Congratulations to the MSTP faculty members among the researchers receiving funding from UC's Special Coronavirus (COVID-19) Research Pilot Grant Program. The grant program supports innovative studies exploring the virus' biology, progression, and how it affects various populations. It also support projects aimed at impacting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.

• Yoshi Odaka, PhD, UC Blue Ash College, and Rhett Kovall, PhD, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, “Elucidation of SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 Protein Structure and Effect of Macrolides Rapamycin (sirolimus) and FK506 (tacrolimus) on ORF8 and FKBP7 Interaction”
• David Plas, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology, and William Miller, PhD, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, “Interfering with SARS-CoV-2 Envelope-dependent Viral Entry”
• Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, “Reversal of SARS-CoV-2-induced Contractile Dysfunction Mediated by Binding to ACE2 Receptor”

Learn more.

Photo, from left to right: Drs.Kovall, Plas, and Sadayappan