NW Kentucky News

Brescia University Receives Grant From KY INBRE

Brescia University received a grant from the Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, or KY INBRE, request entitled, “Lipid Droplet Cell Biology Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience”. This grant was awarded to Dr. Jacob Adler, Associate Professor of Biology, and will provide the University with $60,000 in funding for the next three years, concluding in 2026.  The purpose of this grant is to support the incorporation of research experiences for the University’s undergraduate life science programs.

The KY INBRE is a collaborative network of biomedical researchers in state-supported and independent institutions of higher education within Kentucky and is funded through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The University will use this grant to provide class research opportunities to students interested in pursuing health science, biochemistry, biology, and medical laboratory science-related careers. Additionally, the proposed project will provide research knowledge about how cancer cells respond to various types of fats.

Dr. Adler states that “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to provide unique and engaging biomedical research experiences for anyone to actively experience entering our life science programs at Brescia University.”

This proposed multi-week Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) will allow students to take part in the planning, experimentation, data analysis, and communication of the results of their cell culture-based research project. The biomedical research focus of this CURE will encourage students to develop these important research skills and gives them opportunities for completing a research project examining cancer cells and their mechanistic pathways. This CURE is designed for freshmen science undergraduate students taking the University’s introductory cellular and molecular biology course to immerse themselves in cell culture-based biomedical research and provides them with opportunities for self-reflection and assessment of their learning. Dr. Adler states that “CUREs have been shown to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences and thus it greatly excites me to be able to provide increased opportunities to more students regardless of their past experiences or current life circumstances.”

This grant initiative will begin on May 1, 2023.

Original source can be found here.