Delaware State University

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - IHES

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

COBRE: THE DELAWARE CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

UNKNOWN TITLE

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - IHES

INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH (IHER) CENTER - INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH (IHER) CENTER SUMMARY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR NATION’S STARK DISPARITIES IN HEALTH AND THE DISPROPORTIONAL BURDEN OF DISEASE RELATED TO RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. DELAWARE IS AN IDEAL STATE FOR A HEALTH DISPARITIES-FOCUSED RESEARCH CENTER AS IT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE OF THE USA IN A COMPACT FORM. THE POPULATION OF DELAWARE (~978,000) MIRRORS THE US POPULATION IN RATIOS OF URBAN-TO-RURAL, OLD TO YOUNG, AND ETHNIC/RACIAL DIVERSITY. THUS, STUDIES INVOLVING A CROSS-SECTION OF DELAWARE ARE EASILY GENERALIZABLE TO THE NATIONAL POPULATION. IN ADDITION, DELAWARE IS RANKED 35TH OUT OF THE 50 STATES FOR OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES, A LOW RANKING THAT REFLECTS HIGH DISPARITIES IN HEALTH STATUS FOR LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. THE URGENCY TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES IN DELAWARE IS CLEAR, AND PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY THROUGH A SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH APPROACH IS A STATE PRIORITY. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS WELL-POSITIONED TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. DSU’S INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH CENTER HAS THE OVERALL GOAL TO DEVELOP DSU AS A LEADER IN BIOMEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH RELATED TO HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT ON UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. THE CENTER WILL BUILD A SUPPORTIVE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY THAT BRINGS TOGETHER FACULTY INVESTIGATING THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WITH FACULTY USING BIOMEDICAL APPROACHES TO INVESTIGATE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THE IHER CENTER WILL BUILD A RESEARCH-ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE AT DSU BY: A) PROVIDING ACCESS TO CORE FACILITIES IN BIOSTATISTICS, QUALITATIVE METHODS, MICROSCOPY AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; B) PROVIDING INVESTIGATORS WORKING WITH HUMAN SUBJECTS SUPPORT FOR MANAGING THE IRB PROCESS, AND AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SECURE COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND STORAGE OF HUMAN SUBJECT DATA; AND C) IMMERSING RESEARCHERS IN A SUPPORTIVE PROFESSIONAL NETWORK. WE WILL ALSO BUILD OUR IHER CENTER BY RECRUITING TWO NEW FACULTY MEMBERS WITH EXPERTISE IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH RELATED TO HEALTH EQUITY, AND SUPPORTING THEM TO WORK WITH OTHER DSU SCIENTISTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAMS. THROUGH MENTORSHIP, CAREER ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND A PILOT GRANT PROGRAM FOR EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS, OUR IHER CENTER WILL DEVELOP FACULTY AT DSU INTO INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORS WHO CAN SUCCESSFULLY LEAD INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAMS AND COMPETE FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING DSU IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN ROBUST INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY, INCLUDING DSU’S CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND RESEARCH, HEALTH DISPARITIES CENTER; AND AN NIH RADX-UP GRANT. OUR IHER CENTER WILL LEVERAGE DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY’S EXPANDING HUMAN AND RESEARCH RESOURCES IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH, OUR STATE-WIDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER DELAWARE INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS THE NATIONWIDE RCMI TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH NETWORK TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY, SOCIAL AWARENESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMONG LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - IHES

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

DOD COE-AQS:CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCED QUANTUM SENSING

UNKNOWN TITLE

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR HAS BEEN UNDERGOING A PERIOD OF RAPID TRANSFORMATION, DRIVEN BY THE POWERFUL AND INTERCONNECTED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITIONS AND UNEVEN ECONOMIC GROWTH. ADVANCES IN IRRIGATION, FERTILIZATION, MECHANIZATION, AND BREEDING HAVE HELPED AGRICULTURE KEEP PACE WITH THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, BUT AT ENORMOUS COSTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH. CONVENTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES WILL NOT SOLVE THESE UBIQUITOUS CHALLENGES. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (ET) EMPLOYING DATA SCIENCE (DS), MACHINE LEARNING (ML) AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) HAS PROVIDED THE IMPETUS TO TRANSFORM THE OVERALL AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM AND LANDSCAPE AT MULTI-SCALE LEVELS. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (E.G. ROBOTICS, DRONES, SENSORS) SURROUNDING THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) HAS PROPELLED AGRICULTURE EVEN FURTHER THROUGH INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS) IN THE CYBER-PHYSICAL CYCLE OF FARM MANAGEMENT THIS WORK SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY AMONGST THE 1890INSTITUTIONS, CATALYZING OUR PARTICIPATION OF HOW ET SHAPES OUR FUTURE. THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN EMERGING INTERNET OF THINGS (E-IOT) TECHNOLOGIES BRINGS TOGETHER SCIENTISTS FROM (9) 1890 INSTITUTIONS -DSU, UMES, SU, TU, AAMU, SCSU, UAPB, NCA&T, AND FAMU WITH COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT FROM UC DAVIS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR NEXT- GENERATION FOOD SYSTEMS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (UD) DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE (DSI), ALL WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF EXCELLENCE IN AI AND DATA SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION. THE BROAD GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO ACHIEVE FOUNDATIONAL ADVANCES IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS PRESSING CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURE. THE PROJECT WILL TACKLE FOUR (4) KEY AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES: (1) THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH INCREASED AI, DS, ML CONTENT TO PRODUCE OUR NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE; (2) RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED AND DISADVANTAGED GROUPS; AND (3) EXTENSION TO SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON THE INCENTIVES AND BARRIERS TO THEIR ADOPTION. THIS WORK WILL PROMOTE A NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE AND ENABLE SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION AND PROFITABILITY IN THE LONG TERM AS WELL AS IMPROVE RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

