A research study by Dr. Maria Croyle, professor of pharmaceutics, has been cited as the best research paper of 2015 by the University Co-op.
The honor was announced at the 19th annual University Co-op’s Robert W. Hamilton Book Awards on November 2. The paper, “A Single Dose Respiratory Recombinant Adenovirus-Based Vaccine Provides Long-Term Protection for Non-Human Primates from Lethal Ebola Infection,” was one of nine finalists for the recognition.
Published in The Journal of Molecular Pharmaceutics just as the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa was peaking, Dr Croyle’s paper was the culmination of seven years of research involving an international multi-disciplinary team. It is the first study to demonstrate long-term protection against the most lethal strain of Ebola. The study also outlines using a needle-free approach for vaccination.
In making their decision, the selection committee discerned that a unique set of circumstances, including foresight and novel scientific approaches, led to a “perfect storm” for this work to have significant and timely impact on the protection against Ebola.
In making their decision, members of the committee considered the published paper’s scientific impact, impact to humans, and also the coverage the paper received by the international media and academic audiences.
The strong letters of support and convincing nomination package clearly illustrated these aspects of the work. Dr Croyle’s team was the first to demonstrate long term protection against the most lethal strain of Ebola and accomplished this using a needle-free approach for vaccination.
“While this alone is highly impactful in the field of infectious disease and vaccine research, it is of even greater importance as this finding occurred in the midst of one of the largest and most serious Ebola outbreaks known to date,” said Dr. Lynn Crismon, dean of the College of Pharmacy.
Dr. Croyle and her research team were recently featured in an segment about pandemics of National Geographic Channel’s new series, Breakthrough.