RAP Impact Awardees: Spring & Fall 2021 (compiled: June/July 2026)
Dioneia Araldi, MSc, PhD
Associate Professional Researcher, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
School of Dentistry
Pilot Award for Prevention and Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders
Defining the role of G-protein alpha subunits in analgesia, hyperalgesia and neuroplasticity induced by systemic opioids
Awarded $40K by: CTSI Pilot Awards – Spring, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
This RAP grant enabled us to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of opioid analgesics, including opioid-induced hyperalgesia and hyperalgesic priming, in chronic pain management. Our findings provide mechanistic insight that supports the development of novel analgesics that selectively target specific G-protein α-subunits for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. The RAP seed funding generated critical preliminary data that led to a subsequent NIH R21 award. The RAP-funded work also resulted in a peer-reviewed publication.
Publication:
Araldi D*, Bonet IJM, Green PG, Levine JD. Contribution of G-Protein α-Subunits to Analgesia, Hyperalgesia, and Hyperalgesic Priming Induced by Subanalgesic and Analgesic Doses of Fentanyl and Morphine. J Neurosci. 2022 Feb 16;42(7):1196–1210. PMID: 34965973.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
As follow-up funding to the RAP award, we received an NIH R21 award from the National Institute on Aging (NIA)
in 2024.
What is the focus of your research today?
My current research focuses on understanding how pain transitions from acute to chronic (hyperalgesic priming), particularly in aging populations and across sex differences. This work aims to support the development of more personalized approaches to pain management in older adults.
Any additional/final comments:
I am deeply grateful for the RAP support, which was instrumental in establishing and expanding this line of research in my lab. The RAP award played a key role in generating the preliminary data that supported subsequent NIH funding.
I have recently accepted a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at the University of Iowa where I will continue directing laboratory research.
Winston Chiong, MD, PhD
Professor, Neurology
School of Medicine
Pilot Award for Established Investigators in Basic & Clinical/Translational Sciences
Financial Activity and Mismanagement in Dementia
Awarded $ 50K by: REAC – Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
This RAP grant was used to fund a National Dementia Caregiver Survey, generating a valuable quantitative dataset that has yielded two significant publications with another in preparation. All three of these projects have been mentored projects (a medical student's yearlong research project, a then-research coordinator supported by an NIH Diversity Supplement who developed an interest in computational statistical analysis and since has started a graduate degree in Public Health, and a clinical fellow in neurology). While the original focus of my RAP application was surveying caregivers about the decision-making of the people with dementia whom they care for, what has been more significant to the development of my lab is that we also used this opportunity to sample the perspectives and concerns of dementia caregivers themselves. This has catalyzed a shift in my lab's research questions, from an exclusive focus on the decision-making of people with dementia to an expanded focus also encompassing the decisions made on their behalf by caregivers and directly informed two major NIH awards as described below
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
Findings from a sub-study in this caregiver survey on hypothetical decisions about enrollment in a dementia clinical trial (published later in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy) were used as preliminary data for an NIA K24 award issued in 2024 focused broadly on surrogate decision-making among dementia caregivers. As proposed in that award application, we are now using the same survey vignette in a locally maintained cohort of dementia caregivers and a modified vignette among non-caregiving prospective surrogates of older adults without dementia. The RAP award also influenced, though less directly, an NIA RF1 award also issued in 2024 focused on the role of personal values in decision-making among people with dementia and their caregivers.
What is the focus of your research today?
Broadly my lab's research focuses on decisions made by and on behalf of people with neurologic disabilities. As noted above, the RAP award has catalyzed an expansion of my lab's focus with a greater focus on dementia caregiving and the many strains and ethical tensions experienced by dementia caregivers in support of people with dementia.
Eric Chow, PhD
Associate Professor– Biochemistry & Biophysics
School of Medicine
Institutional Matching Instrumentation Award
Increasing sequencing capability and flexibility at UCSF with an Illumina NovaSeq
Awarded $ 200K by: CORE-RRP– Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
Next Generation Sequencing has become an integral tool for many research groups at UCSF.
