Author: Freelance Writer Jenisha Watts

 

Gilda Barabino teaches chemical engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She decided to study chemistry in college after her high school teacher told her class "chemistry was not for girls." Walk into Dr. Gilda Barabino’s office at Georgia's Institute of Technology in Atlanta and scan the room. Each wall is lined with shelves, filled with thick science journals, hardback copies of Langston Hughes poems, and soft vintage novels by James Baldwin. Tucked between the shelves, a poster with a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the bold words, “The Right to be Free.”

It is a commemorative of Brown vs. the Board of Education, the landmark 1954 case where the Supreme Court ruled that state laws establishing "separate but equal" public schools for white and black students was unconstitutional.The ruling paved the way for integration and the civil rights movement. For Barabino, an African American woman, the words on the wall are more than an inspirational slogan. They serve as a “daily reminder” on how far black people have advanced in America. Gazing up at the poster, Barabino, says, "The best science is conducted when we have the most inclusive group of people involved. You can’t possibly have the best minds at the table if you exclude certain groups.”

Barabino is Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at Georgia Tech and Emory University. She has degrees from Xavier University, B.S., and Rice University, Ph.D. In 1994, she received the Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award and in 2007, she was a fellow at the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. She’s penned articles for numerous publications sharing her research on adhesion mechanisms in sickle cell disease, cellular, and tissue engineering. Chemistry helps explain the substances we ingest through the air we breathe and food we eat, she said. As a chemical engineer, Barabino applies her knowledge to help solve problems in medicine.

While testing different experiments for her sickle cell research, she has learned, with medicine, “many times it is not the substance itself that is bad, but how it is being used,” she said. “We have an agent that will prevent your cells from sickling, but will cause other problems because it is toxic,” Barabino said. “If we use hydroxyurea, the body can tolerate that form, and we have an alternative antisickling agent.”

She credits her high school only educated parents for her ambitious track record. “They instilled in me every day that education is important.” A soft-spoken Barabino is quick to add, “In our family, it was just understood that you were going to college to obtain the highest degree.”

A naturally curious girl, she had multiple interests in school subjects."I loved everything," she says. It was her high school teacher who unknowingly set her down on a career path in science. “She told the class that chemistry was not for girls,” Barabino recalls. “I thought how dare you pick a group and say a particular subject is not acceptable for them!” The pupil with the wide attentiveness roped in her focus. “And that’s really how I got started in chemistry,” a proud Barabino said.

These days, she splits her time directing a laboratory and teaching chemical engineering courses and polymer science. She enjoys the research atmosphere, with lab benches as resting chairs, and bright colored molecules hanging up like wallpaper, just as much as she relishes sharpening future scholars minds in science.

“I am so passionate about broadening the community of science. I don’t want us to lose talent,” Barabino said. “I think it is important to give back because everyone does not have that same inner drive, some people need a little more nudging and support. I think it is even more important for people of color to give back. That’s part of my mission.”

 

The Georgia Tech/Emory initiative in Regenerative Medicine, in partnership with the Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI), is pleased to invite seed grant proposals in Regenerative Medicine. The research seed grant program will fund both multi-investigator teams and single investigators. The review committee will strive to make awards that reflect a balance between multi and single investigators and between basic science and translational research, with the latter including large animal studies and initial clinical studies. The desired portfolio should include a balance of Emory and Georgia Tech faculty. The award program also is available to be used to fund junior investigators in team or individual grants and can be used for the recruitment of outstanding young investigators.

 

Strategic Priority Team Grants

● Applications should have a clinical target.

● A team must have a minimum of two investigators and may include both basic scientists and clinicians. Collaborations among Emory and Georgia Tech and other ACTSI partner faculty will be encouraged.

● Awards in general may be for up to $100,000 per year for no more than three years; however, where a larger budget is required, e.g. for large animal studies or a clinical study, an additional supplement may be possible.

 

Innovative Research Grants

● These grants will be funded at up to $50,000 per year, and based on satisfactory progress can be for up to three years.

● Awards can be made to investigators who are addressing new questions or taking new approaches.

● Awards can be made to investigators not previously engaged in regenerative medicine research.

 

The success of the research grant program will be measured by the number of publications and follow-on extramural funding that is achieved from the seed grants and/or the initiation of clinical studies. Any publications arising from a grant funded by this program is required to acknowledge this program and the ACTSI as the source of funds.

