Previous Funding – Christian Faul, PhD
UAB School of Medicine – AMC21 2018 1R01
Role: PI
Period: 10/01/2018 – 09/30/2020
Direct costs per year: $50,000
Title: Changes in phosphate metabolism cause pathologic cardiac remodeling in chronic kidney disease
Goals: The UAB School of Medicine provides seed funding to move a one-R01 investigator to a two-R01 investigator. The aims of this project are to target klotho-and vitamin D-mediated signaling pathways in the heart to reveal new mechanisms involved in the development of cardiac dysfunction that occurs in the context of elevated serum phosphate levels, providing novel cardio-protective therapeutic regimen.
NIH/NHLBI – R01 HL128714
Role: PI
Period: 07/01/2015 – 06/30/2020
Direct costs per year: $265,147
Title: Activation of cardiac FGFR4 causes left ventricular hypertrophy
Goals: To analyze cardiac effects of constitutive FGFR4 activation, to study the mechanism of FGF23-FGFR4 signaling in cardiac myocytes, and to determine if FGFR4 is required for pathological cardiac remodeling in animal models with CKD.
Amgen
Role: PI
Period: 10/01/2018 – 09/30/2019
Direct costs per year: $14,800
Title: Effects of TRPC6 inhibition on kidney function in NFAT transgenic mice
Goals: To test a TRPC6 inhibitor for potential anti-proteinuric effects in a genetic mouse model with podocycte effacement and albuminuria.
Bayer AG
Role: PI
Period: 06/19/2018 – 06/18/2019
Direct costs per year: $19,732
Title: Effects of Npt2a inhibition in klotho deficient mice to verify that cardiac hypertrophy can be altered by targeting FGF23 signaling in the heart
Goals: To test a Npt2A inhibitor for potential cardiac protective effects in mice with elevated serum phosphate levels using a genetic mouse model with klotho deficiency.
UAB-UCSD O’Brien Core Center for Acute Kidney Injury Research – Pilot and Feasibility Grant
Role: PI
Period: 08/01/2017 – 07/31/2019
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: FGF23 contributes to systemic inflammation and cardiac injury in animal models of AKI
Goals: To determine whether in mice with renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), an established in vivo model of AKI, FGF23 can target the liver and heart and thereby contribute to the production of inflammatory cytokines and the induction of cardiac hypertrophy. We combine our expertise in studying mechanisms of klotho-independent FGF23 signaling in the context of CKD, with the expertise and resources of the O’Brien Core Center for AKI Research in generating and characterizing rodent models of AKI.
American Diabetes Association (ADA) – Innovative Basic Science Award 1-16-IBS-087
Role: PI
Period: 01/01/2016 – 12/31/2018
Direct costs per year: $100,000
Title: FGF21 causes left ventricular hypertrophy
Goals: To study the direct effects of FGF21 on the heart and to identify the cardiac FGF21 receptor. This Innovative Basic Science Grant was the highest scoring grant application in this category received by the ADA in 2016, and therefore was recognized with the ADA 2016 Gail Patrick Innovation Award.
American Heart Association (AHA) – Strategically Focused Research Network (SRFN) Center – Director: Dr. Myles Wolf
Role: Co-investigator of the basic science project
Period: 07/01/2015 – 03/31/2017
Title: Health Disparities – Phosphate and FGF23: dietary and molecular mediators of health disparities in cardiovascular and kidney diseases
Goals: This AHA Center incorporated synergistic basic, clinical, and population science proposals and a post-doctoral fellowship-training program to advance research in health disparities.
Hoffman – La Roche – PI: Dr. Alessia Fornoni
Role: Co-investigator and the project leader
Period: 11/01/2014 – 03/31/2017
Title: Targeting DDR1 in Alport Syndrome
Goals: To test novel DDR1 blocking compounds for potential anti-fibrotic and protective effects in the kidney using a mouse model of Alport syndrome.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – Stanley J. Glaser Foundation Research Award – UM SJG2015-9
Role: PI
Period: 08/01/2014 – 07/31/2015
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: The role of fibroblast growth factor 23 in cardiac disease
Goals: To identify the cardiac FGF23 receptor.
