Kabanov awarded funding from Eshelman Institute for Innovation
May 29, 2019
On June 1, the Eshelman Institute for Innovation (EII) awarded $3.5 million across 24 projects to support research and education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Alexander “Sasha” Kabanov’s “Targeting of inflamed monocytes for gene therapy of cancer” was one of the projects chosen for support.
The EII, created in 2014 with a $100 million gift from alumnus and pharmaceutical executive, Fred Eshelman, serves as an engine for innovation within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Continuing on the previous theme, in this cycle the Institute is funding innovative solutions to address society’s pressing problems in healthcare, such as developing therapeutics for cancer, utilizing 3D approaches to treat osteoporosis, developing artificial intelligence to predict adverse drug events, and implementing telepharmacy healthcare models, among others.
“The EII exists to help our innovators and their collaborators take the next step forward in their journey in advancing medicine for life,” said Roy Zwahlen, associate director of the EII. “With the support of EII funding and enabling entrepreneurial infrastructure, we truly have the opportunity to improve healthcare worldwide.”
Since its launch, the EII has provided $25.4 million across 129 projects, and has enabled School faculty, staff, and students and their collaborators to pursue bold, novel ideas to solve problems in drug discovery, drug delivery, clinical pharmacology, pharmacy practice and pharmacy education.
As a clear sign of the impact of EII’s investments in innovative ideas, $13.8 million invested in 48 completed projects have produced 74 publications, 10 patent applications, 15 licenses, 12 startup companies, and $34.5 million follow-on funding.