Dear colleagues, community members, and friends,
As we continued to expand our COVID-19 research and test analysis operations at the research institute to meet one set of societal problems, an old infection of racism, discrimination, and injustice has returned to plague us. I, and my colleagues, have been deeply grieved by the violent acts committed against people of color including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
At the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, we firmly support justice and human dignity for all, and we reject all forms of discrimination.
And we’re putting these beliefs into action.
Over the past month, our faculty, staff, and students have met regularly to listen to each other’s stories. The experiences that some of our team members have endured because of their skin color or country of origin are both painful and moving. Together, we can do better.
We have assembled working groups to further develop action plans to make our corner of the world a better place. These groups will help our institute become an even more welcoming, inclusive and supportive work environment for our students, staff, and faculty, as well as the broader community.
We want to be sure that our workplace is a place where everyone – whether they are a local youth who has never been exposed to a research environment, an international student, or a person of color who is considering a job here – feels welcome, included and respected. Thus, we are committing our time and resources to establish a proactive strategy toward achieving these goals within our circle of influence.
Collectively as a community, we stand together in defense of the institute’s guiding principles of fairness, respect and non-discrimination.
In the spirit of Ut Prosim,
Michael Friedlander, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech
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Parents say baby with rare condition makes progress after intensive therapy
Evie was at her six-week-old checkup near Dublin, Ireland, when doctors noticed her head was not growing as fast as it should. Five months later, doctors diagnosed her with a rare genetic disorder – a form of microcephaly caused by a mutation in a gene called CASK. Evie’s parents Emma Nolan and Keith Purdy traveled from Ireland to seek intensive therapy for Evie at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Neuromotor Research Clinic. Watch Video
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists confirm usually benign virus attacks the heart’s electrical system
Patrick Calhoun, a postdoctoral associate, and his mentor, James Smyth, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, found that adenovirus not only uncouples electrical signaling pathways in the heart, but it also impairs the cells’ ability to make new communication channels. Read More
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iTHRIV announces incoming 2020 scholars program cohort
iTHRIV, the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) partnership between Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Carilion Clinic, and Inova Health System has announced its fourth class of iTHRIV Scholars. Read More
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Acclaimed neuroscientist to head Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC's Center for Neurobiology Research
Anthony-Samuel LaMantia, a developmental neurobiologist and a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been named the new director of the institute’s Center for Neurobiology Research. Read More
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Institute welcomes new advisory board member, Meg Carter
Meg Carter has spent nearly 30 years in the non-profit space. She has served in every role from volunteer to board chair, and even co-founded a non-profit literacy program. Specializing in fund development and philanthropy, she focuses her work on the arts, literacy, and child welfare. Meet the Board
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NEW GRANT AWARDS (Jan. - June, 2020)
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- Spencer, Bowen, Ph.D.
NIH - $168,887
“Supplemental transmission-aided attenuation correction for high performance quantitative PET imaging"
- John Chappell, Ph.D.
Industry Funding - $50,000
“Pilot study: Targeting microRNA-93 to enhance role of vascular mural cells in blood vessel remodeling"
- Pearl Chiu, Ph.D.
NIH - $3,091,512
“Testing nicotine modulation of learning and valuation in smokers"
- Michael Fox, Ph.D.
NIH - $600,000
“Serial block face scanning electron microscope"
- Michael Friedlander, Ph.D.
GO Virginia - $100,000
"Workforce training and regional capacity for rapid high-throughput COVID-19 testing"
- Robert Gourdie, Ph.D.
NIH - $2,372,119
“Gap junctional patterning in the arrhythmic heart"
- Kim Horn, Ph.D.
NIH - $1,231,120
“Advance recovery supports in Central Appalachia"
- Scott Johnstone, Ph.D.
American Heart Association - $142,000
“Connexin regulation of cell proliferation"
- Anthony-Samuel LaMantia, Ph.D.
NIH - $174,178
“Pathology, developmental origins, and prevention of pediatric dysphagia"
- Sandeep Mittal, M.D., Ph.D.
American Association for Breast Cancer Research - $250,000
"Epigenetic modifications in patient-derived glioblastoma cells"
Industry Grant - $88,705
“Efficacy of Preampanel drug to terminate status epilepticus in a model of focal cortical dysplasia"
- Read Montague, Ph.D.
NIH - $5,180,763
“Computational and electrochemical substrates of social decision-making in humans"
- Read Montague, Ph.D., and Brooks King-Casas, Ph.D.
NIH - $4,056,524
“Direct sub-second measurement of neuromodulator signaling during risky decision-making"
- Read Montague, Ph.D., and Stephen LaConte, Ph.D.
NIH - $3,470,520
“Next generation magnetoencephalography for human social neuroscience"
- Rachel Padget, Smyth Lab Doctoral Candidate
NIH - $101,687 National Institutes of Health
“Arrhythmogenic mechanisms of acute viral myocarditis"
- Sarah Parker, Ph.D.
NIH - $44,148
“UVA kidney technology development research education program"
- Sharon Ramey, Ph.D.
NIH - $5,835,063
“National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center"
- Harald Sontheimer, Ph.D.
NIH - $1,837,781
“Role of Perineuronal Nets in Epilepsy"
NIH - $2,963,375
“Changes in cerebrovascular function with aging in Alzheimer’s Disease"
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Helping Virginia Tech build a healthier future.
Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are providing rapid COVID-19 sample analysis to help control the pandemic in support of our local community, the Commonwealth, and frontline responders. Private support is critical to continue these efforts. Here are some ways that you can support the research institute right now, in light of COVID-19:
- Support Virginia Tech's COVID-19 Fund to help accelerate ongoing research and testing operations.
- Follow the CDC's guidelines to prevent infection spread, including regular hand-washing and social distancing.
- Consider donating unused personal protective equipment and other surplus medical supplies to your local hospital.
- Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest news.
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