COBRE PHASE III: DELAWARE CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH - OVERALL PROPOSAL SUMMARY THE DELAWARE CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, ESTABLISHED IN 2012 WITH A COBRE AWARD, IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (UD). OUR UNIQUE CENTER BRINGS TOGETHER FACULTY AND RESEARCH RESOURCES FROM TWO VERY DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS: A MINORITY-SERVING, UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY WITH AN EMERGING STRENGTH IN NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH (DSU), AND THE STATE’S FLAGSHIP RESEARCH UNIVERSITY (UD). PHASE II OF OUR NEUROSCIENCE CENTER COBRE WAS FOCUSED STRENGTHENING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, AND TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATORS THAT INCLUDED PROJECT LEADS, PILOT GRANT PIS, AND NEW FACULTY WHO WERE HIRED AT DSU WITH COBRE SUPPORT. OUR CENTER HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH OVER 175 PUBLICATIONS BY COBRE-SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS, SIX PROJECT LEADS “GRADUATED” INTO R01 SUPPORT, THREE PILOT INVESTIGATOR GRADUATED TO NSF GRANTS INCLUDING A CAREER AWARD, AND NEW FACULTY RECRUITED TO DSU WITH COBRE SUPPORT WINNING K01 AND R21 AWARDS. DURING PHASE II OUR INSTITUTIONS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEUROSCIENCE. THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE ESTABLISHED THE CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL AND BRAIN IMAGING WITH A 3T SCANNER FOR HUMAN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, AND A 9.4T SCANNER WITH SMALL BORE MAGNET FOR MRI WITH RODENT MODELS. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED A CELL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CORE FACILITY TO PROVIDE PATCH CLAMP, MULTI-ELECTRODE AND AUTOMATED PATCH CLAMP SERVICES WITH CELLS AND TISSUE SLICES TO HELP NEUROSCIENCE INVESTIGATORS ANSWER THEIR RESEARCH QUESTIONS. OUR PHASE III PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN BOTH OUR CENTER AND NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH IN DELAWARE BY TRANSITIONING THE CORE RESOURCES AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OUR NEUROSCIENCE CENTER INTO INDEPENDENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE OVERARCHING SCIENTIFIC GOAL OF OUR NEUROSCIENCE CENTER IS TO BRING TOGETHER AND SUPPORT NEUROSCIENTISTS WORKING AT MULTIPLE SCALES, FROM HUMAN SUBJECTS TO RODENT AND INVERTEBRATE MODELS TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DYNAMIC FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN. DURING PHASE III WE WILL PURSUE THREE SPECIFIC AIMS FOR OUR CENTER: 1) INVOLVING A NEW GROUP OF INVESTIGATORS IN THE CENTER’S INTEGRATED MENTORING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITH A PILOT GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP JUNIOR FACULTY BECOME INDEPENDENT, EXTERNALLY-FUNDED RESEARCHERS; 2) STRENGTHENING THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY IN DELAWARE BY SUPPORTING OUR RESEARCH CORE FACILITIES TO TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABILITY; AND 3) TO DEVELOP THE DELAWARE CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH AS A SUPPORTIVE, SUSTAINABLE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON INVESTIGATING DYNAMIC STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BRAIN. CONTINUING THIS COBRE PROGRAM WILL HAVE TWO SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM BENEFITS. FIRST, WE WILL BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS TO SUPPORT MORE DELAWARE NEUROSCIENTISTS TO ACHIEVE NIH FUNDING FOR THEIR RESEARCH ON UNDERSTANDING THE BRAIN. SECOND, AS THE ONLY COBRE BASED AT AN HISTORICALLY-BLACK INSTITUTION, OUR PROJECT HAS A UNIQUELY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN SUPPORTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE IDEA PROGRAM AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IN GENERAL.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN OPTICAL SCIENCES AND APPLICATIONS: PROMOTING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, AND STEM EDUCATION

WE PROPOSE TO ESTABLISH A NASA-MIRO OPTICS FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY&APPLIED RESEARCH CENTER (O STAR CENTER) AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. O STAR WILL BE A SUSTAINABLE UNIT AND WILL SEEK TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AND NATIONAL PROMINENCE BY PROVIDING A QUALITY HIGHER-EDUCATION PROGRAM AND A DISTINCTIVE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IN THE NASA-RELEVANT FIELDS OF OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(OST). FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS 0 STAR WILL (1) CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATE NEW KNOWLEDGE IN OST (2) PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS IN OPTICS AND PHOTONICS TO TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS AND(3) BUILD A ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE CENTER WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRASTRUCTURE AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE TO BE CONTINUALLY ENGAGED IN THETECHNOLOGIES THAT SERVE SPACE EXPLORATION. THESE GOALS ARE WELL-ALIGNED WITH THOSE OF THE NASA-MIRO PROGRAM TO (1) EXPAND THENATIONS BASE FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BY FOSTERING NEW AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND CONCEPTS IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT;(2) DEVELOP MECHANISMS FOR INCREASED PARTICIPATION BY FACULTY AND STUDENTS AT MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS) IN THE RESEARCHPROGRAMS OF NASAS MISSION DIRECTORATES; AND (3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES AWARDED TO STUDENTSFROM MSIS IN NASA-RELATED FIELDS.THE RESEARCH FOCUS OF O STAR CENTER WILL BE CENTERED ON TWO PRIMARY NASA MISSION DIRECTORATES: SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSIONDU'ECTORATE (STMD) AND THE SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE (SMD). O STAR CENTERS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON FOUR RESEARCH TOPICS: (1)LASER INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY (LIBS) INVESTIGATIONS FOR PLANETARY EXPLORATION AND FOR THE DETECTION OF BIO-MACROMOLECULESIN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS (2) HIGH-RESOLUTION SODIUM-LIDAR ALTIMETI-Y AND SPECTROSCOPY FOR MLT SCIENCE STUDIES (3) SENSORS ANDIMAGING SYSTEMS (SIS) FOR ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF CHEMICALS AND NANO-PARTICLES IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS AND (4) DESIGN ANDFABRICATION OF PYROELECTRIC DETECTORS WITH NANOMETER SIZE STUDS. THESE RESEARCH PROJECTS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE NASA MISSIONS BYDEVELOPING AND MATURING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES AND INSTRUMENTS.THE O STAR CENTER WILL COLLABORATE WITH GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (GSFC) LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY (LANL) UNIVERSITYOF DELAWARE MUHLENBERG COLLEGE DELAWARE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE DELAWARE AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND LOCALSCHOOL DISTRICTS OF DELAWARE ON VARIOUS PROJECTS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TODAYSSCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS AND THE STUDENTS WHO WILL JOIN THEM IN THE FUTURE. THUS WE EXPECT TO ENHANCE THE MUCH NEEDED DIVERSITYOF THE WORKFORCE IN OPTICAL SCIENCES BY BROADENING PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FROM K-12 UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATE STUDENTS POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS AND FACULTY LEVEL.

