Research and Sponsored Programs 2018-2019 Semi-Annual Report
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RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS 2018-2019 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT FIRST TIME GRANT WINNERS Pawan Puri Deepa Bedi Sharif M. A. Bhuiyan Carla Jackson Bell DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS Lily D. McNair, Ph.D. Roberta Troy, Ph.D. Shaik Jeelani, Ph.D., P.E. Danette Hall Felecia Moss-Grant President Interim Provost Vice President for Research & Director of Sponsored Programs Associate Director of Compliance Dean of the Graduate School MESSAGE FROM THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS Tuskegee University recognizes the importance of external support of research and sponsored programs and the impact these vital programs have on the development of its students, faculty and society in general. Tuskegee University has a long-standing reputation of being among the nation’s premiere minority research institutions committed to the total development of its students and faculty. In this annual report it is evident that through our centers of excellence, academic colleges and other institutional units, our faculty, staff and students are engaged in research that is critical to addressing the needs of today’s citizens, industries and governments. Since 1996, the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs has more than doubled its annual funding for research and other sponsored programs. The university concluded 2017-2018 with total extramural funding of $35 million, which represents an increase of 16% over the last year. Credit for this enormous success goes to faculty members and staff who continue to search for resources and write winning proposals. Staff in the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs, and various departments of Business and Fiscal Affairs, are also to be commended for their enthusiastic support of the researchers in the grantsmanship process. These grants and contracts not only allow us to fulfill the research mission of Tuskegee University, but also make a huge impact on our academic programs. Tuskegee University’s two Ph.D. programs in Materials Science and Engineering and Integrative Biosciences are prime examples of programs that are offered solely based on the expertise and resources developed by these faculty members. Our long-term plan focuses on actively expanding Tuskegee University’s research enterprise in the areas of nanobiotechnology, information technology, environmental science and engineering, energy, astronomy, sensors and devices, molecular biology, immunology, public health, toxicology, epidemiology, reproductive and environmental biology, and modeling and simulations. This report highlights only a few major grants received during the first half of FY19 between July 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, while all grants and contracts received are shown toward the end. ii | Tuskegee University Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Annual Report TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COUNCIL The Research Council, appointed by the university president, functions as the advisory body to the vice president for research and sponsored programs, with the responsibility of recommending policies and procedures to increase the university’s external funding for research and other sponsored programs. The council is also responsible for selecting proposals for submissions to funding agencies when there is a restriction on the number of proposal that may be submitted for consideration. Members: Shaik Jeelani, Chairman Felecia Moss-Grant, Secretary Conrad Bonsi Gwendolyn Gray Research & Graduate School Research & Compliance College of Agricultural, School of Nursing & Allied Health Environment & Nutrition Sciences Danette Hall Henry Findlay Naga Korivi Vijay Rangari Office of Sponsored Programs School of Education College of Engineering Biosafety Committee Aymen Sayegh Joel Wao Fan Wu Clayton Yates College of Veterinary Medicine Taylor School Architecture & Construction Science College of Business & Information Science College of Arts & Sciences iii | Tuskegee University Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Annual Report Funds Received Between July 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018 NSF, $4,474,547.00 USDA, $7,026,065.00 NASA, $882,586.92 U.S. Department of Education (DOEd) DOT, $29,500.00 U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) DOD, $1,753,108.00 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) National Science Foundation (NSF) DOEd, $6,037,126.94 DHHS, $9,639,433.00 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) AWARDS REWARDED BY UNITS # of Awards Dollar Amount College of Agriculture, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS) 26 $11,295,711.00 College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) 20 $4,549,080.00 Brimmer College of Business and Information Science (CBIS) 1 $149,996.00 College of Engineering (COE) 28 $3,864,339.92 College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) 20 $9,181,473.94 Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science (TSACS) 3 $141,110.00 National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care 3 $356,275.00 Office of Graduate Studies 1 $2,120,663.00 Provost 2 $68,362.00 President’s Office 9 $3,474,460.00 TOTAL 113 $35,201,470.86 Tuskegee University Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Annual Report | 1 TITLE: A Precision Medicine Study of How Inflammation TITLE: Excellence in Research: Tolerance of Ambiguity and May Underlie the Excessive Burden of Prostate Cancer in Academic Success Men of African Ancestry PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Mohammad Javed Khan PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Clayton Yates CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Chadia Affane Aji FUNDING AGENCY: Department of Defense/USAMRAA FUNDING AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF) Men of African descent experience a dispro- This three-year $600,000 project is to study portionately high prostate cancer (PCa) mor- tolerance of ambiguity and academic suc- tality. In collaboration with Drs. Stefan Ambs cess. The correlation between students’ and Michael Cook at the National Cancer tolerance of ambiguity as signified by their Institute (NCI), our labs have shown that Afri- cognitive models of the world and academ- can-Americans harbor a distinct immune-in- ic success has received limited attention. flammation signature, and this is a risk factor Additionally, limited research has been that is associated with aggressive disease. conducted to understand factors affect- Therefore, our objective is to find genes in ing the development of STEM identity of African Americans that are responsible for students—especially from underrepresent- Clayton Yates this inflammation, so we can then apply the Mohammad Javed Khan ed groups. The project team will conduct most appropriate drug regimen to treat cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of these men who suffer from prostate cancer the most. In this study, we STEM and non-STEM students at Tuskegee University to measure the will determine if there is a specific inflammation associated gene sig- influence of the current curriculum in context of the constructs of tol- nature in more than 3,000 men of West African ancestry from the U.S., erance of ambiguity, intellectual mental models and STEM identity. Ghana and Nigeria. We will perform next-generation sequencing to The main goal of the project is to determine the influence of toler- determine the gene expression profile of these patients and relate it ance of ambiguity on (a) academic success, (b) relativistic cognitive to black men with prostate cancer in the U.S. Our study is the first to models, and (c) the process of identity development. The project explore the relationship between systemic/chronic inflammation, Af- team will redesign one introductory aerospace engineering course rican ancestry, and tumor biology as a cause of disease progression in and one calculus course to provide a learning environment that will men of African descent. Creating an understanding of how the inter- facilitate movement toward relativistic cognitive models promoting action between chronic inflammation and tumor biology affects PCa tolerance of ambiguity. The impact of this academic intervention on progression in a high-risk population like African-American men of- persistence and student academic success will be measured. The re- fers the opportunity to develop improved prevention and therapeutic design of these two pilot courses will incorporate the essential ele- strategies using anti-inflammatory drugs and immune modulators to ments of an authentic learning environment to engage students af- decrease the burden prostate cancer presents for all men. Out of a fectively and cognitively. total of 48 applicants, this proposal is one of the two proposals select- ed for funding by the Department of Defense Congressionally Medi- The findings of the research are expected to inform a data-supported cal Directed Research Programs for Prostate Cancer. The total award curriculum improvement plan resulting in a learning environment that amount is $2.6 million, in which Tuskegee will receive $1.1 million. will facilitate the development of relativistic cognitive models, toler- ance of ambiguity and professional identity of students. Therefore, the pedagogical techniques that will be identified under this research project will help increase academic success of STEM students. 2 | Tuskegee University Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Annual Report TITLE: Collaborative Research: The AGEP Historically Black TITLE: Partnership for Research and Education in Multiferroic Universities Alliance: A Model to Advance Early Career Minority Polymer Nanocomposites Between Tuskegee University