Xavier University Of Louisiana

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-10

This REU Site award to Xavier University of Louisiana, located in New Orleans, LA will support the training of 30 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2027-2029. Participants will be recruited from across the US and will include students with limited access to research opportunities and resources in their home institutions. Research mentors will guide trainees in individual projects, aligned with the program theme of “Natural and Synthetic Mechanisms that Alter Biological Processes”, using an interdisciplinary approach to provide critical insights that build greater understanding of the physical world. Trainees will also be involved in collaborative research as laboratories work together to address common interests and research problems. Trainees will present their research at an end-of-summer symposium and will be encouraged to present at national scientific conferences. Throughout the summer program, the cohort of trainees will participate in seminars and workshops designed to enhance professional skills and explore potential career paths in the STEM fields. Assessment of this program will be done through surveys of trainees and mentors, as well as through long-term tracking of trainee academic and career pathways after program participation. Students should apply to the REU site using NSF ETAP (Education and Training Application: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/8501/opportunity/11970). The training students will receive is aligned with the NSF priority in Biotechnology. The modification of biological activity through changes in genetic content or via the addition of chemical compounds is the overarching theme of this program. The program takes a holistic approach to studying the effect of chemical agents on macromolecules, with particular emphasis on molecular regulation, maintenance of biological integrity, and cellular communication critical to biological activity. By integrating research laboratories in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Computer Science, students will utilize a wide array of experimental methodologies to better understand the mechanisms of fundamental biological processes. From modeling-based design of macromolecules to molecular synthesis and the subsequent testing of compounds on biological activity, trainees will gain a wealth of scientific knowledge and experience with experimental methodology that will prepare them for future training for paths in STEM careers. This preparation will also involve professional development activities, including graduate school application and GRE prep, science communication training, career exploration sessions, and visits with industry leaders at a local bioinnovation center. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The theoretical and numerical analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) play significant roles in a variety of applications. However, an immediate challenge lies in ascertaining the computational accuracy of numerical schemes required for solving such PDEs, when their solutions lack sufficient regularity. This research project poses a series of fundamental questions together with steps for their resolution, aimed at advancing and developing the regularity theory for systems of hyperbolic conservation laws, using tools from analysis and geometric measure theory. The obtained outcomes will propel this field of research towards more exciting open questions and yield increasingly accurate numerical schemes of practical value for these equations. Furthermore, this project emphasizes several prospects, such as research exposure, specialized mentoring programs and outreach events, to create a training ground in mathematical education and research for undergraduate students at Xavier University of Louisiana and beyond. There are two main parts to this research project. The first part is directed towards providing a geometric description for systems of conservation laws and exploring the regularity of their solutions using approximation theory. Reformulating systems of hyperbolic conservation laws in a Lagrangian form provides an equivalent representation of systems by means of particle paths. This segment will focus on studying the relation between Lagrangian and Eulerian formulations of conservation laws, renewing interest in this topic from a geometric point of view. Here, the goals are to: (i) describe systems of conservation laws using the notion of particle paths that are in the form of weak diffeomorphisms and establish these as extremals of an action functional defined on the corresponding algebra in the Eulerian formulation; and (ii) measure the regularity of solutions to systems of conservation laws, particularly for Temple systems, using approximation spaces characterized in terms of Besov spaces. The second part of the project will focus on performing a quantitative analysis of the two-component Fornberg-Whitham (FW) system in Besov spaces to investigate the possibility of a global in time solution and criteria for wave-breaking. The two-component FW system is a model for studying surface waves in shallow water. Establishing its well-posedness and analyzing conditions for global existence of its strong solutions are challenging problems associated with this system in various function spaces. As part of this project, the FW system will be examined in Besov spaces, which are function spaces receiving increasing attention in the recent years as they generalize Sobolev spaces and are more effective at measuring regularity of functions. This exercise is aimed at breaking new ground by (i) developing a quantitative analysis of global strong solutions and seeking global weak solutions for the FW system in Besov spaces; and (ii) investigating wave breaking for the FW system corresponding to a large class of initial data, while adapting methods used to examine the Fornberg-Whitham equation that remains relevant in several areas of research in physics and is more recently being studied in coastal oceanography. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Informed consent is a cornerstone of research ethics. However, standard consent procedures often fail to ensure participants understand the content and consequences of their participation in research. This project will extend scientific understanding of informed consent in the social and behavioral sciences by probing participant comprehension of data sharing options and preferences for confidentiality. These issue areas have grown in importance as researchers aim to conduct work that is both ethical and transparent. This project involves three related activities. First, the development of a scoping review of past research on the topic. Second, an expert workshop to discuss current practices that aim to enhance ethical consent and research trade-offs in consent design decisions. And third, the collection of original data through focus groups with researchers who seek to obtain consent for surveys, as well as interviews with research participants. Findings from this project will inform researcher decision-making with respect to informed consent design choices and contribute to evidence-based recommendations about how to improve standard practices for obtaining consent. Participation in research is essential for the progress of the social and behavioral sciences, and ensuring genuinely informed consent is key to the ethical treatment of participants. This project seeks to advance scientific understanding of informed consent, focusing on two key issues. First, the project assesses how participants understand confidentiality and data sharing in the informed consent process. Second, it evaluates how participants behave when introduced to various types of content included in the consent script and different modes of obtaining consent. The project begins with a scoping review of prior research on this topic and convening a workshop of experts to identify which issues are most pressing. These activities will inform subsequent original data collection in the United States and abroad. Focus groups will collect enumerator perspectives and recommendations on informed consent processes and gather specific feedback on the informed consent scripts used in cognitive probing interviews. The cognitive interviews will examine how research participants understand and react to content, language, or delivery variations in the informed consent process. This project is funded through the ER2 program by the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-09

