Research Grants

Co-Project Lead (Co-Principal Investigator for Project 1) of the Basic Research Project, Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) NIH – U54 at UTEP, Targeting the immunosuppressive adenosine pathway to release the blockade of the γc cytokine signaling network and enhance antitumor immunity for hepatocellular carcinoma. PI: Dr. Robert Kirken and Dr. Michael Kenney, 9/01/2025 - 8/30/2030. ($350,000.00/year). 

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Principal Investigator, 1R16GM145559-01, NIH - NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE (FED) SURE R16, SOCS1 is a crucial regulator for uveal melanoma response to immunotherapy. 09/1/2022 – 08/31/2026 ($614,000).

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Principal Investigator, The Lizanell and Colbert Coldwell Foundation Research Grant, Unveiling the Mechanisms and Advancing First-Line Cisplatin-Bevacizumab Therapy: Enhancing Efficacy, Reducing Toxicity, and Overcoming Resistance in Cancer Treatment, 4/01/2025 – 3/31/2026 ($35,000).

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Principal Investigator, The University Research Institute (URI) Award at UTEP, Novel Hypoxia-targeted Multikinase Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy, 4/01/2025 – 3/31/2026 ($5,000).

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Principal Investigator, The On-Campus Student Internship Program at the University of Texas at El Paso, Training undergraduate students at UTEP in research laboratory on relevant cancer pharmacology projects. 09/01/2024 – 8/30/2025. ($7,600).

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Principal Investigator, The Faculty Travel Incentive Program (FTIP) at the University of Texas at El Paso, 4/01/2025 – 3/31/2026 ($1,417).

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Grant Number: 1OT2OD032581
Principal Investigator: Dr. Tadesse Abegaz
Primary Institution: University of Texas at El Paso
Project Title: Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Predicting Adverse Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Project Period 1: 10/01/2025 – 07/31202

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Mancera, Bibiana M. (Principal), Frietze, Gabriel (Co-Investigator), “Expanding a CHW Led Diabetes Intervention to Increase Diabetes Education and Awareness Through Strategic Partnerships”.  Paso Del Norte Health Foundation,  $181,370.00 proposed, Amount funded: $181,370.00. September 01, 2024. (Funded September 2024 – August 2025).

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Frietze, Gabriel (Principal), The On-Campus Student Employment Program at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Training undergraduate students at UTEP in research laboratory on human subjects research. 09/01/2024 – 9/01/2025. ($22,800)

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Frietze, Gabriel (Principal), Mancera, Bibiana M. (Co-Investigator), “Biomarkers, Lifestyles, and Behaviors: Socio-behavioral Correlates of Inflammation Markers in Hispanics”.  National Institutes of Health (NIH), Federal, 5U54MD007592.  $150,000.00 proposed, Amount funded: $150,000.00 October 17, 2023. (Funded October 2023 – October 2024).

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Frietze, Gabriel (Principal), Mancera, Bibiana M. (Co-Investigator), “Rapid Research: Investigating Language as a Barrier to COVID-19 Rapid Testing in Underserved Spanish Speaking Hispanic Populations”.  National Institutes of Health (NIH), Federal, RADx-UP CDCC Rapid Research Pilot Program. $307,000.00 proposed, Amount funded: $307,000.00 May 13, 2022. (Funded September 2022 – June 2024).

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Cox, Marc B. (Principal), Frietze, Gabriel (Co-Principal), "Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Acceptance: A Randomized Control Trial Examining Trustworthy Messengers of Vaccine Information in Hispanic Parents." OR20210259, CANCER PREVENTION & RSRCH INST OF TEXAS (TX) - SPN01054 RP210153, State of Texas. Funded, $238,619.00 proposed, $238,619.00 awarded, proposed August 31, 2021. (Funded December 2021 - August 30, 2024)

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Kirken, Robert A. (Principal), Moya, Eva (Principal), Padilla, Margie E. (Co-Investigator), Frietze, Gabriel (Co-Investigator), Gosselink, Kristin (Co-Investigator), "HPV Mitigation and Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan in Mexican-origin.", NIH, Federal. Proposed: $22,800,00.00, Total Awarded: $19,200,00.00, Current Project Awarded: $374,343.00.  Notified of acceptance July 31, 2019. Funded April 1, 2019 – July 30, 2024.

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Frietze, Gabriel (Principal), The On-Campus Student Employment Program at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Training undergraduate students at UTEP in research laboratory on inflammation biomarker project. 09/01/2023 – 9/01/2024. ($15,200).

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O'Dell, Laura E. (Principle), Mendez, Ian A. (Co-Investigator), Khan, Arshad (Co-Investigator), "Sex Differences and The Influence of Ovarian Hormones on the Mechanisms that Promote Nicotine Withdrawal". National Institute on Drug Abuse. R01DA059359. $2M proposed, $2M funded. March 28, 2024. (Funded March 2023 – December 2028).

