Mohan Zalake and Robert Motl receive AHS Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant Program awards

Congratulations to Mohan Zalake and Robert Motl who have been selected from the Spring 2023 round of applications to receive an AHS Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant Program award.

Dr. Zalake’s proposal entitled “EQUITY (Enhancing QUality of Instruction using TechnologY) will develop virtual patients and use deliberate self-reflection to reduce racial bias in clinical encounters.  He will collaborate with Monique Jindal, a practicing clinician and health equity researcher, and Eric Swirsky.

Dr. Motl’s proposal entitled “Physical Activity and Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as an Objective, Quantifiable Biomarker of Neuroaxonal Injury in Multiple Sclerosis” will examine physical activity along with serum neurofilament light chain as a biomarker in individuals with multiple sclerosis.  He will collaborate with Michael Carrithers, UIC Neurology and Rehabilitation; Anthony Reder, U Chicago Neurology; and Jens Kuhle University of Basel.

Special thanks to the review committee (Alex Aruin, Kristin Berg, Andrew Boyd and Mary Khetani) for their thoughtful evaluation of the proposals.