PRISTINE (Partnerships to Promote Research & Innovation for SocieTal Impact & Novel Engagements) is a collaboration among three primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI) that are committed to developing academic-industry partnerships to enhance innovation and promote workforce development throughout their regions. The composition of the PRISTINE cohort – private and public universities, liberal arts and community colleges, urban and rural communities – positions the cohort well to engage and advance the economic viability of small and medium sized businesses not typically able to contribute to use-inspired research (UIR) and/or innovations made possible by emerging technologies. UIR is aimed at solving real-world problems, leading to faster and more effective solutions than any one organization could develop on its own. The effort will establish a community of practice that is designed to build capacity, especially at smaller institutions of higher education and PUIs, to develop, implement, and strengthen external research innovation partnerships in emerging technologies. PRISTINE will enhance the cohort’s individual and collective capacities to: cultivate external partnerships that will attract research funding and facilitate UIR in emerging technology fields; leverage our expertise in experiential learning to develop credentialed workforce training programs; and support faculty and staff to deepen their expertise around grant seeking and technology transfer to increase the number of formal proposals and agreements between institutions and industry partners. The cohort intends to develop resources and training in these areas for faculty and industry partners, and disseminate their learnings through a public-facing virtual playbook/website. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-07

Cells on the surface of animal tissues and organs adhere for survival to an underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) of proteins via adhesion proteins called integrins. Loss of cell attachment is regulated to shed cells from these tissues via a process called programmed cell death. While direct integrin-mediated signals to downstream cell death processes are well characterized, little is known about other integrin-regulated mechanisms that affect or prevent programmed cell death. This project aims to understand the role of an integrin-mediated protein called TLE1, which works as a master regulator of integrin-mediated cell survival via TLE1’s effects on activation of many genes. The research plan is to characterize these downstream gene targets of TLE1, as well as components of the other proteins that work with TLE1 in order to better understand the regulation of the balance between cell survival and death, which is essential for development and maintenance of organisms. By advancing knowledge of the regulation of cell death, this project may yield novel therapeutic strategies that target cell death pathways in order to advance or prevent removal of cells for disease treatment. Additionally, this project expands the research capability at Xavier University of Louisiana and supports education and broadening participation for undergraduate students by integrating systems biology research into undergraduate courses and providing research opportunities for undergraduate students. The project will generate crucial insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms governing epithelial cell survival. Specifically, it will explore the role of transcriptional coregulators as molecular targets of integrins in fine-tuning epigenetic and transcriptional responses. Using multiomics and bioinformatic approaches, this project aims to: i) Identify the survival-promoting gene transcriptional program controlled by TLE1 and integrin-regulated cell adhesion via integrated RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis; ii) Characterize the key components of the TLE1 corepressor complex that drive transcriptional and epigenetics events underpinning epithelial cell survival through proteomics; and iii) Map the TLE1-dependent genome-wide histone marks associated with epithelial cell survival by use of epigenetic and epigenomic approaches. Leveraging integrated multiomics data analysis coupled with molecular, biochemical, and cellular validation, this project will underscore the role of TLE1 in defining an epigenetic signature permissive of gene expression critical for adhesion-dependent cell survival. Inhibition of TLE1’s nuclear function upon loss of integrin-dependent survival signal may result in an epigenomic landscape associated with cell death. The research findings will provide a mechanistic framework for the role of transcriptional coregulators in linking epigenome alterations to transcriptional reprogramming during cellular stress. This work will also have significant impact on understanding animal tissue homeostasis and organismal development, as both processes require precise regulation of epithelial cell survival and death. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-10