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM (FUTURE ACT)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY WE PROPOSE TO ESTABLISH A NASA-URC OPTICAL SCIENCES CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH (OSCAR) COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN RESEARC

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

CARES ACT: HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS

CREATION OF THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN OPTICAL SCIENCES AND APPLICATIONS

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY EMBARKS ON NEW INITIATIVES TO RESPOND TO NEEDS OF STAKEHOLDERS IN EXTENSION, RESEARCH, AND TEACHING IN NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES PROGRAMS. ONE SUCH INITIATIVE IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSEFACILITY. ITS CONSTRUCTION WILL ENHANCE THE UNIVERSITY'S ABILITY TO POSITIVELY RESPOND TO STAKEHOLDER REQUESTS FOR RESEARCH-BASED OUTREACH AND EXTENSION EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION UNIT. IT ADDRESSES PRIORITY AREAS OF THE RURAL TASK FORCE REPORT, WHICH INCLUDES IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, SUPPORTING RURAL WORKFORCE, HARNESSING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, ANDFOSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE UNIVERSITY'S STRATEGIC PRIORITY REMAINS IN HARMONY WITH NIFA'S PRIORITY AREAS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW DELAWARE STATE TO FULFILL THE PRIORITIES OF ENABLING 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS TO BE EXEMPLARY AND RELEVANT RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAND EXTENSION PROGRAMS, AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE PRODUCTION OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS: TO CONSTRUCT A NEW EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSEFACILITY OF OFFICES, MEETING ROOMS, AUDITORIUM WITH 150-SEATING CAPACITY, RESEARCH DEMONSTRATION LABORATORY TO HOUSE THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM. THE FACILITY WILL CATALYZE INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING ACROSS DISCIPLINES, LAND-GRANT MISSION AREAS, ANDDEPARTMENTS FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, FAMILIES AND AGRI-BUSINESSES IN DELAWARE.

STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK GRADUATE INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION EXCHANGE PILOT PROJECT

CENTER FOR ADVANCED ALGORITHMS

GERIATRICS WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

DSU-SMILE: A SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INITIATIVE FOR LEARNING ENRICHMENT

NEW AWARD TO DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ITS PROJECT ENTITLED, "CENTER FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE."

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) HAS ESTABLISHED THE DNA CORE TO SUPPORT FACULTY AND STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR NEW GENOMICS RESEARCH AND TEACHING PROJECTS. WE WILL MEET AND EXCEED PIS' DEMANDS FOR RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND SERVICE GENOMICS ACTIVITIES. CURRENTLY, DUE TO SPACE CONSTRAINTS, CORE INSTRUMENTS ARE LOCATED IN MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, WHICH IS INEFFICIENT AND DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY RECENTLY ACQUIRED ADDITIONAL SPACE AT THE DSU DOWNTOWN CAMPUS IN WHICH WE WILL CONSOLIDATE OUR DNA CORE. HOWEVER, SOME CONSTRUCTIONS AND INSTRUMENT ACQUISITIONS ARE STILL NECESSARY AND MUST BE ADDRESSED TO ENSURE THE FACILITY MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY.IN THIS PROJECT, THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES ARE TO 1) REMODEL THE TEACHING ROOM AND OLD LAB TO THE DNA CORE LABS, 2) RELOCATE MAJOR CORE EQUIPMENT TO THE NEW CORE LOCATION, 3) ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT TO ENHANCE THE CORE, 4) DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR FACULTY, STUDENTS, RESEARCH STAFF, AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND 5) EARNNGS ACCREDITATION LAB AND PROVIDE DNA SEQUENCING AND RELATED SERVICES TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL USERS IN GENOMICS RESEARCH. BY CONSOLIDATING THE DNA CORE, WE CAN BETTER SERVE PIS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, ENSURING EFFECTIVE USE OF THE CORE FACILITY. WE WILL PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ADOPT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCING TEACHING AND RESEARCH FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY. THIS PROJECT SATISFIES THE FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM BY INCREASING ACCESS TO SHARED FACILITIES FOR BROAD RESEARCH FOR USE IN THE FOOD, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, AND BIOLOGY PROGRAMS AT DSU.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY AVIATION PROGRAM HANGAR FACILITY FURNISHING

FIRST IN THE WORLD - DEVELOPMENT

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MARC U*STAR PROGRAM

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) PROGRAMS--TITLE III, HBCU PART F--FUTURE ACT GRANT--2025 - 2029

MOBILE CRIME SCENE DEVELOPMENT & DEMONSTRATION PROJECT: PHASE II

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM- AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

