Research Insights
Notable Grants
CAREER: Closing the Loop: Exploring the contextual factors that support successful approaches to integrate engineering education research and practice Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - For decades, a major challenge in the field of engineering education has been closing the gap between research on effective educational practices and the educational practices engineering instructors actually use. This need has become more acute in recent years, as engineering faculty need strong support systems to gain the skills they need to prepare students […]
Exploring microbial life and biogeochemical function in offshore freshened groundwater systems beneath the New England Shelf Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Healthy oceans support economic stability, coastal communities, food security, and sustainable management of marine resources. Yet one of Earth’s largest and least understood ecosystems lies hidden beneath the sea floor, where microorganisms survive under extreme conditions of limited energy, high pressure, and scarce nutrients. This project investigates offshore freshened groundwater systems beneath the New England […]
Enhancing Faculty Mentorship of PhD Students in Biomedical Research Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Successful preparation of PhD-trained biomedical researchers is essential to advance human health and well-being, yet high rates of attrition and deteriorating student well-being in PhD programs undermine preparation of this important workforce. A PhD student’s relationship with their faculty research mentor is the single most influential factor in the quality and success of their graduate […]
Glycosidase Inhibitors and Related Compounds Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - This proposal seeks to develop the theme of the restriction of side chain conformation as a broad and general means of enhancing the potency and selectivity of glycoside hydrolase, nucleoside hydrolase, nucleoside phosphorylase and glycosyltransferase inhibitors. It builds on extensive work in the Crich laboratory that unearthed the principles by which the side chain of […]
Modeling the Emergence Cascade: From Wildlife Pathogen Circulation to Human Outbreak Amplification Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Emerging infectious diseases are among the greatest threats to global health, as shown by recent emergences of Ebola, Zika, avian influenza, and coronaviruses. Although zoonotic outbreaks are recognized as a One Health challenge, most research has focused on single pathogens, retrospective studies of animal hosts, or on human-centered transmission dynamics. This siloed approach neglects how […]
Investigating the role of the aeromicrobiological pathway in the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance Thursday, July 16, 2026 - Bacteria can evolve and become resistant to antibiotics that are used to treat infections. Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health challenge and is a factor in millions of deaths each year. The environment plays an important role in how resistant bacteria survive and spread. Scientists have found antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread in aerosols in […]
Investigating the evolutionary dynamics and genetic mechanisms of Wolbachia-host dynamics Thursday, July 16, 2026 - Wolbachia are bacteria that are widespread endosymbionts found in more than half of all arthropod species, like all endosymbionts they potentially affect many aspects of their host biology. In particular, many Wolbachia ensure their own transmission to the next generation by selfishly manipulating the reproduction of their host as Wolbachia are primarily transmitted from the […]
Molecular Mechanism of Human Myogenesis Thursday, July 16, 2026 - Myoblast fusion is essential for muscle development and regeneration. The long-term goal of our research is to identify key molecular regulators of this process, focusing on the role of CHAMP1 gene in CHAMP1 syndrome—a severe developmental disorder characterized by muscle weakness, hypotonia, and motor impairments, often requiring lifelong care. Our CRISPR-based screening, developed with R21 […]
Optimization of a public neoantigen-based cancer prevention strategy Thursday, July 16, 2026 - While personalized neoantigen vaccines have shown therapeutic promise, their efficacy is often impaired by immunoediting and immune suppression in established cancers. Preventive vaccination prior to cancer onset offers a compelling alternative, as shown by the success of HPV vaccines in preventing HPV-related cancers. However, effective prevention vaccines for most non-viral cancers remain elusive, largely due […]
Novel approaches to predict strength and breadth of influenza vaccine response Thursday, July 16, 2026 - Influenza vaccines remain the most cost-effective tool for reducing infection and disease burden. However, despite decades of research and development, the protection they provide is often suboptimal. A key challenge is the wide variability in vaccine induced immune responses among individuals, which is poorly understood. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial for improving vaccine efficacy […]
NSF CAREER: AI-Driven Multimodal Feature Engineering for Personalized Biomedical System Design Friday, June 12, 2026 - This CAREER project will develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools to better understand and monitor neurological diseases. The research will combine brain images, genetic information, and clinical information. These are complex data sets with uncertainties, which makes it difficult to analyze them separately. The AI tools developed in this project will integrate and interpret the combined […]
