FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2023
KY INBRE funds almost $1 million for biomedical research in Kentucky
(Louisville, KY) — The Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY 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 the awarding of a combined total of almost $1 million to our 2023 Awards grants and Electron Microscopy Core voucher recipients. A total of 37 awards are being distributed to faculty at nine Kentucky institutions: Bellarmine University, Centre College, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.
KY INBRE Investigator Development Award (IDeA)
The objective of the KY INBRE Investigator Development Award (IDeA) grant program is to provide support to promising junior investigators at Kentucky colleges and universities to establish a research program involving undergraduate students that is competitive for NIH funding. In addition to providing funds for research support, the program requires release time from teaching, training and mentoring in NIH proposal development, and the development of collaborative relationship with a senior scientist (mentor). Each project awards up to $40,000 for one year, with a possibility of applying for a second year of funding.
The 2023 KY INBRE IDeA Award recipients are:
Simran Banga, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology, Role of epigenetic changes in intracellular survival and replication of Legionella pneumophila (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Amy Brausch, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Psychological Sciences, Cognitive and Contextual Factors in Suicide Ideation Persistence in Adolescents (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Katrina Burch, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Psychological Sciences, Investigating the Spillover and Crossover Effects of Workplace Incivility on Family Health and Behavior (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Rishi Drolia, PhD, Eastern Kentucky University, Department of Biological Sciences, Targeting the Blood Brain Barrier via Listeria Adhesion Protein in Human Relevant Models (NEW)
Ali Er, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Methylene blue functionalized graphene quantum dot synthesized by temporally shaped picosecond pulses for treatment of prosthetic joint infection (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Diane Lickenbrock, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Psychological Sciences, The development of emotion regulation within the parent-infant relationship: intrinsic and extrinsic predictors (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Laura Rowe, PhD, Eastern Kentucky University, Department of Chemistry, Improving the properties of antimicrobial peptides and CO releasing molecules (YR2/2)
Daniel Scott, PhD, Centre College, Chemistry Program, Gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for adaptable paper-based point-of-care diagnostics (YR2/2)
Qingfang Song, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Applied Human Sciences, Racial Discrimination and Dysregulated Stress Response: Risk/Protective Factors (NEW)
Rachel Tinius, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport, Increasing physical activity through a mobile health intervention among pregnant and postpartum women in rural settings (1 Year Competitive Renewal)
Matthew Woodward, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Psychological Sciences, A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Trauma-Informed and Peer-Supported Mobile Brief Intervention for Alcohol and Cannabis Users with Interpersonal Trauma (YR2/2)
Jessica Torelli, PhD, Western Kentucky University, School of Teacher Education, Advancing the Effectiveness of Functional Communication Training for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Schools (YR2/2)
KY INBRE Postdoctoral Fellow Awards
The KY INBRE Postdoctoral Fellow Awards provide partial support (up to 50%) for a postdoctoral research associate for NIH-R15 funded investigators at the primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs). The purpose of this program is two-fold: 1) to enhance the productivity of the NIH-R15 funded faculty member during the award period by providing full-time management of the laboratory; and 2) to train and develop new PhD investigators for faculty positions at PUIs. It is expected that this support will increase the PI’s research productivity to enhance the competitiveness of subsequent R15 renewal applications, and will increase the pipeline of biomedical research faculty at Kentucky institutions. If a postdoctoral fellow cannot be recruited, funds may be requested for partial support of a full-time post-baccalaureate trainee. The maximum annual award is $33,000 (total direct cost) for support of a postdoctoral fellow or $25,000 (total direct cost) for a post-baccalaureate technician.
