SC INBRE announces $650,000 in funding to 2020 Project Program Grant Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2020
Columbia, SC — South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE), a statewide multi-million dollar, five-year renewable grant program funded by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is pleased to announce our 2020-2021 Project Program grants recipients. Recommendations for funding have been approved by SC INBRE’s External Advisory Committee and are currently awaiting final approval from NIH NIGMS.
The Bioinformatics Pilot Project Program (BIPP) program is designed to stimulate the application of genomics and bioinformatics methods by supporting research and student training through the SC INBRE and South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) networks. BIPP proposals focus on Biomedical Science and fit within the broad scientific focus areas of SC INBRE: Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Bio/Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and Neuroscience. The program supports independent, faculty-driven research and provides research training to students and/or postdoctoral fellows in Bioinformatics. Each project awards up to $10,000 for one year.
The 2020 BIPP Program recipients are:
Guoshuai Cai
UofSC Arnold School of Public Health
Characterize tissue-specific TME-expression interaction in colorectal cancer
Pamela Hanson
Furman University Department of Biology
Effects of Anticancer Ruthenium Complex KP1019 on the Yeast Translatome
Jeremy Rentsch
Francis Marion University Department of Biology
Differential response to salt stress in the roots and shoots of Arabdopsis thaliana
The Developmental Research Project Program (DRP) program was designed to foster faculty research programs at SC INBRE network institutions. DRP projects must focus on Biomedical Science and fit within the broad scientific focus areas of SC INBRE: Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Bio/Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and Neuroscience. The program awards support independent research programs and, in the process, provide research training to students and/or postdoctoral fellows in the Biomedical Sciences. Each project awards up to $50,000 for one year, renewable for a second year upon favorable review of the progress report by SC INBRE’ s External Advisory Committee.
The 2020 DRP Program recipients are:
Alissa Armstrong*
NEW
UofSC Department of Biological Sciences
Examining the role of adipocyte amino acid sensing control in ovarian function
Omar Bagasra
NEW
Claflin University Biotechnology Center
Development of oncolytic bacteria to target non-small cell lung carcinoma
Brian Booth
RENEWAL
Clemson University Department of Bioengineering
Investigation of biochemicals involved in cancer cell redirection
Joseph Carson
NEW
College of Charleston Department of Physics and Astronomy
Advancing Low Cost, All-Focus, 3D Imaging Technologies, Using Shape-From-Focus Techniques
Sri Chandrasekaran
RENEWAL
Furman University Department of Biology
Effects of antioxidants and growth conditions on fluconazole resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans
Linnea Freeman
RENEWAL
Furman University Department of Biology
Sex differences in short chain fatty acid production and lipid metabolism: the role of the gut microbiome
Jessica Larsen
RENEWAL
Clemson University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Towards Theranostic Technology: Elucidation and Utilization of Neural Enzyme Upregulation
Wei Lei
NEW
Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy
Determining the mechanisms of heat shock protein 90 regulation of morphine tolerance
Chang Liu
RENEWAL
UofSC College of Engineering and Computing
Ultra-Sensitive Portable Nanopore Sensing for Infectious Disease Biomarkers in Resource-Limited Settings
Anita Nag
NEW
USC Upstate Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering
Host shutoff modulated by viral RNA and nonstructural protein 1 of coronavirus
Austin Shull
RENEWAL
Presbyterian College Department of Biology
DNA methylation patterns of mammary stem cells as an indicator of breast cancer plasticity
Chris Varnon
RENEWAL
Converse College Department of Psychology
Cockroach Model of Alcoholism
In addition to SC INBRE’s two annual grants programs, a new grant was introduced this year — Student-Initiated Research Program (SIRP). The brand new SIRP program is designed to enrich the academic experience of students and to better prepare the future generation of researchers, investigators, and entrepreneurs throughout the SC INBRE network. SIRP recipients apply bioinformatics tools to biomedical research questions that fit within the broad scientific focus areas of SC INBRE: Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Bio/Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and Neuroscience. SIRP awards support bioinformatics training for undergraduate or graduate students. Each project awards up to $3,000 for one year.
The 2020 SIRP Program recipients are:
Mengistu Gebere, graduate student
Dr. Mohamad Azhar, mentor
UofSC School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy,
Assessment of gene expression in medial arterial calcification of uremic mice
Maslyn Greene, graduate student
Dr. Susan Duckett, mentor
Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Identification of mRNA co-expressed with miRNA from birth to maturity
Lauren Jones and Brenna Outten, undergraduate students
Dr. George Shields, mentor
Furman University Department of Chemistry
Develop a Pharmacophore & Identify Neutral Antagonists to the μ Opioid Receptor
Matthew Lucius, graduate student
Dr. Hippokratis Kiaris, mentor
UofSC College of Pharmacy Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences
A Computational Strategy for Generating “Artificial” Reference Genomes
Nicholas Maxwell, graduate student
Dr. Claudia Grillo, mentor
UofSC School of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience
Evaluation of leptin's effort through the dorsal raphe on feeding behavior
Chris Pierce, undergraduate student
Dr. Jessica Larsen, mentor
Clemson University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Modulation of Polymersome Shape to Enhance Blood-Brain Barrier Uptake
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ABOUT SC INBRE
SC INBRE is a statewide, multi-million dollar, five-year renewable grant program funded by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to support biomedical research and infrastructure in South Carolina. Currently in Cycle III (2015-2020), SC INBRE’s network includes 13 member and 4 outreach institutions of higher learning. SC INBRE offers biomedical research faculty and students career development, mentorship, and funding, as well as oversees a summer Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program which gives middle school and high school STEM teachers the opportunity to do research with a faculty mentor at an institution near their location.
MEDIA CONTACT
Cyndy Buckhaults
Communications Manager
SC INBRE Program
http://scinbre.org
cyndy.buckhaults@uscmed.sc.edu
(803) 546-4569