THIS WORK SEEKS TO ESTABLISH AN 1890 CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN EMERGING IOT TECHNOLOGIES (E-IOT) CENTER FOR SMART AGRICULTURE, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON ADVANCING THESE TECHNOLOGIES, BUILD ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES TO FACILITATE THE USE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES AMONG THE 1890 LAND- GRANT INSTITUTIONS AND OTHERS. E-IOT WILL TRAIN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE IN DATA SCIENCE AND APPLIED AGRICULTURE, AND LINK AGRICULTURAL EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES WITH LOCAL FARMERS AND THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMUNITY. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL LEAD E-IOT CENTER WITH A COALITIONOF 1890 INSTITUTIONS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES TO CREATE LONG-TERM NETWORKS OF RESEARCHERS AMONG LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS.WE HAVE ASSEMBLED AN EXEMPLARY MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL (FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA A&M STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, NC A&T SU, SOUTHERN A&M UNIVERSITY, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS AI INSTITUTE AND, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE) [HB1]TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS AND EDUCATORS WITH COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTISE AND CUTTING EDGERESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS SPANNING AGRICULTURE, CHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE, MATERIALS SCIENCE, AND PHYSICS (FIGURE 1). WE LEVERAGED A RESEARCH AND RESOURCE HUB FOR DEVELOPING NEW DATA PRODUCTS AND APPLYING NOVEL DATA-DRIVEN, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL DATA AND SMART TECHNOLOGIES TOADDRESS SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY IN INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY WHILE MINIMIZING THE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.[HB1]FIGURE 1: INSTITUTIONAL MAP

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** EMERGING IOT TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMART AGRICULTURE

A LINEAR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR STEM SUCCESS

RISE: A GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT: TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH ACTIVE LEARNING

SUPPLEMENT U-RISE PROGRAM AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING FOCUSED ON THE PRIORITIES OF DELAWARE'S GROWERS AND COMMUNITIES, ADDRESSING PRESSURES FROM A GROWING POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. RESEARCH INTERESTS ARE EXPANDING, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE RISING POPULATION OF BEGINNING FARMERS, WHO ARE FOCUSING ON AREAS LIKE SMALL RUMINANTS, AQUACULTURE, SMALL FRUITS, SOIL HEALTH, AND INTENSIVE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN PROTECTIVE CULTURE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED POST-HARVEST HANDLING FACILITY WILL FURTHER STIMULATE RESEARCH IN FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION. THESE ACTIVITIES, COMBINED WITH ONGOING EXTENSION COLLABORATION, ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS, MAKING THEM MORE COMPETITIVE AND RESILIENT, AND BETTER POSITIONING THEM TO CAPTURE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. ULTIMATELY, THIS WORK IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND OUTREACH TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF GROWERS AND COMMUNITIES OF DELAWARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE UNDERSERVED, LIMITED RESOURCE MINORITY, AND BEGINNING FARMERS. THE RESEARCH AREAS, IN COLLABORATION WITH EXTENSION FOCUS ON THE CRITICAL AREAS AS: -COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE BY DEVELOPING INTERVENTIONS TO HELP PRODUCERS ADOPT TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; -EQUITABLE, RESILIENT AND PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM; -SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS; - SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR AGRICULTURE. THE GROWTH OF THE MINORITY POPULATION, AND THE INITIATIVE TO ATTRACT AND INSPIRE THE YOUTH FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS GENERATED INTEREST IN AREAS SUCH AS SMALL RUMINANTS, AQUACULTURE, SMALL FRUITS, SOIL HEALTH, AND INTENSIVE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN PROTECTIVE CULTURE. THE RESEARCH ON POST-HARVEST HANDLING, FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION, IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE, AND CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH EXTENSION WILL GENERATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.

EVANS ALLEN SUMMARY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF GROWERS AND COMMUNITIES OF DELAWARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE UNDERSERVED, LIMITED RESOURCE MINORITY, AND BEGINNING FARMERS. SOME OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE INCLUDE: - CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS, MITIGATION, AND ADAPTATION; - NUTRITION AND WELLNESS; -SCIENCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES; -SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, LANDSCAPE, AND ECOSYSTEMS. TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BE ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE AND HAVE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS THE DELAWARE LAND GRANT RESEARCH PLAN, IN CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH EXTENSION, WILL ADDRESS THE USDA'S STRATEGIC GOALS AND NIFA PRIORITY SCIENCE AREAS. THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN ACTIVITY IMPACT ON WATER AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES, HUMAN DIMENSION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE RESEARCH IN THIS PRIORITY AREA WILL ALSO FOCUS ON POST-HARVEST HANDLING, FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION AND WELLNESS. THE UNIVERSITY IS UNDERTAKING RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, LANDSCAPES, AND ECOSYSTEMS AND ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME MONITORING AND MANAGING SYSTEMS TO STAKEHOLDERS. THIS WILL ASSIST FARMERS TO INPUT AND ACCESS CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANS TO ENSURE PREPAREDNESS, RISK REDUCTION AND RESILIENCE. THIS RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE BUILDING OF A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR ENSURING FOOD SECURITY AND MAINTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY.

