Grant Program: Postdoctoral Grant

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that is difficult to diagnose quickly in critically ill patients. Current tests, such as microbial cultures, are slow and often lack sensitivity, delaying treatment and increasing risks. This project will develop computational methods to analyze cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentation patterns in blood as a rapid, low-cost tool to detect sepsis and identify infection sites. By studying DNA released from damaged tissues, the research aims to distinguish sepsis from non-infectious inflammation and monitor patient response to treatment.

There are more than 300,000 cancer survivors in Wisconsin, a number expected to rise significantly in the coming decade. Yet, cancer survivorship care remains fragmented—primary care providers (PCPs) often face challenges coordinating with oncology teams, resulting in unmet needs, poor communication and worse outcomes for underserved patients. This project, POISE Wisconsin, will conduct surveys and focus groups with PCPs across the state to identify multi-level barriers and facilitators to care coordination. Guided by Implementation Science frameworks and a health equity lens, the study will highlight the strategies and resources needed to integrate primary and oncology care in Wisconsin.

Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the GFAP gene, leading to toxic protein buildup in astrocytes, severe inflammation and progressive neurological decline. There are no current treatments. This project investigates the role of fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7), which is abnormally elevated in AxD and may drive harmful astrocyte-mediated inflammation. Using an innovative viral approach to silence FABP7 in a mouse model of AxD, the study will test whether reducing FABP7 expression can lower inflammation, decrease disese pathology and improve outcomes.

Latine/Hispanic people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) face faster disease progression, less access to clinical care and fewer opportunities to participate in community-based exercise programs, despite strong evidence that physical active improves symptoms and quality of life. This project will use focus groups and interviews with Latine/Hispanic PwP, their care partners, community partners and clinical partners across the U.S. to identify barriers and facilitators to adopting and sustaining physical activity programs. Guided by the PRISM framework, findings will generate critical insights into institutional, cultural and individual needs that shape program access and success.

Obesity before pregnancy increases the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and adverse outcomes for both parent and child. In Wisconsin, nearly 30% of people giving birth have obesity, underscoring the urgent need for effective preconception interventions. This project will compare four weight loss strategies to assess their effects on gestational glycemia, milk lipid composition and offspring pancreatic health. Findings will provide critical evidence to guide safe, effective weight loss recommendations before pregnancy, helping reduce intergenerational risk of diabetes and improve maternal-child health outcomes.

Aging brains follow different paths, with some individuals maintaining cognitive health, while others progress to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. This project will combine advanced diffusion-weighted MRI with fluid biomarkers to examine how living in disadvantaged neighborhoods relates to microstructural brain changes across the AD continuum. Preliminary findings show lower neurite density in people from highly disadvantaged neighborhoods, particularly in regions vulnerable to AD.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are major public health challenges, with impaired branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism playing a key role. Restricting dietary BCAAs or using the FDA-approved drug 4-PBA improves body composition, glucose control and lifespan in animal models. Exercise is also critical for weigh loss and maintaining muscle mass, but its interaction with BCAA-targeted interventions is unknown. This project will test whether dietary BCAA restriction, 4-PBA, and exercise—alone or in combination—reverse obesity and improve metabolic health in mice. Using genetic knockout models, it will also determine whether these benefits depend on the mitochondrial BCAA carrier Slc25a44. Findings will provide insights into diet- and drug-based strategies that can be paired with exercise to combat obesity and T2D. By focusing on accessible interventions, the study has the potential to promote health equity in communities disproportionately affected by metabolic disease.

Heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of death because scar tissue formation prevents the heart from restoring lost function. Stem cell therapies hold promise, but human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have raised safety concerns due to arrhythmias. Early evidence suggests that cardiac progenitor cells (CCPs) may be safe, more versatile and better suited for cardiac repair. This project will use advanced cardiac slice models and dual optical mapping of voltage and calcium signals to study how CCPs integrate electrically and functionally within heart tissue. By clarifying the mechanisms of CCP behavior and viability, the study aims to advance the development of safe, more effect regenerative therapies for patients with heart failure.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a lifelong disease caused by low-risk HPV types 6 and 11 that produces fast-growing lesions on the vocal folds, leading to hoarseness, repeated surgeries, scarring and significant community and quality-of-life challenges. There is no cure. This project uses a novel immunocompetent mouse model to investigate how vocal fold injury enables papillomavirus to evade immune defenses, establish chronic infection and drive disease recurrence. This study will define the threshold of viral load and injury needed for disease, test whether injury promotes recurrence and explore how injury disrupts epithelial and immune balance. Findings will advance understanding of how RRP develops and persists, informing future strategies for prevention and treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects more than 110,000 older adults in Wisconsin and remains without a cure. Emerging evidence suggests the gut microbiome may play a role in AD pathology, but how these changes unfold over time is not well understood. This project will analyze longitudinal fecal samples, fluid biomarkers and cognitive scores from participants in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). The study will test whether shifts in gut microbiome composition are linked to amyloid status, cognitive decline and AD biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Findings are expected to identify specific gut microbes associated with AD progression, laying the groundwork for future therapeutic targets and larger multicenter studies.