September 23, 2019
Saurabh Agarwal, Ph.D., has a St. Baldrick’s Foundation Scholar Career Development Award worth $200,000 (07/01/2017–08/30/2020) to develop novel epigenetic therapies for high-risk neuroblastomas. He is also the Principle Investigator of a Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer Foundation Research Grant worth $80,000 (01/01/2017–12/31/2019) to investigate epigenetic targeting of neuroblastoma cancer stem cells. He served as an invited guest speaker for raising public awareness for pediatric cancer research at the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Fundraising and head shaving event for raising funds and awareness to support childhood cancer research on March 9th, 2019 at Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub, Northport, NY. This event raised $160,000. He is an author on five peer reviewed publications and has made two scientific presentations at international symposia.
Vivek Gupta, Ph.D., has been awarded a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 1R15HL138606-01A1 grant, "Targeting of Apoptotic and Autophagy Pathways for Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)" (Direct costs: $300,000; 09/01/2018–08/31/2021). He also has an American Heart Association grant to develop novel therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension worth $140,000 (07/01/2018–06/30/2020) and an award from Neofluidics, Inc. to develop and test microfluidic chip based devices/tools for the continuous preparation of emulsion based drug delivery systems worth $15,000 (08/01/2017–07/31/2019). Dr. Gupta has also authored five peer-reviewed publications and 30 scientific presentations at local, national, and international conferences.
Sandra E. Reznik, M.D., Ph.D., obtained a new grant for $150,000 from Vifor Pharma, "OM-85 for the Reversal of High Fat Diet Induced Gut Dysbiosis." She was invited to present a talk at the inaugural meeting of the North American branch of the Preterm Birth International Collaborative, a small society of invited members who are leading scientists in the preterm birth field. She was also invited to present Grand Rounds to the Division of Neonatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Reznik also has a small grant from the Nassau Healthcare Corporation, and has had three peer-reviewed articles, one review, and four scientific presentations at national conferences.
Abu T. Serajuddin, Ph.D., was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Planning Grant for the Establishment of a NSF Center at St. John’s University, "Center for Integrated Material Science and Engineering for Pharmaceutical Products (CIMSEPP)" for $15,000 (December 2018–November 2019). This NSF planning grant will lead to the submission of a five-year, multimillion dollar NSF grant for the establishment of a NSF center at St. John’s University. Preparation for the submission of the full grant application is currently in progress. The application will be submitted in November. In addition, Dr. Serajuddin has one US patent, six peer-reviewed publications, six invited presentations, and has participated in 15 scientific presentations at national, local, and international symposia.