Projects
Coulter Funded Projects
UVA's Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research builds networks of relationships around our researchers, connecting them with veteran entrepreneurs, investors, and experts in such fields as clinical trials, regulation, and patents and licensing. Because every new technology has its own requirements and follows its own path to the marketplace, we approach each project differently. The exchange of ideas, insight, and information is the engine that moves innovative technologies from university laboratories to the marketplace. We now have sixteen years of experience taking biomedical innovations born in the academic environment and translating them into practical use.
Projects Funded for 2024-2025
Cancer Specific Plectin (CSP) targeted Antibody Drug Conjugates
Dr. Kimberly Kelly, PhD (PI), Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Justin Taylor, PhD (Co-I), Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. Todd Bauer, MD (Co-I), Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology
Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a revolutionary class of biopharmaceuticals with significant clinical and commercial relevance. These targeted therapeutics combine the targeting precision of an antibody with the cytotoxicity of potent small molecules (drug) attached through a linker. In order for ADCs to work well because of the toxicity of the drug, they need targets that are on the cell surface of cancer, absent from normal cells, and they need to internalize to release the drug from the antibody. We have discovered a novel target, Cancer Specific Plectin (CSP) that fulfills all of these criteria. Thus, in this proposal, we will identify a novel set of CSP targeted antibodies that bind with high affinity, can internalize into cells and deliver cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells. The intellectual property for a novel antibody would be solely owned by UVa. Commercially, ADCs are a hot area with a deal between AstraZeneca and Sankyo Daichii worth up to $6.9B. Additionally, Merck bought Velos, a biotechnology company, for $2.9Bn on the strength of Velo’s ROR1 targeted ADC.
Electrospun Fiber-reinforced Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold for Osteochondral Defect Treatment
Donald Griffin, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Chris Highley, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Brent DeGeorge, M.D. Plastic Surgery
Over 200,000 surgical procedures are performed annually to address symptomatic knee pain related to either cartilage or osteochondral defects in the United States alone1. Current advancements underscore a growing emphasis on bioactive scaffolds that mimic the native extracellular matrix by fostering cell adhesion, 2 proliferation, and differentiation. Additionally, integrating growth factors or bioactive molecules within these scaffolds can enhance their regenerative potential, thus promoting tissue repair4 shown an ability to promote chondrogenesis, these biomaterials still face challenges, including degradation. While some materials have kinetics that are mistimed with tissue formation, a frequent inability to achieve mechanical integration with surrounding tissue, and difficulty achieving the complex dynamic biochemical microenvironment needed to drive cell-based chondrogenesis 2.
Clinical Translation of Real-time Cine and Strain MRI for a 20-minute Cardiotoxicity Exam
Frederick Epstein, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering and Radiology,Craig H. Meyer, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, and Amit Patel, MD Medical Imaging and Radiology
The overall goal of this project is to translate advanced cardiac MRI methods developed at the University of Virginia to clinical use at the University of Virginia Health System within two years. The methods that will be translated are real-time cine for rapid assessment of cardiac volumes and function, and myocardial strain imaging to quantify heart muscle deformation. These methods will enable a 20-minute cardiotoxicity exam.
Development of a Clinically Viable Surgical Planning Framework for Automated, Objective Assessment of Speech Function to Improve Surgical Outcomes for Children with Cleft Palate
Silvia Blemker, PhD (Co-PI)– Biomedical Engineering, Kazlin Mason PhD (Co-PI)– Human Services; School of Education & Human Development, Jonathan Black, MD – Plastic Surgery; School of Medicine, Steve Baek, PhD – Data Science; School of Data Science
Cleft palate and associated velopharyngeal anomalies impact 1 in 700 live births and are linked with nearly 400 syndromic conditions. These abnormalities alter the bone, muscles, and soft tissue anatomy of the face and upper airway, particularly the velopharyngeal mechanism, which is crucial for normal speech and resonance. Surgical intervention in early childhood is necessary to restore normal speech capabilities. However, the procedures have an alarmingly high failure rate, reaching up to 32%, necessitating multiple revision surgeries. With each subsequent surgery, the likelihood for achieving normal speech and resolving velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) diminishes. This cycle places a heavy burden on patients and significantly reduces their quality of life. These poor and failed outcomes are directly tied to gaps in current speech assessment methods (Mason, 2022; Mason & Black, 2023). Adequate, objective, pre-operative assessment methods that consider the patient-specific mechanics of the underlying velopharyngeal (VP) anatomy are urgently needed and currently lacking in clinical practice. In response to this, our team has proposed a highly unique, transformative technological solution. We have thus far successfully developed an automated tool to quantify the VP anatomy in those with normal anatomy.
