COBRE Pilot Projects
An important part of COBRE Phase III is the funding of two Pilot Projects each year. Awarded to researchers outside of MDI Biological Laboratory, these grants aim to support innovation and discovery in the fields of aging and regenerative biology, chronic diseases, and wound healing.
Researchers receiving awards will use this funding to support the generation of preliminary data that will lead them to write competitive applications for external funding, growing the regenerative medicine research base in Maine and other Northeast states supported by the National Institute of General Medical Science’s Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program.
Additionally, this funding allows an increase in collaborations among MDI Bio Lab investigators and investigators at other Maine institutions, while promoting the utilization of the Light Microscopy Facility, Comparative Animal Model, and Comparative Genomics and Data Science COBRE III Cores.
Current Pilot Project Awardees
Rafiou Agoro, Ph.D.
Rafiou Agoro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The Jackson Laboratory
Project: Rescuing Hyperphosphatemia in Mouse Models of Premature Aging
This 2024-25 project will employ novel genetic mouse models to assess the role of the candidate gene in the regulation of phosphate homeostasis during aging and during the pathogenesis of CKD-mediated hyperphosphatemia.
Two specific aims are proposed. Aim 1 will test whether deletion of the candidate gene in kidney rescues lifespan. Aim 2 will examine whether suppression of candidate gene expression in the kidney improves health span in a mouse model of CKD-mediated hyperphosphatemia. Successful completion of this project will explore the efficacy of a novel target of hyperphosphatemia-mediated aging acceleration and CKD-mediated hyperphosphatemia.
Aaron Brown, Ph.D.
Aaron Brown, Ph.D., Faculty Scientist, Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research
Project: Optogenetic-inducible energy expenditure for treatment of metabolic disease
This 2024-25 project aims to develop an innovative strategy for treating metabolic disease by utilizing optogenetics, a technique that uses light-sensitive proteins to control cellular processes with high precision.
Specific aims include developing tools for red-light optogenetic experiments, such as creating a custom 96-well red light multiplate photoirradiation system equipped with programmable red LEDs to control light intensity, pulse width, and frequency. Additionally, the project will involve generating lentivirus vectors for the stable expression of red-light inducible photoactivatable adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) and channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in beige adipocytes.
Former Pilot Project Awardees
Damien Carter, M.D.
Damien W. Carter, M.D., Critical Care Surgeon, MaineHealth Institute for Research
Project: Activation of PKM2: an approach to stimulate skin regeneration after burn injury
Carter studied a novel intervention at the level of the cell nucleus to reduce inflammation and improve regenerative healing after burn injuries. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a promising target molecule that regulates metabolism and the immune response after burn injury. This enzyme is usually associated with chemical energy production but has a recently discovered second life as a regulator of inflammation.
Using novel drugs to shift the molecular form of PKM2 away from its pro-inflammatory form to a pro-metabolic form, the study aimed to boost metabolism and, at the same time, show an anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative benefit for patients recovering from burn injury.
Suzanne Angeli, Ph.D.
Suzanne Angeli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Maine
Project: Determining How Germline Signals Impact Aging In Somatic Tissues
Angeli was awarded a COBRE Pilot Project grant in 2022 to use transgenic C. elegans roundworms to illuminate how signals between the reproductive system and the rest of the body may enhance longevity.
Inter-organ communication is increasingly viewed as a driver of the aging process. But how tissues signal each other to regulate aging remains a mystery. One well-studied example, observed from roundworms to humans, shows that inhibition of reproductive capacity in early life leads to longevity and prolonged healthspan of other organs.
Using a long-lived C. elegans mutant, Angeli worked to decode communication between the reproductive tract and somatic tissues that regulate aging. She also pursued germline-specific signals that influence the activities of energy-generating mitochondria in other organs, such as the intestines. Mitchondrial decline is highly associated with aging, and this effort will significantly advance our understanding of inter-tissue communication and its impact on aging.
Rosemary Smith, Ph.D.
Rosemary Smith, Ph.D., Butler Professor, University of Maine
Project: A novel medical device for early detection of neuropathy
Smith was awarded a COBRE Pilot Project grant in 2019 to develop a prototype device to detect diabetic neuropathy. The research applied interdisciplinary knowledge to engineer new methods and tools for molecular and cellular level measurement and manipulation. Her projects involved micro and nano-fabrication of devices and instruments, materials process engineering and microfluidics.
To detect early-stage diabetic peripheral neuropathy in skin and underlying tissue, Smith developed a microneedle electrode array with optimized electrode material and design. Her team validated the device using a mouse model and assembled microneedle electrodes into arrays using 3D printing and custom printed circuits.
Funding was also provided by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase 1 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. Her COBRE Pilot Project funding supported continued preclinical mouse studies and extensive data analysis required to determine diagnostic relevance in humans.