8 researchers receive Longer Life Foundation awards
Eight researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have received funding from the Longer Life Foundation, a cooperative effort between Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Reinsurance Group of America (RGA). The grants help junior investigators launch research projects and assist more established researchers as they move their investigations into new areas. The foundation’s mission is to fund and support the study of factors that either predict the mortality and morbidity of selected populations or influence improvements in longevity, health and wellness.
The researchers are:
- Alex Holehouse, PhD, an assistant professor of biochemistry & molecular biophysics, received $49,869 to fund the second year of a study focused on predicting the functional impact of genetic variation within intrinsically disordered protein regions.
- Devesha Kulkarni, PhD, an instructor in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, received $50,000 to fund the second year of a study focused on defining the role of intestinal immune cell balance and its association with obesity.
- Kathryn Lindley, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, received $25,000 to help fund the second year of a study into angiogenic imbalance and diastolic dysfunction in preeclampsia.
- Anuja Java, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology, received $49,985 to fund a study into the role of complement in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
- Hrishikesh Kulkarni, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, received $50,000 to fund research into targeting the amplification loop between mitochondria and complement activation in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
- Patrick Lyons, MD, an instructor in medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, received $49,958 for his research into determining causes and potential preventability of clinical deterioration among oncology patients.
- Nathan Stitziel, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, received $50,000 for a study into targeting receptor interactions with SVEP1, a circulating biomarker of longevity in humans.
- Bettina Mittendorfer, PhD, a professor of medicine, received $62,500 for her work with the Longevity Research Program, dietary protein and cardiovascular health.