American Society of Nephrology (ASN) – Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant
Role: PI
Period: 07/01/2012 – 06/30/2014
Direct costs per year: $100,000
Title: The role of fibroblast growth factor 23 in cardiorenal syndrome
Goals: To identify and characterize the cardiac FGF23 receptor, which mediates FGF23-induced left ventricular hypertrophy. We aimed to determine if in the Cardiorenal Syndrome the pharmacological inhibition of this receptor can prevent cardiac injury.
U3 Pharma GmbH
Role: PI
Period: 06/26/2012 – 06/25/2014
Direct costs per year: $130,000
Title: Anti-FGFR4 antibodies as a novel therapy to attenuate cardiac disease
Goals: To test the effects of anti-FGFR4 antibodies, that have been developed by U3 Pharma and are in clinical cancer trials, in animal models of elevated FGF23 and CKD.
American Heart Association (AHA) – National Scientist Development Grant – 09SDG2170015
Role: PI
Period: 07/01/2009 – 06/30/2013
Direct costs per year: $70,000
Title: The function of myopodin in cardiac signaling in health and disease
Goals: To characterize a novel signaling pathway in cardiac myocytes that regulates cardiac remodeling in health and disease.
NephCure Foundation – Young Investigator Career Development Grant – M0900916
Role: PI
Period: 07/01/2009 – 06/30/2012
Direct costs per year: $100,000
Title: The function of calcineurin signaling in podocytes
Goals: To characterize a novel signaling pathway in renal podocytes, that translates changes in intracellular calcium levels into changes in gene expression and cell fate and by doing so is controlling the kidney filter function.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – Interdisciplinary Research Development Initiative Award – Pilot Grant
Role: PI
Period: 10/01/2010 – 09/30/2011
Direct costs per year: $100,000
Title: FGF23 and cardiac hypertrophy
Goals: To characterize direct effects of FGF23 on the myocardium. Drs. Myles Wolf and Joshua Hare from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine were co-investigators responsible for clinical FGF23 and cardiac research, respectively.
Previous Funding – Members of Dr. Faul’s Group
NIH/NIDDK – F31 DK117550 – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Brian Czaya
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at UAB
Period: 07/01/2018 – 06/30/2021
Direct costs per year: $35,328 (direct costs per year)
Title: FGF23 contributes to anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease by elevating hepcidin production
Goals: To train the graduate student in cell biology and molecular nephrology. The student studies the crosstalk between liver-mediated anemia and cardiac hypertrophy in CKD, using primary cell culture and animal models.
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Alabama Louis Stoke Alliance of Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Isaac Campos
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at UAB
Period: 09/01/2018 – 08/31/2021
Direct costs per year: $38,000
Goals: To support students in pursuing a graduate degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at UAB. The fellowship supports the graduate student to study pathomechanisms of CKD in Dr. Faul’s laboratory.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) , Germany – Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
NIH/NHLBI – Training Program in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology – T32 HL007918 – Director: Dr. Scott Ballinger
PI: Dominik Kentrup, PhD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at UAB
Period: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: FGF21-FGFR4 signaling in cardiac remodeling
Goals: To study direct effects of FGF21 on the heart, and to characterize the FGF21 receptor and downstream signaling pathways leading to the induction of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte growth.
NIH/NHLBI – Training Program in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology – T32 HL007918 – Director: Dr. Scott Ballinger
PI: Brian Czaya
Dr. Faul’s role: Thesis mentor of the PhD student at UAB
Period: 11/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Direct costs per year: $30,000
Title: FGF23 contributes to anemia in chronic kidney disease by elevating hepcidin production
Goals: To train the graduate student in cardiovascular sciences. The student participated and presented his research in courses, seminars and retreats of the T32 program which focuses on cardiovascular biology and pathophysiology. The student studied the crosstalk between liver-mediated anemia and cardiac hypertrophy in CKD, using primary cell culture and animal models.
