KBRIN-sponsored NKU research receives NIH funding

Tanea Reed, Department of Chemistry, Eastern Kentucky University

KBRIN-funded: May 1, 2009 – April 30, 2012
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Funding: September 15, 2011 - 2014

Eastern Kentucky University faculty member Dr. Tanea Reed, initially funded through the Kentucky INBRE program, is the recipient of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. She is the Principal Investigator on an initiative to research therapeutic treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Preliminary data show efficacy of treatment with gamma glutamylcysteine ethyl ester (GCEE) in animal models of TBI. This suggests that it could be a preventive against progressive secondary TBI. The three-year NIH grant will be used to study the use of GCEE in cases of moderate TBI. Should GCEE given post TBI be protective against TBI-induced secondary injury for longer than 10 minutes, this would be an effective intervention that could feasibly be administered in the field.

Public Health Relevance: Approximately ten million people worldwide suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) for which there is currently no therapeutic intervention or cure. Immediate medical attention after the incident is most beneficial for patient recovery. Since TBI is a sudden injury, the only viable approaches to therapy are post therapeutic strategies. Read Abstract

Dr. Reed has been the recipient of two KBRIN INBRE AREA awards. This most recent award provides funds for:

1. Support for undergraduate students:

• Creating a strong research environment for students at Eastern Kentucky University
• Expanding biomedical research for students
• Enabling students from a traditionally underrepresented state in biomedical sciences to advance in biomedical graduate programs.