INBRE Collaborative Projects
A Predictive Modeling Framework for Studying Disparity in Colorectal Screening
Summary:
This proposal aims to develop a colorectal cancer data repository by engaging participation
from the Louisiana Clinical Data Research Network (LACDRN) from a regionally distributed
population, and developing a predictive model by identifying the underlying key factors
that are highly correlated with the gender and race. The proposed predictive model
will then aid in computing the confidence associated with each patient on the risk
of developing colon cancer. The results generated from the proposed study will lead
us to advance in closing the loop between the established factors of race and gender
as being the covariates, along with other unidentified and underlying environmental
and socio-economic factors from South Louisiana.
Neurolymphatic Biomarker Analysis in Multiple Sclerosis
Summary:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, devastating and enigmatic immune-mediated neurovascular
disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is characterized by inflammatory
demyelination, degeneration of neurons and axonal loss. In our project we are proposing
to examine endothelial particles that represent the future for analysis of blood biomarkers,
as they can simultaneously provide information on several proteins originally derived
from the brain cell surface. We would like to validate these biomarkers against the
MRIs of the patients, which, until this time, have been the only objective and reliable
diagnostic tool for MS. If our hypotheses are confirmed our project will propel the
neurolymphatic biomarker matrix as a potentially new, non-invasive and inexpensive
tool for diagnosis and monitoring of MS.