Grants

5300 Block 16th Ave S

This will help us build both our blockwatch and our sense of neighborhood. We are only in our second year as a blockwatch, so we need to continue the momentum we've started and remind folks in our block both what it means to be a neighborhood and how it is easy for us to make this a safer and better neighborhood. We also need to reach out to the older more established northern end of our block to get them to join our blockwatch and be a more active part of our neighborhood.

5300 Block 16th Ave S

On September 27, 2016, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm located on the 5300 Block of 16th Ave S. between S Bennett and S Lucile. The local block watch will have a community event. The purpose of the event is to energize the block watch and help build a sense community. Food and activities will be on hand to help neighbors enjoy spending time together and getting to know one another. NMF funded events are free and open to the public. They are funded on a one time only basis.

New Britain

Blogoslawski et al. Projects Public Building Code Compliance

New Britain

Blogoslawski Garage

Montgomery County MD / State of Maryland

Parks, Recreation, and Land Preservation

NIAAA - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

PROJECT SUMMARY Numerous studies show that Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limits for driving are effective at reducing alcohol-related car crashes in the general population and among young adults. However, few studies have examined how BAC limit laws are related to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related outcomes beyond drunk-driving. Examining how BAC laws are associated with alcohol-related outcomes is crucial because stricter BAC limit laws have unintended benefits beyond reducing drunk driving. As of June 2024, Utah is the only US state with a BAC limit of 0.05 (Utah passed legislation in 2017 with enforcement beginning in 2019). Forty-nine states remain with a 0.08 limit, though Delaware, Hawaii, and Washington had similar legislation proposed but not passed in 2018. In response to a rise in traffic fatalities, Washington and Hawaii are again considering lowering the BAC limit for driving to 0.05 in 2024, as is Connecticut. Given that this legislation did not pass in Washington or Hawaii before, data regarding how lower BAC limits are related to outcomes besides drunk driving could help influence policy-making efforts. The proposed secondary analysis project, “Blood Alcohol Content Limit Laws and Alcohol-Related Outcomes,” will provide this information by utilizing causal methods and existing datasets: 1) 1970-2024 alcohol policy data that includes BAC limits laws and other general population policies regarding alcohol availability and tax data that can be used to adjust for potential confounding; and 2) alcohol-related outcome data from the National Alcohol Survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, per capita sales, and Vital Statistics mortality files (excluding deaths due to traffic fatalities). Specifically, Aim 1. is to examine how BAC limits for driving are related to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality outcomes in the general population. Aim 2. involves examining how BAC limits for driving are related to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality outcomes among young adults. Finally, Aim 3. is to examine how alcohol consumption and alcohol- related mortality have changed in Utah since its implementation of the 0.05 BAC limit in 2019. These aims are particularly timely given 2024 legislation proposing to lower the legal BAC limit for driving to 0.05 in Washington, Hawaii, and Connecticut.