This project is a collaboration between three institutions: University of California-San Diego, Xavier University of Louisiana, and University of California-Irvine. The human blood contains different cell types that are continuously produced, while older cells die. As this process continues while the organism ages, mistakes are made during cell production, generating mutant cells. These mutants can linger in the blood and become more abundant over time. They can contribute to chronic health conditions and there is a chance that they initiate cancer. It is not well understood why these mutant cells persist and expand. One problem that has held back progress is that for obvious reasons it is impossible to perform experiments with human subjects to investigate this. Mathematics combined with epidemiological data, however, offers a way around this limitation. This project develops mathematical models describing the evolution of mutant cells in the blood over time, using experimental mouse data to define the model structure. New mathematical approaches are then used to adapt this model to the human blood system, by bridging between mathematical models of mutant evolution in the blood, and the epidemiological age-incidence of mutants in the human population. There is broad public health impact, since this work can suggest ways to reduce the mutant cells in patients, which can alleviate chronic health conditions and reduce cancer risk. From the educational perspective, the PIs collaborate with Xavier University of Louisiana, an undergraduate historically black university, to foster enthusiasm in continued education and careers in STEM, and equip students with knowledge and skills to potentially continue in graduate programs at top universities, thus promoting social mobility. As higher organisms age, tissue cells acquire mutations that can rise in frequency over time. Such clonal evolutionary processes have been documented in many human tissues and have become a major focus for understanding the biology of aging. Gaining more insights into mechanisms that drive mutant emergence in non-malignant human tissues is an important biological / public health question that needs to be addressed to define correlates of tissue aging. While experiments in mice have suggested possible drivers of mutant evolution in tissues, a central unresolved question is whether (and how) knowledge from murine models can be applied to humans. Mathematics provides a new approach to address this challenge: We propose a multiscale approach that uses mathematics to bridge between cellular dynamics of mice and humans, by utilizing epidemiological data of mutant incidence in human populations. We use “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential” (CHIP) as a study system, where TET2 and DNMT3A mutant clones emerge in the histologically normal hematopoietic system. Based on stem cell transplantation experiments in mice, we seek to construct a predictive mathematical model of mutant evolution in mice. Using the hazard function, this in vivo model can predict the epidemiological incidence of mutants. Fitting predicted to observed mutant age-incidence data for humans will yield a parameterized and predictive model of human TET2 and DNMT3A mutant evolution. Public health impacts include a better understanding of mutant evolution in the human hematopoietic system, which may lead to evolution-based intervention strategies to reduce CHIP mutant burden. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-09

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious health concern for older Americans for which there is currently no cure. The multi-level determinants of cognitive function, an early-stage component of the AD continuum, are less understood in the aging American population. Allostatic load (AL), an indicator of multisystem (e.g., nervous, cardiovascular) physiological dysregulation driven by chronic stress, may be one determinant of declining cognitive function. The neighborhood is an emerging determinant of cognitive function that may be especially relevant for older adults who are aging in neighborhoods of varied conditions. Neighborhood characteristics together with perceived neighborhood stressors may exacerbate AL, to the detriment of cognitive function for midlife and older adults. The overall research objective is to examine the relationship between AL and cognitive function and whether this association is impacted by both objective neighborhood characteristics (i.e., neighborhood demographics) and perceived neighborhood stressors (i.e., high disorder and low cohesion) in midlife and older adults. Secondary, longitudinal data will come from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study of health among the midlife and older (>50 years of age) US adult population. Specific aims for this project include: (Aim 1) testing the relationship between AL and cognitive function using baseline linear regression and growth curve models; (Aim 2) examining the moderating roles of neighborhood demographic characteristics on the relationship between AL and cognitive function to predict baseline cognitive function and change over time using cross-sectional linear regression models and growth curve models; and (Aim 3) analyzing the association between AL, perceived neighborhood stressors, and cognitive function in baseline linear models and growth curve models stratified by levels of neighborhood demographic characteristics. The positive impact of the proposed research will be an increased understanding of complex, multifactorial place-based and physiological determinants of cognitive function among midlife and older Americans. Furthermore, by mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, I will contribute to increasing the aging research pipeline and expanding my university’s population health and aging research capacity.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-09

This project represents a trailblazing effort to address the complex challenges of climate change through collaborative research and capacity-building activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The HBCU-Climate Action Network (HBCU-CAN) is a multi-institution consortium led by Xavier University in Louisiana, in collaboration with Coppin State University in Maryland, Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, Hampton University in Virginia, and Kentucky State University in Kentucky. These five institutions are distinctly capable and strategically positioned to collaboratively address the grand challenges of climate change that adversely impact the communities they serve. HBCU-CAN envisions achieving these outcomes through an intentional program of research and network capacity-building activities that center around themes of climate change and justice related to Clean Energy Generation and Storage, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Justice. In this pilot project, the consortium will prioritize activities to strengthen research capacity and network building across the institutions, as well as activities to further integrate the three research themes. The project will engage faculty, local communities, and students in “culturally congruent” interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research that spans the range of basic research programs in NSF-supported fields. The long-term vision of HBCU-CAN is to incubate and catalyze vibrant collaborative research cultures and projects among the five participating HBCUs and their local communities. Through this energized network, faculty and students from the participating institutions will conduct innovative basic, translational, and use-inspired research in interdisciplinary topics related to climate science and justice. Project activities include expanding the inter-institutional collaborations to enhance research capacity in atmospheric science and environmental remediation; supporting faculty professional development and student training in climate sciences, engaging with community stakeholders for developing practical and influential strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and continual networking and engagement to ensure integration and synergy across the research themes. This project is funded by the NSF HBCU-Excellence in Research program and co-funded by the NSF Directorate of Geosciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-09

