chocolate bunnies and grant proposals.

I have been really busy working on a few grant proposals for the new stimulus package -the National Institute of Health was given money to help scientists with research. That's my real job - trying to find genes for diseases. Its expensive so I write a lot of grant proposals.

The other day I gave a chocolate bunny to a homeless person. I had run down to the drug store to pick up a prescription for a housemate that gets home after the store closes, and decided to reward myself with a chocolate bunny. I saw the homeless man outside, and bought him one. He was a bit surprised when I gave it to him and wished him a Happy Easter. I also gave him a $20 bill, so he wouldn't feel he was given chocolate when needed food. I realize he probably spent the money on booze. I also realize that I would probably be a drunk if I lived on the streets too. I try to make sure most of the funds I have to help homelessness goes directly to programs that help get people off the street, but its hard to not help the people I see.

If I get my research funded I will be able to find genes for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and help some of the homeless or at least stop so many vets from hitting the streets.

Loans

I made this Kiva loan yesterday to Julio César in Juliaca, Peru for my husband, 'cause he really likes businesses like his. Very original.

Today I loaned to Juanita 'cause she was in Teguigalpa.

I have been very busy with Obama and Kiva things, including being interviewed by ABCnews (inworld at the Obama headquarters) and by someone from the UN about Kiva (I"ll get my responses to you soon!) And I've been polishing up my grant proposal to find genes for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), its almost done. busy, busy, busy.

So today I finished a grant proposal to the National Institute of Health to try to find genes for post traumatic stress disorder. I am working with an American psychiatrist who has been doing humanitarian aid in Armenia since the 1988 Spitak earthquake. He has helped set up a few clinics, and we are sampling from there. I do the study design and the statistical genetic analyses. PTSD symptoms in our sample appear to be about 50% genetic, and with funding to increase our sample and do a genome scan we can probably find susceptibility genes. This will allow us to develop better drugs that will help treat and prevent PTSD.
Less PTSD would make the world a better place. Wish I didn't have to wait till June to find out if they will fund me.