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| David Leaf, MD, MMSc |
David Leaf, MD, MMSc, of the Division of Renal Medicine, was awarded a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Research Project Grant (R01) for his study, “Precision Medicine Approach to Vitamin D3 Administration in Critical Illness.”
The R01 is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by National Institute of Health (NIH). The grant provides support for health-related research and development based on the mission of the NIH.
Leaf and his team plan to conduct an ancillary study to the NHLBI-funded “Vitamin D to Improve Outcomes by Leveraging Early Treatment” (VIOLET) trial. Vitamin D metabolites have potent immunomodulatory effects and mitigate acute organ injury in animal models, but it is still unclear whether some critically ill patients may benefit from high-dose vitamin D3 administration. Leaf’s team plans to assess whether genetic and biochemical markers can identify sub-populations of critically ill patients that are more likely to benefit from vitamin D3.
The NHLBI focuses on the prevention and treatment of heart, lung and blood disorders and is one of the largest centers within the NIH. It aims to promote research initiatives, improve public awareness and understanding, and fund research and training.
