This press release contains dated information and should be used for background only.
KANSAS CITY, Kan – The National Institutes of Health has awarded a multi-million grant to further life sciences research at the University of Kansas and throughout the state of Kansas. It is the largest grant ever awarded to a university in the state of Kansas.
- The five-year $18 million grant has been awarded to Joan Hunt, PhD, principal investigator and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
- The Kansas IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) grant will continue the work started by $8.2 million in Kansas Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (K-BRIN) grants, first awarded Hunt in 2001. These grants helped to establish a cooperative inter-campus biomedical research program at nine campuses throughout Kansas.
“K-BRIN and K-INBRE grants help us develop life sciences researchers in Kansas, foster communication among researchers throughout the state, attract and keep the brightest students and faculty and strengthen our investment in Kansas biomedical research initiatives,” Hunt said.
Recipients include the University of Kansas Medical Center, the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas State University and Wichita State University, which award PhDs in biological sciences, and undergraduate programs at Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Pittsburg State University and Washburn University.
“Sharing state-of-the-art technology and experimental strategies as well as increasing training opportunities will strengthen Kansas universities’ capacity to conduct competitive, leading-edge biomedical research and the ability of our researchers to win federal grants,” Hunt added.
Examples of current programs funded by these grants include:
- Developing bioinformatics capacity at the state’s three graduate-degree-offering universities – a first for the state. The technology applies computer power to analyze massive amounts of research data – a new and powerful tool for researchers that was developed subsequent to the completion of the human genome project. Instruction is carried throughout the state by the TeleResearch Network. This interactive network fosters collaboration among both students and faculty in ways never possible before K-BRIN funding.
- A Faculty Scholars Program, which awards $10,000 to outstanding faculty who demonstrate excellence in research, teaching and service to the state’s universities.
A Summer Scholars Program, which awards 30 students at eight state universities a $3,000 stipend each to pursue research projects in both basic and clinical science.