Plan for U-M cystic fibrosis research center revealed at open house; RNA therapeutics could be a potential theme
On Monday, October 28, an open house event was held at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex to introduce the new Cystic Fibrosis Research Center at U-M (press release here), which was recently funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) via a $500K Program Development Award.
Alexandra Piotrowski-Daspit, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the grant. She is collaborating with co-PI Michelle Hastings, Ph.D., Director of RNA Therapeutics at the Center for RNA Biomedicine.
The leadership team also includes physician-scientists at the U-M adult and pediatric CF clinics Lindsay Caverly, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Medicine, and John LiPuma, M.D., James L. Wilson Research Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics.
This new award includes funds for developing research cores and pilot experiments to bring new investigators into cystic fibrosis research. Piotrowski-Daspit invited key U-M cystic fibrosis researchers and clinicians to share with them the vision for this new initiative as well as gather their thoughts and feedback.
Fred Huetwell Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, and affiliate faculty member of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, adds valuable insight into the research center project’s platform, goals, and mission.
There are approximately 40,000 children and adults living with cystic fibrosis in the United States, and though there are treatment options for many, others have few or none. The team hopes that establishing a dedicated CF Research Center at U-M would accelerate the discovery and design of RNA therapeutics and other medications to help those living with cystic fibrosis.
Director of Preclinical Imaging & Computational Analysis, UM Rogel Cancer Center
Professor, Radiology
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Piotrowski-Daspit, Hastings, and the team were thrilled at the event’s turnout and look forward to bringing the ideas shared in the discussion back to the planning table as they lay out the roadmap over the next 18 months.
