Andrew Buller, professor of chemistry at UW-Madison and affiliate of the Department of Biochemistry, is working to develop methods to create new protein building blocks in living systems. This chemical research, recently recognized with a $2.2 million grant from NIH, could make these processes more affordable for and accessible to scientists with expertise in other backgrounds.
Grant
Woonghee Lee of Markley Lab earns grant to improve NMR computation
Woonghee Lee in the lab of biochemistry professor John Markley plans to improve data analysis for the burgeoning technique of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. Lee’s work will entail a long list of software development. He and his group will develop, test, perfect, and release a full automation and visualization system.
Fox, Ralph labs to use DOE grant to investigate enzymes in bioenergy crops
Researchers in the UW–Madison biochemistry department and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center will utilize a $2.1 million grant from the United States Department of Energy to elucidate the properties of a potentially useful and understudied class of genes and enzymes in important bioenergy crops, such as poplar, sorghum, and switchgrass.
Hoskins earns grant to study splicing inhibitors, connection to cancer
With a grant from the Edward P. Evans Foundation, biochemistry associate professor Aaron Hoskins is searching for new treatments for myelodysplastic syndromes — a type of blood cancer — by being able to screen for RNA splicing inhibitors using “humanized” yeast.
Venturelli receives Gates Grand Challenges Grant for exploratory work on microbiome and malnutrition
With a Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists Ophelia Venturelli and Brian Pfleger are working to further research on how to use human-associated intestinal microbes to combat malnutrition in developing countries.
Venturelli, WID’s Handelsman earn Army Research Office grant to study microbial communication
Two researchers have been awarded more than $1 million as part of the multidisciplinary university research initiative from the United States Army Research Office to better understand microbial communities.
Faculty associate uses grant to enhance biochemistry capstone course
Online education can help instructors provide these additional learning opportunities and Lynne Prost, a faculty associate, used a university professional development grant to expand her expertise in this area.
Conserving helium, a scarce nonrenewable resource, and reducing costs at NMR facility
The National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison’s equipment requires helium, and with worldwide supplies dwindling, has recently installed a helium recovery system to increase sustainability and cut costs.
Undergraduate combines biochemistry, environmental studies with community engagement in Rwanda
It’s easy to make a difference through an award that’s named after the Wisconsin Idea, and Jacob Olson is doing just that. The biochemistry and environmental studies major traveled to Rwanda this past summer through a Morgridge Center for Public Service Wisconsin Idea Fellowship that helped him combine his education with public service and community engagement.
Raman earns prestigious NIH award to fund research on protein function
Biochemistry assistant professor Srivatsan “Vatsan” Raman has received a Director’s New Innovator Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $2.2 million-grants fund high-risk, high-reward research performed by early stage investigators.