 

Purpose of the funds: Seed grant funds are intended to enable PI’s to generate preliminary data that facilitates the submission of proposals for subsequent external funding or to provide the initial studies leading to a clinical trial.

 

Who may apply: Proposals may originate from a single PI or may be a collaboration between investigators. All tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty and clinical faculty whose appointments reside at Emory and Georgia Tech are eligible to apply.

 

Budget Information: Funds may be used for Ph.D. student/postdoc support, animal studies, supplies, and limited travel as related to the conduct of the research. Faculty salary support is not appropriate. For Georgia Tech students supported on these funds, their tuition will be waived. Note that these are not intended to be multi-year grants, but rather to facilitate the generation of critical preliminary data or demonstrate feasibility of concepts that will lead to external support through other federal or state agencies and/or to clinical studies. At the time of this announcement the amount of funds available for this seed grant program has not been determined. Thus, the review committee reserves the right to make adjustments to the budgets of funded projects based on the total funds available. Furthermore, funds provided from ACTSI must be spent by May 31, 2012 and those provided by Georgia Tech by June 30, 2012.

 

Deadline: The deadline for submission of proposals is August 5th; however, a letter of intent with the title of the project, the names of investigators, and the proposed total budget must be submitted by e-mail no later than July 15th to Robert Nerem (robert.nerem@ibb.gatech.edu). Funding period will start no later than September 2011. IACUC/IRB approvals (when appropriate) are necessary before funding can commence.

 

Proposal Format: The technical aspect of the proposal cannot exceed five pages and should include the following sections: a) brief introduction outlining the general problem and the specific aspect tackled by the proposed research; b.) specific aims; c.) a brief description of experiments proposed; and d.) outcomes anticipated. Budget request and a brief budget justification may be submitted using an additional page.

 

Submission Instructions and Questions: Technical questions regarding the program may be addressed to Robert Nerem (robert.nerem@ibb.gatech.edu).  Proposal should be submitted via email by 5 pm on August 5th to Megan McDevitt (megan.mcdevitt@ibb.gatech.edu).

 

 

A new study demonstrates RNA-driven genetic changes in bacteria and in human cells.
Not long ago, it was considered that the major role played by RNA was to carry genetic information for protein synthesis. Although an astonishing variety of RNA functions have been found in the last few decades, it has always been very difficult to determine if any RNA has the capacity to genetically modify the DNA of cells.

A double-strand break in the DNA genome of human embryonic kidney cells was repaired by RNA-containing molecules, which restored the function of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, making the human cells fluoresce green.

By using RNA-containing oligos, the Storici’s team (Assistant Professor, School of Biology) has found that RNA can function as a template for DNA synthesis without being reverse transcribed into cDNA, not only in yeast but also in Escherichia coli and in the human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. These findings establish that a direct flow of genetic information from RNA to DNA can occur in organisms as diverse as bacteria and humans, and thus, it can be a significant source of genetic variation. The goal of future research is to understand the mechanisms by which RNA can directly transfer information to the DNA of cells and to reveal the circumstances in which RNA information can flow to DNA.
The study, which was published April 14 in the advance online edition of the journal Mutation Research, was conducted by a group of graduate and undergraduate students in the Storici’s lab in the School of Biology at Georgia Tech in collaboration with Bernard Weiss from Emory University School of Medicine.

The Stem Cell Biomanufacturing IGERT program at the Georgia Institute of Technology was mentioned in Nature Magazine on June 9^th in Growing with the flow by Meredith Wadman as one of the few programs providing young researchers with “outside-the-box opportunities” for stem cell research amidst the funding feud. 

Last year, the appeal to repeal the injunction blocking the NIH from funding research using embryonic stem cells was passed. A second victory for scientists recently occurred when courts ruled that “the Department of Health and Human Services would not prevent future presidents or Congresses from acting anew to limit government funding for research.” However, there is still some public opposition to using human embryos for research. The NIH will fund $125 million to stem cell research this year alone, but scientists are wary knowing this funding comes without long-term security.

The article details programs available to young scientist considering careers in stem-cell research in the US and around the world. Ms. Wadman recommended stem cell PhD programs at Stanford, the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at New York University School of Medicine, the University of Minnesota, and the Hanover Biomedical Research School in Germany.

She also commented on “the emerging need for biomanufacturures with stem-cell experitise, as exemplified by a new PhD prgoramme in stem-cell biomanufacturing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, funded by the US National Science Foundation. The programme opened its doors last year and is admitting six students per year. “If stem cells are going to move out of the lab, there will be lots of need for engineers to produce a large number of identical cells,” says Aaron Levine, assistant professor of public policy at Georgia Tech and researcher involved in the IGERT.