NIH/NIDDK – F31 DK10236101 – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Karla Schramm
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at the University of Miami
Period: 09/01/2014 – 08/31/2017
Direct costs per year: $35,000
Title: Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 by zonulin regulates cell-cell contacts in renal podocytes and permeability of the glomerulus
Goals: To train the graduate student in cell biology and molecular nephrology. The student studied the regulation of cell-cell contacts in podocytes in cell culture and transgenic mouse models.
American Heart Association (AHA) – 15POST22730025 – Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
PI: Alexander Grabner, MD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Miami
Period: 01/01/2015 – 12/31/2016
Direct costs per year: $55,000
Title: Cardiac FGFR4 activation causes LVH
Goals: To characterize the effects of FGFR4 activation in the heart.
NIH/NIDDK – F31 DK09566101 – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Alexis Sloan
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at the University of Miami
Period: 07/01/2012 – 06/30/2015
Direct costs per year: $35,000
Title: The role of NFAT in podocyte damage and proteinuric kidney disease
Goals: To train the graduate student in cell biology and molecular nephrology. The functional consequences of NFAT activation in podocytes, including morphological alterations and changes in gene expression patterns, were studied in transgenic mice.
Roche, Translational & Clinical Research Center (TCRC), Inc. – Young Investigator Award
PI: Alexander Grabner, MD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Miami.
Period: 12/01/2013 – 11/30/2014
Direct costs per year: $50,000
Title: Pathologic effects of FGF23 in chronic kidney disease
Goals: To identify the FGF23 receptor in the heart.
NIH/NIDDK – F30 DK0910572010 – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Ansel Amaral
Dr. Faul’s role: Co-sponsor and the thesis mentor of MD/PhD student at the University of Miami
Period: 09/01/2010 – 06/30/2014
Direct costs per year: $25,000
Title: The role of FGF23 in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease
Goals: To train in translational research aspects of mineral metabolism in kidney disease.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany – Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
PI: Alexander Grabner, MD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Miami.
Period: 12/01/2012 – 11/30/2013
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: Identification of the cardiac FGF23 receptor and characterization of its role in the cardiorenal syndrome and congestive heart failure
Goals: To identify the FGF23 receptor in the heart, and to characterize the downstream signaling pathways leading to the induction of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte growth in detail.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany – Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
PI: Britta Walter, MD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Miami
Period: 08/01/2011 – 07/31/2012
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: Protease-activated receptors regulate cell-cell contacts in renal podocytes and thereby the permeability of the glomerular filter
Goals: To identify novel circulating factors that can induce podocyte damage and proteinuria and to characterize the underlying molecular signaling pathways.
NIH – Initiative to Maximize Student Development Fellowship (IMSD) – F25 PAR14-12
PI: Alexis Sloan
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at the University of Miami
Period: 12/09/2008 – 31/08/2011
Goals: To support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce at the University of Miami. The fellowship supported the graduate student to study podocyte biology in Dr. Faul’s laboratory.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany – Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
PI: Beatrice Richter, PhD
Dr. Faul’s role: Mentor and supervisor of the Postdoctoral Fellow at UAB
Period: 04/01/2018 – 03/31/2020
Direct costs per year: $40,000
Title: Effects of soluble klotho and active vitamin D on FGF23-induced cardiac hypertrophy
Goals: To study the crosstalk between FGF23/FGFR4, klotho and vitamin D signaling in the regulation of cardiac remodeling in CKD using cell culture and transgenic mouse models.
NIH/NIDDK – F31 DK115074 – Predoctoral Fellowship
PI: Christopher Yanucil
Dr. Faul’s role: Sponsor and the thesis mentor of the PhD student at UAB
Period: 09/01/2017 – 08/31/2020
Direct costs per year: $35,328
Title: Vitamin D and soluble klotho inhibit FGF23-mediated cardiac hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease
Goals: To train the graduate student in cell biology and molecular nephrology. The student studies the crosstalk between FGF23/FGFR4, klotho and vitamin D signaling in the regulation of cardiac remodeling in CKD using cell culture and transgenic mouse models.
