BUIES CREEK, North Carolina – Dr. Yunbo R. Li, assistant dean for biomedical research, and Dr. Hong Zhu, associate professor of physiology, received new National Institutes of Health and National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NIH/NHLBI) funding for a collaborative project with principal investigator Dr. Zhenquan Jia, associate professor of biology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) and adjunct professor at Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. The grant total to the principle investigator, Dr. Jia, and to Drs. Li and Zhu as sub-awardees, totals over $455,000 for the project period of Aug. 20, 2016 to July 31, 2019.
The project will investigate carbon-based nano-quantum dots as a novel modality for the intervention of inflammatory cardiovascular injury. Carbon-based nano-quantum dots (CQDs) are useful in biomedicine because they possess such properties as good conductivity, benign chemical composition, and photochemical stability and this investigation will determine their value in treating cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Drs. Li and Zhu have been long-term collaborators of Dr. Z. Jia, also principal investigator of NSF funding and sub-awardee principal investigator of NCI/NIH funding with Dr. Li.
“This carbon-based nano quantum dots project, if successful, would lead to the development of a novel therapeutic modality for inflammatory cardiovascular injury and lay a solid foundation for their continued collaborative efforts to receive additional federal funding to move forward this area of innovative research,” said Drs. Li and Jia.
“Drs. Li and Zhu continue to be among the leaders in biomedical research at Campbell University,” said Dr. John Mr. Kauffman, Jr., dean of the medical school.
“Their dedication to scientific investigation as well as the outstanding academic experience they provide for our students – in the classroom and the laboratory – will profoundly impact our school for years to come.”