Biology Professor Receives Four Grants

Four agencies recently provided a total of $75,000 in funding to Millersville biology professor Dr. James Cosentino to support three research projects.

“The most wonderful part about these projects is that written into the grants are fellowships that provide undergraduate students with real-life research experience,” said Cosentino.

KIG Grant

The Keystone Innovation Grant (KIG) provided Cosentino with $10,000 in funding to support his research of an aptamer-based sensor for the detection of ovarian cancer. He and his research partner, Dr. Lyman Rickard, a chemistry professor, are researching the use of nucleic acid aptamers, which are synthetic, single-stranded RNA or DNA that, like antibodies, can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. However, unlike antibodies, aptamers are easier to develop, synthetic and thermally stable. Dr. G. Thomas Caltigerone, CEO and president of Aptagen, LLC, in York, Pa., will provide the purified aptamers for the project.

NSF Grant

The National Science Foundation partnered with Partnership for Innovation and provided Cosentino with $40,000 in funding to support research concerning his novel approach to targeted drug delivery to tumors. Such a system has the potential of delivering high concentrations of drugs directly to the targeted area without causing damage to otherwise healthy tissue. This innovative approach will minimize toxic side effects to other tissues and establish a new targeted drug treatment for cancers and other localized diseases. Cosentino will team up with Aptagen, LLC, who will be providing the purified aptamers for the project.

Chemical Sciences Grants

The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization provided Cosentino with $16,000 and $9,000, respectively, to provide university-level books and computers to developing countries in Africa. Recent wars and continued poverty have created a need for new university libraries. Materials donated are typically no more than 15 years old and in very good condition.  Donated items will be shipped to the recipient country by large shipping container, 20,000 books per shipment. Target universities for 2011 include Kadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco; Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia and Ecole des Sciences de Musanze, Musanze, Rwanda.