Pilot Projects

该试点项目计划旨在促进整个校园的酒精研究。我们为没有当前或过去研究支持的新研究人员提供资金，并为提出与其正在进行的研究有重大偏离的项目的既定研究人员提供资金。该计划的目标是提供足够的资金，以生成酒精研究项目的试点数据，这些数据可用于支持研究赠款的申请。详细的审查过程包括内部征求建议，参与和适当的中心教师的意见，以及内部和外部审查，以选择最高质量的研究。该试点项目还利用了NC临床和转化研究联盟（NIH临床翻译，科学奖）的资金，该联盟将ARC的资金与优秀的提案相匹配。以前由我们中心资助的试点项目已经为美国国立卫生研究院的研究人员提供了新的资金。这一过程将新人和新想法带入中心，更新其活力和创新，并帮助我们保持在该领域的最前沿。本ARC包括两个试点项目（项目16和17），作为本提案的一部分。这两个项目很好地结合了我们的主题酒精致病。项目16（Ramon Bataller，PI）将测试p90 RSK是否介导酒精性肝炎（AH）的肝损伤和炎症。他的团队将对患者的肝脏样本进行翻译研究，其中p90 RSK表达和激活将被确定并与疾病严重程度相关。接下来，他们将研究在实验性AH小鼠中抑制p90 RSK是否会减轻肝损伤和炎症。项目17（Donald Lysle，PI）将研究interteukin-1的作用|3（IL-1）。他的研究小组将测试这样的假设：反复的酗酒会增加IL-1 β在大脑中的表达，使用小干扰RNA（siRNA）或IL-13受体拮抗剂阻断IL-1 β可以防止酗酒。这些试点项目将为新的研究人员提供资源，以开发对更大的研究赠款成功至关重要的初步发现。这一努力支持我们ARC的长期增长和成功。

The Pilot Project program is designed to promote alcohol research across the UNC campus. We provide funds to new investigators without current or past research support and to established investigators who propose projects that represent a significant departure from their ongoing research. The goal of the program is to provide sufficient funds to generate pilot data on alcohol research projects that can be used to support applications for research grants. A detailed review process includes Internal solicitation for proposals, involvement and advice from appropriate Center faculty, as well as internal and external review to select studies of the highest quality. The pilot program also takes advantage of funds from the NC Clinical and Translational Research Consortium (NIH Clinical Translation, Science Award) that will match funding by the ARC to outstanding proposals. Previous pilot projects funded by our Center grant have led to new NIH funding for UNC researchers. This process brings new people and new ideas into the center, renewing Its vibrance and innovation and helping to keep us on the forefront of the field. This ARC includes two Pilot Projects (Project 16 and 17) as part of this proposal. Both projects integrate nicely with our theme of ALCOHOL PATHOGENESIS. Project 16 (Ramon Bataller, PI) will test whether p90RSK mediates liver injury and inflammation in alcoholic hepatitis (AH). His group will conduct a translational study with liver samples from patients, where p90RSK expression and activation will be determined and correlated with disease severity. Next, they will investigate whether p90RSK inhibition in mice with experimental AH attenuates liver Injury and inflammation. Project 17 (Donald Lysle, PI) will examine the role of interteukin-1|3 (IL-1 (3) In ethanol binge drinking. His group will test the hypotheses that repeated binge-like drinking increases IL-1 (3 expression in brain and that blocking 1L-1(3 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or IL-13 receptor antagonist will protect against binge-like ethanol drinking. These Pilot Projects will provide the resources for new investigators to develop preliminary findings important for success In larger research grants. This effort supports the long term growth and success of our ARC.