The 2023 KY INBRE Postdoctoral Fellow Award recipients are:
Noah Ashley, PhD, Western Kentucky University
Mark Bardgett, PhD, Northern Kentucky University
Ty Brumback, PhD, Northern Kentucky University
Michael Guy, PhD, Northern Kentucky University
Janelle Hare, PhD, Morehead State University
Chris Lennon, PhD, Murray State University
Melissa Mefford, PhD, Morehead State University
Juw Won Park, PhD, University of Louisville
Jenni Teeters, PhD, Western Kentucky University
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KY INBRE Faculty Recruitment Start-Up Awards
The purpose of the KY INBRE Faculty Start-Up Award program is to facilitate the recruitment of qualified junior faculty at Kentucky colleges and universities who have the background, training, and motivation to establish an externally-funded biomedical research program involving undergraduate students. Eligible institutions may request matching funds (up to $25,000) from KY INBRE to create a first-year research start-up package to offer to potential candidates for tenure-track assistant professor positions in research areas consistent with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) priorities. The recruited candidates will become members of the KY INBRE and will receive additional research and proposal development support through the KY INBRE Mentoring Core.
The 2023 KY INBRE Faculty Start-Up Award recipients are:
Hillary Katz, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology
Patrick Ledwidge, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Psychological Sciences
Joseph Marquardt, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology
Jason Stewart, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology
KY INBRE Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) Awards
The KY INBRE CUREs Awards provide the opportunity to apply for developmental awards to increase course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Target budgets will be up to $20,000 per year for one to three consecutive years. These awards can be used for faculty salary support for course development and/or supplies/equipment needed for the initial development.
The 2023 KY INBRE CUREs Award recipients are:
Mary Kroetz, PhD, Bellarmine University, Department of Biology, Embedding CUREs in the life sciences with support from peer learning facilitators (NEW)
Rachel Pigg, PhD and Natalie Christian, PhD, University of Louisville, Integrating molecular biology and ecology through a soil microbiome CURE (Continuing Project - YR3/3)
KY INBRE Bridge Funding Awards
The purpose of the KY INBRE Bridge Funding Awards program is to enable NIH-funded faculty to maintain their research program for short periods of time between the lapse of initial grant funding and the start of a new or renewal NIH grant award. Bridge Awards are non-renewable and are limited to a maximum of $50,000 for a one-year period.
The 2023 KY INBRE Bridge Funding Award recipient is:
Erin Strome, PhD, Northern Kentucky University, Department of Biological Sciences
KY INBRE Electron Microscopy Core Vouchers
The purpose of the KY INBRE Electron Microscopy Voucher Program is to assist investigators with electron microscopy (EM) projects in the form of a voucher ($5,000 maximum) to cover the costs of sample preparation, assisted EM use at any of the three KY INBRE network EM facilities located at University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University, and/or travel and lodging expenses to access a network facility.
The 2023 KY INBRE EM Voucher recipients are:
Jakub Famulski, PhD, University of Kentucky, Department of Biology, Examining the function of cdhr1a, a photoreceptor specific cadherin in zebrafish
Joseph Marquardt, PhD, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology, Novel techniques for imaging septins that do not require hydrofluoric acid
Michael Perlin, PhD, University of Louisville, Department of Biology, Role of Fungal Effectors in Disease Progression
Howard Roberts, DMD, University of Kentucky, Division of Restorative Dentistry, Characterization of New Lithium Discilicate Dental Ceramic (Tessera)
David Rodgers, PhD, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Insulin degrading enzyme in edosomal compartments and its role in the degradation of insulin and amyloid beta
Hiroshi Saito, PhD, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Mitochondrial abnormality in sepsis survivors
David Samuelson, PhD, University of Louisville, Determining GWAS-nominated MIER family member 3 associated effects on breast cancer susceptibility and resistance
Jason Smith, MD, PhD/William Risinger, MD, University of Louisville, Department of Surgery, Plasma based resuscitation attenuates glomerular glycocalyx breakdown after hemorrhage
Silvia Uriarte, PhD, University of Louisville, Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Electron microscopy analysis of autophagy process induced by Peptoanaerobacter stomatis in neutrophils