Professor Hedeel Evans Receives a Major Competitive Renewal of a Grant from the NIH

Dr. EvansDr. Evans from the Chemistry department recently received a total amount of $445,500 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support her project entitled Probing the Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 and Humanin in Regulating Hyaluronan Function. The research project centers on examining the overlapping interactions between molecular players, linked to both neurodegeneration and cancer and the resulting mechanistic interplay operative in regulating cell survival. This research has a positive impact because it will unveil diverse mechanisms employed by protein-carbohydrate interactions in the extracellular milieu to regulate cell survival, thereby broadening our knowledge of diseases resulting from dysregulation of these interactions.

In alignment with EMU's strategic mission to strengthen academic programs and research quality, this research project provides a comprehensive training research opportunity for undergraduate students in the a) Biochemistry program, b) Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Neuroscience program (NSCI), and c) research-based undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course, along with training for master’s level students at EMU. This project promises to provide undergraduate and master’s level students with an authentic and extensive hands-on research training at an early stage of their education and cultivates an interest in a career in biomedical research

Dr. Evans is grateful for the help provided from the Office of Research Development and Administration staff and the EMU internal funding she has received (Faculty Release Fellowships, Provost Research Support Award, Departmental support) that enabled her to have the time and funds to gather the preliminary data needed to submit a successful proposal.