Funds at Work

Michael J. Mann, M.D.
University of California
TSFRE K08

During the first year of funding of this TSFRE K08 program, substantial progress has been made toward understanding the role that sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) plays as a newly recognized regulator of the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). Specifically, key elements in the S1P pathway have been found to change dramatically after experimentally induced heart attacks in animals, and these changes are believed to accelerate the loss of otherwise viable heart muscle as the development of heart failure progresses due to post-MI stresses in the heart. These novel findings will, in turn, propel ongoing studies of integration of surgical reconstruction of failing hearts with potential molecular interventions that may prolong the long-term benefit derived by patients from this new type of hybrid, holistic approach. Perhaps as important as the data themselves have been the development and maturation of the Principal Investigator’s research program, particularly as they relate to his overriding career goal of combining a vigorous surgical practice with a molecular research program designed to exploit an intimate awareness of clinical needs and opportunities toward the early translation of advanced science into real-time clinical applications.

Dr. Malcom Brock
Johns Hopkins Medical Institution
NIH K23 Award

The TSFRE-NIH Program Award has been instrumental in allowing my translational research work to progress. Simply stated, I could not have performed this research project without it. I had great preliminary data for a NIH K23 award, but I had many barriers to overcome in translating these findings into the clinic. Importantly, for a young surgeon, the NIH K23 would not cover 75% of my salary but required 75% of my time. The TSFRE-NIH program allowed me the flexibility to cover much of the discrepancy without breaking the NIH requirement of time. Then armed with this success, I was able to use the preliminary data obtained as a result of this grant to apply for further NIH funding. This grant has been invaluable to me and my studies. I have benefited greatly and have become successful in taking a bench-top innovative idea to clinical fruition.

"The TSFRE-NIH Program Award has been instrumental in allowing my translational research work to progress. Simply stated, I could not have performed this research project without it."