Grants
USF Biologists Get Federal Grants for Cancer Research Targeting Genetics
See
article in the USF News
Kristina Schmidt (left), has received a five-year, $1.32 million
RO1 grant from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH/NIGMS) to advance research into genetic instability and DNA
mutations related to cancer.
Meera Nanjundan (right)will use her $521,625 grant from the National Cancer Institute to study an area of the human
genome – 3q26.2 – that is "highly amplified" in a number of cancers and associated
with a specific gene site – EVI1. How the EVI1 gene splices may be a factor in some
lung cancers and ovarian cancer.
Using Technology to Enhance Learning
Dr. Johnny El-Rady explaining how proteins are made on U-tube
Dr. El-Rady and his genetics class (PCB 3063) made a video and put it on U-Tube
explaining how proteins are made. You can view the video here. Be sure to view part 1 first-they
had to split the video into two parts due to time constraints on U-tube. Give yourself
15 minutes to see both parts. Dr. El-Rady is often at the forefront of instructional
innovation and has won awards for his teaching techniques.
In the News
Tampa, FL (Aug. 11, 2009) -- A 65-year-old women goes into the hospital for routine hip surgery. Six months later, she develops memory loss and is later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Just a coincidence? Researchers at the University of South Florida and Vanderbilt University don’t think so. They suspect that the culprit precipitating Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly women may be a routine administration of high concentrations of oxygen for several hours during, or following, surgery – a hypothesis borne out in a recent animal model study. Read More Here
Tampa, FL (July 5, 2009) – Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup. When aged mice bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease were given caffeine – the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day – their memory impairment was reversed, report University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Read More Here
Dr. Jim Garey’s Collaborative NSF project “Global Patterns of Soil Biodiversity:
Implications for Ecosystem Function” has been featured on the NSF Discoveries
website http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115253&org=NSF.
This project involves both USF and Colorado State University and uses molecular
methods to investigate soil animals on a global scale. The main goals of the project
are to see if below ground biodiversity matches above ground biodiversity in Hot
Spots (areas of high above ground biodiversity) and Cold Spots (areas of low above
ground biodiversity).
Dr. Joel Turner of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and
a Graduate Student in the Garey Lab in the CMMB Division, talks on Tuesday
to Sen. John McCain, center, and his wife, Cindy, about research done in the laboratory
in Tampa. McCain says his plan would shift focus to preventive care. Readmore at St. Petersburg Times online. AP photo.
Dr. Daniel Lim discusses new technology being researched in the USF Advanced Biosensors
Lab to identify bacteria in the food chain prior to going to market >in this article in the St. Pete Times.
Awards
Jaclyn Hayner, an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Shaw's lab, was awarded $1000
in the USF Spring undergraduate research grant competition for her proposed work
on the virulence mechanisms of MRSA.
Discoveries/Inventions/Patents
Tampa Researchers Find Caffeine Eases Alzheimer's Effects
Dr. Arendash and the Byrd Institute are featured in an article in the > Tampa Tribune.
Dr. My Lien Dao
Dr. Dao was granted a US patent for her "Method for Staining Fungi and Protozoa".
US Patent 7157242 issued on January 2, 2007. A picture of stained microsporidia
of the Encephalitozoon species, an emerging waterborne pathogen is shown
to the right.
A rare flower makes botanists think again
St. Petersburg Times article
Drs. Wunderlin and Hansen confirm discovery of rare flower in Hillsborough River
State Park.