The RAP grant allowed us to purchase an Illumina NovaSeq, the highest throughput sequencer at the time. Hundreds of users across dozens of labs have been served by this system and it reduced the cost of sequencing over two-fold compared to the previous generation system.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
This was an instrumentation grant. We were able to leverage the RAP IMIA funds to act as matching funds for other grant mechanisms to purchase the ~$1M system.
What is the focus of your research today?
The current focus of my research is to further develop sequencing methods that allow better, faster, and cheaper results on the sequencing platforms.
Any additional/final comments:
Funding mechanisms like the RAP Institutional Matching Instrumentation Awards (IMIA) are critical for UCSF facilities to stay up to date on equipment and make sure our faculty and labs are not at a competitive disadvantage compared to other institutions. Capital expenses are extremely difficult to fund because they can't come out of our operational recharge budgets. Equipment grants are also competitive so having a mechanism to get some matching funds is critical for us. Although the current funding environment is tight, expanding funding for core facilities is a way UCSF can lift all boats. Equipment is better utilized, often at a cost savings for labs, making it one of the best ROIs for the University. It can also help with faculty recruitment. UCSF is often at a disadvantage in startup packages, but if more investments are made in core facilities, faculty candidates can be convinced they can do as much with a smaller package.
Claire Clelland, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor– Neurology/Weill Institute for Neurosciences
School of Medicine
Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) Developmental Projects
Developing platforms to evaluate CRISPR editing of the C9orf72 gene in post-mitotic neurons
Awarded $ 150K by: ADRC– Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
In the first year of establishing my lab, the RAP award allowed us to build our program in CRISPR gene editing for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting new disease targets.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
We used the funding to develop the preliminary data required for applying for foundation and NIH grants.
What is the focus of your research today?
We are developing CRISPR gene therapy for neurodegeneration, including C9orf72-FTD/ALS and MAPT-FTD.
Xin Duan, PhD
Assistant Professor– Ophthalmology
School of Medicine
Pilot for Early Career Investigators
(formerly: Pilot for Junior Investigators in Basic and Clinical/Translational Sciences)
Molecular mechanisms regulating retinal ganglion cell subtype-specific resiliency and axon regeneration
Awarded $ 40K by: Academic Senate – Spring, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
The RAP grant was instrumental in providing the preliminary data necessary to establish our early work on retinal circuit assembly and neuronal resilience. This "seed" support allowed us to leverage high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and circuit-mapping technologies, which directly underpinned successful applications for larger federal grants (U01, 2024; R01, 2025). It also facilitated the publication of foundational studies regarding the molecular mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and neurodegeneration.
Publication:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=KjzzkQgAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
Since receiving the RAP award, our research has been supported by multiple NIH grants, including NINDS (U01) and NEI (R01). Additionally, the initial RAP results fostered new intramural collaborations at UCSF, leading to joint projects exploring neuronal aging and neurovascular interactions..
What is the focus of your research today?
Today, the Duan Lab focuses on the molecular logic of retinal circuit assembly, resilience, and regeneration. We are particularly interested in how retinal ganglion cells survive injury and how mechanosensitive ion channels, such as Piezo2, help sculpt the three-dimensional vascular lattice in the retina. Our work heavily relies on advanced tools such as MERFISH and 10x Xenium to map these interactions at high resolution.
Any additional/final comments:
RAP funding serves as a vital bridge for UCSF researchers, allowing us to take the calculated risks necessary to pioneer new directions. For investigators looking to move from a novel hypothesis to a sustained research program, the RAP mechanism is an invaluable catalyst for career development and scientific discovery.
Miranda Hill, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor– OB/GYN, Reproductive Sciences
School of Medicine
Mentored Scientist Award Program in HIV/AIDS
An examination of the intersection between mobility and HIV outcomes among black cisgender and transgender women in Atlanta
Awarded $ 50K by: CFAR – Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
As a postdoctoral fellow, I became interested in exploring a new area of research that addressed research and training gaps. The RAP grant provided the pilot data that I needed to support my Career Development Award application. It also allowed me to learn how to manage an award, budget, subcontracts, purchase orders, and other processes involved in implementing federally sponsored research at UCSF. The research results led to the development of a new conceptual framework in my field, and other findings are being disseminated through manuscripts and presentations.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
I received a Career Development Award (K01-NIMH) that builds on the preliminary findings from the initial RAP award.
