二十多个科学期刊和几个资助机构（NIH， JDRF和其他国家和国际基金会）的审稿人。Galassetti博士的大部分时间用于指导活动，其中包括：A)直接指导参与Galassetti博士研究项目的UCI住院医师、研究员、医学和研究生；B)对试图发展独立研究方向的初级教师进行指导；c)指导与其他pi一起参与临床转化项目的初级研究人员，要求Galassetti博士提供专业知识；d)通过结构化的UCI机制进行指导，如生物199临床研究课程、UCI临床试验课程实习、UCI医学生指导临床研究计划、新生儿学研究员奖学金监督委员会等。他的许多学员根据最近的研究成果共同撰写了摘要和论文，有几位学员在他的指导下获得了地区和国家的研究奖项。因此，所要求的薪金支助的其余25%将专门用于继续和扩大这些辅导活动。总之，Galassetti博士完全致力于以患者为导向的研究事业。该奖项将大大减少他目前繁重的行政和服务职责，并按比例增加用于指导和转化科学研究活动的受保护时间。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pietro Galassetti, MD PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pediatric and Pharmacology of the University of California, Irvine, where he also serves as Director of the Metabolism and Bionutrition Core at the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS, formerly GCRC). He has been involved in Patient Oriented Research for the last 20 years, and currently is PI on 2 extramural grants (including an NIH RO1), focused on projects with the common theme of defining the biochemical mechanisms underlying the early development of complications in dysmetabolic states, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). His current main specific research topics are: a) The development of a non-invasive technique for the measurement of plasma glucose, insulin and lipids through integrated analysis of exhaled volatile organic compounds; b) The definition of inflammatory and oxidative stress mechanisms during exercise in children with obesity and metabolic syndrome. These projects are fully patient-oriented and translational in nature. Maintaining and improving adequate research funding for the evolution of these projects will be challenging in coming years. With this application, support for 50% of Dr. Galassetti's professional effort is requested, of which half, or 25% of his total time, will be devoted to completing novel, exploratory experiments in the 2 research areas outlined above, aimed at facilitating the acquisition of additional research funding. Dr. Galassetti has published extensively on translational research topics in high-impact journals (35 published peer reviewed papers in the last 5 years only, out of a total of 78); he acts as reviewer to over twenty scientific journals, several grant funding agencies (NIH, JDRF, and other national and international foundations). A large share of Dr. Galassetti's time is taken up by mentoring activities, These include: a) direct mentoring of UCI residents, fellows, medical and graduate students who participate in Dr. Galassetti's research projects; b) mentoring of junior faculty who are trying to develop independent research lines; c) mentoring of junior investigators involved in clinical-translational projects with other PIs, requesting Dr. Galassetti's expertise; d) mentoring through structured UCI mechanisms, such as the Bio 199 Clinical Research Course, Internships for the UCI Clinical Trial Courses, the UCI Mentored Medical Student Clinical Research Program, the Neonatology Fellows Scholarship Oversight Committee, etc. Many of his trainees co-authored abstracts and papers based on recent study results, and several have won regional and national research awards while under his mentorship. The remaining 25% of the requested salary support will therefore be devoted to the continuation and expansion of these mentoring activities. In summary, Dr. Galassetti is fully committed to a career in Patient Oriented Research. This award will allow to considerably reduce his current onerous amount of administrative and service duties, and proportionally increase protected time dedicated to mentoring and research activities in translational science. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Pietro Galassetti, MD PhD, is a researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and has been involved in Patient Oriented Research for 20 years. He has 2 funded research projects, with the common theme to define the early development of complications of obesity and diabetes: a) The development of a novel technique to measure glucose, insulin and fat from human breath (i.e. not requiring a blood sample); b) The study of the damage from inflammation and free radicals during exercise in obese children. Both projects are clear examples of patient-oriented research. With this application, 50% salary support is requested for Dr. Galassetti's; of which 25% will be devoted to novel, exploratory experiments that will expand current projects and facilitate acquisition of additional research funding. Dr. Galassetti has published extensively in high-level scientific journals (35 papers in the last 5 years, out of a total of 78). A large share of Dr. Galassetti's time is taken up by mentoring activities, for UCI clinical residents and fellows, post-doctoral fellows, medical and graduate students. The remaining 25% of the requested salary support will be devoted to the continuation and expansion of these mentoring activities. In summary, Dr. Galassetti is fully committed to a career in Patient Oriented Research, and this award will result in reduced administrative duties and more protected time, increasing his current levels of mentoring and research activities.