Research Accomplishments from across NSU (Jan. 2022)
Find below a selection of recent research accomplishments by investigators from across NSU colleges.
From the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education & School of Criminal Justice:
Dr. W. Alex Edmonds and colleagues recently published an article on adolescent athlete suicide: Edmonds, W. A., Craig, L., Christopher, R., Kennedy, T. D., & Mann, D. T. Y. (2021). Adolescent athletes and suicide: A model for treatment and prevention. Aggression and Violent Behavior. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2021.101580
Dr. Georgina Arguello published on academic advising and international collaboration agreements: Argüello, G. (2021). Academic advising and international collaboration agreements: A retrospective comparative study on retention and success in a doctoral program. EDU REVIEW. International Education and Learning Review / Revista Internacional de Educación y Aprendizaje, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.37467/gkarevedu.v9.3032
From the College of Dental Medicine:
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry highlighted in their November 2021 magazine a recent HRSA award to NSU’s College of Dental Medicine to PI Dr. Romer Ocanto. The award supports training for postdocs in pediatric, general, and public health dentistry. The project aims to address vulnerable and underserved children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs, through increasing the workforce of postdoctoral trained dentists who practice in rural and/or underserved areas or who serve vulnerable populations. The training addresses cultural competency and oral health literacy, as well as childhood obesity and the opioid crisis.
From the College of Pharmacy:
Dr. Dimitriy Minond was recently awarded the US Patent #11,149,028 titled “Methods for treating melanoma using small molecules.” Patented is a fundamentally unique approach for the treatment of melanoma. In addition, novel targets and approaches for melanoma treatment are disclosed. Most importantly, the approach is specific for non-malignant cell types suggesting the potential for low-toxicity for melanoma patients. Notably, pre-clinical studies, funded by NIH, are underway to evaluate the efficacy of Dr. Minond’s approach to treat melanoma.
Dr. Robert Speth and colleagues from Georgetown University have recently been awarded an NIH grant on the brain pathology in SARS-CoV-2 disease ($760K to Dr. Speth). SARS-CoV-2, which underlies the current COVID-19 pandemic, has significant effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and well as other targets. These CNS effects can lead to headache, anosmia, ageusia, and general confusion. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays a neuroprotective role (anti-inflammatory) and is also a target of the virus spike protein. Thus, the goal of this grant is to demonstrate that the deleterious effects of SARS-CoV-2 is through its interaction with ACE2 and the resulting inflammation.
What started as a local journal club has now gone international! Dr. Benedict Albensi, Chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department in the College of Pharmacy and Co-director of the NSU BRAIN center, started the Dementia Journal Club that now has participants from across the US and Canada. The speakers are well-known dementia researchers from, for example, the University of Texas, Philadelphia College of Medicine, and NIH-NINDS who present cutting-edge research on a monthly basis. The events are recorded and posted on YouTube and two recent events featured faculty from NSU, Dr. Robert Speth and Dr. Richard Deth. NSU faculty interested in joining the Dementia Journal Club should contact Dr. Albensi.