What is the focus of your research today?
My research focuses on the social contexts of disparate HIV, sexual, and reproductive health outcomes among African American women in the American south. I use social network analysis and a community-led approach to investigate the impacts of social networks on HIV testing and treatment engagement among African American mobile in high-HIV-prevalence urban centers, with the goal of developing and testing a social network-based intervention.
Any additional/final comments:
The RAP award program played a pivotal role in accelerating my career and securing the extramural funding that will facilitate my scientific independence.
Daniel Johnson, PhD
Professor– Otolaryngology
School of Medicine
Team Science Grant
Development of a Pharmacokinetic Assay for a Decoy Oligonucleotide Drug Targeting the STAT3 Transcription Factor
Awarded $ 75K by: REAC – Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
Our RAP "Team Science" funding helped enable 2 major, collaborative publications. The first of these (Chung et al.) was directly supported by the RAP award. Our success with this publication helped inspire the second publication (Grandis et al.):
Publication:
Chung DH, Kong S, Young NJ, Chuo S-W, Shiah JV, Connelly EJ, Rohweder PJ, Born A, Manglik A, Grandis JR, Johnson DE, Craik CS. Rare antibody phage isolation and discrimination (RAPID) biopanning enables identification of high-affinity antibodies against challenging targets. Communications Biology 2023, Oct 12;6(1):1036. doi:10.1038/s42003-023-05390-0. (PMID: 37828150; PMCID: PMC10570357)
Grandis JR, Skorupski KA, Cheng N, Cui Z, Li H, Woerner LC, Gencel-Augusto J, Zeng Y, Shiah JV, Bhola NE, Sen M, Blum K, Kim M-O, York D, Rebhun RB, Chang H, Murad NF, Olshen AB, Sparger EE, Johnson DE. Safety and efficacy of a STAT3-targeted cyclic oligonucleotide: From murine models to a phase I clinical trial in pet cats with oral cancer. Cancer Cell. 2025 Aug 4:S1535-6108(25)00321-6. Doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.07.015. Online ahead of print. (PMID: 40882634; PMCID: PMC12404672)
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
We are continuing to seek R01 funding related to the RAP project that was funded.
What is the focus of your research today?
The cyclic STAT3 decoy that was funded by the RAP award is being investigated in clinical trials in pet cats with oral cancer via a collaborative effort with UC Davis veterinary oncologists. We hope that these trials will drive investor enthusiasm, spurring development of human clinical trials.
Any additional/final comments:
The RAP award provided timely support during a crucial time of development for our novel cancer therapeutic (cyclic STAT3 decoy). Thank you, thank you!
Paul Ogongo, PhD
Assistant Researcher– Medicine
School of Medicine
Mentored Scientist Award Program in HIV/AIDS
Relationship between Kynurenine Pathway and TB-specific Th17 responses in People with HIV and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Awarded $ 50K by: CFAR – Spring, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
This RAP grant supported studies that identified distinct human Th17 cell subsets (Th17 subset 1: CD26+CD161+; Th17 subset 2: CCR6+CXCR3−) in Mtb-infected individuals living with HIV. Functional analyses further demonstrated preferential depletion of Th17 subset 1 by HIV infection and enhanced IL-17 production by this subset following Mtb antigen stimulation.
Publication:
Ogongo P, Tran A, Marzan F, Gingrich D, Krone M, Aweeka F, Lindestam Arlehamn CS, Martin JN, Deeks SG, Hunt PW, and Ernst JD (2024). High-parameter phenotypic characterization reveals a subset of Th17 cells that preferentially produce IL17 against M. tuberculosis antigen. Front Immunol. PMID:38698866
Other studies characterizing Th17 cells in TB and Type 2 Diabetes have benefited from the results of the initial RAP grant:
Ogongo P, Martinez-Lopez ME, Tran A, Arlehamn CSL, Sette A, Dominguez-Trejo IA, Garza L, Cruz-Gonzalez AM, Loera-Salazar R, Rodriguez-Herrera JE, Aguillon-Duran GP, Garcia-Oropesa EM, Ernst JD, and Restrepo BI (2024). Increased circulating Th17 cells and altered CD4 T cell maturation and differentiation in active tuberculosis with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study. Front. Immunol. 16:1637868. PMID: 40995361
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
Since the initial RAP award, an NIH R01 is in preparation for resubmission.
