Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Review
“Role of SIRT3 in melanoma development and progression”
The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that SIRT3 plays a critical role in melanoma progression via modulating p53 signaling, Ku70-Bax interaction and/or cellular metabolic homeostasis.
NIH/NCI
“Role of SIRT1 in melanocyte biology and melanocyte transformation”
The goal of this project is to define the involvement and therapeutic relevance of class III histone deacetylase SIRT1 in melanoma development and progression.
NIH/NIAMS
“Role of Polo-like Kinase-1 in Melanocytic Transformation”
These studies will contribute to our understanding of the role of Plk1 and its interaction with B-Raf in melanocytic cells. The outcome of this study is expected to enhance our understanding of mechanism of melanocytic transformation via dissecting interaction between Plk1 and B-Raf. This knowledge will be useful in designing novel strategies against hyperproliferative melanocytic disorders, including melanomagenesis.
UWSDRC Pilot Program/ICTR
“Development of a novel synthetic model to study skin polarity”
The overall goal of this project is to develop an in vitro synthetic model of planar cell polarity (PCP) and use this model to dissect the mechanisms that regulate skin polarity.
B. Jack Longley (lab, profile)
Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Review
“Epigenetic Control of Melanoma by MAGE Transcription Factors”
The objective of this research is to understand the function and exploit the abnormal expression of MAGE proteins, a group of transcription factors that are aberrantly expressed in most melanomas but are not expressed in normal somatic cells, making them nearly tumor specific targets. These transcription factors contribute to the development of melanoma and understanding their expression and functions will allow the development of new ways to treat and prevent melanoma, thus positively affecting the health of Veterans.
Actelion Pharmaceuticals
“Targeting the slow-cycling subpopulation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma”
The proposed experiments will identify molecular markers for the slow-cycling subpopulation in CTCL allowing for for rapid identification of a subset of neoplastic T-cells.
Department of Veteran Affairs Merit Review
“Role of Notch Signaling in Melanoma Transdifferentiation and Tumor Progression”
The objective of this research is to better understand and exploit an intrinsic feature of melanoma that allows conversion of the rapidly dividing tumor cells into non-dividing ‘brain cell-like’ cells as potential new treatment for melanoma.
Department of Defense
“A Model for Understanding the Genetic Basis for Disparity in Prostate Cancer Risk”
The research proposed here is expected to identify mechanisms by which normal prostate cells become cancerous and therefore it can be considered basic at this time for immediate clinical applicability.
Chandra K. Singh (profile)
UWSDRC Pilot Program/ICTR
“Dietary Grape in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis.”
In this application, we propose to test the hypothesis that grape antioxidants, in its natural combination (grape powder), will inhibit development and progression of atopic dermatitis in NC/NgaTnd mice.
NIH/NIAMS
“Skin Disease Research Center at University of Wisconsin”
The major goal of the Skin Disease Research Center at the University of Wisconsin (UW SDRC) is to make our funded research program more effective by bringing new investigators into skin disease and cutaneous biology research, both established investigators new to the field, as well as new basic scientists and physician scientists who wish to pursue research in these areas.
Spatz Foundation
“Small Molecule Screen for c-CBL Blockade and FAS-Ligand Up-Regulation in CTCL”
The main goal of this proposal is to screen and identify small molecules that can increase FAS-ligand levels and are suitable for clinical use.
Department of Veteran Affairs Merit Review
“FAS Pathway Abnormalities in MF/SS”
This study explores the epigenetic regulation of FAS and FAS-ligand in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome, specifically the role of DNA methylation inhibitors and DNA methyltransferases.
Dennis Swatek CTCL Fund
This funding supports pilot projects in the field of CTCL research, in hopes of finding better treatments.
UW-SMPH Research Grant
“Cutaneous Oncology Research”
The major goals of this funding are to support basic and translational research on the pathogenesis of cutaneous neoplasms.