Professor Hedeel Evans Receives a Major NIH Grant
Dr. Hedeel 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. Results from this project will increase scientific knowledge of diseases resulting from dysregulation of protein-peptide-carbohydrate signaling and provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies to treat those diseases.
Dr. Evans conceived and began developing this project, which is a vast departure from her other research project on pyrimidine biosynthesis, about six years ago. The intention was to provide a comprehensive training research opportunity for undergraduate students in the a) Biochemistry program, b) newly launched 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 cultivate 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.
Posted 9/30/2019.