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Implementing Community-based Approaches to Increase SARS-CoV-2 Testing among an Underserved and Vulnerable Hispanic Population

Total federal funds requested:  $1,057,000.00

Amount funded: $690,902.00

Granting agency: National Institutes of Health

PI: Robert A. Kirken

Co-Investigators: Gabriel A. Frietze, Michael J. Kenney, Bibiana M. Mancera, Eva M. Moya, Margie E. Padilla

Submission date: September 8, 2020

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Design and development of an efficient microfluidic device for the detection of blood circulating endothelial cells (CECs) as a PAH diagnostic marker and to identify age-specific PAH mediators - $98,460

Grant Term: 2019/11/01 - 2021/10/31

Granting agency: The Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education

PI: Dr. Taslim Al-Hilal (Assistant Professor)

To isolate circulating endothelial cells from whole blood of PAH patients (pediatric vs adult), assess whether these cells are valid biomarkers for PAH, and identify novel gene expression profiles that could explain the different functional abnormalities between adult and pediatric PAH.

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Support of Competitive Research (SC2) - $225,000

Grant Term: 2020-2023 (exact dates TBD)

Granting agency: NIH/NIGMS SCORE Grant

PI: Dr. Ian A. Mendez (Assistant Professor)

This project will characterize the effects of nicotine vapor inhalation during adolescence on motivation and decision making for rewards. The project also will examine the neurobiological underpinnings of such aberrant behavior.

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UTEP TeachTech Grant - $3000

Affordable/OER Couorse Materials Initiative 2019-2020

PI: Dr. Gabriel Frietze (Clinical Instructor)

Grant will support the implementation of Open Educational Resources (OER) and affordable instructional materials to maximize student learning outcomes in the Fall 2020 Biostatistics & Epidemiology course.

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UTEP-SKU Education Grant - $873,155

Dr. Namsoo (Peter) Kim, Associate Professor of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering

Co-PI: JongWha Chang, PhD, Assistant Professor in Pharmacy Administration Co-PI

Grant will be used towards a collaboration between the College of Engineering, Dr. Namsoo and the School of Pharmacy, Dr. JongWha Chang, which will enable for the expansion of new areas of research to include: food printing, creation of micro needles as a drug delivery system

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Minority Health Research and Education Grant Program - $395,000

Dr. Candace Berger, PI

Co-PI: Dr. José O. Rivera, PharmD

Others: Dr. Jeri J. Sias, Dr. Margie Padilla

New PLACES (Placement in Academic Clinical Education Sites) and New FACES (Faculty Acculturation to Clinical Education and Scholarship): Expanding Social Work and Interprofessional Education on the US-Mexico Border

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The Role of Enkephalin in Cue-Induced Changes in Motivation

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation NARSAD Young Investigator Award - $75,000

Project Investigator: Ian Mendez, PhD, Asst. Prof. of Pharm. Sciences (Pharmacology)

Grant will investigate the role of striatal enkephalin in cue-induced reward seeking behavior and is awarded for a two-year duration.

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Identifying small molecule inhibitors of Axon degeneration via TMEM184b.

$ 37,750 (Border Biomedical Research Pilot Grant (NIH))

PI: Dr. Suman Sirimulla

Collaborators: Dr. Martha Bhattacharya

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Texas Department of State Health Services, Smoke Free Public Housing – Statewide- $180,000

PI: Nora Hernandez, MBA, CPH

Collaborators: Dr. José O. Rivera, PharmD

With extensive experience in the area of tobacco control and policy development and adoption, UTEP will provide technical assistance to Texas public housing authorities on smoke-free housing policies, education on tobacco treatment resources, and developing a comprehensive data

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CVS Health Foundation

Diabetes Empowerment and Education Program expansion for Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe -$15,000

The aim of this study is to expand the Diabetes Empowerment and Education Program (DEEP) educational classes from one to three clinics and measure key health improvements of class participants. The six- week DEEP curriculum is designed to educate patients on diabetes management, prevention of complications, setting goals, and problem-solving.. Key outcomes of the study are to: 1) enroll 550 participants in the DEEP classes, 2) graduate 247 participants from the DEEP 6-week course, 3) monitor patient health outcomes (e.g. participant drop of Hemoglobin A1C by 10%), and 4) increase the total number of patients who have implemented DEEP classes activities in their daily life. Methods include measuring DEEP participant engagement (i.e. enrollment, retention for class completion, medication and lifestyle changes adherence, monitoring of blood sugars, monitoring of diabetes complications, and health milestones (i.e. Hemaglobin A1c). Since the program implementation 132 people have graduated from the DEEP 6-week course, 230 people have been enrolled into the DEEP course. Data is pending on participant engagement and measurement of key health improvements.

Co-PI: Dr. Jacquelyn Navarrete, PharmD

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UTEP TeachTech Grant - $2000

Improve technology use in the classroom

PI: Dr. Margie Padilla

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TACC Research Allocation: VinaXB by Texas Advanced Computing Center

Improve technology use in the classroom

PI: Dr. Suman Sirimulla

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Khasawneh F, Alshbool F., American Heart Association (AHA): Investigation the role of the RGS16 platelet function. $154,000

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2018 APhA Foundation Incentive Grant Recipient: Shaneka Frazer—PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident Project Proposal: BRIDGE (Building Relationships and Implementing strategies to Deliver care, Gain medication access and provide Education) for Supporting Transitions of Care Services in a Predominantly Spanish-Speaking Community.

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2018 APhA Foundation Incentive Grant Recipient: Sarin Patel—PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident Project Proposal: On the (MEND) Mental health and Education in Diabetes: a New Pharmacy Service in a Predominantly Hispanic Community.