# Research Supplements to Promote Diversity

> **NIH NIH R01** · TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION · 2021 · $39,921

## Abstract

Project Summary
This proposal is to apply for a supplement grant to support a talented, minority Ph.D. student,
Frank DeLuna, to develop a new label-free imaging system for drug toxicity assays in Dr. Jing
Yong Ye’s laboratory at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Accurate analysis of drug toxicities
is in urgent demand as failures of newly discovered drug candidates due to toxic side effects have
resulted in about 30% of clinical attrition, leading to enormous economic losses for the
pharmaceutical industry. One of the main reasons for these failures can be attributed to the fact
that most animal models fail to accurately reflect human physiology. Therefore, there is a
significant interest in constructing human organ models for drug toxicity assays before proceeding
with clinical trials. For that, it is critically important not only to construct small tissue chips that can
well mimic the architecture and functionality of human tissues, but also to continuously monitor
the dynamic behaviors of human organ-on-a-chip models in response to drugs in situ over an
extended period. The overarching goal of the parent R01 project (1R01GM126571) is to address
the challenging issues of drug toxicity assays by using a human organ-on-a-chip model monitored
with an automated, label-free, optical biosensor system that allows for real-time, long-term,
sensitive, and kinetic analyses of human cardiac tissue models in response to various drugs in
their microenvironments. The proposed research activities for the student under this supplement
grant is to develop a new label-free imaging system by utilizing a photonic crystal biosensor in a
unique detection mode for accurate quantification of biomarkers due to drug toxicities. The
proposed work is related to Aim 2 in the parent project, and it will also create a new capability for
directly imaging samples in the evanescent field of the sensor for simultaneously monitoring
reflective index changes in each sample well due to binding events of biomarkers secreted by a
heart-on-a-chip model with biorecognition probes on the sensor surface. This new design will offer
a good alternative approach for multiplex detection of biomarkers in drug toxicity assays. This
supplement grant will offer an excellent training opportunity for the minority student to gain deep
knowledge and necessary research skills in biophotonics as well as to improve his other
capabilities, such as writing and networking skills, preparing him for a successful academic career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10281488
- **Project number:** 3R01GM126571-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $39,921
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10281488

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10281488, Research Supplements to Promote Diversity (3R01GM126571-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10281488. Licensed CC0.

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