Patrick Moore, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Molecular Virology Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), will receive more than a $2 million new grant from the NIH to continue research into the human cancer virus that causes most Merkel cell carcinomas, a rare but deadly skin cancer. This new grant will fund the research through March 2019.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Merkel cell polyomavirus is the seventh human cancer virus identified and the second discovered by Dr. Moore’s research team under the original NIH grant. Their first discovery was Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). KSHV is a disease found in the tissues under the skin or mucous membranes. It can be very aggressive when people’s immune systems are suppressed, such as in AIDS patients immune systems.
As Dr. Moore’s teammate, Dr. Chang, states, “These viruses are an important model for cancer research, we’ve found that it may be possible to kill cancerous tumors by targeting the pathways these viruses use. That’s significant when you consider that 20 percent of all cancers are related to infectious diseases.”
New discoveries in life science researches and excellent research programs have successfully earned the University of Pittsburgh significant awards in recent years. The University of Pittsburgh ranks No. 4 among universities worldwide in the “Best Places to Work in Academics” 2013 edition of The Scientist, and “a world class research university” with “unwavering commitment to excellence” in recent Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation report.
The University of Pittsburgh provides a lucrative marketplace for research lab supply companies as well. According to the latest NIH and NSF research funding statistics, the University of Pittsburgh was awarded at least $104.7 million in research funding from the NIH in 2014 and $408 million from the NSF in 2013.
The research funding was spread out over a number of research projects across various departments at the university. Among those research projects, Anatomy/Cell Biology have been awarded $10 million, Biology $14.2 million, Biomedical Engineering $3 million, Biostatistics $8 million, Chemistry $2.7 million, Internal Medicine $2.8 million and Pharmacology $19.4 million.
The Pittsburgh BioResearch Product Faire™ Event, which will take place at the University of Pittsburgh, provides both researchers and lab managers an opportunity to find new products and methods for their research programs. Last year, the BioResearch Product Faire™ Event at the University of Pittsburgh attracted 392 attendees. Of these attendees, 77 were purchasing agents, professors and post docs, and 51 were lab managers. These attendees came from 28 different research buildings and 54 on-campus departments.
Biotechnology Calendar, Inc., the organizer of the Pittsburgh BioResearch Product Faire™ Event, is an experienced vendor showcase producer. This company has been producing biotechnology shows for more than 20 years. If you are interested in networking with research professionals in the Pittsburgh area, and plan to attend Biotechnology Calendar, Inc.’s Pittsburgh BioResearch Product Faire™ Event, held on June 12th 2014, you can click the button below:
If you are a life science researcher, purchasing agent, or lab manager, you are invited to see our National Show Schedule for 2014, which provides the show information for the entire year of 2014.
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