Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is helping to generate innovative health research ideas and promote collaboration through the awarding of pilot grants in its Bridges to Translation program. The institute has awarded $250,000, with co-sponsorship from the Center for Medical Innovation, to support six interdisciplinary, multi-investigator pilot research projects, giving researchers an opportunity to further explore new ideas and gather more information in preparation for larger grant opportunities from outside organizations. 

Funding is designed to support research that breaks down roadblocks across the translational research spectrum through:

• the development of novel technologies;
• multidisciplinary collaborations;
• dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs, policies, and practices;
• strategies for dissemination and implementation;
• training programs for the next generation of clinical research scientists and staff; and
• statistical methods and models to analyze data and projects that focus on addressing health needs among complex populations across the lifespan.

The translation of biomedical and health discoveries to application is a long and complex process with high costs and substantial failure rates. The Bridges to Translation funding mechanism invests in novel research ideas to promote collaboration across Penn State to collect information that could lead to external funding to advance health.

“We were thrilled to have received strong proposals addressing rural and at-risk populations this year,” Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski, director of the institute, said. “The six funded projects represent diverse research topics across the translational spectrum. We look forward to seeing where these projects lead to ultimately improve the health of the communities we serve.” 

Special consideration was given to projects focused on rural health and disparities; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB); and translational science principles. The competitive process awarded grants to the following Penn Staters across five colleges and nine departments:

• Fenglong Ma, assistant professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology, Institute for Computational and Data Sciences: “Fairness-aware Federated Learning for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Using Multimodal Electronic Health Records.” Co-PI: Dr. Nelson Yee

  Project description: Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer worldwide and the third most lethal cancer in the U.S., with an overall survival rate of 4.9%. The social burden of this disease is enormous as a result of healthcare costs and loss of work productivity. Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed in a late, incurable stage, and there is no effective screening test for early detection of the disease. Since pancreatic cancer is a rare disease, the availability of patient data is significantly limited for a single institution.

  This study aims to investigate the potential of advanced fairness-aware artificial intelligence (AI) techniques applied to multimodal electronic health records (EHR) to improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer. Novel and fair federated learning models will be designed to achieve personalized pancreatic cancer risk prediction. The success of this project will revolutionize the screening approaches for detecting pancreatic cancer in the early stage, improve clinical outcomes, and reduce the associated socio-economic burden.

• Sheridan Miyamoto, associate professor, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: “Pediatric Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Program - Increasing Equitable Access to Quality Sexual Abuse Care in Rural and Underserved Communities.”

  Project description: Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) supports evidence-based training of on-site nurses and the delivery of expert sexual assault care, quality assurance, and mentoring through telehealth to enhance equitable access to quality sexual assault care in rural and underserved communities. Currently, SAFE-T experts (teleSANEs) provide remote, 24/7 real-time support to the on-site nurse and adult and adolescent patients in eight existing hospitals using our proprietary forensic telehealth system.

  This study will translate SAFE-T’s manualized, evidence-based, community-engaged approach to bring expert pediatric sexual abuse care to underserved communities to address inequities in the availability of quality child sexual abuse care. SAFE-T will develop an expert pediatric teleSANE team and engage community partners to create a program tailored to build on community strengths and needs. Simultaneously, a generalizable, sustainable business model for sexual assault telehealth specialty care will be developed to ensure that solutions are available and accessible for communities that do not have this expertise.

• Fadia Kamal, associate professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine: “Develop a targeted regenerative OA therapeutic.” Co-PI: Amir Sheikhi

  Project description: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling disease that worsens with time, leading to poor quality of life. There are no medicines that can stop its progression, let alone prevent development or promote joint regeneration. Developing joint regenerating therapeutics could effectively regenerate the whole joint and bring back its normal function life-changing for patients.

  This study aims to develop a sustained-release targeted regenerative therapeutic that is injected directly into the affected joint once a year; aiming at lowering the dose, side effects and administration frequency to generate a minimally invasive targeted regenerative OA therapy.

• Dr. Michael McShane, assistant professor, Department of General Internal Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine: “Connecting the Network: Establishing a Coalition Towards Increased Immunization Rates in Central Pennsylvania.” Co-PIs: Jennifer Kowalkowski and Kathy Sexsmith

  Project description: Vaccination rates among rural populations are typically lower when compared to urban communities. Multiple socioeconomic, structural, and spatial factors play a role in vaccine uptake. In addition, due to recent historical events related to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional factors such as convenience, vaccine competency, perceived risk, and trust have greatly affected previously effective strategies to vaccine uptake. This is particularly true in our community in Centre County for specific populations including farmers and farm workers. Successful vaccination campaigns require bringing together key community stakeholders to better understand and confront these barriers.

  This study aims to establish a sustainable student-supported Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition to improve immunization rates among at-risk and underserved populations in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Integrating research with service, we aim to assess, measure, and describe enablers and barriers to vaccine uptake. Additionally, this study aims to translate current evidence and community-level data to pilot a community-based, culturally relevant vaccine recruitment initiative to increase vaccination uptake among farmers and farm workers.

• Dr. Seth Pantanelli, professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine: “Citrate-based Intracanalicular Implants for Treatment of Cataract Surgery Induced Inflammation.” Co-PI: Su Yan

  Project description: Cataract surgery is the most common outpatient procedure in the U.S., stressing the need for effective control of postoperative inflammation. Traditionally, preventive care involves using topical eye drops. However, their effectiveness is hindered. Additionally, current topical don't fully address infection risks, often requiring simultaneous use of antibiotics.

  To provide a consistent and user-friendly alternative, this study aims to develop the first fully biodegradable, sustained-release implant device successfully addressing both inflammation and infection at the same time. This device could also be used for other post-surgical eye treatments and the management of chronic ocular diseases by precisely delivering multiple medicines.

• Dr. Justin Tondt, assistant professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine: “Feasibility of Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) Dietician Program in Patients with Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).”

  Project description: Fatty liver disease is a leading cause of liver failure. Dietary weight loss is a cornerstone of treating fatty liver disease, but access to traditional in-person nutritional education is often limited by cost, availability, and transportation. Immersive virtual reality (iVR) has the potential to not only overcome these barriers, but also provide an interactive learning experience, such as measuring and preparing foods. Therefore, this study team has created and validated an iVR dietician program known as the Immersive Virtual Alimentation and Nutrition (IVAN) using evidence-informed practices from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

  The goal of this study is to translate the IVAN program from human and patient research to practice and community research by performing a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of the IVAN program in combination with synchronous audio/video dietary counseling on self-reported dietary intake and weight compared to in-person counseling.

Next pilot funding opportunities

Letters of intent are now being accepted for the institute’s next pilot funding opportunities. This year the CTSI will be offering two programs for which Penn State faculty can apply.

Bridges to Translation X: This competitive application will award four 12-month projects with $50,000 each.

Translational Science Pilot Funding Program: This grant mechanism is focused primarily on translational science, not translational research. This competitive application will award one 12-month project with $50,000.

The institute will award up to $250,000 in funding to Penn State faculty, with awards capped at $50,000. A required letter of intent is due by Sept. 13.

Information Session

The Virtual Translational Science Seminar series will host an information session for these opportunities on Aug. 1, noon-1 p.m. Presenters will also discuss translational science vs. translational research. Register here.

Penn State CTSI offers research support, tools and resources, consultative services, finding, training, and education to make health research more efficient and promote collaboration at Penn State. To learn about the institute’s resources, visit ctsi.psu.edu or request a consultation by completing a research request form.