NIAAA - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Chronic alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with neurostructural damage and a pervasive pattern of cognitive deficits, which persist even in detoxified individuals. It has been hypothesized that deterioration of the blood brain barrier (BBB) provides a primary causative mechanism through which repeated high dose exposure to alcohol leads to neuroinflammation, neuronal death and cognitive impairments in chronic AUD. To date, evidence for a role of BBB alterations in the long-term consequences of chronic AUD comes largely from preclinical studies. Although some human post-mortem data support the idea of BBB dysfunction in AUD these data are limited and basic questions about the magnitude and spatial extent of BBB dysfunction, its antecedents, developmental course and its consequences remain unaddressed. A recently developed MRI technique using motion corrected diffusion weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (MCDW-pCASL) sequence provides the ability to noninvasively measure water permeability across the BBB and quantify water exchange rate (Kw) in vivo. Critically, this approach is sensitive to more subtle changes in the BBB, whereas earlier methods could only assess the permeability of large molecules. Moreover, because the approach is noninvasive and does not involve injection of contrast agents, it can be implemented in longitudinal and larger scale studies. We propose to develop a research program utilizing this technique to map Kw alterations and determine their correlates in chronic AUD. In an initial pilot-feasibility step of this research program, we propose to scan 30 recently detoxified individuals with a history of severe chronic AUD and 30 age and sex matched controls with the MCDW-pCASL sequence. We will test the hypothesis that chronic AUD is associated with reduced BBB integrity as reflected in altered Kw and will determine how regionally diffuse or specific these alterations are. We will also collect data on drinking history (age of first heavy drinking, total alcohol consumed over lifetime, frequency of binge drinking) to determine the extent to which this history predicts the magnitude of alterations in the BBB. We will also collect high-resolution structural MRI measures of grey matter volume/cortical thickness and diffusion tensor imaging of white matter microstructure, as well as measures of cognitive functioning and premorbid IQ to test hypotheses that the magnitude of BBB alterations predict the neural and cognitive deficits associated with chronic AUD. If successful, these studies will support the development of large-scale studies to understand the evolution and impact of BBB alterations in AUD. This line of work could have significant clinical implications given the recent development of techniques for targeting BBB structure and function. Indeed, if the MCDW-pCASL sequence proves sensitive to BBB dysfunction in AUD, it could potentially be used as a precision medicine technique to identify those individuals who might benefit from BBB interventions and to directly monitor the impact of those treatments in vivo.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Voice disorders affect 12-35% of the population over 60 years of age, causing significant health, psychosocial, and occupational consequences. The cause of age-related changes in voice quality, known as presbyphonia, is multifactorial including muscle atrophy and reduced muscle strength capacity. Voice therapy is the first line of recommended treatment for presbyphonia, yet two-thirds of older patients do not show improvement with voice therapy. To date, there are no objective physiological measures of vocal muscle strength to evaluate the effectiveness of voice therapy in older adults. Here, we propose establishing the first outcome measure to assess vocal muscle strength capacity. Physiologically, anaerobic systems generate the energy needed for muscle strength, with blood lactate (La-) as a byproduct. Blood La- is routinely used pre- and post- exercise to evaluate changes in limb anaerobic muscle strength. Preliminary studies have found that an adapted 60-second laryngeal diadochokinetic task (LDDK) resulted in a significant increase in blood La-, demonstrating that this vocal task requires demand of anaerobic energy systems. Given that direct study of human vocal musculature in vivo is impractical, we hypothesize that measuring blood La- is a novel and practical approach to assessing vocal muscle strength capacity. This proposal will establish validity, the extent an outcome tool captures what it is intended to measure, of a vocal demand task outcome measure of vocal muscle strength. We will recruit healthy voice participants and patients over 60 years with presbyphonia from the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Voice Clinic. In healthy voice participants, to establish construct validity, Aim 1(a) will identify the point within a 2-minute window of completing three vocally demanding tasks (LDDK, Loud Sustained Phonation, Loud Oral Reading) that elicits the largest increase in blood La- from resting levels to establish the most anaerobically demanding task (construct validity). Aim 1(b) will compare vocal demand-induced changes in blood La- with age. We hypothesize that LDDK will result in the largest increase in blood La- concentration and the rate of blood La- increase will be smaller for older adults compared to younger adults for LDDK. To establish criterion validity, Aim 2 will determine the association between vocal muscle strength capacity and limb muscle strength capacity in patients over 60 years of age with presbyphonia, to establish if there is a correlation between our hypothesized LDDK measure of vocal muscle strength with an already established measure of limb muscle strength (criterion validity). We hypothesize that diminished LDDK function correlates with reduced limb muscle strength in older adults with presbyphonia. This innovative proposal will establish the first known quantitative vocal muscle strength task, from a physiological perspective, —an outcome measure that addresses goal 1 of NIDCD’s Theme 5. The findings from this proposal will provide an essential foundation for a subsequent R01 that will apply the novel biomarker and vocal demand task outcome measure to evaluate the anaerobic vocal muscle strength changes that occur during various voice therapy programs designed for treating the aging voice.

