Pittsburgh, July 11, 2024 -- Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery have been awarded grant funding totaling almost $300,000 from the prestigious Beckwith Institute Clinical Transformation Program to fund innovative research initiatives.
PGY-4 resident Sakibul Huq, MD, received a $175,000 award for his project “Liquid Biopsy in Neurosurgery” while associate professor Nitin Agarwal, MD, received a $119,000 award for his project “Utilizing AI to Investigate the Efficacy of Romosozumab in Boosting Bone Density and Muscle Mass for Improved Spine Surgery Outcomes.”
Dr. Huq’s project will perform next generation sequencing on blood from patients with brain tumors to determine whether biomarkers in the blood can accurately predict tumor diagnosis, behavior and response to treatment.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous support from The Beckwith Institute, which will allow our department to build a robust liquid biopsy research program for patients with brain and skull base tumors,” Dr. Huq said. “This is an important step toward a future in which these tumors can be noninvasively diagnosed, risk stratified and monitored using simple blood tests.”
Dr. Agarwal’s project will utilize a novel anabolic agent— Romosozumab—to preoptimize elderly patients for spinal surgery. It will employ artificial intelligence to detect nuances in bone and muscle growth that may be hidden from the human eye.
“This project will revolutionize spine surgery outcomes,” said Rohit Prem Kumar, a co-investigator in Dr. Agarwal’s study. “By intersecting cutting-edge artificial intelligence and innovative medical treatment, we aim to significantly enhance spinal procedures' overall success and safety in the vulnerable, elderly population."
D. Kojo Hamilton, MD, and Nami Safi Haeri, MD; are other co-investigators on Dr. Agarwal’s project, while Costas Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD, is a co-investigator and mentor on Dr. Huq’s project.
The Beckwith Institute’s Clinical Transformation Program focuses on promising immunotherapy and other leading edge science solutions with outcomes that will advance patient care. Since 2012, The Beckwith Institute has supported more than 100 research projects and pilot programs designed to “challenge the status quo and disrupt traditional approaches” to redefine health care delivery and patient care.