August 13, 2024
Nine professors receive grants from RI-INBRE to support their research
By Martha Young
The Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, known as RI-INBRE, is a statewide network designed to build the biomedical research capacity of Rhode Island colleges and universities. Nine faculty members from Providence College were awarded one-year grants to support their research. The grants are part of a five-year, $21 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support RI-INBRE through 2029.
“This partnership has allowed Providence College researchers to contribute in meaningful ways to the scientific discoveries and the workforce development initiatives associated with this important work,” said College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P., ’78, ’82G, speaking at the grant renewal celebration.
Father Sicard noted the growth of PC’s research infrastructure in the past two decades. In the year ending June 30, 2023, PC received $18.5 million in grants and more than 100 faculty members were engaged in sponsored research.
Here are the PC faculty who received RI-INBRE funding.
Summer Student Training and Research (Summer STAR) Awards
- Brett Ely, Ph.D., assistant professor of health sciences, Post-exercise Hot Water Immersion to Improve Blood Pressure Control
- Andra Geana, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, Modeling the Role of Anxiety in Compulsiveness-Linked Learning Deficits
- Emily Gentes, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, Improved Suicide Assessment and Intervention Among Suicide Attempters: A Mixed Methods Study with Longitudinal Follow-up
- Matthew Moreau, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Unique Phenotypes of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli
- Ryan Post, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience, Neural Pathways of Adaptive Food Intake Under Competing Survival Needs
Pilot Project (Seed)
- Kathleen Cornely, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, Investigating the Novel Properties of Newly Discovered Mycobacteriophages
- Joseph DeGiorgis, Ph.D., professor of biology, Distribution of the Alzheimer’s Protein Presenilin in the Vertebrate Nervous System
Pilot Project (Proposal Development)
- Tyler Stack, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, Characterizing Drug and Food Dye Reduction by Promiscuous Gut Bacterial Enzymes
Early Career Development Sub-Project
- Kristi Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, Mechanisms Linking Cell Size and Mitotic Entry
They are the latest among RI-INBRE’s 218 faculty members to receive support to train 2,210 undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows across 802 research projects throughout the program’s 23-year history.
“RI-INBRE serves as a vital catalyst for advancing biomedical research by providing essential funding, resources, and collaborative opportunities,” said Brett Pellock, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at PC, who serves as RI-INBRE’s state program coordinator.
Pellock added that PC plays a crucial role within the RI-INBRE network, contributing its unique strengths to the collective effort in biomedical research and education.
“As a liberal arts institution with a strong commitment to fostering intellectual inquiry and ethical engagement, Providence College brings a distinct perspective to the research endeavors supported by RI-INBRE,” Pellock said.
Working with its eight partners institutions — Brown University, Bryant University, Community College of Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University, and the University of Rhode Island — PC aims to nurture a vibrant community of researchers.
“RI-INBRE offers undergraduate students invaluable hands-on research experiences under the mentorship of seasoned researchers. These experiences are pivotal in shaping aspiring scientists and preparing them for successful careers in biomedical research,” said Seann Mulcahy, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at PC and RI-INBRE executive committee member.
PC student researchers delivered poster presentations from their 10-week summer RI-INBRE project research findings at the 2024 RI Summer Research Symposium held in July at the University of Rhode Island.
Pellock and Bongsup Cho, Ph.D., a professor at URI’s College of Pharmacy and RI-INBRE program director, reported that RI-INBRE also has established a workforce development program supported by a Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Real Jobs RI grant. The program offers intensive training in biomedical skills, equipping students with the expertise to thrive in the local biotechnology industry. They aiso have maintained and expanded the Centralized Research Core Facility, which contains an array of state-of-the-art research instruments available for academic and industry investigators.
Cho and Pellock are cultivating partnerships with other capacity-building programs in Rhode Island’s biomedical ecosystem, including the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence and Center for Translation Research, led by researchers at hospitals in Providence and Brown University. These collaborations and joint initiatives are designed to foster a culture of innovation, leading to scientific discoveries and improved health outcomes.
“By bridging the gap between academia and industry, RI-INBRE is shaping the future workforce and driving economic growth in our state,” Pellock explained.