The overall aim of the Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) between Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) and the University of Chicago (UChicago) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) is to enhance workforce development in materials science and engineering careers by engaging undergraduate students in cutting-edge research. This project is significant to the national interest because of its focus on preparing home-grown talent for specialized careers in materials science and engineering. In addition, the two research projects proposed in this project are directly aligned with achieving national energy independence. Specifically, this project focuses on developing new composite materials for high energy density battery systems. By focusing on enhancing both the ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability of solid electrolytes, this project will lead to new materials with the potential to improve the long-term cyclability and energy density of rechargeable battery systems for portable energy storage applications. Beyond research, this project also seeks to engage a younger generation in materials science and engineering. This partnership will establish a new K-12 teacher training program, engage in summer academic enrichment programs at XULA, and begin a new community outreach effort engaging the K-12 community in materials science through art. Facilitated by the XULA-UChicago PREM, this project offers newly envisioned research directions that are focused on the development of innovative composite materials through two new research thrusts. Research Thrust 1 focuses on understanding the structure-property relationships of polymer-based composite materials that include organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPC). OIPCs are an emerging class of soft material that resemble ionic liquids in their molecular structure. These unique organic salts exhibit multiple endothermic thermal transitions that are due to the ability of OIPCs to exhibit both long-range crystalline order and short-range disorder, resulting from localized rotational motion of ionic species comprising the organic salt. The properties of OIPCs are relevant to solid-state energy storage systems, electrochromic devices, and gas separation technologies. Despite their intriguing properties, the structure-property relationships of OIPCs and their polymer composites are an understudied research area within materials science. To close this knowledge gap, Research Thrust 1 will focus on (1) understanding the structure-property relationships of new OIPCs, and (2) 3D-printing of polymer/OIPC composite materials. Research thrust 2 involves the design and study of new composite materials that support solid-state lithium metal batteries and includes research projects that address four main objectives: (1) synthesis and characterization of redox-active bis(naphthoquinones), (2) computational modeling to determine the lithium intercalation mechanism in bis(naphthoquinones), (3) investigating the interfacial reactions between bis(naphthoquinone)-based cathodes and solid polymer electrolyte, and (4) preparing solid polymer electrolyte ionogels comprised of a partially fluorinated polymer matrix. Overall, the materials investigated within Thrust 2 are expected to provide robust battery cyclability in solid-state lithium metal batteries, improve ion transport and enhance the electrochemical stability of the polymeric solid electrolyte. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-09

The All of Us Research Program (AoURP), also known as the Precision Medicine Initiative, is a longitudinal study seeking to enroll one million participants as diverse as the nation. Specifically, the Program seeks to enroll people who have not typically participated in biomedical research. The AoURP will have the tools to evaluate three dimensions of health: biology, environment, and lifestyle. One of the priorities of the AoURP is to engage and mobilize AoU Workbench Researchers to productively use this research asset to address health concerns that impact the lives of citizens. The Xavier University of Louisiana Driving Advancement, Transforming Access (XULA DATA) Program seeks to engage, educate, and equip faculty and student researchers from high teaching load and high advising load (HTL/HAL) intuitions to be able to participate in Big Data research by productively using the AoU dataset

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-08

Targeted Degradation of HIV Integrase as a Novel Treatment of Infection PROJECT SUMMARY Due to the development of antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection is no longer a death sentence but rather a treatable chronic disease, providing people with HIV an almost normal life expectancy. However, the most recent WHO HIV Drug Resistance Report indicates that the prevalence of acquired and transmitted HIV drug resistance has exponentially increased in the recent years. The prevalence of three and four-class resistant HIV is already estimated to range from 5 to 10% in Europe, while somewhat lower rates are still reported for North America (<3%). Indeed, pan-resistant viruses against some drug classes have already been reported. It seems inevitable that fully drug resistant viruses will arise in the not-too-distant future, which necessitates the development of novel anti-HIV drugs. Rather than continue to design new inhibitors for drug-resistant HIV, we propose an alternative strategy – the development of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) using existing anti-HIV drugs. PROTACs are small, bifunctional molecules that contain a warhead domain specific to the targeted protein of interest coupled by a short linker to an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding domain. Rather than working as a classical inhibitor, these small molecules promote ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the target protein. Using this technique to degrade pathological proteins has the added benefit that PROTACs can often be used at concentrations significantly lower than standard inhibitors, as there is no need for PROTACs to be present at stoichiometric concentrations. Once a PROTAC induces ubiquitination of the target protein, the protein is degraded and the PROTAC is free to bind another protein and repeat the cycle. Of particular importance to this project is that the transient nature of PROTAC interaction with, and subsequent ubiquitination of the target protein means that a high affinity drug-target interaction is not as necessary as with classical stoichiometric inhibitors. Indeed, PROTACs developed for oncogenic kinases using existing inhibitors as the warhead domain were able to induce degradation of kinases with mutations that conferred resistance to the same inhibitors. We postulate that it will be possible to target HIV proteins in virus that has become resistant to the inhibitory effect of a drug with the corresponding PROTAC, due to the lower binding affinity required for degradation compared to inhibition. Our early stage PROTACs designed to induce degradation of the HIV integrase enzyme show nanomolar efficacy in both proteolysis of integrase, as well as a blockade of de novo HIV infection in T cells using well-established assays. This application combines the expertise of investigators in PROTAC design and biological assay development with that of an established research team at an NIH CFAR site. Our goal is the development of proof-of-principle PROTACs that test the hypothesis that PROTACs are active against viruses that have developed resistance mutations in the viral protein that is targeted by the PROTAC warhead. As expected for an R21 application, this is a high-risk proposal; but if successful, the outcome will provide new avenues for anti-HIV drug development for the increasingly resistant HIV virus.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-08

