Projects

Combination of PPIs and Pirfenidone for Pulmonary Fibrosis
NHLBI R01 (PI: Ghebre)
June 1, 2017 - May 31, 2022
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
$250,000/year
Goal: The major goal of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of combining the standard therapy pirfenidone with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to mitigate the effects of chemoradiation therapy in the lungs.

The PPARd/miR-146a Axis Protects Against Endothelial Dysfunction and Prevents Atherosclerosis
Grant-in-Aid (PI: Ghebre)
Jan. 1, 2017 - Dec. 31, 2019
American Heart Association
$77,000/year
Goal: The major goal of this project is to modulate the PPARd/miR-146 axis to improve endothelial function and prevent atherosclerotic vascular disease.

DDAH As a Novel Target in Pulmonary Fibrosis
NHLBI K-award (PI: Ghebre)
Sept. 26, 2013 - May 30, 2019
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
$143,775/year
Goal: The major goal of this project is to repurpose a generic drug for a new indication: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The study will also investigate the mechanism by which proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) regulate the NOS/DDAH pathway including solving the co-crystal structure of a PPI bound to NOS/DDAH.

Topical Application of Esomeprazole for the Prevention of Radiation Dermatitis
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (PI: Ludwig; Role: Co-investigator)
April 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018
Baylor College of Medicine
$50,000/year
Goal: The goal of this project is to examine the efficacy of a topically reformulated drug for radiation dermatitis.

Cardiopulmonary Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
Start-up Fund (PI: Ghebre)
Feb. 15, 2016 - Dec. 31, 2019
Baylor College of Medicine
$100,000/year
Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate off-target effects of chemotherapy and ionizing radiation therapy.

Caroline Weiss Law Fund (PI: Ghebre)
July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
Baylor College of Medicine
$30,000/year
Goal: The major goal of this project is to evaluate mechanism(s) by which nicotine stimulates angiogenesis and increases fibrosis and cancer risk. The study will interrogate the nicotinic cholinergic pathway.

Understanding the Role of the Nitric Oxide Pathway in Epigenetic Plasticity
Internal Grant (PI: Ghebremariam; 15 percent effort)
July 1, 2013 - Feb. 15, 2016
Houston Methodist Research Institute
$200,000/year
Goal: The goal of the study is to determine if the nitric oxide (NO)/dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) pathway plays a role in epigenetic plasticity during nuclear reprogramming/transdifferentiation.

Postdoctoral Fellowship 20FT-0090 (PI: Ghebremariam)
Aug. 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013
Goal: This project funded by the Tobacco Related Diseases Research Program of the University of California aims to develop small molecule inhibitors of DDAH for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Dean’s Merit-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship (PI: Ghebremariam)
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2009
Goal: This project was supported by Stanford University School of Medicine dean’s fellowship to improve the efficiency of protein-based nuclear reprogramming by studying hurdles of delivering transcription factors as recombinant proteins.

International patent applications (co-inventor):

• Issued: "Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase inhibitors and methods of use thereof" 2015 Patent #: US 9,011,882 (Stanford University)
• Filed: "Proton pump inhibitors for the prevention of chemoradiation-induced tissue inflammation and fibrosis" (Baylor College of Medicine)
• Filed: S08-263 "A non-viral strategy for nuclear reprogramming" (Stanford University)