Empowering Youth through AI: Understanding the Impact of Emerging Technologies on Food Systems Friday, June 12, 2026 - The project is innovative in its approach to developing outreach education materials to empower high school students with essential skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging food technologies. Through innovative educational modules, hands-on workshops, and an annual entrepreneurship contest, students will gain foundational knowledge and practical experience in AI, data science, and sustainability. Partnering with […]
Improved Assessment of Ocean Carbon Export by Combining Models, Remote Sensing, and EXPORTS Data Friday, June 12, 2026 - The biological carbon pump plays an important role in the ocean’s carbon cycle. It transports carbon from the surface waters into the deep ocean where it supports ecosystems and sequesters carbon from the atmosphere. This carbon is transported by different pathways that are controlled by a complex mix of biological, physical, ecological, and biogeochemical processes […]
Genetic Basis of Gonad Determination in Anolis Lizards Friday, June 12, 2026 - Vertebrate animals determine whether the gonads develop into male testes or female ovaries through a variety of ways, yet scientists still do not fully understand how these processes evolved or how they operate across different species. Reptiles, in particular, display an extraordinary range of gonad-determining systems, making them an important group for uncovering fundamental principles […]
Calcium Nanoparticles to Enhance Immuno-Radiotherapy Friday, June 12, 2026 - Immune checkpoint blockade has become a cornerstone treatment for many solid tumors. However, not all patients respond effectively to this therapy. To enhance its efficacy, researchers are exploring the combination of radiation and immunotherapy, a strategy known as radio-immunotherapy. Despite its promise, radio- immunotherapy has not consistently demonstrated clinical benefit, in part due to a […]
Machine learning-guided sequence manipulation for tailored spatial gene regulation in plants Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Single-cell analyses have uncovered diverse cell-type-specific features, yet how cis-regulatory elements (CREs) encode spatial expression patterns in plants remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we will establish a CRISPRbased perturbation platform in soybean hairy roots that uses base editors, error-prone polymerases, and helicases to generate dense local sequence variants, coupled with single-cell multiomic profiling. […]
Molecular Determinant of Age-Related Cognitive Decline in the Basal Forebrain to Lateral Entorhinal Cortex Circuit Thursday, May 14, 2026 - The entorhinal cortex (EC) is a critical mediator of cortico-hippocampal communication and thus essential for memory. Numerous studies identify the EC as the first brain region to display age-related changes such as accumulation of tau protein as related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Structural and functional changes to the EC have been found to precede and […]
Mitigating The Risk Of Abiotic Stress Damage In Blueberry Production Through Pangenome Graph-Based Genotyping And Phenomics Approaches Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Blueberry production in the US is threatened by spring freeze damage and summer heat stress. Addressing these issues aligns with the AFRI legislative priority to “Genetically dissect and introduce desirable traits to improve plant’s tolerance to temperature extremes associated with climate change”. Warm spring temperatures promote early blooms which elevates the risk of early freeze […]
CESU Piedmont: Estimating population size and spatial distribution of the South Georgia black bear population Thursday, May 14, 2026 - This effort will produce accurate and contemporary population estimates for the South Georgia bear population (SGP). Such an estimate will allow for an evaluation of how current and future proposed harvest rates will impact the SGP. Data collection will include genetic hair-snare sampling and camera-trapping efforts. Analyses will be supplemented by GPS spatial data collected […]
Georgia Rural Enhancement And Transformation of Health (GREAT Health) Program Thursday, May 14, 2026 - This project will assist the Department of Community Health (DCH) in strengthening the disaster resilience of Georgia’s rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and inpatient hospice facilities through the Emergency Preparedness – Shelter in Place Initiative as part of the Georgia Rural Health Transformation (GREAT) Program. Our collaborative efforts aim to address one of DCH’s […]
Data-Guided Workload Distribution to Improve ICU Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Worker Well-Being Monday, April 20, 2026 - Healthcare worker (HCW) workload is a modifiable factor with strong relationships to both HCW well-being and patient safety. Team-based care is the gold standard for the treatment of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The robust body of evidence suggests that high workloads in the ICU are significant drivers of medication errors […]
SECOORA Real Time Monitoring of Right Whales Using Gliders Monday, April 20, 2026 - The goal of this proposal is to invest in the capacity and infrastructure of the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) glider observatory to develop, test, and implement autonomous passive acoustic monitoring of North Atlantic right whales in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales experience high mortality rates due […]
