Dr. Neelam Azad


Dr. Anand Iyer

The Hampton University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health / National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes (NIH/NHLBI). The funding will support the “Impact of Oxidative Stress-Regulated Angiogenesis in Pulmonary Fibrosis” research project.  Dr. Neelam Azad and Dr. Anand Iyer, assistant professors in the Department of Pharmaceutical, are the principal and co principal investigators.  The research will extend through June 2016.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, usually fatal disease of the lung. Of more than 40,000 people in the United States who succumb each year to the disease, the mortality rate among African-Americans is twice that of Caucasians.

“With the current emphasis on research at HU, this grant award not only reaffirms the position of HU in the research arena but also aids HU’s mission in addressing health problems associated with the minority community,” Azad said.

The grant focuses on exploring the modalities that dictate development of pulmonary fibrosis. The overall objective of this project is to clarify the role of some of the characteristic features, such as angiogenesis and oxidative stress, which have been implicated in pulmonary fibrosis, but are understudied.

“The proposed study will be important not only to the increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lung fibrosis,” Iyer said, “but also in the development of potential therapeutic and preventive strategies for this fatal disease.”

According to Dr. Wayne Harris, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, “establishing and maintaining a leadership role in research is a major strategic priority for the University and the School of Pharmacy. Receipt of this grant, demonstrates the research capability of the School and it further strengthens ongoing involvement in biomedical research.”