Research Planning Committee
The Research Planning Committee (RPC) advises the dean of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine on policies, activities and long-term objectives pertaining to research.
About the Research Planning Committee
The Research Planning Committee is the advisory body to the dean of the School of Medicine (SOM) about policies, activities and long-term objectives pertaining to SOM research.
Members are appointed by the dean to a three-year term, with the recommendations of the Committee on Faculty Affairs.
The committee’s activities include:
- Reviewing nominations for awards and fellowships
- Reviewing research centers and cores
- Reviewing major equipment requisitions
- Administration of the internal study section
- Administration of the SOM President's Research Fund
All meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month except for the November and December meetings.
Meetings are from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the ninth-floor conference room of Doisy Research Center.
Funding Opportunities
School of Medicine President’s Research Fund (PRF)
The PRF supports projects with a strong potential for obtaining external funding for SLU investigators. The Research Planning Committee administers two categories of the PRF for the School of Medicine.
The PRF01 application season is from Nov. 1, 2025, through Jan. 15, 2026. Funding starts July 1, 2026.
- The maximum award term is 12 months.
- PRF01 Application Guidelines
- Log in to myslu.slu.edu and click the OpenWater icon in the "My Apps" tab. Log in with your current SLU email address (i.e., first.last@slu.edu) and your password. You will be asked to set up your profile when you log in.
- Deadline is 5 p.m. (CST) on Jan 15, 2026.
The PRF03 has rolling application submissions. Expedited review within 30 days. Funding available within 90 days post-application submission.
- The maximum award term is 12 months.
- PRF03 Application Guidelines
- Log in to myslu.slu.edu and click the OpenWater icon in the ‘My Apps’ tab. Log in with your current SLU email address (i.e., first.last@slu.edu) and your password. You will be asked to set up your profile when you log in.
- Deadline is the 5th of each month (August through May) at 5 p.m. (CST)
Contact for medical school applicants: Sandra Cornell, sandra.cornell@health.slu.edu.
2026 Winners
- Anthony Anzell, Ph.D.
Assistant professor, pediatrics
Project: "Generating a platform to functionally characterize HHT genetic variants" - Guoyu Ling, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant professor, internal medicine-endocrinology
Project: "Inflammatory Status During Menopausal Transition Following Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Mouse Model Study" - Lewis Frey, Ph.D.
Professor, internal medicine
Project: "Applying Artificial Intelligence Models to Genetic Cholestatic Liver Diseases" - Mina Mehanni, M.D.
Assistant professor, internal medicine
Project: "AI-Enhanced Prediction of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients" - Daniel Hawiger, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, molecular microbiology and immunology
Project: "Pinpointing autoimmune encephalitogenic stem-like T cells and their mechanisms orchestrated by Hopx (recommended for PRF03 mechanism)"
2025 Winners
- Kana Miyata, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Project: "SGLT2 inhibitors’ off-target mechanisms of kidney protection" - Brent Tetri, M.D.
Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology
Project: "The role of ABHD5 in protecting against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)" - Jianguo Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Project: "Role of E-box binding protein in MCP-1 polymorphism-mediated susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis infection" - Jeff Teckman, M.D.
Pediatrics
Project: "Investigating the Role of USP20 and CTSZ Gene Ablation on Autophagy and Inflammation in A1ATD Mouse Model" - Tinghai Xu, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "Structural Insights into DNMT3A-3L-Mediated Mammalian de novo DNA Methylation in Chromatin Context" - Jaya Gnana-Prakasam, Ph.D.
Ophthalmology
Project: "Role of Beta-hydroxybutyrate in Retinal Function"
2024 Winners
- Susana Gonzalo-Hervas, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "Cathepsin L-mediated remodeling of the nuclear proteome" - Ryan Teague, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Maternal Obesity and Immune Dysfunction in Neonates" - Kyle McCommis, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "Structure and transport/inhibition mechanisms of the human mitochondrial pyruvate carrier" - Kevin Chen, M.D.
Plastic Surgery
Project: "Custom 3D-Printed Nasal Conformers for Improved Cleft Nasal Outcomes" - Vincenza Cifarelli, Ph.D.
Pharmacology and Physiology
Project: "Determining the role of a novel E3 ligase Ube4A in intestinal function and IBD" - Oleg Kisselev, Ph.D.
