Six new projects cutting across multiple colleges at the University of Iowa will be funded by the Seeding Excellence Initiative, a targeted pilot project program managed by the UI’s Research Development Office. Two department faculty members have significant roles in two of those projects. These 18-month, $47,000 grants will allow the research teams the opportunity to develop new ideas and generate sufficient data to apply for larger external funding. This particular set of projects all incorporate radiochemistry in some aspect with the aim of improving human health.

Muhammad Furqan, MD, clinical professor in Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, will partner with researchers the College of Public Health and the State Hygienic Laboratory. Mahmoud Abou-Alaiwa, MD, associate professor in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, will work with faculty in the Department of Radiology.

Integrative Radiochemistry and Environmental Health: A Novel Non-Invasive Toenail Biomarker for Personalized Radon-Induced Lung Cancer Risk Assessment

In the United States, lung cancer screening programs primarily rely on smoking history and age as eligibility criteria. However, these criteria overlook other significant risk factors, including radon (222Rn), a naturally occurring radioactive gas prevalent in Iowa that is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. This research team will explore a novel, non-invasive method for assessing lifetime radon exposure by analyzing toenail samples for lead-210 (210Pb), a “radon progeny,” a radioactive element that occurs as radon decays.

Project team: Jong Sung Kim, associate professor of occupational and environmental health, College of Public Health; Muhammad Furqan, clinical associate professor of internal medicine, CCOM; Dustin May, environmental laboratory manger, State Hygienic Laboratory; Hans-Joachim Lehmler, professor of occupational and environmental health, College of Public Health; Kai Wang, professor of biostatistics, College of Public Health

Selective Radiolabeling of Gel-Forming Mucins in the Airways

The research team will explore mucociliary transport, or the lungs’ natural cleaning system. By secreting mucus, the lungs trap unwanted substances like bacteria, particles, and pollutants, and sweep them out of the airway. Although this process is understood to play a role in airway diseases, there is not a proper technique for measuring its function and control. The research team will develop a tool for understanding the mechanism of mucociliary transport and the role of its various components. Ultimately, they hope to glean insights about the development of various airway diseases, including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Project team: Mahmoud Abou Alaiwa, associate professor of internal medicine, CCOM; David Dick, clinical associate professor of radiology, CCOM; Thaddeus Wadas, associate professor of radiology, CCOM; John Sunderland, professor of radiology, CCOM

Read about all six of the funded projects and the Seeding Excellence Initiative.