The ALS Institute: Building the Capacity of Grades 5-12 Urban Educators to Deliver High Quality & Culturally Responsive Instruction Monday, April 20, 2026 - The Urban Agriculture and Life Sciences Summer Institute will build the capacity of urban educators to recruit and retain the next generation of urban agriculturalists by increasing engagement, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge retention of students using culturally responsive practices. For this project, 36 middle and high school educators will be selected to participate in a […]
Novel Immunoprophylaxis Strategies for Antigen and Nanobody Delivery to Combat Avian Influenza Monday, April 20, 2026 - The purpose of this co-operative agreement is to develop a two-pronged immunoprophylactic strategy for the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry. We aim to develop a rapid and cost-effective immunotherapeutic designed to protect highly susceptible young chicks and to be deployed during emergency outbreaks. In parallel, we will also develop […]
Engineered Synthetic Low-Density Lipoprotein Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Monday, April 20, 2026 - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Despite technological advancements, the 5-year survival rate for advanced HNSCC has remained stagnant for the past three decades. The FDA has approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including pembrolizumab and nivolumab, for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic HNSCC. While immunotherapy can […]
Multiscale measurement of O-GlcNAc changes in Parkinson’s Disease Thursday, March 12, 2026 - Drugs that increase O-GlcNAc have been developed and proceeded into clinical trials. Notably, O-GlcNAc is found on neurodegeneration associated proteins, like tau and α-Syn, and has been shown to inhibit their amyloid aggregation and associated pathology in vitro and in mouse models. However, little is known concerning any differences in O-GlcNAc levels in PD versus […]
Collaborative Research: Unveiling the molecular mechanism of feeding tube formation by root-knot nematodes: structural and functional insights Thursday, March 12, 2026 - There is an urgent agricultural need for novel approaches to combat the billions of dollars lost annually to the devastating root-knot nematode, an obligate sedentary endoparasite and global threat to food and fiber crop production. The focus of this project is to resolve the mystery of the root-knot nematode feeding tube, a unique nematode-produced structure […]
Anti-Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) effects of tannins in poultry Thursday, March 12, 2026 - The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to evaluate the antiviral therapeutic potential of tannins against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as natural anti-viral supplements and immunomodulators in poultry. Tannins, plant-derived polyphenolic compounds and their metabolites, have highly effective antiviral effects against broad spectrums of pathogenic viruses including influenza virus H3N2, H5N3, herpes simplex virus-1, […]
Harnessing the Power of Nutrition against Avian Influenza Thursday, March 12, 2026 - By integrating innovative biotechnology and a comprehensive understanding of viral-host interactions, this approach aims to significantly mitigate the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry through oral prophylaxis. This agreement evaluates the potential of natural compounds, alone and in combination, as immunomodulators and antivirals against HPAI. We will test each compound and compound […]
Mass vaccination-ready, reassortment-impaired live virus vaccines against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Thursday, March 12, 2026 - Driven by the urgent need to safeguard the US poultry industry from the devastating impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), this project leverages a powerful synergy between the University of Georgia’s cutting-edge research capabilities and the established industrial expertise of CEVA Animal Health and BioStone Animal Health to deliver a transformative solution: the first […]
Population Modeling of American Alligators to Inform Harvest Management and Future Research in Georgia Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are managed quite differently than most other fish and wildlife species in the United States. As reptiles, they do not fall within the ‘fur and feathers’ category traditional to state wildlife management, which typically receives the bulk of attention, management, and funding. Despite harvest in aquatic habitats, they are also not […]
Physiological And Molecular Regulation of Fruit Ripening in Blueberry Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - Fruit ripening is a highly regulated developmental process. From a human diet perspective, fruit are a reservoir of antioxidants and vitamins. Until recently, a few fruits have served as model systems to investigate mechanisms associated with fruit ripening. However, aspects of ripening physiology and their regulation by transcription factors and hormones are fruit-specific, and show […]
An Integrated Basic and Translational Approach to Mitigate Key Enteric Diseases of Poultry Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - The objectives of this project are to: 1. Investigate the mechanisms of pathogenicity of Eimeria field isolates that cause poultry coccidiosis and assess the bird responses to infections. The team will (1) propagate and harvest pure cultures of Eimeria isolates to obtain high quality DNA for generating full genome sequences of Eimeria parasites; (2) test […]