With support from the Chemical Structure and Dynamics (CSD) program in the Division of Chemistry and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR) program in the Office of Integrative Activities, Professors Samrat Dutta and Kevin Riley, of Xavier University of Louisiana will study the connection between ionic liquid structures and their resulting macroscopic properties (such as viscosity and gas solubility) in mixtures. While single ionic liquids have been pursued as a promising class of environmentally friendly solvents both for industrial and laboratory practices, little is known about the behavior of mixtures of ionic liquids and how such mixing impacts their properties. Mixtures of ionic liquids possess uniquely high gas solubility as compared to their pure counterparts and can be polymerized to form interfaces for solid-state ion transport which are also influenced by their mixing ability. The team will develop unique vibrational spectroscopy probes, supported by quantum chemistry calculations, to present a molecular picture of ionic liquid mixtures, particularly from the perspective of ideality of mixing. A deeper understanding of ionic liquid solutions will enable the development of mixed solvents with predictable properties to facilitate practical applications, such as post-combustion carbon capture. The activities in the project will broaden underrepresented undergraduate scholars’ participation in the nation's STEM workforce specifically in the emerging global ionic liquid industry. The microenvironment of imidazolium-based binary ionic liquid mixtures, which are entirely made of ions, are complicated by many competitive forces including, but not limited to, Coulomb forces, hydrogen bonding, and dispersion interactions. Understanding the microenvironment of these complex solvents can enable the development of better ionic liquid mixtures with predictable properties. To this end, the research will study the microenvironment of binary mixtures of ionic liquids, examine gas-ionic liquid interactions in such mixtures under different conditions, and analyze the nature of the interphase between two ionic liquids when polymerized and laminated together in the solid state. A variety of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques will be leveraged to study these systems including two-dimensional (2D-IR) spectroscopy and infrared microscopy, along with density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The proposal will provide a spectroscopic tool kit via a C-D vibrational label on the imidazolium cation to interrogate the structure and dynamics of the binary ionic liquid mixture. The outcomes of this work will include methods to distinguish between ideal and non-ideal binary mixtures, insights into dissolution mechanisms of gases in binary mixtures, and evidence of migration of ions between two polymerized ionic liquids. On a broad scale, the project will provide a platform for young, underrepresented undergraduate students to be engaged in nationally competitive research, prepare them for graduate research, and provide opportunities for leadership in STEM areas. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2023-07

ABSTRACT Xavier University of Louisiana seeks support from the NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to complement the research infrastructure in the College of Pharmacy through a new initiative. The proposed initiative will establish the Precision Medicine, Education, Data Informatics, and Community Translation (PREDICT) Institute, a comprehensive programmatic initiative creating a holistic and replicable framework for the utilization of electronic health data and community translation to affect the decision-making process to improve health outcomes. The Institute will extend the technical research exchange (TREX) program at Xavier to include training of current and future researchers on health informatics best practices. The use of population health and bioinformatics data are potential tools useful in collective approaches required to achieve health equity. The Specific Aims of the PREDICT Institute are: Specific Aim #1: To enhance the existing Xavier health informatics infrastructure by increasing capacity for data acquisition, data warehousing, data access, data analytics, and technical assistance necessary for addressing health outcomes in underserved communities. Specific Aim #2: To strengthen the research and outreach infrastructure of the university to promote community-engaged translational/clinical research and health promotion to mitigate health disparities.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2023-04