THROUGH A CONSULTATION PROCESS, DELAWARE ESTABLISHED THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT HARMONIZE WITH THE NATIONAL USDA FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RECOURSES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES STRATEGIC GOALS. THESE ISSUES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: (1) A SAFE <(>&<)> SECURE FOOD SUPPLY FOR HUMAN NUTRITION AND HEALTH (NUTRITION AND WELLNESS) TO GET MORE MINORITY STUDENTS' INVOLVEMENT IN FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION TO HELP ADDRESS THE FOOD SAFETY ISSUES FOR BOTH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS. ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS WILL HELP TO GENERATE HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONALS REQUIRED TO REVOLUTIONIZE AND MEET REGULATORY DIRECTIVES AND CONSUMER NEEDS, AND TO INCORPORATE SCIENCE INTO GLOBAL STANDARDS; 2) ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN A CHANGING CLIMATE IS ANOTHER AREA DSU IS PLAYING A ROLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO CONSERVE, PROTECT, AND CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY AND THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROVIDED BY DIFFERENT WILDLIFE TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE AND ABUNDANT FOODSUPPLY FOR THE U.S. AND THE WORLD; AND 3) SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPES. UNDERSTANDING WHERE IN THE LANDSCAPE THAT BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS (SUCH AS FROM AGRICULTURE, DEVELOPMENT, AND CLIMATE CHANGE) AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (BENEFITS TO HUMANS) OCCUR CAN HELP US PLAN FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURES. THE CURRENT BIOMASS PRE-TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS DILUTED ACID AND HOT WATER EMPLOYED TO REMOVE LIGNIN FROM L IGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASSES (LIGNIN RECALCITRANCE) ARE EXPENSIVE AND NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO BE DEPLOYED IN COMMERCIAL SCALE. OUR PROGRAM IS LEVERAGING MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY APPROACHES TO ADDRESS BOTH LIGNIN RECALCITRANCE AND NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES. THIS INITIATIVE HELPS TO SUPPORT ENERGY SECURITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIOECONOMY FROM RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE U.S. THESE RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING INTERVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND ACCELERATE THEIR DELIVERY OF BEST PRACTICES TO LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE NATION.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY NAVY FLIGHT ACADEMY

G-RISE AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY: DIVERSIFYING NEUROSCIENCE THROUGH PREDOCTORAL TRAINING AT AN HBCU - DIVERSIFYING NEUROSCIENCE THROUGH PREDOCTORAL TRAINING AT AN HBCU DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU), A HISTORICALLY-BLACK UNIVERSITY WITH AN EMERGING STRENGTH IN NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PROPOSES A G-RISE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PREDOCTORAL TRAINING IN NEUROSCIENCE. OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS IN OUR NEUROSCIENCE PHD PROGRAM. OUR YOUNG PHD PROGRAM HAS PRODUCED 10 GRADUATES, SIX FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AND HALF OF THEM AFRICAN-AMERICAN. WITH OUR G-RISE PROJECT WE WILL BUILD ON OUR RECORD OF GRADUATING DIVERSE NEUROSCIENCE DOCTORATES, WHILE ADDRESSING WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED BY OUR PROGRAM SELF-ASSESSMENT – A SMALL POOL OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AND A LOW RATE OF PUBLICATIONS AMONG PROGRAM STUDENTS. OUR G-RISE SUPPORT PROGRAM WILL LINK STUDENTS IN NEUROSCIENCE PHD PROGRAM INTO A SUPPORTIVE, RESEARCH-RICH COMMUNITY THAT WILL PROVIDE EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING: 1) A TWO-SEMESTER, 3-CREDIT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE WITH A FOCUS ON RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH, ENSURING RIGOR IN RESEARCH, DIVERSE CAREER PATHWAYS, AND WRITING BOTH NSF AND NIH FELLOWSHIP GRANT PROPOSALS; 2) A WEEKLY RISE SEMINAR THAT WILL BUILD COHORT COHESIVENESS AND STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DO RIGOROUS SCIENCE; 3) QUANTITATIVE SKILLS AND SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSES TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN TWO AREAS WHERE THEY ARE CHALLENGED; AND 3) A FORMAL PROGRAM INDUCTION/ORIENTATION AND ENHANCED MENTORING BY CULTURALLY-COMPETENT MENTORS. THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE GRANT WRITING AND EXTENSIVE MENTORING WILL HELP THE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR IDENTITIES AS PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIST, WHILE THE SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSE WILL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO GET THEM PUBLISHED. GROUNDED IN THE LITERATURE, THESE STRATEGIES WILL BOTH PROVIDE THE G-RISE STUDENTS WITH STRONG ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND ALL OF THE PROJECT COMPONENTS ARE SUSTAINABLE AND TRANSFERRABLE TO OTHER SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS. THE EVALUATION PLAN INCLUDES FOCUS GROUPS FOR SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT AND VALIDATED, BASELINE AND FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS TO ASSESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTICIPANTS' SELF-EFFICACY (RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC) AND IDENTITIES AS SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS. THE NUMBER OF PHD GRADUATES IN NEUROSCIENCE HAS GROWN RAPIDLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY, AND CURRENTLY OVER 700 NEUROSCIENCE DOCTORATES ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY, BUT ONLY ABOUT 20 EACH YEAR AWARDED TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS. CURRENTLY, DSU IS THE ONLY HBCU THAT AWARDS THE PHD IN NEUROSCIENCE, SO SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING ITS PROGRAM TO PRODUCE 3 – 4 NEUROSCIENCE PHD GRADUATES EACH YEAR WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DIVERSITY OF THE DOCTORAL WORKFORCE.

