# BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

> **NIH VA IK6** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2021 · —

## Abstract

D. Merlin Ph.D, Summary
Our research program is directed toward understanding the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation and
formulating treatment strategies for intestinal inflammatory diseases such as IBD. Our work has been published
consistently in reputable journals and cited extensively (December 20, 2017: h-index of 45). Our laboratory is
familiar with a vast number of techniques, from nanotechnology to molecular biology to cell biology. Over one
million adults and children in the US, including members of the VA population, suffer from IBD, with about 50,000
new cases diagnosed each year, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. VA IBD patients
have a much higher rate of colorectal cancer compared to the general population (2.9% vs. 0.1%, according to
the National Center for Health Statistics). New therapeutic strategies based on a better understanding of the
pathogenesis of IBD will improve the clinical care of veteran and non-veteran patients with this disorder. We
have long recognized the value of interdisciplinary research in furthering scientific discovery, as important
research ideas often transcend the scope of a single discipline or program. In this context, we have promoted
collaborative interdisciplinary research between scientists/physicians with interests in gastroenterology at the
Atlanta VA Medical Center and scientists at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Georgia State University.
These multidisciplinary collaborations are intended to develop novel ideas that will enhance the diagnosis and
treatment of colitis and colitis-associated cancers that affect the VA population.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10047290
- **Project number:** 5IK6BX004476-03
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** DIDIER MERLIN
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-10-01 → 2025-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10047290

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10047290, BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application (5IK6BX004476-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10047290. Licensed CC0.

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