Third quarter grants and awards surpass $42 million

Published on Monday, July 1, 2024

By: Danny Barrett Jr., dlbarrett@umc.edu

Faculty and staff at the University of Mississippi Medical Center garnered 121 new, continuing, transferred and/or revised grants and awards from January through March 2024, totaling more than $42.4 million.

The following faculty and staff received the largest competitive funding awards for the quarter:

Dr. April Carson, director of the Jackson Heart Study, received the largest single award, $4.4 million, from the National Institutes of Health for the Jackson Heart Study Field Center – Task Area B.2. She also received a $1.8 million award from NIH for the Jackson Heart Study Coordinating Center – Task Area B.2.

Dr. Saurabh Chandra, chief telehealth officer, received a $4.2 million award from the Health Resources and Services Administration for the Telehealth Center of Excellence.

Dr. Joey Granger, professor of physiology and biophysics, received $3.9 million from NIH for the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research. He also received a $267,676 award from the federal agency for the MCCTR/UMMC Year 4 N3C Grant Initiative.

Dr. Loretta Jackson-Williams, vice dean of the School of Medicine, received a $3.9 million award from the HRSA for the Value-Based Medical Student Education Training Program. She also received a $1.75 million award from the federal agency for the project “Improved Primary Care for the Rural Community Through Medical Education.”

Dr. Debbie Konkle-Parker, professor in the School of Nursing, received a $1.2 million award from the NIH for the project “UAB-MISS MAC/WIHS Combined Cohort Study.” She also received a $25,973 award from NIH for the project “Stigma and the Non-Communicable Disease Systemic in Aging HIV Positive and HIV Negative MSM.”

Dr. Scott Benton, medical director of the Children’s Safe Center, received a $1.03 million award from the Department of Justice via the Victims of Crime Act, VOCA.

Dr. Thomas Mosley, Robbie and Dudley Hughes Distinguished MIND Center Chair, received a $907,000 award from NIH for the ARIC Study – Field Center. He also received a $588,815 award from the federal agency for the project “Long-term Effects of Hearing Intervention on Brain Health in the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) Randomized Study.”

Dr. Joshua Mann, chair of preventive medicine, received a $785,981 award from HRSA for the project “Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce.”

Dr. Lei Zhang, associate dean for research and scholarship in the School of Nursing, received a $694,957 award from the Department of Health and Human Services for the project “SUD and IPV Among Mississippi’s Moms: Initiative to Prevent and Treat (SIMM Initiative).”

Dr. Matthew Morris, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior, received a $664,143 award from NIH for the project “Mechanisms of Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain in Non-Hispanic Black and White Injury Patients.”

Dr. Bradley Walters, associate professor of otolaryngology, received a $640,351 award from NIH for the project “The Role of Pou4f43 in Age-related Vestibular Dysfunction.”

Dr. Licy Yanes, associate professor of pharmacology, received a $630,509 award from NIH for the project “Role of Obesity in Blood Pressure Regulation and Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.”

Dr. Kevin Freeman, professor of psychiatry, received a $548,214 award from NIH for the project “Deterrents for Prescription Opioid Abuse.”

Dr. Thomas Dobbs, dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health, received a $500,000 award from HHS for the project “Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure (ESSHCI).”

Dr. Ervin Fox, professor of cardiology, received a $490,946 award from NIH for the project “RURAL: Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal Cohort Study.”

Dr. Pradeep Vaitla, medical director of the kidney and pancreas transplant programs, received a $490,386 award from NIH for the project “Health System Outreach to Eliminate Disparities in Living Kidney Transplants.”

Dr. James Rowlett, professor of psychiatry, received a $464,186 award from NIH for the project “Tolerance and Physical Dependence after Chronic Benzodiazepine Treatment.”  

Dr. Dustin Sarver, associate professor of psychiatry, received a $455,586 award from HRSA for the project “MAGNOLIA: Expanding Child and Family Integrated Behavioral Healthcare in Mississippi.” He also received a $300,000 award from United HealthCare for the project “CHAMP for Moms.”

Dr. Babbette LaMarca, professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology, received a $450,236 award from NIH for the project “Southern All of Us Network.”

Dr. Denise Cornelius, vice chair and associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, received a $387,500 award from NIH for the project “Hypertension, Inflammation and Vascular Function.” She also received a $39,785 award from the federal agency for the project “The Role of IL-33 Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia.”

Dr. Jan Michael Williams, professor of pharmacology and toxicology, won a $387,500 award from NIH for the project “Adducin, Actin Cytoskeleton and Cognitive Impairments.”

Dr. Jian-Xiong Chen, professor of pharmacology and toxicology, won a $387,500 award from NIH for the project “Endothelial PHD2 in Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling.”

Dr. Joshua Speed, associate professor of physiology and biophysics, won a $366,885 award from NIH for the project “Endothelin-1 Obesity and Insulin Resistance.”

Dr. Jason Griggs, associate dean for research in the School of Dentistry, won a $362,533 award from NIH for the project “Design Optimization of Reduced-Diameter Implants in Simulated and Cadaver Bone.” He also received a $150,000 award from HRSA for the project “Dental Faculty Loan Repayment.”

Dr. Yann Gibert, associate professor of cellular and molecular biology, won a $357,771 award from NIH for the project “Mechanisms Responsible for Tooth Morphogenesis in Vertebrates.”