Congressman Cohen Announces $2.4 Million in NIH Research Grants to St. Jude

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced four grants totaling $2,436,508 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

One, for $865,360, is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for allergy immunology and transplantation research under the direction of Dr. Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti. This project aims to understand how a critical protein regulator of immunity and inflammation drives hemolysis – the premature destruction of red blood cells – which may help develop new therapeutics for this disease. 

A second, for $816,511, is from the National Human Genome Research Institute, for work deciphering the underlying structure of the glucocorticoid gene regulatory network, under the direction of Drs. Daniel Savic and Yong Cheng. The project aims to understand the multifactorial biochemical and genetic networks underlying glucocorticoids, which are a type of steroid, and how different portions of the genetic code contribute to both healthy and disease-associated genetic variation. 

A third, for $523,387, is from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, for work on research into synaptic vesicular transporters, under the direction of Dr. Chia-Hsueh Lee. The synapses are the space between neurons, and synaptic vesicles can contain neurotransmitters – chemicals in the brain that help neurons communicate with one another. Dr. Lee is studying how a certain types of genetic variations of a critical protein involved in the release of these vesicles, can contribute to epilepsy and cognitive impairment. Such research will help develop new therapeutics for these diseases. 

And the fourth, for $231,250, also from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is for clinical research related to neurological disorders under the direction of Dr. Heather C. Mefford. Dr. Mefford is studying how the mechanisms of how certain disease-associated genetic variants of a gene in the brain are implicated in certain types of movement disorders, epilepsy and developmental delays. Dr. Mefford’s team will also seek to investigate potential targeted therapeutic approaches for this target.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I am always pleased to see substantial investments in the work done at our premier children’s research hospital. I congratulate Drs. Kanneganti, Savic, Cheng, Lee, and Mefford for securing these research funds and commend St. Jude for encouraging and supporting this important work.”

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