Improving Sustainable Management of Southern Pine Forests: Optimizing Productivity-Resilience Trade-Offs Under Combined Drought, Fire, and Pathogen Stress Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - Global forests are increasingly at risk from multiple, synergistic stressors, threatening both timber production and ecosystem services. While trade-offs between productivity and resilience are well-documented, studies investigating belowground stress response mechanisms are limited, particularly for long-lived tree species. Furthermore, the genetic basis of these traits and the degree to which genetic co-associations may constrain adaptation […]
Culture and Community at the Penn Center Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - The Penn School for Culture and Community is in the first instance a partnership between the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District and the University of Georgia’s Willson Center for Humanities & Arts. This partnership has led to a series of other collaborations, with other institutions, communities, and foundations. These have intersected in turn with […]
Alfalfa IS for Beef Cattle Thursday, January 15, 2026 - This proposal spans three years with combined efforts from three universities representing three states in the Eastern region (University of Georgia, Auburn University, and Clemson University). This proposal addresses USDA Strategic Plan priority areas by providing opportunities for American agriculture producers to be competitive in the marketplace, provide a safe, nutritious food product, and expand […]
Trilateral FPP 2023 – Homoeolog-aware gene networks at single-cell resolution to improve cold tolerance in wheat Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Climate change is causing unpredictable and severe winter weather, which can devastate wheat crops in major growing regions like Europe, North America, and China. Sudden cold snaps or warm spells during winter can reduce wheat yields by up to 50%, posing a major challenge for farmers and food production worldwide. Wheat, like many staple crops, […]
New wild species-derived pest and disease resistances for the Southeast of the USA – 2025 Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Cultivated peanut has an exceptionally narrow genetic base. This imposes limitations on the improvements that can be made by breeding with peanuts of pure pedigree, in particular with regard to pest and disease resistance. Here we propose to continue the work of incorporation of new pest and disease resistances from wild species into agronomically elite […]
High-throughput biochemical, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational predictive biology to decode glycosyltransferases of unknown function in Sorghum bicolor Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Plants supply essential nutrients, fibers, and pharmaceuticals vital for human survival, and raw materials for numerous industries, including bioenergy, which supports jobs and drives economic development. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) catalyze the formation of glycosidic linkages to produce complex carbohydrates, which are highly abundant in all plants. This project will use high-throughput (HTP) biochemical, biophysical, and computational […]
Impact of breastmilk on Campylobacter jejuni survival Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial-induced diarrhea worldwide. Infection leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), particularly in young children where up to 85% of infants are C. jejuni stool positive by one year of age. Also, post-infectious complications such as GuillainBarré syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, reactive […]
Characterization of Brown Spot Needle Blight Resistance in Radiata Pine Monday, December 15, 2025 - Brown spot needle blight (BSNB), caused by Lecanosticta acicola, is a foliar disease affecting several species of pines and is a major concern for many commercial plantations globally. The use of host resistance is a promising avenue to mitigate the damage caused by the disease, however, little has been done to characterize resistance and facilitate […]
Discovering and Deploying Genetic Solutions across Maturity Groups for Durable Resistance to Multiple Nematodes Monday, December 15, 2025 - Nematodes are among the top yield-robbers encountered by soybean farmers across the U.S. Almost all soybean cyst nematode (SCN)-resistant varieties in U.S. soybean production are derived from two genetic sources, imposing risk of genetic vulnerability and resistance breakdown. Soybean breeders and growers are limited in genetic sources for nematode resistance with competitive yield, which places […]
Virtual Risks and Hero Projects: Activating Transformative Community Actions for Climate Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events through Extended Reality and Artificial Intelligence Monday, December 15, 2025 - This project leverages assets from a previously funded NOAA project and the research team’s expertise in using immersive technologies to translate critical hazardous weather information with these theory-driven and evidence-based objectives: (1) amplify the impact of risk communication through mixed-reality (MR) simulations of hazardous weather events (hurricane, wildfire) that can localize the experience of risk […]
Developing LG007 as a Novel Therapeutic Agent to Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer Monday, December 15, 2025 - For women in the United States, breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of death. In this application, we focus upon a specific subtype of breast cancer known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Compared to other breast cancer subtypes, TNBC is considered more aggressive and extremely difficult to treat with […]