The Stem Cell Biomanufacturing IGERT program is headed by co-directors, Todd McDevitt, PhD and Bob Nerem, PhD, and offers enormous promise for researchers to become experts in stem cell biomanufacturing for the development of cell-based therapies, including regenerative medicine, drug discovery and development, cell-based diagnostics, and cancer. With funding for the next 4 years, this IGERT program is transforming the potential of stem cells for PhD scientists and engineers. 

View Article Here.

Following a presentation to an alumni group in Chattanooga, Tenn., in March, Georgia Tech’s dean of engineering Don Giddens was posed a question: How will a University of Georgia engineering degree compare to one from Georgia Tech?

Perhaps it was a rhetorical question, but after some of the snickers in the crowd subsided, Giddens replied, “First of all, one of the arguments that the University of Georgia used was that … they really needed to offer engineering and medicine both in order to be a first-tier university. So our kind of tongue-in-cheek comeback to that was, ‘Are you going to add a third-rate engineering program and become a first-rate university?’” Read Full Article

Barbara Boyan, Ph.D., professor  and Price Gilbert Jr. Chair in Tissue Engineering, has recently been named a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI). ITI is a unique network that unites professionals around the world from every field of implant dentistry and related tissue regeneration. As an independent academic association, it actively promotes networking and exchange among its membership.

ITI Fellows are recognized for their leadership in international, national or regional activities; record of publication and research in the area of implant dentistry; engagement in dental implant education; and demonstration of innovation and further development in the clinical implant dentistry field. Fellowship is conferred for a period of four years and is reviewed at the end of this period. It is only possible to become an ITI Fellow by nomination.

Boyan, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, has research interests in bone and cartilage cell biology in the fields of orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and oral health, with specific emphasis on the role of sex in determining how cells respond to steroid hormones and to biomaterials used in medical devices. She is past president, American Association for Dental Research; past secretary/treasurer, Orthopaedic Research Society; member, Board of Directors: ArthroCare, Inc., IsoTis, Inc., and Carticept Medical, Inc.; and founder, OsteoBiologics, Inc.; Orthonics, Inc.; Biomedical Development Corporation; and Spherigenics, Inc.

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, the Parker H. PetitInstitute for Bioengineering & Bioscience (IBB) will host itsthird annual Petit Undergraduate Research Scholars fundraising dinner onthe campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. This event welcomes membersof Atlanta’s business community, university leaders and government officials tocome and support the innovative undergraduate research at IBB. 

This year’s dinner will feature guest speakerMitchell H. Gold, MD, who currently serves as president and chief executiveofficer for Dendreon Corporation. Gold will be describing an innovativenew cancer therapy in his presentation entitled, “Winning the War." 

Dendreon, a Seattle-based company, recentlycompleted a $70 million Immunotherapy Manufacturing Facility in Union Citywhich brought over 450 jobs to Georgia. Dendreon’s product, Provenge, is thefirst ever FDA-approved immunotherapy for prostate cancer. 

The Petit Scholars program began in 2000 as part of a ten-year NationalSciences Foundation grant and has been continued and expanded with the help ofprivate donations.  With this year’s fundraising goal of $100,000,sponsorship opportunities are available at platinum, gold, silver and bronzelevels as well as individual dinner ticket purchases. 

To date, the Petit Scholars program has provided funding and programsfor 166 students from Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University,Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Agnes ScottCollege, Gwinnett Technical College and the University of Georgia over the past12 years. IBB Undergraduate Research Scholars program is a competitivescholarship program that allows undergraduates to develop independent researchprojects in Petit Institute laboratories under the director mentorship of agraduate student and faculty member.  The programs’ alumni go on to usetheir valuable research experiences in careers as research scientists,academics and physicians.

Georgia Tech’s Stem Cell Engineering Center is hosting a half-day workshop on May 9, 2011 at the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience.  Seventy-five scientists and trainees from seven different departments at Georgia Tech, Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of Georgia are convening to discuss research from various fields relating to stem cell engineering.  

Aligned with the mission of the Stem Cell Engineering Center, the purpose of this workshop is to cultivate teams of researchers from the basic sciences to address key hurdles and technological challenges currently impeding the development of stem cell therapeutics and diagnostics.  

