SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Sanford Research has been awarded more than $8 million in federal funding to advance studies on ovarian cancer, binge eating disorders and drug development through G protein–coupled receptor signaling.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants will support three principal investigators leading projects with potential national and global impact.
Dr. Leah Irish, associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University and adjunct faculty with Sanford Research, received a $3.2 million award from the National Institute of Mental Health. Her team, which includes Sanford researchers Drs. Lauren Schaefer, Leslie Laam, Stephen Wonderlich, Scott Engel and Kristine Steffen, will examine the connection between sleep disturbances and binge eating disorders.
A $2.75 million grant was awarded to Dr. Pilar de la Puente and her lab to study ovarian cancer. Their work will focus on how chemotherapy alters the tumor’s surrounding environment in ways that contribute to treatment resistance. The lab aims to develop strategies to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness for women battling the disease.
Dr. Ikuo Masuho and his team secured $2.1 million to investigate G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), a leading target in drug development. The research will explore how GPCR signaling molecules regulate cellular functions, with the goal of advancing safer, more effective therapies and developing personalized treatment options.
Sanford Research, based in Sioux Falls with collaborations across the region including the Black Hills and Rapid City, has positioned itself as a leader in biomedical research aimed at improving patient care in South Dakota and beyond.
More information about ongoing projects is available at Research.SanfordHealth.org.