SUMMARY The long-term goal of our research is to develop effective anticoagulants that do not cause bleeding complications to be safely used for a wider range of patients suffering from venous thromboembolism (VTE). This project aims at developing effective and safer anticoagulants by targeting human factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). All available anticoagulants are associated with a significant risk of bleeding. Current anticoagulants inhibit directly or indirectly thrombin and/or factor Xa. This is the reason why they are clinically effective, but it is also the reason why they cause bleeding. The central hypothesis is that inhibiting FXIIIa will result in effective protection against VTE without causing significant bleeding. In contrast to all other clotting factors which are serine proteases, FXIIIa is a transglutaminase that catalyzes the last step in the coagulation process. This unique biochemical aspect of FXIIIa has been under investigation in the context of VTE. In vitro experiments showed that treating normal human blood with an experimental transglutaminase inhibitor increases RBC extrusion from contracting clots and reduces clot size. Various studies also suggested that a certain FXIIIa polymorphism provides significant protection against VTE and that heterozygous FXIII-deficient mice do not show signs of excessive bleeding. Thus, FXIIIa may serve as a potential therapeutic target to develop a new effective treatment for VTE that does not significantly increase the bleeding risk. Despite this promise, very few FXIIIa inhibitors have been developed, all of which lack substantial selectivity as they can also inhibit other transglutaminases by blocking their active sites. Thus, I have proposed sulfonated non-saccharide glycos- aminoglycan mimetics as a platform to develop FXIIIa inhibitors. The sulfonated molecules are to inhibit FXIIIa potently and selectively through allosteric modulation. In preliminary studies, I discovered two sulfonated molecules that inhibit FXIIIa with low micromolar potencies. The two molecules inhibited FXIIIa-mediated polymerization of fibrin. The two molecules did not affect other clotting factors and did not affect the viability of three cell lines. Molecular modeling projected a plausible binding site for these molecules on FXIIIa. In this proposal, I specifically aim at using a multidisciplinary approach to establish the principles of effective and selective inhibition of FXIIIa by sulfonated molecules. I will synthesize advanced libraries of two “lead” molecules and evaluate their biochemical and biological potential as anticoagulants. The proposal is innovative because i) it puts forward a novel approach to overcome the limitations of current VTE treatment; ii) it exploits a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the specific aims; and iii) it introduces new technologies with proprietary structural and mechanistic aspects. The project is also significant because it will: i) identify 2-3 potent, specific, and allosteric FXIIIa inhibitors for future evaluation in animal models of VTE and bleeding; ii) offer new tools to better understand FXIIIa role in the coagulation physiology and pathology; iii) investigate an alternative approach to modulate FXIIIa via allostery to pave the way to transforming anticoagulants.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2022-08

Project Summary Constitutively active somatic mutations in the estrogen receptor (ER) ligand binding domain (LBD) have emerged as a frequent mechanism of endocrine therapy resistance in patients with metastatic ER+ breast cancers. Unfortunately, there are no therapeutic agents to address this patient population. The long-term goal is to develop therapeutically useful irreversible ER inhibitors for the treatment of ER+ metastatic breast cancer, which will create therapy options for individuals who have failed or relapsed on current therapies. The overall objective is to identify template-based irreversible ER inhibitors that can bind to the ER with high affinity and form an irreversible covalent C-S bond with the C530 amino acid residue in the ER LBD. The central hypothesis is that a pharmaceutically optimized irreversible ER inhibitor can be obtained by incorporating clinically proven ER- binding motifs and a covalent-bond forming Michael addition moiety in the molecules. This hypothesis is supported by early triphenylethylene-based irreversible ER antagonists exhibiting uterotrophic effects similar to tamoxifen, and prototype compounds from our laboratory with thiophene (Raloxifene-like) core demonstrating lack of such effect but equally potent antagonism in the breast. The central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing three specific aims: 1) Design and synthesis of irreversible ER inhibitors; 2) Determine the impact of the irreversible ER inhibitors on proliferation in breast cancer cells, and 3) Evaluate in vivo pharmacodynamics and anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy of novel irreversible ER inhibitors. Under the first aim, irreversible ER binding inhibitors will be synthesized using cores motifs: triphenylethylenes (tamoxifen-like) and benzothiophenes (raloxifene-like) and are expected to be highly selective, potent, and to exert permanent antagonism. Under aim two, the synthesized compounds will be evaluated in their ability to form a covalent bond with ER C530 and inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. For the third aim, the lead agent from each structural motif group will be identified for further preclinical studies and efficacy in patient-derived xenograft breast tumor models. The research here is innovative because it focuses on the use of irreversible inhibitors to overcome endocrine resistance and incorporates novel moieties to achieve high drug exposure. This contribution is significant because it will identify a class of irreversible ER inhibitors that display novel antiestrogenic effects, lacks agonist activities, and has high oral bioavailability, offering new opportunities for the development of innovative therapies to treat breast cancer.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2022-08

Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle): Haye, Joanna, Elizabeth Abstract: DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is a highly conserved process. A functional MMR pathway is essential for maintaining genome integrity; loss of MMR results in genome instability and cancer in higher eukaryotes. For example, defects in MMR genes result in Lynch Syndrome, a common hereditary cancer syndrome resulting in early onset cancers of the colon, endometrium, ovaries, small intestine, hepatobiliary tract, upper urinary tract as well as other tissues. In our most recent publication, we showed that in yeast, deletion of Modulator of Transcription (also known as Not4) or General Control Nonderepressible 5 (Gcn5) modulate the levels of Msh2, a major MMR component. Loss of Gcn5 significantly decreases Msh2, whereas deleting Not4 stabilizes functional Msh2. Not4 and Gcn5 are proteins that ubiquitylate and acetylate various proteins respectively. We hypothesize that Not4 and Gcn5 modify yeast MutSα (comprised of Ms2 and Msh6) and that the modifications affect the stability of the complex. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), the first aim of the proposed research is to establish the role of Gcn5 and Not4 in the regulation of the major mismatch recognition complex MutSα. Our previous experiments have also shown that yeast MutS tracks with the replication machinery during DNA replication. Human MutSα is recruited to chromatin through specific histone modifications and interacts with the replication machinery by binding PCNA, the DNA polymerase processivity factor. However, the modifications that recruit human MutSα are not utilized in yeast. How yeast MutSα is recruited to chromatin remains elusive. The second aim of this research is to determine the role of post- translational modifications in MutSα recruitment to chromatin. PHS398 (Rev. 5/01) Page Continuation Format Page

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2022-06

Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle): Biliran Jr., Hector Role of the transcriptional corepressor TLE1 in the lung adenocarcinoma aggressiveness and progression Abstract Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), which accounts for almost 40% of lung cancer, has a 5-year survival rate of only 15% due to its aggressive behavior. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular events underlying the development and progression of LUAD. This lab's prior R15 work has obtained evidence that the transcriptional corepressor TLE1 exerts an anti-apoptotic- and EMT-promoting function in LUAD cells and thereby potentiating their anoikis resistance, and anchorage-independent growth in vitro as well as tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, the dual survival- and EMT-promoting function of TLE1 is in part due to its transcriptional silencing of the tumor suppressor E-cadherin gene via the transcription factor Zeb1 and chromatin modifying enzyme Histone deacetylase (HDAC). Our recent bioinformatics analyses indicate that TLE1 is upregulated and displays a poor prognostic value in LUAD. Based on these collective data, we hypothesize that TLE1 regulates a survival- and EMT-promoting gene transcription program to drive the aggressiveness and progression of LUAD. To test this hypothesis, the following specific aims will be addressed: 1) Evaluate the functional role of TLE1 in LUAD tumorigenesis and aggressiveness; 2) Molecularly characterize the components of the TLE1-mediated transcriptional program that may drive LUAD progression; and 3) Determine whether TLE1 nuclear function regulates tumorigenicity and metastasis in LUAD mouse xenograft models. These proposed studies, which will be performed by undergraduate research students together with the PI and a Research Assistant, will advance our understanding of the TLE1 transcriptional network as a “driver” of LUAD oncogenesis and as a molecular therapeutic target to curtail LUAD aggressiveness. PHS398 (Rev. 5/01) Page Continuation Format Page

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2021-09

ABSTRACT The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells is of grave concern, limiting the efficacy of anticancer agents and, hence, the failure of breast cancer therapy. Clinical research and application revealed that in spite of its potential anticancer effects, doxorubicin is highly toxic, and its long-term application may cause dose-dependent irreversible cardiomyopathy, severe cardiac toxicity, or liver damage, thereby limiting its application in breast cancer treatment. Even if the drug is super-efficient, if it still causes off-target toxicity and damages non-cancerous cells and tissues, the drug wouldn’t be a great remedy to treat that particular disease. As such, the greater potential of using doxorubicin as anticancer therapeutic depends on the availability of a targeted delivery vehicle, which will not only enhance the killing of cancer cells but also minimize the off-target toxicity to non-cancerous cells. The goal of this study is to enhance the delivery of doxorubicin by formulating an aptamer-labeled liposomal nanoparticle delivery system that will carry and deliver doxorubicin specifically into chemoresistant Her-2+ breast cancer cells. We have recently reported that down regulating nuclear expression of MDR1 P-gp (ABCB1 gene) by P-gp specific siRNA could increase the delivery of doxorubicin to doxorubicin resistant breast cancer cells. However, since the Dox was delivered as a free drug solution without encapsulating it into a particle for targeted delivery, it still caused toxicity to other non-cancerous cells. The targeted delivery of siRNA to knockdown multi-drug resistant genes such as MDR1 P-gp, MRP or BCRP might be helpful to circumvent MDR using the apt-labeled formulations that we have developed in our lab, however, there are some questions that still need to be addressed (1) how can we deliver doxorubicin in a more targeted fashion to the chemoresistant breast cancer cells so that the drug-enhanced cytotoxicity to cancer cells increases with a minimal toxicity to the non-cancerous cells? We assume that a targeted delivery system is an utmost requirement whether it is delivering siRNA to silence chemoresistant genes or an actual chemodrug which will kill cancer cells without killing non- cancerous cells. To address the chemoresistance as well as off-target toxicity, a targeted delivery system for doxorubicin needs to be developed which should be innovative, comparable and can minimize the toxicity to other non-cancerous cells. And (2) a strategy needs to be in place to determine whether the targeted nanoparticles will carry both doxorubicin and siRNA within the same particles or in different particles to get the best results preventing chemoresistance and limiting off- target toxicity. Our hypothesis is that delivering doxorubicin and MDR-silencing siRNAs separately by targeted nanoparticle system will enhance the cellular toxicity and antitumor effects as compared to a targeted nanoparticle system that delivers the drug and siRNA simultaneously. This hypothesis will be tested through two specific aims: Aim 1: Targeted delivery of doxorubicin liposomes for Her-2 positive breast cancer treatment. Aim 2: Assess whether the targeted nanoparticles will carry both doxorubicin and siRNA within the same particles or in different particles to get the best results preventing chemoresistance and limiting off-target toxicity.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2021-07

