2013-2014 M-CERSI Innovation Awards

The University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (UM-CERSI) has recently awarded two Innovation Awards, and two Innovations in Minority Health Awards.

The aim of M-CERSI Innovation Awards is to promote innovations in FDA training or research that, through well defined outcomes, will foster the development of regulatory science. M-CERSI Innovations in Minority Health Awards are similar to Innovation Awards and additionally aim to address racial and ethnic health disparities.

The two Innovation awardees for 2013-2014 are:

Dr. Michael Zachariah, Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

"Absolute Protein and Protein Aggregate Concentration Measurement"

In this proposal we are going to demonstrate electrospray differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA) as a tool to quantify protein aggregation, and as an absolute number concentration primary standard for protein with a projected uncertainty of <5%.

Dr. Peter Swaan and Dr. Hongbing Wang, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Pharmacy.

"Development of Computational Models to Predict Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI)"

In this study we aim to develop and validate models that integrate all three transporters in a web-based environment that can be accessed by investigators in academia, industry and the FDA.

The four Minority Health awardees are:

Dr. Monifa Vaughn-Cooke, Department of Mechanical Engineering

"Addressing Chronic Disease Healthcare Disparities through the Patient-Centric Design of Health Information Technology"

The proposed research introduces a new paradigm of HIT that empowers patients to be more involved in their chronic disease management through enhanced patient-provider communication and shared treatment decision making.

Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

"Improving Health Literacy and Cultural Competency in Current FDA Risk Communication"

Dr. Julie Zito, University of Baltimore Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research

"Racial/Ethnic Differences in Pediatric Antipsychotic Use by FDA Labeled Status"

The aim to study antipsychotic use in youth in relation to racial/ethnic differences, insurance type, and FDA labeled indication for use.

Dr. Claudia Baquet, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine

"Qualitative Focus Group Studies: Clinical Trial Participation and Biospecimen (Tissue) Donation for Research: Barriers, Willingness to Participate in Clinical Trials, Willingness to Donate to Biobanks, and Informed Consent Preferences Among Rural and Urban Residents in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Rural Southern Maryland, and Urban Baltimore City"

This investigation will focus on underserved populations which are underrepresented in clinical trial and biospecimen donation, that is, rural and urban communities in Maryland.