A GRADUATE PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT AN HBCU

DSU IS COMMITTED TO THE SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CURRENT USDA'S PRIORITIES, DSU'S INITIATIVES FOCUS ON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION THAT EMPOWER PRODUCERS AND SAFEGUARD FOOD SECURITY: 1) COMBAT EXTREME WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTERS TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES. DSU WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE KEY WEATHER DRIVEN ADAPTATION PRACTICES AT FARM AND FOREST SITES WITHIN THE REGION. RESEARCH FACULTY AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS AT DSU DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF PRACTICES TO HELP LOCAL PRODUCERS LEARN HOW TO ADAPT TO EXTREME WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTER, 2) BUILDING A PROSPEROUS AND SELF-RELIANT AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION WILL SHAPE THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PILLARS OF AGRICULTURE LED ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESILIENCE, NUTRITION, AND WATER SECURITY. 3) ENSURING FAIR AND COMPETITIVE MARKET ACCESS FOR PRODUCERS . EXTENSION TO OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IS PARAMOUNT AS WE SERVICE IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, BRING EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMPLEX AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. OUR WORK RESULTS IN LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AND TRUST THAT DIRE CTLY BENEFIT DELAWARE'S COMMUNITIES. DSU STRENGTHENS DELAWARE'S AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY AND ENSURES THAT PRODUCERS-LARGE AND SMALL-CAN COMPETE IN A FAIR MARKETPLACE 4) PROMOTING SAFE, NUTRITIOUS, AND LOCALLY GROWN FOOD FY23 BRINGS A FOCUS ON ADVANCING HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION AND FOOD SAFETY AWARENESS TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SECURITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, WITH A FOCUS ON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT EXPAND DOMESTIC FOOD PRODUCTION AND REDUCE RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL SUPPLY CHAINS; THROUGH INNOVATIVE URBAN AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES SUCH AS VERTICAL FARMING, AQUAPONICS, AND HYDROPONICS, DSU INCREASES ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES, REINFORCING COMMUNITY HEALTH, SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, AND PROMOTING RESILIENCE BY EQUIPPING FAMILIES AND PRODUCERS WITH TOOLS TO GROW MORE OF THEIR OWN FOOD, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND A MORE SECURE FOOD SYSTEM THAT ALIGNS WITH NATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR SELF-RELIANCE AND AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS; 5) DEVELOPING A SKILLED AND MOTIVATED AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE. EXTENSION IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE BY BUILDING STRONG NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE AND ADVANCING PRACTICAL CAREER PATHWAYS. A HALLMARK INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN 2022 FOCUSES ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE, ENSURING THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND TRAINING TO SUCCEED. THESE EFFORTS INSPIRE AND RETAIN AN ENGAGED WORKFORCE, WHILE EQUIPPING PRODUCERS AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO KEEP THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR INNOVATIVE, RESILIENT, AND PREPARED TO MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES.

DSU IS COMMITTED TO THE SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH USDA'S STRATEGIC PLAN. THESE CRITICAL AREAS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 1) COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES. DSU WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE KEY CLIMATE ADAPTATION PRACTICES AT FARM AND FOREST SITES WITHIN THE REGION. RESEARCH FACULTY AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS AT DSU DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF PRACTICES TO HELP LOCAL PRODUCERS LEARN HOW TO ADAPT TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; 2) EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION WILL SHAPE THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PILLARS OF AGRICULTURE-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESILIENCE, NUTRITION, AND WATER SECURITY; 3) FOSTER AN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. EXTENSION TO OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IS PARAMOUNT AS WE SERVICE IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, BRING EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMPLEX AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. OUR WORK RESULTS IN LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AND TRUST THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT DELAWARE'S COMMUNITIES. OUR APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACTS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES; 4) SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. FY23 BRINGS A FOCUS ON PROMOTING HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SURROUNDING FOOD SAFETY, AND HEALTH. NEW INITIATIVES IN OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE VERTICAL FARMING ENCOURAGES ELIGIBLE SENIORS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO EAT MORE LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES; 5) ATTRACT, INSPIRE, AND RETAIN AN ENGAGED AND MOTIVATED WORKFORCE. DSU EXTENSION WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG NETWORKS AND COLLABORATIONS. DSU EXTENSION ENGAGES DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND DISSEMINATES BROAD IMPACTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES. OUR FY24 INITIATIVES STARTED IN 2022 WITH THE MILITARY AND THE CREATION OF CAREER PATHWAYS FOR VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE IS A HALLMARK.

DSU IS COMMITTED TO THE SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH USDA'S STRATEGIC PLAN. THESE CRITICAL AREAS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 1) COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES. DSU WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE KEY CLIMATE ADAPTATION PRACTICES AT FARM AND FOREST SITES WITHIN THE REGION. RESEARCH FACULTY AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS AT DSU DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF PRACTICES TO HELP LOCAL PRODUCERS LEARN HOW TO ADAPT TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; 2) EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION WILL SHAPE THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PILLARS OF AGRICULTURE-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESILIENCE, NUTRITION, AND WATER SECURITY; 3) FOSTER AN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. EXTENSION TO OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IS PARAMOUNT AS WE SERVICE IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, BRING EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMPLEX AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. OUR WORK RESULTS IN LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AND TRUST THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT DELAWARE'S COMMUNITIES. OUR APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACTS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES; 4) SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. FY23 BRINGS A FOCUS ON PROMOTING HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SURROUNDING FOOD SAFETY, AND HEALTH. NEW INITIATIVES IN OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE VERTICAL FARMING ENCOURAGES ELIGIBLE SENIORS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO EAT MORE LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES; 5) ATTRACT, INSPIRE, AND RETAIN AN ENGAGED AND MOTIVATED WORKFORCE. DSU EXTENSION WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG NETWORKS AND COLLABORATIONS. DSU EXTENSION ENGAGES DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND DISSEMINATES BROAD IMPACTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES. OUR FY23 INITIATIVES WITH THE MILITARY AND THE CREATION OF CAREER PATHWAYS FOR VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE IS A HALLMARK.