Ophthalmology
Project: "Mechanisms of inherited retinal degeneration"
2023 Winners
- Rajeev Aurora, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology/Pediatrics
Project: "Development of a gnotobiotic mouse model to study the effect of breastmilk microbiome on neonatal health" - Stephen Ferris, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Developing next-generation dendritic cell cancer vaccines" - Chien-Jung Lin, M.D.
Internal Medicine-Cardiology
Project: "Extracellular Matrix in Vascular Diseases" - Andy Nguyen, Ph.D.
Internal Medicine-Geriatrics
Project: "Progranulin as a Potential Therapeutic Target to Enhance Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Disease" - Kedar Padhye, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgery
Project: "Machine Learning for Implant Classification in Spinal Revision Surgery" - Krishan Pandey, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Determine the structure of a transient intermediate in retroviral integration pathway" - John Tavis, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Engineering tractable HBV polymerase derivatives for structure, mechanism, and drug discovery studies" - Victor Tse, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Development of Fusion Loop-Null Live Dengue Viruses to Define Immune Correlates of Protection"
2022 Winners
- Ryan Teague, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Parental obesity and inherited immune dysfunction" - Sarah George, M.D.
Internal Medicine - Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Project: "Determine how obesity and insulin resistance alters durability of adaptive immunity after COVID vaccination" - Xiaofeng Fan, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology
Project: "Anellovirus as a Risk Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma" - Robert Fleming, M.D.
Pediatrics
Project: "The effect of monoferric transferrins on erythroid suppression resulting from acute and chronic inflammation" - Yasar Caliskan, M.D.
Internal Medicine - Nephrology
Project: "Molecular Phenotyping of Graft Ischemia-Reperfusion injury with Single Nucleus RNA Sequencing using our novel PROTECT Normothermic Ex Vivo Kidney Perfusion Model"
2021 Winners
- Getahun Abate, M.D.
Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Project: "Cross-reactive nontuberculous mycobacterial immunity in patients with past infection and capacity of high risk patients to mount T cell immune responses" - Elise Alspach, Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Sex Disparities in Anti-Tumor T Cell Responses" - Ian Mitchelle de Vera, Ph.D.
Pharmacol and Physiol Science
Project: "Germ Cell Nuclear Factor as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Germ Cell Tumors" - Julie Dillard, M.D.
Pediatrics-Administration
Project: "The Role of PDE3 in a Murine Model of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia" - Alexis Guenette, D.O.
Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Project: "Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Breakthrough Infections in Cancer Patients, including Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients, in Comparison to Normal Healthy Adults" - Daniel Hawiger, M.D., Ph.D.
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Blocking and enhancing tolerogenic functions of dendritic cells by targeting BTLA" - Jacki Kornbluth, Ph.D.
Pathology-Administration
Project: "NKLAM: An RBR E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Essential for Regulation of Innate Immunity" - Jianguo Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Project: "A new treatment for endocrine resistant breast cancer by targeting MALT1" - Ranjit Ray, Ph.D.
Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Project: "Understanding molecular mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 orchestrates immunopathogenesis"
2020 Winners
- Angel Baldan, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "The Role of FSP27b on Dietary Lipid Absorption, Lipoprotein Secretion, and Oxidative Metabolism" - James Brien, Ph.D.
Molecular Biology and Immunology
Project: "Development of a mRNA Vaccine to Protect Against Dengue Virus Disease" - Krishan Pandey, Ph.D.
Molecular Biology and Immunology
Project: "Determination of retroviral integrase-DNA complex assembly mechanisms by cryo-EM" - Sandeep Dhindsa, M.D.
Internal Medicine-Endocrinology
Project: "Effect of transgender therapy on hormone receptors, adipogenesis and inflammation" - Wilson King, M.D.
Pediatrics
Project: "Constructing a novel mechanical aortic and pulmonary heart valve using Metal 3D Printing and nanotextured graphene coatings" - Mustafa Nazzal, M.D.
Abdominal Transplant Center
Project: "Perfusion Regulated Organ Therapeutics with Enhanced Controlled Testing (PROTECT): Mitigating ischemiareperfusion injury in marginal liver to increase deceased donor pool"