Two New TRC4 Grants Support Studies on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies in Traumatic Liver Injury
The Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, has received two new awards from the Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4), highlighting the department’s growing leadership in trauma and organ-injury research.
The first award, a TRC4 Pre-Clinical Translational Research Grant, supports the project “Harnessing Arachidonate Metabolome in Traumatic Liver Injury,” led by Drs. Kangho Kim and Cynthia Ju. This study examines how a group of liver-derived lipid molecules, EETs, protect the organ during ischemia–reperfusion injury and explores strategies to boost this pathway to reduce inflammation and tissue damage.
The second award, a TRC4 Post-Doctoral Fellowship, was granted to Dr. Junda Gao for his project “Therapeutic Targeting of TREM2⁺ Macrophages to Accelerate Liver Repair After Traumatic Injury.” Mentored by Drs. Cynthia Ju and Zhao Lai, Dr. Gao is investigating how TREM2-expressing macrophages drive liver repair, with the goal of developing immune-based therapies to improve recovery after trauma or surgery.
Together, these awards underscore the department’s commitment to bridging basic science and clinical care. They also reflect a strong culture of collaboration and mentorship, supported by the Institute of Perioperative Medicine (IPM).
