UNO Receives $11 Million NIH Grant to Combat Cardiovascular Diseases

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has reached a significant milestone in the fight against cardiovascular diseases with the receipt of an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant marks the establishment of the Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at developing innovative materials and devices to address the pressing challenges posed by vascular diseases, which remain a leading cause of death and disability globally.

Led by Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Biomechanics, CRiB is poised to revolutionize cardiovascular disease treatment through advanced research in arterial biomechanics and the creation of novel biomedical materials and devices. The Center will adopt a comprehensive approach, leveraging human tissues, preclinical animal models, and extensive scientific collaborations to drive transformative advancements in the field. Situated within UNO's Department of Biomechanics, CRiB will strengthen faculty and graduate student research and promote collaborations with industry partners to translate laboratory innovations into clinical applications.

“I am immensely excited to begin this important work that stands to improve clinical outcomes for millions of patients worldwide. The opportunity to conduct tangible research, such as the development of better materials and devices for cardiovascular disease treatment, is both stimulating and deeply rewarding. These advancements could be applied in clinical settings in the foreseeable future, significantly impacting patient care,” said Kamenskiy.

A pivotal component of CRiB is the establishment of the Tissue Analysis Core (TAC), led by Anastasia Desyatova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Biomechanics. Building upon UNO's expertise in vascular research and its collaboration with Live On Nebraska, TAC will provide specialized services in mechanical and structural soft tissue analyses to support pioneering research projects within the Center. Notably, three initial projects focusing on Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) will be spearheaded by talented early-career Assistant Professors in Biomechanics.

Majid Jadidi, Ph.D., will explore elastin regeneration in human peripheral arteries, Kaspars Maleckis, Ph.D., will develop an innovative elastomeric bypass graft mimicking healthy human lower extremity arteries, and Yury Salkovskiy, Ph.D., will design a biodegradable, infection-resistant wound dressing to enhance the healing of ischemic ulcers commonly observed in PAD patients. Moreover, to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application, CRiB will collaborate with the biomedical device industry through UneMed, UNO's technology transfer office.

“The journey from academic research to market is fraught with challenges, often referred to as ‘the valley of death,’ which impedes many inventions. I am eager to facilitate CRiB investigators’ connections with the biomedical device industry, advancing their inventions to the next development stage. This step is vital for any technology to achieve a meaningful translational impact,” said Michael Dixon, President and CEO of UNeMed.

Sara Myers, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity at UNO, emphasized the grant's significance in advancing scientific understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases while solidifying UNO's global leadership in cardiovascular biomechanics research. Additionally, UNO Chancellor Joanne Li commended the Department of Biomechanics for its transformative research efforts, highlighting the profound impact such initiatives have on the university and beyond.

“This substantial NIH grant not only propels the scientific understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases forward but also cements UNO’s position as a global leader in cardiovascular biomechanics research. Having been a research project leader on UNO’s first COBRE grant in 2014, I’ve witnessed firsthand its transformative impact on our community. I am confident this new grant will have an equally remarkable effect," said Myers.

This NIH grant, awarded through the competitive Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program, emphasizes UNO's commitment to driving innovation and addressing critical health challenges. As the second COBRE grant received by UNO, following the success of the first grant focused on human movement variability research, CRiB is poised to make a substantial impact on cardiovascular health, benefiting communities locally and globally.

“UNO has continued to raise the bar for research, particularly within the Department of Biomechanics. Research like this provides incredible avenues for our campus to impact the world around us, and at UNO, our students have the opportunity to be part of this transformational work. I want to congratulate the Department of Biomechanics on receiving this COBRE grant and look forward to the ways in which it will continue to transform our research efforts at UNO for years to come," said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.

What Others Are Saying

Phil He, Ph.D.

Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

"The recognition of Dr. Alexey Kamenskiy's COBRE grant underscores UNO's superiority in cardiovascular biomechanics research. This remarkable achievement not only bolsters our research infrastructure but also positions us as a leader in pioneering solutions for complex medical conditions."

Neal Grandgenett, Ph.D.

Interim Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

“CEHHS is so very proud of Dr. Kamenskiy and his team. Not only is this highly impactful scientific research, but it also provides our students at the Bachelor’s, Masters, and Ph.D. levels to be truly on the cutting edge of innovation when they graduate here at UNO, and go back into the workforce, both here in Nebraska and Worldwide.

Nikolaos Stergiou, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean and Director, Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, College of Education

Distinguished Community Research Professor and Founding Chair, Department of Biomechanics

Director, Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR)

"UNO Biomechanics has provided another tremendous success, a second COBRE award, for our University and the state of Nebraska. Dr. Kamenskiy and his team at UNO Biomechanics, worked extremely hard and their excellent original ideas have been rewarded by the NIH. This multi-million-dollar federal award to create the first ever Center in Cardiovascular Biomechanics is the result of years of methodical and systematic efforts by our faculty and students that is fueled with innovation and incredible hard work. I am certain that this award will further solidify UNO’s reputation as an international research epicenter in biomechanics and will achieve even greater heights for economic development in our state."