2021 CCIA Projects

 

Implementation of Whole-Genome Sequencing as Screening in a Diverse Cohort of Healthy Infants

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard University)

Principal Investigator: Robert C. Green, M.D., M.P.H.
Grant Number: 1U01TR003201-01A1
Collaborating Institutions: Baylor College of Medicine; Boston Children’s Hospital (Harvard University); Broad Institute (Harvard University); Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. (Harvard University); HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (University of Alabama at Birmingham); Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; University of Alabama at Birmingham

This team performed the first randomized controlled trial of genomic sequencing—which can be used to screen for genetic predisposition to disease—in newborns and now plans to expand that project to a diverse cohort. The first project identified and disclosed disease risks in 11 percent of the infants sequenced; health care providers were able to constructively manage the information reported, and no increased distress, disruptions to the parent–child relationship or downstream increases in cost were detected. This study will build on that project to study genomic sequencing as a screening method in a population of infants from underserved minority populations, primarily African American and Hispanic groups. Researchers will develop, implement and evaluate a sustainable approach that uses community engagement to minimize distrust and maximize benefit.

Learn more about this project in the NIH RePORTER.

Note: This U01 was co-funded by NCATS and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development

CRITICAL: Collaborative Resource for Intensive care Translational science, Informatics, Comprehensive Analytics, and Learning

Northwestern University

Principal Investigator: Yuan Luo, Ph.D.
Grant Number: 1U01TR003528-01A1
Collaborating Institutions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Tuft University); Tufts Medical Center (Tuft University); University of Alabama at Birmingham; Washington University in St. Louis; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; Columbia University

Translational research in artificial intelligence (AI) has been hindered by the lack of shared data resources with sufficient depth, breadth and diversity. This project will leverage multiple Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) sites with diverse racial, ethnic and geographic profiles to develop and evaluate a multisite, de-identified intensive care unit (ICU) data set, which will facilitate accelerated translational research in AI and deep-learning approaches to understand, track and predict the pathophysiological state of patients. The created data set will include more geographic regions, larger quantities of time-series data and more patient diversity than many existing ICU data sets, as well as regional population differences and practice variations that could have clinical impact.

Learn more about this project in the NIH RePORTER.

A Consortium Effort to Translate Therapies for Neurological Diseases via an Ex Vivo Organotypic Platform

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Principal Investigator: Shawn Hingtgen, Ph.D.
Grant Number: 1U01TR003715-01
Collaborating Institutions: Duke University; University of Florida

This project will identify, develop and initiate translation of therapeutic neurological agents using the organotypic brain slice culture (OBSC) platform. These OBSC models leverage existing cellular and extracellular milieu in live brain slices to allow rapid, functional testing on brain tissue. The multidisciplinary team will expand the OBSC platform to improve the care of patients with brain disorders by sharing disease models, therapeutic agents, molecular tool kits and clinical patient tissue. Capabilities relevant to neurodegenerative disease, brain cancers and ischemic disease will be added to the platform, which also can screen therapeutic agents and enable new immune-based approaches. These approaches will create an expandable infrastructure built around OBSC technology, accelerate the discovery of new and effective therapeutic strategies, and initiate translation toward ultimate human patient trials to treat multiple disorders of the brain.

Learn more about this project in the NIH RePORTER.

Optimizing Efficiency and Impact of Digital Health Interventions for Caregivers: A Mixed Methods Approach

University of Virginia

Principal Investigator: Kelly McLean Shaffer, Ph.D.
Grant Number: 1R21TR003522-01A1
Collaborating Institutions: University of Pittsburgh

One in six American adults provide care for a loved one with disabling illness, and these family caregivers are more likely to experience insomnia and other psychological concerns than the general population. Multiple existing evidence-based digital health interventions may effectively address caregivers’ psychosocial needs and increase their access to supportive care, but the level of tailoring necessary for optimal engagement with and efficacy of these interventions for caregivers remains unknown. This project will provide Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) to caregivers with insomnia, then align engagement with SHUTi and improvement in sleep with factors related to caregiving, which will support the goal of tailoring SHUTi to users and advancing the science of digital health interventions for caregivers.

Learn more about this project in the NIH RePORTER.