DSU IS COMMITTED TO THE SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH USDA'S STRATEGIC PLAN. THESE CRITICAL AREAS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 1) COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES. DSU WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE KEY CLIMATE ADAPTATION PRACTICES AT FARM AND FOREST SITES WITHIN THE REGION. RESEARCH FACULTY AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS AT DSU DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF PRACTICES TO HELP LOCAL PRODUCERS LEARN HOW TO ADAPT TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; 2) EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION WILL SHAPE THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PILLARS OF AGRICULTURE-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESILIENCE, NUTRITION, AND WATER SECURITY; 3) FOSTER AN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. EXTENSION TO OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IS PARAMOUNT AS WE SERVICE IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, BRING EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMPLEX AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. OUR WORK RESULTS IN LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AND TRUST THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT DELAWARE'S COMMUNITIES. OUR APPLIED RESEARCH IN EXTENSION FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACTS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES; 4) SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. FY23 BRINGS A FOCUS ON PROMOTING HANDS-ON NUTRITION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SURROUNDING FOOD SAFETY, AND HEALTH. NEW INITIATIVES IN OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE VERTICAL FARMING ENCOURAGES ELIGIBLE SENIORS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO EAT MORE LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES; 5) ATTRACT, INSPIRE, AND RETAIN AN ENGAGED AND MOTIVATED WORKFORCE. DSU EXTENSION WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG NETWORKS AND COLLABORATIONS. DSU EXTENSION ENGAGES DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND DISSEMINATES BROAD IMPACTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES. OUR FY23 INITIATIVES WITH THE MILITARY AND THE CREATION OF CAREER PATHWAYS FOR VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE IS A HALLMARK.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: IDEAS LAB: PANORAMIC INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENTS: A PLAYBOOK FOR ADVANCING RESEARCH CAPACITY -THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS FIVE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS). THE PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP AND PILOT INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND APPROACHES TO ENHANCE THE RESEARCH CAPACITY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND OF HBCUS MORE BROADLY. THE EFFORT IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE BROAD INTEREST IN, AND TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, BUILDING RESEARCH CAPACITY AT HBCUS. THESE INSTITUTIONS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, INCREASE DIVERSITY IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND EXPAND THE STEM WORKFORCE. THIS PROJECT WILL BRING TOGETHER FACULTY, RESEARCH ADMINISTRATORS, AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS TO DEVELOP A TOOL THAT WILL ENABLE HBCUS TO GROW THEIR RESEARCH CAPACITY AND PROMOTE A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. RESEARCH GROWTH AT HBCUS COMPLEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENTS TO STUDENT SUCCESS AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CAN LEAD TO MORE EQUITY IN ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ISSUES IMPACTING COMMUNITIES, AND PROMOTES DIVERSITY IN THE STEM WORKFORCE. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE TO: (1) DEVELOP A PLAYBOOK FOR HBCU LEADERS TO HELP THEM ASSESS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN THE RESEARCH CAPACITY OF THEIR INSTITUTION AND INTEGRATE STRENGTHENING RESEARCH CAPACITY INTO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND (2) ENGAGE HBCU FACULTY WITH A FRAMEWORK TO ASSESS THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE AS RESEARCHERS AND CREATE ACTION PLANS TO SUPPORT THEIR RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THE TEAM OF HBCUS WILL CONDUCT A META-SYNTHESIS OF LITERATURE ON RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR A THRIVING RESEARCH ENTERPRISE AND DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK WITH RUBRICS FOR INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT A SELF-GUIDED ASSESSMENT OF THEIR RESEARCH CAPACITY TO INFORM PLANNING AND GROWTH STRATEGIES. FURTHER, THE TEAM WILL CREATE RUBRICS USING A PUBLISHED FRAMEWORK OF SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES FOR FACULTY INVESTIGATORS TO ASSESS THEIR SUCCESSFUL CAREER DEVELOPMENT. GAINS IN RESEARCH GROWTH AT HBCUS WILL COMPLEMENT THEIR STRONG COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, LEAD TO MORE EQUITY IN ADDRESSING HEALTH AND SOCIETAL DISPARITIES, PROMOTE A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, AND INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE STEM WORKFORCE. THIS PROJECT IS CO-FUNDED BY THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP), WHICH PROVIDES AWARDS TO STRENGTHEN STEM UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AT HBCUS, AND BY THE GROWING RESEARCH ACCESS FOR NATIONALLY TRANSFORMATIVE EQUITY AND DIVERSITY (GRANTED), WHICH SUPPORTS NATIONALLY TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS AND SCALABLE MODELS TO STRENGTHEN THE NATION?S RESEARCH ENTERPRISE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

INVESTIGATING FAMILY SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR FRESHMEN

CENTER FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

IMAGE-BASED BIOMARKER OF BREAST CANCER RISK: ANALYSIS OF RISK DISPARITY AMONG MINORITY POPULATIONS

BIOLOGY, BIOINFORMATICS & CHEMISTRY ACADEMY FOR RESEARCH SCHOLARS (B2-CARS): A PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH WASTE WATER REMEDIATION

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY'S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY'S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND GRANT INSTITUTION-DSU

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHERS IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

TO PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES OFDELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, AN 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION

TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO CITIZENS OF DELAWARE PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES

TO PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, AN 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

