Texas A&M researchers awarded $2.2M for scientific innovations
Two Texas A&M professors were recently among 55 selected nationwide to receive multi-million dollar awards to support their research from the National Institutes of Health.
Zhilei Chen, associate professor at the College of Medicine, and Akhilesh Gaharwar, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, each respectively received the New Innovator Award, which carries with it $2.2 million over a five-year period.
According to officials with the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Chen's current research involves the creation of "protein magnets," which would allow certain cells to capture a virus before it has the chance to cause disease in the person. Applications could include using the method to protect people at a high risk for infection over a two- to three-month period as a way to protect against possible infections without a reliable vaccine.
Gaharwar, who is the first member of the College of Engineering to receive the award, is working on research into better understanding how specific minerals interact with human stem cells, according to A&M officials.
Read more: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-researchers-awarded-m-for-scientific-innovations/article_d7646314-5af4-54a2-9a76-c44bccb75773.html