Stem cells, or unspecialized cells, hold tremendous promise as a biological resource for regenerative medicine therapies, pharmaceutical discovery and development, and cell-based diagnostic assays. Transforming the potential of stem cells into viable biomedical technologies and commercial applications is dependent on developing efficient, robust, non-destructive and scalable strategies to control, assay and manufacture stem cells and stem cell-derived products.  

Many of the unique challenges posed by stem cell research could be addressed by applying innovative technological advances occurring in adjacent disciplines for similar purposes, but different applications. Presentations during the workshop will include talks on differentiation technologies, bioanalytical techniques, multi-scale phenotypic analysis and stem cell biomanufacturing.  

 

CoE Dean Don Giddens was recently awarded the GT Ambassadors Award for The Most Georgia Tech Spirit. The award is one of five awards given annually at the Up With the White and Gold Awards Ceremony to outstanding faculty and staff nominees by the GT Ambassadors as part of an effort to recognize those who work hard to positively affect the quality of education, research, and student life at Tech.  As with all of the GT Ambassadors' awards, a number of nominations are submitted anonymously by the entire organization, and then the top honorees (receiving the most nominations) are placed on a ballot for the organization to select a winner. 

This particular award recognizes those professional members of the Tech community whose commitment extends beyond their realm of expertise to the a genuine love of and spirit for the Institute. Dean Giddens was naturally one of the top candidates for the Most Georgia Tech Spirit Award, as his commitment has spanned over 50 years from his time as a student here for all of his degrees, up until his impending retirement. 

This year, the award was presented at the Up With the White and Gold ceremony on April 28th, in the Student Center Ballroom. 

To the campus community of Georgia Tech:

With the conclusion of the state legislative session and the monthly Board of Regents meeting occurring within the same week, I wanted to take the opportunity to provide an update on our current financial situation, as well as how some of the actions to date will impact the members of our community.

Prior to its adjournment last week, the Georgia General Assembly passed its proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget and sent it to the governor for his review and signature. At this point, the expectation is that Georgia Tech will receive another significant reduction in its state appropriation. In addition, the state formula funding — money allocated by the legislature to support growth of an institution’s enrollment — has been frozen for the first time.  All told, this represents an additional reduction in the funds available to the Institute of between $16 to $18 million.

To offer some perspective: over the past four years, Georgia Tech’s state allocation has been reduced by almost $90 million, or approximately 31 percent, and the state contribution now accounts for less than 17 percent of our overall budget. While we have taken steps to mitigate the effect of these reductions, we are not able to absorb these cuts and still preserve the quality of our academic programs, and provide the educational experience consistent with other top-tier public research universities.  With pay freezes already in place for three years, cuts to our state appropriation and increased efficiencies already implemented, it is necessary to seek other alternatives, including additional tuition and fees, to offset these reductions in state support for higher education.

Tuition and fees are directly responsible for the quality of the student education and experience. These include instructional and student-related activities; critical academic issues such as the student-faculty ratio, which has increased from 21 to 1 four years ago to 23 to 1 today; the availability of course sections for our undergraduates; and the operation of world-class academic and research facilities.

As some of you know, the HOPE Scholarship was the subject of intense debate during the recent legislative session.  Due to rising student enrollment and tuition costs, Governor Nathan Deal and the General Assembly leaders recalibrated the merit-based program in order to preserve its financial health for future generations of Georgians. All of us applaud those efforts by the governor and the legislature. In another year of tough choices, preserving as much of the HOPE Scholarship program as possible was the right thing to do.

This week, the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents met to set tuition and fees for its member institutions, taking in to consideration the needs of our institutions, the declining direct state budget support and the overall economic condition of Georgia and the nation. In so doing, the Regents voted to approve a 3 percent tuition increase for resident students as well as an additional mandatory $350 special institutional fee per semester for Georgia Tech. With these funds we plan to hire additional faculty to accommodate our enrollment growth, continue financial aid relief for our neediest students and support our important academic initiatives, including funds to operate the new Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons.

Georgia Tech, like families throughout the state and nation, continues to face challenging economic times. Our first priority is to preserve the value of the degrees that we award to our students to ensure that we prepare them for an increasingly competitive and global job market. These increases represent an investment in the future of our institution, and I want to express my deepest appreciation to our faculty, staff, students and alumni as we work to ensure the quality of our educational and research programs and maintain our status as Georgia’s premier public university.
 
G. P. “Bud” Peterson


President, Georgia Institute of Technology