OSU health, engineering projects receive funding from OCAST
Friday, July 12, 2013
Eleven Oklahoma State University researchers received funding from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology to advance their life-changing work in health and engineering.
Seven researchers from the OSU-Stillwater campus received funding for health-related projects.
Ashish Ranjan, assistant professor of physiological sciences, is developing an image-guided drug delivery method for the treatment of prostate tumors. The method will permit real-time control and monitoring of drug delivery to a tumor under image guidance, including killing of otherwise poorly accessible tumor cells.
Barry Lavine, professor of chemistry, will explore a new technique for distinguishing mold contamination from mold-free areas in indoor environments. Lavine’s technique will be timelier and more economical than current methods.
Alex Bishop, an associate professor of human development and family science, will focus on older adults who live independently and in long-term care facilities. Bishop will investigate how emotional experiences regulate the impact of physiological stress on age-associated health symptoms, disease and immunity despite health impairment. Results will be used to improve quality-of-life among Oklahoma's oldest citizens aging with impairment.
Tingting Chen, assistant professor of computer science, will design and develop the first pervasive health monitoring system that integrates disease-correlated ambient factors, such as temperature and ultraviolet light, to the detection of conditions like skin cancer. Results will not only enhance the preventive, proactive and patient-centered treatment of many chronic diseases, but will also facilitate discovery of new correlations between ambient factors and disease development.
Thad Leffingwell, associate professor of psychology, will address critical gaps in HIV treatment and prevention by developing and testing the first self-contained, self-paced, single session multimedia electronic intervention for enhancing adherence to a treatment plan within an outpatient HIV clinic. Unlike other chronic illnesses, effective HIV treatment requires stringent adherence rate of 95 percent or better to maximize the chances of treatment success and reduce the likelihood of developing drug-resistant strains of HIV.
Jeffrey Hadwiger, associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, will conduct genetic and biochemical analyses on signaling pathways that control cell function and fate. Insights will be used to design strategies to treat diseases, such as microbial infections, that result in altered signaling.
Tom Oomens, assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology, will study the structure of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) proteins. Despite causing an estimated 200,000 deaths in children each year and causing serious health problems for the elderly and immuno-compromised, there is currently no vaccine for RSV. Oomens’ work will aid drug discovery and design and will provide new opportunities for anti-RSV vaccine development.
Four researchers from the OSU-Tulsa Helmerich Research Center and OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa were awarded grants for engineering and health research.
Dr. Jay Hanan, associate professor in the OSU School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is developing a light-weight, strong material for use in aircraft, automobiles, sporting goods and military equipment.
Dr. Ranji Vaidyanathan, Varnadow professor in the OSU School of Materials Science, is working to develop and manufacture a compressed natural gas fuel tank. The project is in collaboration with CleanNG, an Oklahoma company working to develop advanced fuel storage products for natural gas vehicles.
Dr. Nirmal Govindaraju, a research associate in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, is creating a portable sensor for detecting chemical and biological agents.
Dr. Gerwald Köhler, associate professor in the department of biochemistry and microbiology at OSU-CHS, is studying the influence of probiotics in the digestive system on the central nervous system.
OCAST provides funding to help universities, foundations and businesses with cutting-edge research in engineering and health sciences that will benefit Oklahoma's economy.