School of Pharmacy, SLU receive near $1 million grant for research
Jason Stacey
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News
The SIUE School of Pharmacy, along with the Saint Louis University Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, has been awarded a $974,024 grant from the National Institutes of Health, according to professor of medicinal chemistry for SIUE School of Pharmacy William Neumann.
Nuemann said the grant, which SIUE will receive half of, will be utilized in the research and study of relieving chronic pain through new methods of treating neuroinflammation.
The research will be focused on the examination of peroxynitrite, a neurotoxic molecule that is produced by the body in inflammatory situations, and if too much is released, can cause excruciating chronic pain.
Neumann will be the program's primary researcher and said he looks forward to working on potentially groundbreaking studies.
"This is pretty cutting-edge stuff. These compounds we are developing and working with could be used in creating the desired enzyme for the study," Neumann said.
Neumann collaborated with SLU's associate professor of pharmacological and physiological science Daniela Salvemini to attain the grant, for which the funding was made possible in part by federal stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
SIUE was among more than 20,000 applicants in pursuit of the NIH grant, which was awarded to only 1 percent of potential recipients.
Terry Andrews, director of Development and External Affairs for the School of Pharmacy, said that for the university and the program to receive such a prestigious award from the NIH it provides valuable recognition toward future grants.
"It's exciting to have professionals in the pharmaceutical field recognize us for our successes," Andrews said.
Neumann also said he considers this award a great accomplishment for not only the School of Pharmacy and the university, but for the students fortunate enough to work with this research program.
According to Neumann, a number of master's level and graduate students majoring in chemistry and pharmaceutical fields will be involved in the project, along with possibly undergraduate students.
The project could lead to numerous opportunities for students in the future and Neumann said that for SIUE to gain such recognition through this NIH grant, it is important to keep working toward more funding for other research projects in the future.
Fourth year pharmaceutical student Justin Stein said he considers the awarded grant to be an accomplishment for the SIUE School of Pharmacy and important for the university to receive such national recognition.
"It brings attention to the school, and it's important having the faculty receive national credit like this because it could bring in money and funding for other research with [Neumann]," said Justin Stein.
Nuemann said the grant, which SIUE will receive half of, will be utilized in the research and study of relieving chronic pain through new methods of treating neuroinflammation.
The research will be focused on the examination of peroxynitrite, a neurotoxic molecule that is produced by the body in inflammatory situations, and if too much is released, can cause excruciating chronic pain.
Neumann will be the program's primary researcher and said he looks forward to working on potentially groundbreaking studies.
"This is pretty cutting-edge stuff. These compounds we are developing and working with could be used in creating the desired enzyme for the study," Neumann said.
Neumann collaborated with SLU's associate professor of pharmacological and physiological science Daniela Salvemini to attain the grant, for which the funding was made possible in part by federal stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
SIUE was among more than 20,000 applicants in pursuit of the NIH grant, which was awarded to only 1 percent of potential recipients.
Terry Andrews, director of Development and External Affairs for the School of Pharmacy, said that for the university and the program to receive such a prestigious award from the NIH it provides valuable recognition toward future grants.
"It's exciting to have professionals in the pharmaceutical field recognize us for our successes," Andrews said.
Neumann also said he considers this award a great accomplishment for not only the School of Pharmacy and the university, but for the students fortunate enough to work with this research program.
According to Neumann, a number of master's level and graduate students majoring in chemistry and pharmaceutical fields will be involved in the project, along with possibly undergraduate students.
The project could lead to numerous opportunities for students in the future and Neumann said that for SIUE to gain such recognition through this NIH grant, it is important to keep working toward more funding for other research projects in the future.
Fourth year pharmaceutical student Justin Stein said he considers the awarded grant to be an accomplishment for the SIUE School of Pharmacy and important for the university to receive such national recognition.
"It brings attention to the school, and it's important having the faculty receive national credit like this because it could bring in money and funding for other research with [Neumann]," said Justin Stein.
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