Drug Discovery and Development
Computational Modeling Yields a Novel Class of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
BLACKSBURG, Va., April 18, 2012 – Researchers in the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) at VBI have recently discovered a new compound that shows promise in ameliorating the inflammation in the gut. Congruent to findings last year regarding abscisic acid, the discovery of Lanthionine Synthetase C-like protein 2 (LANCL2) as a novel therapeutic target could aid in relieving such diseases without the side effects of current medications. These findings have been reported in PloS ONE. [More ...]
Novel Discoveries on Crohn’s Disease
Researchers Discover Novel Immune Modulatory Properties and Clinical Efficacy of Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Crohn’s Disease Patients
BLACKSBURG, Va., Mar. 16th, 2012 – A team of researchers at the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) at the Virginia Tech, in collaboration with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepathology at University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the Wake Forest Medical Center have reported new findings on the immune modulatory properties of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. The two main clinical manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): CD and ulcerative colitis (UC), afflict over 1.4 million people in the United States with a worldwide prevalence reaching up to 396/100,000 persons. In addition, the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases by 0.5–1.0% yearly in IBD patients. These novel findings reported in the most recent edition of Clinical Nutritiona, were awarded the American College of Gastroenterology Presidential Poster of distinction for human clinical trial and help move researchers one step further in their efforts to develop safer and more efficacious interventions against IBD. [More ...]
MIEP: Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens
Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens galvanized for next phase of research
BLACKSBURG, Va., Dec. 16, 2011 – Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) researchers led by Dr. Bassaganya-Riera, Professor of Immunology at VBI and Director of the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML), returned from the Modeling Immunity for Biodefense (MIB) annual meeting galvanized to launch into Year Two of the Center for Modeling Immunity for Enteric Pathogens (MIEP) program. [More ...]