Wild Species Genetics Conquer Pests and Diseases Limiting Groundnut Production in Africa and Beyond Monday, December 15, 2025 - Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is the world’s second most produced grain legume and a critically important crop in Africa, particularly for small-scale producers and communities in the drylands. This crop represents a subsistence protein source for smallholder farming families and an affordable nutrition source in global markets, as well as a source of cash to […]
IUCRC Phase I University of Georgia: Center for Innovation in Risk, Catastrophes, and Decisions (CIRCAD) Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Duke University and the University of Georgia (UGA) propose an Industry-University Collaborative Research Center (IUCRC) called the Center for Innovation in Risk-analysis for Climate Adaptation and Decision-making (CIRCAD). CIRCAD will be an interdisciplinary, high-impact research center that integrates climate science and engineering, data science and modeling, risk assessment and decision theory, and economic and policy […]
Collective behavior of oscillators in fungal filaments of Neurospora crass (Clock) Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - A grand challenge is how cellular clocks in organisms, tissues, and cells become synchronized. The focus here will be initially on understanding the synchronization of cellular clocks in filaments in a model fungal system, Neurospora crassa. The core clock mechanism genes wc-1, wc-2, and frq have homologs in flies and mammals but are in single […]
Advancing Gene Functional Analyses, Adaptation, and Regeneration in Upland and Lowland Switchgrass via Single-Cell Genomics Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Switchgrass, a C4 grass native to the US, is a high-yielding cellulosic bioenergy feedstock. Lowland switchgrass ecotypes produce high biomass yields but are largely cold-sensitive, which hinders expansion of their cultivation into Northern US regions where the lower yielding, but cold-tolerant upland ecotype is grown. Extensive efforts are dedicated to the rapid domestication of switchgrass, […]
DOE Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - This DOE Center renewal proposal will focus on structure, biosynthesis, and function of the plant cell wall polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I), a major ubiquitous and structurally complicated pectic polysaccharide that exists in the cell walls of all vascular plants. Plant biomass is an abundant renewable resource for the production of carbon-based bioproducts, chemicals, and glycomaterials. However, […]
Genipin’s ECM Crosslinking Action as an Agent to Prevent Neurodegeneration in Familial Dysautonomia Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is a severe genetic disorder affecting children, with no specific treatment. It involves neurodevelopmental defects at birth and progressive sensory and autonomic neuropathy. Symptoms include progressing loss of pain and temperature sensation, gait ataxia, and blindness. FD is caused by a mutation in the ELP1 gene, reducing the Elp1 protein in peripheral […]
Chromosome-specific meiotic biology Monday, October 20, 2025 - Meiosis is a tightly controlled process during which the diploid genome must segregate into haploid gametes (e.g. eggs or sperm). Inheritance of the incorrect number of chromosomes is a leading cause of fertility and birth defects. However, the reasons for chromosome missegregation are not always the same for all chromosomes. Why inter-chromosomal differences exist is […]
Expanding Seeds of Success Support and Ground-Truthing Provisional Seed Transfer Zones Through Genetic Analysis Monday, October 20, 2025 - This project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Burned Area Recovery (BIL-BAR), will support the national native seed collection program, Seeds of Success (SOS), in its efforts to develop native plant materials for stabilizing, rehabilitating, and restoring post-wildfire lands. The award establishes the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Seed Laboratory (NSL) in Dry Branch, […]
Navigating the Transition to Middle Age in the Strong African American Healthy Adults Project (SHAPE) Monday, October 20, 2025 - African Americans in the rural South are often not included in studies focused on the developmental origins of cognitive decline and cardiometabolic disease, but they experience among the lowest life expectancies in the US among the lowest life expectancies in the US, a consequence of morbidity from chronic diseases of aging (CDAs) and Alzheimer’s disease […]
Using 2D and 3D adrenal gland tissues to investigate developmental and disease paradigms Monday, October 20, 2025 - The adrenal glands are vital endocrine organs, comprising the medulla and cortex, that control stress responses, metabolism, blood pressure, and immunity. We hypothesize that better understanding of medulla and cortex development, their interaction and pathologies will unlock novel treatment options for adrenal gland disorders. Our long-term goal is to use human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived […]
National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: GA-Elevating Science Teachers’ Excellence Everyday [DMM1] Matters (GA-ESTEEM) Monday, October 20, 2025 - The National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Georgia – Elevating Science Teachers’ Excellence Everyday Matters (GA-ESTEEM) project will address the critical need to elevate Georgia’s K-12 science teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching science and strengthen the work of new and existing science teachers. This five-year project will build alliances among professional organizations, state […]