PROJECT SUMMARY The application for Xavier University of Louisiana's Mobile Outreach for Laboratory Enrichment (XULA- MOLE) proposes a comprehensive training and mentoring program for high school students and teachers. This project is a partnership between Xavier and participating local high schools. The long-term objective of this collaboration is to stimulate science interest in high school students in the New Orleans area as a precursor to them pursuing careers in the biomedical sciences or STEM fields. The XULA- MOLE project also aims to better support science teachers with pedagogical and research project design training and mentoring to increase their impact in the classroom. The introduction of mobile inquiry-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) centered laboratory experiences will encourage high school students in this resource poor setting to pursue further education and careers in scientific fields. This program is especially important to the New Orleans area high schools, which after Hurricane Katrina have struggled to find synergy between curriculum design and education reform implementation. The general strategy for this proposed work will be carried out via a four-pronged approach involving (i) inquiry-based laboratory experiences, (ii) professional development and research design training for teachers, (iii) establishing near-peer mentoring programs between Xavier undergraduates and their pre-college peers and (iv) high school field trips to biomedical research labs at Xavier. The XULA-MOLE project participants include Xavier faculty and undergraduate STEM students who will design inquiry-based guided laboratory modules for the participating high schools aligned to the NGSS science processes. The specific activities for XULA-MOLE will be designed with inspiration from previous SEPA-funded programs such as BEST Science!, which focused on professional development workshops for teachers, and the long-sustaining CityLab, which most recently is piloting an after school science education program impacting students' science identity. By using a multi-pronged strategy to inspire science teaching and learning, the XULA-MOLE Program aims to develop a model system that can be applied to multiple schools and grade levels.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2009-09

SUMMARY – OVERALL To sustain Xavier’s overall research momentum and advance to the next level of excellence in cancer and health disparities research, the RCMI Cancer and Health Disparities Research Center will implement program activities to support new and early-stage investigators, enhance core facilities to support Xavier researchers, and promote long-lasting, bidirectional partnerships between Xavier and local communities to address important health issues. The RCMI Center will consist of three research projects in basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research and four Cores: The Administrative Core, the Investigator Development Core, the Research Capacity Core, and the Community Engagement Core. These programs will be implemented to achieve the following specific aims: Aim 1. Enhance Xavier’s research capacity for basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The RCMI program will maintain, strengthen and optimize core services in support of Xavier investigators. Core facilities will be restructured, consolidated, and operations will be streamlined to maximize productivity and efficiency of Xavier’s ongoing research projects. Aim 2. Enable Xavier investigators to become more competitive in obtaining external funding. This will be achieved by a) supporting three research projects in three areas encompassing basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research to enable these project PIs to become competitive in R01 applications; b) providing critical research resources for research projects through the Research Capacity Core; c) providing, through the Investigator Development Core, pilot funding to obtain necessary preliminary data and/or data analyses for the development of fundable research proposals; and d) providing grantsmanship training through grant writing workshops and professional review services. Aim 3. Promote career enhancement of Xavier’s early-stage investigators through a Research Development Network supporting new faculty for five years to obtain extramural funding. Aim 4. Enhance the quality and dissemination of research on minority health and health disparities. We will organize semi-annual symposiums and workshops on the quality of health disparities research to offer training in good scientific practices, appropriate statistical usage, and responsible laboratory practices for researchers at all levels. Aim 5. Expand sustainable relationships with community-based organizations that will partner with Xavier researchers. A Community Engagement Core will be enhanced to a) promote and sustain community-academic partnerships through bidirectional knowledge sharing on intervention strategies and scientific discovery in health disparities; b) facilitate greater community involvement in setting research priorities and creating more opportunities for academic-practitioner-community research partnerships; c) build capacity (knowledge and skills) among research investigators, community members, health systems, and potential research participants to conduct innovative and transformative research that addresses community health needs; d) provide support for investigators to better disseminate research findings to the scientific community, community organizations, and lay communities.