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Funded Projects

Understanding and Modulating Host Defense Against Vascular Catheter Infections

Awarded in 2025
Collaborative Health Sciences Program
Updated Sep 29, 2025

At a Glance

Central venous catheters deliver life-saving treatments but can lead to serious bloodstream infections, including those caused by Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungal pathogen. This project will study how the stiffness of catheter surfaces impacts the body’s immune response and how well neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, and the body’s first responders for fighting infections, can detect and eliminate pathogens like C. auris. This innovative collaboration between experts in infectious disease and engineering experts could lead to the development of medical devices that better support the body’s natural defenses and reduce health care burdens in Wisconsin and beyond.

More Funded Projects

research icon: microscope and stethoscope

Diversifying Biorepositories to Promote Clinical and Translational Research

Awarded in 2025
The goal of this project is to promote clinical and translational research to improve health in Wisconsin by expanding biomedical research. This project will expand infrastructure to engage a broad range of communities and populations in biospecimen research by combining community partnerships with expertise in community outreach, engagement, biospecimen science, biomarker development and bioinformatics.
research icon: microscope and stethoscope
Collaborative Health Sciences Program

The Role of O-GlcNAcylation in the Development of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Awarded in 2025
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and related fibrotic lung diseases are life threatening, with limited treatment options and high mortality, leading to approximately 1,000 deaths annually in Wisconsin. This project investigates a promising new signaling pathway in the development of lung fibrosis involving protein modification to explore how a particular enzyme contributes to lung scarring and disease progression. The project team aims to uncover key fibrotic signaling pathways that could lead to more targeted therapies for IPF and other fibrotic diseases without affecting essential biological functions. Collaborators: Ksenija Bernau, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine