PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 3, 2024) – Kazeem B. Olanrewaju, Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Prairie View A&M University, has been awarded more than $730,000 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an institute under the National Institute of Health (NIH). The four-year grant will support his groundbreaking research into glucose regulation within the gastrointestinal system.
Dr. Olanrewaju’s project addresses critical health challenges, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By studying the proximal small intestine, the research focuses on modeling and quantifying glucose transport, transformation, and remediation mechanisms through transglycosylation—a process that converts glucose into non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs).
The study will leverage advanced computational tools such as MATLAB and COMSOL to create a virtual gastrointestinal laboratory. This innovative platform will provide a detailed analysis of glucose dynamics, offering insights into GI-related diseases tied to excessive glucose and fructose levels. The findings are expected to inform the development of targeted diagnostic tools and therapies, contributing to the management of metabolic disorders and systemic homeostasis.
By Joe McGinty