Past Grant Recipients
HOPE Research Grants Past Recipients
2011 HOPE Grant Recipients
Drs. Friedman and Spergel’s project involves the measurement of microRNAs (miRNA) in patients’ serum obtained via blood sample. miRNAs are short ribonucleic acid molecules that are important in regulating gene transcription and translation. Dr. Friedman’s research in Crohn’s disease has already shown distinct miRNA patterns in this patient population, and his proposed research aims to identify distinct miRNA expression patterns in patients with biopsy proven eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) compared to patients with normal esophagus. His team hopes to correlate the miRNA expression to the severity of EoE on esophageal biopsy, thereby providing a noninvasive method of diagnosing and monitoring EoE disease activity through a simple blood test.
Drs. Ackerman and Furuta are collaborating on a project involving the esophageal string test (EST). The EST involves swallowing a small capsule with an attached string, with the process being minimally invasive compared to endoscopy and biopsy. The capsule can be swallowed with water or some pudding, while holding onto its attached string. The capsule breaks off in the intestine, and the end of the string dwells in the duodenum for a given period of time; then the string is removed and sent for analysis. The string directly samples esophageal secretions that contain potential EoE biomarkers from inflammatory cells. Their preliminary data have shown a nice correlation of EST sampling to EoE disease activity as determined by tissue biopsy. Funding for their project will help the researchers validate and improve the diagnostic accuracy of the EST and validate its use to monitor disease activity with treatment.
HOPE Junior faculty grant recipient, Dr. Ariel Munitz will work in conjunction with Dr. Marc Rothenberg’s group in Cincinnati. His work focuses on eosinophil research and the role of inhibitory receptors in eosinophils. Dr. Munitz research career goals are aimed at defining molecular pathways that regulate eosinophil activity in health and disease.
HOPE Grants are funded by donations to the HOPE on the Horizon Fund and by fundraisers hosted by families and friends of those living with eosinophil associated diseases.
APFED 2010 HOPE Junior Faculty Grant Recipient Sophie Fillon, PhD
Dr. Fillon University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine is working on research to determine the role of the microbiome in children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Dr. Fillon’s long-term goal is to become a leader in the field of EGIDS and to mentor a younger generation of students and post-doctoral fellows to enter into this nascent field. “This APFED HOPE award provides me with an outstanding opportunity to develop this line of research and would provide me with my first step in my junior faculty career.”
APFED 2009 HOPE Junior Faculty Grant Recipients
Antonella Cianferoni MD, PhD
Dr. Cianferoni is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Cianferoni’s research focus is identification of novel genes and biomarkers that will add to the understanding, treatment and management of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Cianferoni writes: “I am in the process of establishing a research program aimed to the understanding of the basic pathogenetic mechanisms of eosinophilic gastroeneteropathies. There is a great need to expand understanding and to identify novel pathogenetic mechanisms of EE and to identify biomarkers that will lead to better diagnostic tools and treatments of this still elusive disease.”
Carine Blanchard PhD
Dr. Blanchard is a Postdoctoral fellow and research instructor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, focusing on the molecular pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and food allergy related disorders.
Dr Blanchard writes: “My research will focus on mechanisms that induce eosinophilic disease, with the goal of ameliorating the pain and distress of eosinophilic esophagitis. If we truly uncover a major role for Uroplakin 1B in EE diagnosis, then this would lead to further studies aimed at trying to understand the fundamental basis of the disease pathology and pathogenesis.
APFED 2008 HOPE Junior Faculty Recipient Seema Aceves MD, PhD for her research "Tissue remodeling in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis: Influence on prognosis and response to corticosteroid therapy". Dr. Aceves is an adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Diego.
APFED trainee grant recipients!
2006
Miguel Stein, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
“Anti-IL-5 (Mepolizumab) Therapy in Hypereosinophilic Syndromes and Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Cytokine Secretion and Decreased Peripheral Blood Eosinophilia”
Thuy Anh Le, MD
Feinberg School of Medicine
“Distinct Allergic Predisposition of Children and Adults with Eosinophilic Esophagitis”
Elizabeth A. Schaefer, M.D,
Riley Hospital for Children Indiana University School of
“ORAL PREDNISONE (P) IS NOT SUPERIOR TO TOPICAL FLUTICASONE (F) IN THE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS (AEE)”
2008
Vincent Mukkada, MD
The Children's Hospital of Denver/University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
“EOSINOPHILS ENHANCE INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL BARRIER”
Samantha Woodruff, MD
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado
“EoE lamina propria contains increased fibrosis”
2009
Guangju Luo
MD University of Cincinnati
“Coexistence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) and celiac disease (CD)”
Brad Shepherd M.D.
Vanderbilt University
“Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Dilate or Medicate?”
Joanne Masterson, PhD
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
“Eosinophilic ileitis and tissue remodeling in the SAMP1/SkuSic mouse strain”
Anup Patel, MD
Stanford University
“Eosinophils Can Induce T cell Activation in Eosinophilic Esophagitis”
Eitan Rubenstein, MD
University of California, San
“Anti-Siglee-F Antibody Reduces Eosinophilic Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Eosinophilic Esophagitis”
2010
Julie Caldwell, Ph. D
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
“Microarray Analysis of Eosinophilic Gastritis Identifies a Strong Link with Cadherin-like 26 Overexpression”
2011
Joseph Sherill PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
"Dysregulation of the Desmosomal Cadherin Desmoglein-l in Eosinophilic Esophagitis"
EunJin Lim PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
“Epigenetic regulation of the IL-13-induced human eotaxin-3 gene by CBP mediated histone-3 acetylation”