Restoring Sight Through Molecular Glues
Thomas H. Barker, Ph.D. Professor of Biomedical Engineering, David M Gamm, M.D., Ph.D. RRF Emmett A. Humble Distinguished Director of McPherson Eye Research Inst., Univ. of Wisconsin
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are large class of rare genetic diseases that lead to progressive retinal degeneration and loss of sight beginning in childhood. Unlike being born blind, these children and young adults must go through the experience of first having sight and then losing it. Choroideremia, one such IRD, is an ultrarare genetic disease affecting 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 individuals. There are no treatments. The disease manifests due to a loss of function in Rab Escort Protein 1 (REP1), a chaperone protein that facilitates the essential prenylation of Rab proteins by Rab geranylgeranyl-transferase (RGGTase). Rab proteins can be thought of as the “Postmen” of our intracellular transport system. They instruct cargo-carrying vesicles where to go and catalyze membrane fusion, thus delivering the cargo. The Rab system is essential for all eukaryotic life. REP2 (CHML gene), displaying similarity to REP1, compensates throughout the body except in the retina. Development of therapeutics has myopically focused on CHM gene replacement therapy, but the approach has demonstrated a significant number of limitations, including complex manufacturing, high COGS, complicated surgery with risk of complete retinal detachment, and a limited delivery area/area of correction, thus the approach displays a high risk/benefit calculus for treating pediatric patients and unattractive economics. The recent failure of this approach in a Phase 3 clinical trial has “reset” the field and left a dearth of alternative approaches in the pipeline.
Nanofiber-Stabilized, Highly Microporous Granular Hydrogels for Tissue Reconstruction After Lumpectomies in Breast Cancer Treatment
Chris Highley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Patrick Cottler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Resident Research, Plastic, Surgery and Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology, Chris Campbell, M.D., FACS Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery
As the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States, breast cancer affects close to 350,000 U.S. women each year; approximately 300,000 of these diagnoses are invasive breast cancer and 50,000 are ductal carcinoma in situ. More than 90% of the woman with Stage I-III diagnoses will be treated surgically, with breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy) accounting for over 60% of surgical breast cancer treatments. Lumpectomies are often followed by radiation. As they involve tissue removal, lumpectomies carry with them challenges related to reconstruction, healing, and regeneration around the site of tumor resection. The complex surgical wound typically heals through formation of a seroma and hematoma, followed by fibrotic scarring and tissue contraction. This can lead to unpredictable outcomes and secondary surgical procedures to revise and reconstruct deformities. There are no commercial products available to surgeons to support predictable reconstruction and restoration of breast tissue.
Noninvasive Wearable Lactate Sensor for Sepsis Prediction
Amanda Watson, Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering, Robert Thiele, Professor Anesthesiology, Kyle Quinn, Assistant Professor Anesthesiology
Sepsis is a severe medical condition that arise when the body's response to infection causes metabolic derangement leasing to tissue damage, organ failure, and can lead to death. In the United States, more than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with sepsis each year, equating to approximately one diagnosis every 20 seconds. Furthermore, this incidence is reported to be increasing by about 8% each year. Sepsis not only leads to significant mortality but also places a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems, with hospital costs exceeding $24 billion annually.