Columns:: Research professor receives ‘MERIT’ award from NIH

since 12/15/98

Columns::October 29, 2001

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Campus News

Research professor receives ‘MERIT’ award from NIH

By Sheila Roberson
roberson@rx.uga.edu

Chung “David” Chu, Research Professor of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, has received a MERIT (Method to Extend Research in Time) Award from the National Institutes of Health. The nomination was submitted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for Chu’s continuing and extensive research on drug design for HIV and AIDS-related diseases.
Chu is one of only two UGA professors this year to receive this prestigious award. Fewer than 5 percent of NIH investigators have received the MERIT award, which was established in 1986.
The award supports provides stable funding for research activities as a way of recognizing investigators in biomedical research who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity. The award allows for an automatic five-year grant renewal without the administrative burden of having to prepare a formal grant proposal.
“I am grateful for the recognition of our research program by the NIH,” says Chu. “I greatly appreciate the work of my former and present students and postdoctoral fellows who have contributed outstanding research to my group.” Chu’s research focuses on the development of nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
“This is an outstanding honor for Dr. Chu,” says Svein Oie, dean of the College of Pharmacy, “and serves to underscore the impact and reputation of David’s pioneering work in the area of using nucleotides as drugs. Researchers of David’s caliber move the university closer to its goal of becoming a premier research institution and to the next level in discovering new approaches for optimizing treatment of infectious disease. We are delighted that he has been recognized with this award.”
Chu’s research with nucleosides has multiple therapeutic uses. Some nucleosides can be used to target a reverse transcription that enables RNA viruses, such as HIV, to infect the body. The viral enzyme called reverse transcription converts the virus’s single-strand RNA into double strands of DNA that are then incorporated into the human chromosome where the DNA directs the infected host cells to rapidly produce more copies of the virus. Other nucleotides can be used to block the replication of hepatitis B virus, and others to prevent cancer cells from dividing. Chu has more than 30 patents in nucleoside research. His goal is to find a drug that will attack target cells without damaging healthy cells in the body.
Chu, who currently has three NIH grants for HIV and AIDS-related research and bioterrorism, has been receiving grant funds from NIH since 1986. He began serving on NIH study sections for grant review in 1987 as an ad hoc committee member and later as a standing member on NIH advisory committees. He currently is a member of an NIH advisory committee on AIDS.

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