# Core C- Clinical and Translational Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $156,492

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Experimental techniques that require measurements in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and tissues have
demonstrated clear utility in CF science. Such capabilities have enabled advances including important
contributions to our understanding of basic aspects of disease pathogenesis, characterization of novel
therapeutics directed towards CF ion transport defects, and the evaluation of CFTR modulators in human
subjects. The purpose of Core C is to provide resources, expertise, and support to a wide variety of CF
scientists to assist projects with a strong translational focus requiring human subject interaction and
measurements in patients.
To this end, Core C carries out three main functions as delineated in the Specific Aims. First, the Core designs
and conducts in vivo measurements of CFTR activity in human subjects. This includes measures of ion
transport (nasal, lower airway, and sinus potential difference), which are diagnostic of the CF defect and can
be used to monitor the response to agents such as CFTR modulators that alter ion transport pathways, as well
as other means of assessing CFTR activity (e.g., sweat chloride, sweat rate, etc.). Second, the Core conducts
cardinal measures of mucus clearance in vivo, leveraging high-impact techniques including one micron
resolution optical coherence tomography (μOCT) for in vivo use by endoscopic probes (complementing ex vivo
and in vitro imaging in Core A); whole-lung mucociliary clearance measurement by Tc99 clearance; and mucus
rheology and solid content assessment. And third, the Core provides support for the execution of CF clinical
studies. Clinical trial design and regulatory support; collection and storage of biospecimens; and support for
key clinical outcome measures that require careful technqiue in infants, children, and adults with CF are
included.
By employing a standard set of techniques, reagents, technical and regulatory support, and equipment in a
centralized facility, Core C helps to maximize consistency of assays, efficiency of human subject involvement,
and regulatory processes. Numerous projects within this P30 require in vivo assays of CFTR and clinical
outcome, whereas in vivo measurements of the mucociliary transport apparatus by μOCT and other related
techniques have a high demand and are capabilities unique to our Center. In addition, the Core drives cost
savings by eliminating the need for establishing identical equipment in multiple laboratories and promoting
economy-of-scale for production analysis and storage of clinical data. Overall, P30 Core C conducts studies
well-integrated into the overall themes of the UAB P30, and provides capabilities and resources not otherwise
available to individual CF laboratories at our Institution and beyond.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9989103
- **Project number:** 5P30DK072482-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven Mark Rowe
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $156,492
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-04-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9989103

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9989103, Core C- Clinical and Translational Core (5P30DK072482-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9989103. Licensed CC0.

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