UC awards $425K to study, combat COVID-1

Award is pilot funding for reserchers working around the clock to explore new treatments and clinical trials testing new therapies for COVID-19

NEWS BRIEF: Katie Pence, Assistant Director Media Relations (Edited for Loveland Beacon by Chuck Gibson) 

CINCINNATI, OH (April 18, 2020) – The University of Cincinnati and its College of Medicine Office of Research recently conducted a rapid review and distribution of $425,000 in novel pilot grants to researchers who will focus on fighting COVID-19. 

The Special Coronavirus (COVID-19) Research Pilot Grant Program was established to quickly support the development of innovative studies to contribute to knowledge of the virus’ genetic makeup, progression and how it affects various populations. Researchers applied for the grant and grants were awarded within a two week time period.

“The endowed research projects also focus on impacting treatment or diagnosis, management of the infection and its prevention,” says Dr. Brett Kissela, the Albert Barnes Voorheis chair and professor of the UC Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine and senior associate dean for clinical research at the UC College of Medicine.

These 11 projects range in focus from establishing a standard method to test homemade masks to evaluating new treatments for hospitalized patients with the coronavirus to finding a new system to screen candidate anti-COVID agents in cell culture. Additionally, researchers will look at new molecular drug targets for the virus, a web-based accumulation of COVID-19 research information and will investigate the effects of the infection on the heart, respiratory system and the liver.