NIDDK - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Summary/Abstract The Hispanic/Latino population, one of the fastest growing segments in the US, is disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. There is an urgent need to better understand this phenomenon thus to develop more effective approaches for T2D prevention and treatment in this population group. Technological advances offer new opportunities for deciphering novel signatures of T2D, potentially improving our understanding of pathogenesis and discovery of novel targets to prevent and treat T2D. Applying emerging omics approaches, recent studies have identified many circulating proteins and related biological pathways associated with risk of T2D. However, proteomics data on risk of T2D is sparse in US Hispanics. Differences in the protein-T2D associations across populations observed in previous studies and our preliminary analysis further emphasizes the necessity to conduct proteomic study of T2D in different population groups. Moreover, emerging evidence suggested that the gut microbiota may play an important role in human chronic diseases including T2D through regulating host metabolism and inflammation/immune activation pathways, but few studies have integrated proteomics with microbiome data to investigate the relationship between gut dysbiosis (i.e., unfavorable alteration in the gut microbiota) and T2D and underlying biological mechanisms. To address these knowledge gaps, we propose to profile plasma proteome (5000+ proteins by Olink Explore HT) in 2,300 individuals free of diabetes (including repeated proteome measures in 1000 individuals over ~6 years)) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (SOL), an on-going prospective cohort with extensive data on multi-omics, sociocultural and behavioral factors, as well as multiple repeated glycemic traits (including insulin resistance and secretion measures from oral glucose tolerance test) and incident T2D during follow-up. Our overarching goal is to identify blood proteomic signatures, and their biological pathways related to genetic and environmental factors (e.g., gut microbiome) for the development of T2D in US Hispanics. Moreover, we will also use existing data from other cohorts including Hispanic, White, Black and Asian participants to validate, compare and generalized our findings across different populations. Findings from this project will advance our understanding of T2D etiology and provide new insights into T2D prevention and treatment in US Hispanics and other populations.

NCI - National Cancer Institute

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This project aims to refine the individualized management of patients with oligometastatic castration- sensitive prostate cancer (omCSPC) by integrating blood-based markers to identify a subset of omCSPC patients who will benefit from stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) alone versus those necessitating treatment intensification with systemic therapy. While the current advanced molecular imaging modalities (e.g. PSMA and Choline PET) have limitations in detecting subclinical disease, our innovative approach addresses this gap by evaluating prostate cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (PC-EVs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as blood markers of both visible and invisible tumor burden. Furthermore, we will study specific circulating immune markers based on our prior research to identify and predict patients with clinical responses to SBRT and delineate immunosuppressive signals for future therapeutic intervention studies. We hypothesize that proposed blood-based tumor biomarkers and anti-tumor immune markers will aid in predicting patient response to SBRT alone or in combination with systemic therapy using randomized patient samples from Specific Aim 1, thus guiding personalized treatment decisions for future omCSPC patients. In order to achieve our goal, we will conduct a randomized phase 2 trial in omCSPC to evaluate SBRT alone or in combination with 6 months doublet therapy (ADT+ARPI) with modified radiographic PFS as primary endpoint in Specific Aim 1. In Specific Aim 2, we will prospectively validate PC-EV cutoff values predetermined using patients samples from ORIOLE and STOMP-like cohorts for risk stratification and prediction of response to therapy. We will also evaluate the performance of cell-free ctDNA as an additional blood-based marker of tumor burden and minimal residual disease. In Specific Aim 3, we will validate tumor-reactive CD8 T cells (previously published using prostate and melanoma patient samples) as a marker of durable response to SBRT. We will also perform a comprehensive profiling of peripheral immune cells and cytokines to examine the effect of ADT/ARPI to SBRT in anti-prostate cancer immune response. The identification of patients who can safely avoid ADT/ARPI after SBRT will significantly impact clinical decisions, reducing morbidity and cost associated with unnecessary systemic therapies. If successful, this study will allow up to 20% of patients to avoid unnecessary toxicities associated with systemic androgen deprivation treatments. Finally, by shedding light on key players of antitumor immunity, this work will serve as the foundation for future mechanistic studies that can lead to the design of a rational combination of SBRT and immunotherapy. By advancing the paradigm of personalized prostate cancer care through the integration of fluid-based tumor and immune assays with existing imaging techniques, this research holds significance for the National Cancer Institute's priorities for significantly improving patient outcomes and optimizing the management of omCSPC.

NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is a long-term disabling condition with a wide range of symptoms, often triggered by acute infection. The CDC estimates that in 2022, over 3.5 million Americans are living with ME/CFS, and this number continues to increase as many Long COVID patients develop ME/CFS. Profound neurocognitive sequelae are highly prevalent in ME/CFS. The underlying pathophysiologic mechanism that drives neurocognitive impairments in post-infectious chronic conditions remains poorly understood, hindering the development of therapeutic interventions. Studies in chronic viral infections recognize that the trafficking of proinflammatory monocytes in the brain drives disruption of the blood-brain barrier and promotes a neuroinflammatory state. We hypothesize that post-SARS-CoV-2 onset ME/CFS patients and pre- pandemic ME/CFS patients have similar blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption that is mechanistically linked to circulating proinflammatory analytes (cytokines and chemokines), altered BBB endothelial integrity, and a subtype of proinflammatory peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) known as intermediate monocytes. Thus, disruption in BBB integrity promotes persistent neuroinflammation and altered neuronal activity, contributing to neuropsychiatric sequelae in both pre- and post-pandemic ME/CFS patients.Additionally, there is evidence supporting glymphatic system dysfunction in ME/CFS, which further contributes to the perpetuation of the neuroinflammatory state. We propose cross-sectional imaging to assess BBB integrity, with neuropsychiatric assessments and immunophenotyping in 100 post-SARS-CoV-2 onset ME/CFS patients and 100 who have pre- pandemic ME/CFS patients. In addition, we will incorporate 100 participants as a control group of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals who fully recovered without lingering symptoms from our team NIH-funded similar study in a Long COVID cohort. First, we aim to assess BBB integrity in post-pandemic ME/CFS (vs. pre-pandemic ME/CFS) and its contribution to neuropsychiatric conditions. BBB integrity will be evaluated with a non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging technique that uses water-extraction-with-phase-contrast-arterial-spin-tagging (WEPCAST), to determine BBB permeability to small molecules. We have shown this to be sensitive to BBB change in mild cognitive impairment and are currently using this technique in other neuro-infectious diseases. Second, we aim to assess cross-sectional links between circulating soluble markers, PBMC-associated markers, and BBB permeability to small molecules in post SARS CoV-2 onset ME/CFS patients and pre pandemic ME/CFS. We hypothesize that both groups will exhibit similar levels of soluble markers promoting PBMC trafficking to brain and promoting monocyte activation, disruption of soluble markers that promote endothelial integrity & higher levels of cell-surface proteins that promote PBMC diapedesis into brain will be associated with higher PS values and greater alterations in the cognitive and psychiatric domains. Findings will inform next steps in the development of therapeutic approaches to minimize neuroinflammation in Long COVID.

NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Bloodstream infection detection directly on whole blood Summary Yeast bloodstream infections are life-threatening, affecting approximately 50,000 patients annually in the United States, with mortality rates exceeding 40%. Early administration of antifungal therapy is critical for improving survival rates. However, the current diagnostic gold standard, blood culture (BC), requires one to five days, delaying crucial treatment decisions. To address this gap, Scanogen has developed an automated platform for the rapid, comprehensive, and cost-effective identification of yeast in whole blood without the need for BC. This platform is powered by Single MOLecule Scanning (SMOLT), an innovative method for sample preparation and molecular detection. In this Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program, we aim to build on the success of our SBIR Phase II project, where we achieved or surpassed all milestones. During this phase, we developed, automated, and clinically tested the SMOLT-Yeast assay. The assay has straightforward workflow: the user inserts the patient’s blood sample, collected in a vacutainer, into a disposable cartridge, which is then analyzed by a desktop instrument. The assay demonstrated exceptional performance, with a detection limit of 1 CFU/mL across 11 yeast species, a clinical sensitivity of 96.7%, and a clinical specificity of 99.8%. Following stakeholder recommendations, we also included Candida auris in the test panel. In this CRP, we will focus on scaling production and meeting regulatory standards. Specifically, we will develop manufacturing processes for reagent production (Aim 1) and cartridge production (Aim 2) in compliance with FDA regulations. Additionally, we will enhance the instrument software by incorporating cybersecurity measures and Laboratory Information System (LIS) communication capabilities, and transfer the design to production (Aim 3). Our team comprises highly skilled assay development scientists responsible for the SMOLT technology and experienced engineers. This platform has the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes by delivering rapid and accurate results, allowing timely antifungal treatment for yeast bloodstream infections. Upon completion of this project, we will be positioned to initiate the pivotal analytical and clinical studies necessary for FDA clearance.

Wa Na Wari

The BLOOM Food Justice Series will bring together urban farmers, community gardeners, naturalists, young adults, city staff and the broader community to consider food justice and food sovereignty in Seattle. This summer, 12 BIPOC youth ages 18-25 will participate in a training program with a curriculum spanning Indigenous knowledge systems, Black Liberation, urban farming practices, plant medicines, the healing arts, ways to combat environmental racism and much more. The anticipated project completion date is November 30, 2021.

Waterford

Bloomingdale Road Mill & Paving Project

County Commissioners of Garrett County

Bloomington Water

Garrett County, Maryland, Community Action Committee, Inc.

Bloomington Water

Garrett County, Maryland, Community Action Committee, Inc.

Bloomington Water

County Commissioners of Garrett County

Bloomington Water

Oregon Business Development Department

Blue Moon Designs, LLC

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

Blue Mountains Projects, Inc

NSF

Television is a highly effective way of communicating about science and nature to the widest possible audience, both in the U.S. and globally. BBC Natural History and Factual Productions Ltd. and BBC Studios Americas Inc. are updating the iconic television series trilogy of Blue Planet, Planet Earth, and Frozen Planet. The U.S. Antarctic Program will provide logistical support and access to field sites in Antarctica for the filming of sequences to be used in a third release for the Blue Planet series. While building on the hallmarks of the original series - spectacular cinematography, compelling storytelling, scientific accuracy, and never-before-seen animal behavior - this sequel is intent on advancing knowledge and understanding of the natural world by showcasing how variable environments impact wildlife throughout the global ocean. A final episode will be devoted entirely to the future of the ocean. The expected release date for the film is in late 2026. Field-based scientists from the National Science Foundation's Antarctic program are scientific advisors to this project. This award is for logistic support only for filming marine life and landscapes with NSF-supported research programs at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The Blue Planet III television series will be supported by additional media output, frequently specially shot, to enable science and educational content to reach audiences beyond the TV series. These additional products include a digital short-form content showcasing scientists, conservationists, and film crews at work in the field, multi-media 360° video content, and virtual reality output. The Planet series had unprecedented reach when it first aired – Planet Earth reached 65 million people in the U.S. and Frozen Planet’s premiere was watched by 10% of the country. Great numbers have been drawn to their sequels – Blue Planet II’s U.S. premiere was the most-watched nature program on U.S. ad-supported TV in nearly a decade. An innovative distribution pipeline for ancillary output has widened the reach of this influential content, with increased opportunity to profile the critical work of institutions, scientists, and film crews in the field. 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.

National Park Service

The objective of this modification is to add the FY 2015 Statement of Work (SOW) and budget for the purpose of carrying out the Act and implementing the Management Plan with respect to the following areas: Administration and Operations; Marketing and Visitor Services; Planning; Resource Inventory, Development and Interpretation, and Grants and Sub-grants.

National Institutes of Health

Blueprint MedTech Translator (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health

Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)