COBRE Pilot Awards
The UNE Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function was established in 2012 through funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The Center’s mission is to significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of chronic pain. The annual pilot project awards aid in this mission by supporting new projects at UNE in the field of sensory and pain research. This award also helps build the neuroscience research community at UNE. To date, three of these pilot projects have led to extramural awards.
2022 Pilot Projects
Application Deadlines and Information
The Center will be accepting proposals for 2022 Pilot Projects. Proposals should be aimed at acquiring preliminary data for NIH R01/R15/R21/SBIR/STTR or comparable grant applications and for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Studies should utilize the COBRE Histology and Imaging Core and/or Behavior Core facilities.
Projects may request up to $25,000 per year for a maximum of two years with the earliest start date of June 1, 2022. Continuation of funding after the first year is contingent upon success in meeting project goals and approval of COBRE External Advisory Board. Proposals will be reviewed by a study section which will make funding recommendations to the External Advisory Board. All applications will require approval by NIH prior to funding. Investigators who receive support are expected to submit a progress report prior to the end of the first year outlining progress made to date. Faculty at the University of New England, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, and the University of New Hampshire are eligible to apply.
Applications
Applications are due January 14, 2022. Completed applications must include (links below provide downloadable templates):
- Project Title and Summary (PDF)
- Research Strategy Section
- 3-page limit (not including works cited)
- Includes
- Specific Aims
- Background/Significance
- Experimental Design/Approach
- Expected Outcomes
- Timeline for Completion
- Includes
- 3-page limit (not including works cited)
- NIH Biosketches for all major personnel and collaborators
- Budget page: please provide a detailed justification for all supplies and personnel
- IACUC/IRB approval is not required for grant submission but will be required if the proposal is selected for funding
Applications must be received by Jennifer Malon via email at jmalon@une.edu no later than 5 p.m. on January 14, 2022.
Contact
Questions around this application can be directed to Jennifer Malon, (207) 602-2517.
2020 Pilot Projects
Diana Goode, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Summary
Determine if inhibiting CD4+ T cell activation will decrease the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in DRG and prolong mechanical hypersensitivity. These results will provide compelling evidence that DRG neurons have the capacity to directly activate CD4+ T cells to trigger the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines in models of neuropathic and inflammatory.
Assistant Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Summary
There is evidence supporting the hypothesis that oxytocin reduces the negative affective component of chronic pain through the activation of NAc GABAergic interneurons. This project will characterize oxytocin signaling in nucleus accumbens GABAergic interneurons ex vitro. The study will also examine the activity of NAc GABAergic interneurons in chronic pain in behaving animals.
2019 Pilot Projects
The 2019 pilot awards were supported by the COBRE 5P20GM103643 and the Office of Research and Scholarship.
Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
Co-Investigator
Meghan May, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
*R15 Grant Awarded July 2020
2018 Pilot Projects
The 2018 pilot awards were supported by the COBRE 5P20GM103643 and the Office of Research and Scholarship.
Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
Co-Investigator
Meghan May, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Co-Investigators
Tamara King, Ph.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ben Harrison, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine
2017 Pilot Project Recipients
The 2017 pilot awards were supported by the COBRE 5P20GM103643 and the Office of Research and Scholarship.
Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
Co-Investigator
Meghan May, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
2016 Pilot Grant Recipients
The 2016 pilot awards were supported by the COBRE 5P20GM103643.
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
2015 Pilot Grant Recipients
The 2015 pilot awards were supported in part by the COBRE 5P20GM103643, UNE’s Office of Sponsored Research, and Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences.
Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Katherine Hanlon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Professor in the Westbrook College of Health Professions
*Transitioned to COBRE Project September 2016
**American Pain Society Rita Allen Fellowship Award - Received April 2016
***R15 Grant Awarded April 2016
2014 Pilot Grant Recipients
Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences.
View Glenn Stevenson's bio
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine.
*R15 Grant Awarded September 2014
**Transitioned to COBRE Project October 2014