Cutting Edge: SD Research Initiatives

2010 Centers

Infectious Disease Research & Vaccinology
Signal Transduction Center
Research & Development of Light-Activated Materials

Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology

Center Activities:

The South Dakota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology (CIDRV) is a multi-institutional research center involving both veterinary science and the medical school that provides a unique environment to address challenging problems in human and livestock health. The resources and expertise of the CIDRV enables it to support collaborations in molecular pathogenesis of infectious disease, germ-free animal research, livestock disease management, and immunology. The germ-free piglet model of enteric disease employed by CIDRV is an excellent example of a model ideally suited to address vaccine development, and is superior in a variety of ways to traditional rodent models for study of diarrheogenic bacteria and viruses of humans and animals. Availability of appropriate animal models, and the expertise of our scientists has enabled us to bring molecular technology to application in diagnostic and preventive medicine.

Center Partners:

• South Dakota State University, Department of Veterinary Science, Brookings, SD
• Sanford University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Vermillion & Sioux Falls, SD

Industry Collaborators include:

• Hematech, transgenic cattle for human medical applications
• Novartis Animal Health, vaccines and therapeutic products for livestock
• Tetracore, human and veterinary diagnostic technologies
• Teijin Pharma Limited, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics
• Spring Point Project, diabetes therapies
• Chronix Biomedical, molecular-based diagnostic technologies

2010 Program Contact

Dr. Melvin Ustad, Director

Office of Commercialization

Dept. of Tourism & State Development

2329 N Career Ave, Suite 109

Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Ph. (605) 367-4515

mel.ustad@state.sd.us

Technical Contact
Dr. David Francis, PhD, Director

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology

SAR 113, South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 57007

Ph. (605) 688-5680

david.francis@sdstate.edu

Back to top

Signal Transduction

Center Activities:

The South Dakota Signal Transduction Center is focusing its research activities on cell transduction in cancer and cardiovascular disease which are the most frequent causes of death in modern society. The research includes:

• Exploring mechanisms of cardiovascular remodeling and red blood cell fatty acid biomarkers relationship to cardiovascular disease risk.
• The Cancer Biology Initiation is focused on ovarian cancer.
• The Sanford Health Research Foundation is also conduction health disparity research focusing on Native American populations, as well as disabilities.

Center Partners:

• Sanford Health Research Foundation, Sioux Falls, SD
• Sanford USD School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD
• Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD

2010 Program Contact

Dr. Melvin Ustad, Director

Office of Commercialization

Dept. of Tourism & State Development

2329 N Career Ave, Suite 109

Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Ph. (605) 367-4515

mel.ustad@state.sd.us

Technical Contact

Dr. M. Benjamin Perryman, Director

The Cardiovascular Research Institute

7th Floor, Avera Doctors Plaza 2

1100 East 21st St

Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Ph. (605) 328-1300

perrymab@sanfordhealth.org

Back to top

Research & Development of Light Activated Materials

Center Activities:

Research in the Center for Research and Development of Light-Activated Materials has the potential to impact many industries.

• Healthcare: Novel bio-adhesives that can be used for suture-less tissue repair and drug delivery have been developed and are being tested. Innovative technologies involving the construction of nanoscale devices that can be used in the early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases are being developed.
• Environment: Research includes sensors that can detect toxic metal contamination and utilize the sun's energy to facilitate the remediation of contaminated groundwater.
• Energy: Working with innovative materials that efficiently harvest the sun's energy and convert it directly to electricity and using the sun's energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen are being explored.

Center Partners:

• South Dakota State University, Department of Chemistry, Brookings, SD
• University of South Dakota, Department of Chemistry, Vermillion, SD
• Sanford USD School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD
• Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD

Industry Collaborators include:

• PhotoBioMed Inc., Bioadhesive for tissue bonding and drug delivery
• Radiance Technologies, Photo voltaic solar energy

2010 Program Contact

Dr. Melvin Ustad, Director

Office of Commercialization

Dept. of Tourism & State Development

2329 N Career Ave, Suite 109

Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Ph. (605) 367-4515

mel.ustad@state.sd.us

Technical Contact

Dan Engebretson, Ph.D., Director

Center for Research & Development of Light-Activated Materials

2329 N Career Avenue, Suite 108

Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Ph. (605) 275-8758

daniel.engebretson@usd.edu

These centers are three of six 2010 research centers established in South Dakota to conduct focused research in areas of national and international significance. The Centers are nationally competitive and focus on discoveries that can be commercialized.

Back to top