# Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK · 2021 · $40,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This is an administrative supplement application that aims to promote the research productivity and
career training of a promising minority pre-doctoral fellow. The hypothesis was built on a new
observation made by the candidate in terms of how Paneth cell lysozyme secretion may be regulated.
The proposed experiments will biochemically quantify lysozyme secretion from mouse intestinal lumen
of mice lacking Rab11b trafficking. Additional proposed experiments will uncover Paneth cell specific
Rab11b interactome, which may shed lights on novel regulatory mechanism for antimicrobial peptide
secretion. The project will enhance and expand the overarching goal of the parent award that
investigates contribution of intestinal lysozyme to mucosal immune response to commensal microbiota.
The candidate is currently a full-time predoctoral fellow in the PI’s laboratory at Rutgers University. The
candidate’s academic path in the last ten years convincingly demonstrated a strong motivation and
persistent endeavor in pursuing laboratory research and biomedical science as a career. The project
is important as elevated levels of intestinal lysozyme and its ectopic production by colonic mucosa are
observed in clinically active intestinal inflammation conditions. A better understanding of how lysozyme
secretion is regulated will bring insights into the frequently observed defective lysozyme packaging and
secretion in Paneth cells of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. The project is multidisciplinary in nature and
relies on different expertise in experimental colitis, mucosal immunology, gnotobiotics study, genetics,
and intestinal epithelial biology. Thus, the project is ideal for training of a Ph.D. candidate as it requires
strong collaborative activities and scientific communication skills. Career development and mentoring
plans are cohesively put in place to facilitate a successful completion of the Ph.D. dissertation and a
transition into postdoctoral research by the candidate.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10356271
- **Project number:** 3R01DK119198-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Nan Gao
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $40,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10356271

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10356271, Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (3R01DK119198-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10356271. Licensed CC0.

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