PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (February 13, 2024) – Harriette Howard-Lee Block, Ph.D., was recently awarded obtained a significant grant totaling $1,981,178 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Block, Department Head and Associate Professor of Biology at Prairie View A&M University, is the Principal Investigator.
The Co-PIs include Deirdre Vaden, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at PVAMU; Alex Keene, Ph.D., Department Head and Professor of Biology at Texas A&M University; Asha Rao, Ph.D., Associate Instructor of Biology at TAMU; and Richard Gomer, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Biology at TAMU.
This grant will develop genomics opportunities for students at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) through a collaboration with Texas A&M University (TAMU). Summer research experiences in genomics are available for the PVAMU student participants. The program will further develop a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that focuses on using genomic and bioinformatic approaches to predict the function of unannotated genes. The CURE will be co-taught by PVAMU and TAMU faculty.
Together, the proposed program will foster critical thinking, self-empowerment, and provide students with the skills and training necessary to enter PhD programs in genomics or to enter the workforce in a genomics-related area. It will also strengthen genomics programming at PVAMU, develop ties between the two universities, and promote diversity in genomic sciences.
By Joe McGinty