What is the focus of your research today?
My current research focuses on human Th17 responses to Mtb infection across clinical disease states and to TB-related comorbidities.
Any additional/final comments:
The RAP funding opportunity offers highly impactful mechanisms that provide resources to support early research for future funding. The University should retain and expand this vital investment.
Alison Rustagi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor– Medicine
School of Medicine
Pilot for Early Career Investigators
(formerly: Pilot for Junior Investigators in Basic and Clinical/Translational Sciences)
Improving Lung Cancer Screening Implementation: Piloting Methods to Ascertain Screening Tests and Harms in Outcomes in the Veterans Health Administration.
Awarded $ 40K by: REAC – Fall, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
The RAP grant was critical for me to obtain further funding. The funds enabled me to develop an algorithm to identify low-dose CT scans of the chest that are used for lung cancer screening in routine health data from the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through this work, I gained experience and expertise in real-world use of lung cancer screening, use of VA data, and complex VA data linkages. These skills were essential to demonstrate the feasibility of my subsequent research proposals and led to 4 successful competitive grants as detailed below. I also established a track record of publications with my mentorship team including in the Annals of Internal Medicine (PMID 36877963) and the Journal of General Internal Medicine (PMID 40000524). The algorithm itself is essential to my current work and will continue to be used in my future work to rigorously examine lung cancer screening in real-world data.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
I received a two-year NIH pre-K award (NIH R03 1R03AG082924), a two-year VA pre-Career Development Award (VA VISN21 Early Career Award Program), and a one-year UCSF Pepper Center Research and Education Core (REC) Scholar award (under the umbrella award P30 AG044281 which is awarded to PI Dr. Covinsky). My RAP award and subsequent funding have culminated in a VA 5-year Career Development Award (CX002713), which provides 75% protected time for research through 2029.
What is the focus of your research today?
My current focus is a direct extension of my RAP award. Specifically, I am examining the real-world effectiveness of lung cancer screening using advance causal inference methods (target trial emulation). This is the first analysis to my knowledge to rigorously compare the benefit of lung cancer screening in a real-world program to the benefit seen in randomized settings. I am also examining how the benefit of lung cancer screening varies in the population, so that patients who are most likely to benefit can be screened. This will help inform national eligibility guidelines, improve the quality of lung cancer screening programs, and guide clinicians' shared decision-making conversations with individual patients, with the goal to ultimately reduce deaths from lung cancer, the most fatal cancer in the U.S.
Any additional/final comments:
In addition to the above, the RAP award provided an early boost in confidence that is less tangible but no less important to successful grant writing. Thank you.
Delphine Tuot, MD
Professor– Medicine
School of Medicine
Pilot for Established Investigators in Basic and Clinical/Translational Sciences
Impact of Self-Management Support on Dietary Behavioral Change among Low Income Diverse Patients with CKD
Awarded $ 50K by: REAC – Spring, 2021
How did the RAP grant allow for further funding and/or publications?
RAP funding allowed our team to perform important analyses on urine samples that we had collected to assess the impact of a health coaching intervention on urinary markers of nutrition among patients with early-moderate kidney disease. That work has resulted in a manuscript that is currently under peer review. Importantly, it has also served as a catalyst for our team to extend our work into nutrition and diet.
What was the type of follow-up funding since the initial RAP award?
No specific funding has directly resulted from the analyses completed by the RAP award, but my team has since expanded its research footprint in kidney disease and diet. We have been successful at obtaining a grant examining nutrition and food insecurity among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.
What is the focus of your research today?
My research continues to focus on patient self-management and health system interventions to optimize health outcomes among individuals with chronic kidney disease.