REGULATION OF TARGETED GENE CORRECTION

TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES

RONALD E. MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT

POTATOES ARE THE FOURTH MOST IMPORTANT FOOD CROP IN THE WORLD AND THE LEADING VEGETABLE CROP IN THE UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSTRAINTS TO POTATO PRODUCTION IS POTATO VIRUS Y (PVY), A VIRUS THAT IS DISSEMINATED IN POTATOES BY APHIDS, AS WELL AS THROUGH SEED TUBERS, WHICH ARE THE MAIN MODE OF POTATO PROPAGATION. THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THIS VIRUS IS INFECTED SEED POTATOES THAT ARE REINTRODUCED EACH YEAR DURING PLANTING. IN ADDITION TO POTATO, PVY ALSO INFECTS ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT CROPS SUCH AS TOBACCO, TOMATO, AND PEPPER. IN POTATO, PVY INFECTION RESULTS IN DECREASES IN TUBER YIELD AND QUALITY. IN THE UNITED STATES, POTATO TUBER YIELD LOSS MAY BE UP TO 80% AND MORE THAN 40% OF U.S. SEED LOTS HAVE DETECTABLE LEVELS OF PVY, DESPITE COSTLY SEED CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.MOST VIRUSES, INCLUDING PVY, ENCODE A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF GENES, SOME OF WHICH ARE MULTIFUNCTIONAL, PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLES AT MULTIPLE STAGES OF THE VIRAL INFECTION CYCLE. ONE OF THESE PROTEINS IS THE PVY ENCODED HCPRO PROTEIN, WHICH HAS BEENSTUDIED EXTENSIVELY FOR ITS ABILITY TO SUPPRESS RNA SILENCING, THE HOST ANTIVIRAL DEFENSE. WE HAVE ALSO FOUND IN PRELIMINARY STUDIES THAT HCPRO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABILITY OF A PRIMARY INFECTING PVY STRAIN TOEXCLUDE SUBSEQUENT INFECTION BY THE SAME OR A CLOSELY RELATED STRAIN. THIS PHENOMENON AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL IS KNOWN AS SUPERINFECTION EXCLUSION (SIE). WHEN SIE MOVES FROM THE CELL LEVEL AND BECOMES SYSTEMIC, IT IS KNOWN AS CROSS-PROTECTION. CROSS-PROTECTION IS ANALOGOUS TO IMMUNIZATION AND HAS BEEN USED SINCE THE LATE 1920S TO CONTROL PLANT VIRUS INFECTIONS. IN CROSS-PROTECTION, PLANTS ARE INFECTED WITH A MILD STRAIN OF A VIRUS, AND THIS PROTECTS THE PLANTS FROM SUBSEQUENT INFECTION BY A MORE SEVERE STRAIN OF THE SAME VIRUS OR VIRUS STRAIN.IN THIS STUDY, WE WILL CHARACTERIZE HCPRO INDUCTION OF SIE AND SUPPRESSION OF HOST DEFENSE AT THE CELL LEVEL USINGHCR RNA-FISH (HYBRIDIZATION CHAIN REACTION FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION), WHICH WE HAVE DEVELOPED FOR THE DETECTION OF PVY RNA IN POTATO AND TOBACCO. HCR RNA-FISH USES DNA PROBES THAT BIND TO THE RNA TARGET TO AMPLIFY CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE FLUORESCENT SIGNALS, ALLOWING FOR THE SENSITIVE, HIGH-RESOLUTION DETECTION AND SPATIAL MAPPING OF SPECIFIC RNA MOLECULES DIRECTLY WITHIN PLANT CELLS AND TISSUES. THIS APPROACH PRESERVES THE CELL OR TISSUE NATURAL CONTEXT. IN THIS WORK, USINGHCR-RNA-FISH THE TWO PROCESSES OF SIE AND SUPPRESSION OF RNA SILENCING WILL BE MONITORED AND DOCUMENTED.WHY VIRUSES CARRY OUT THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST A CLOSELY RELATED VIRUS IS YET TO BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD. PVY HAS MANY PREVAILING STRAINS THAT ROUTINELY COINFECT THE SAME PLANT. THEREFORE, A RESIDENT PVY STRAIN EXCLUDING A SECONDARY INFECTION CONTRIBUTES TO THE DYNAMICS OF ITS POPULATION FITNESS WITH EVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT HCPRO REGULATES OPPOSING PROCESSES OF EXCLUDING COGNATE VIRUSES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME COUNTERING HOST DEFENSE TO ENABLE REPLICATI,ON OF A RESIDENT VIRUS. THIS STUDY WILL UNCOVER THESE PROCESSES AND ENABLE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PVY INFECTION, WHICH IS CRUCIAL TO DESIGNING VIRUS CONTROL STRATEGIES.IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL OPTIMIZEHCR-RNA-FISHFOR THE STUDY OF RNA IN PLANT TISSUES AND THEREFORE PROVIDE THE PLANT VIRUS RESEARCH COMMUNITY TOOLS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PROCESSES IN THE VIRUS INFECTION CYCLE.A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A RESEARCH PROJECT LIKE THIS ONE IS STUDENTS&#39; EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. THIS PROJECT WILL BROADEN PARTICIPATION BY PROVIDING RESEARCH TRAINING TO STUDENTS IN CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AS WELL AS ACADEMIC AND CAREER MENTORING BY THE PI AND OTHER PROJECT RESEARCHERS. FURTHERMORE, IN THIS WORK, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (PVY DETECTIVES) WILL INDEX PVY IN SEED TUBERS FOR POTATO SEED FARMERS.SINCE LAST YEAR, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE PD&#39;S LAB HAVE BEEN INDEXING PVY INFECTIONS IN SEED POTATOES PURCHASED FROM DIFFERENT PRODUCERS FOR OUR EXPERIMENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND THIS ACTIVITY.

TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** POTATO VIRUS Y (PVY) IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES FACING POTATO PRODUCTION WORLDWIDE. PVY INFECTION OF POTATO CAUSES DECREASES IN TUBER YIELD AND QUALITY. IN THE UNITED STATES, POTATO TUBER YIELD LOSS MAY BE UP TO 80% AND MORE THAN 40% OF U.S. SEED LOTS HAVE DETECTABLE LEVELS OF PVY, DESPITE COSTLY SEED CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.THE LACK OF RESISTANCE AND THE POPULARITY OF SEVERAL WIDELY PLANTED VARIETIES THAT ARE SYMPTOMLESS CARRIERS OF PVY HAVE FACILITATED AN INCREASE IN PVY INCIDENCE AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE EMERGENCE OFPOTATO TUBER NECROTIC RINGSPOT DISEASE (PTNRD), WHICH CAUSES REDUCTIONS IN YIELD AND QUALITY AND MAY CAUSE A TOTAL CROP LOSS. RECENT RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED THE C-TERMINAL REGION OF PVY HC-PRO PROTEIN AS THE PTNRD DETERMINANT; LOCI CONTROLLING PTNRD, HR, AND OTHER PVY SYMPTOMS HAVE ALSO BEEN MAPPED TO THE CENTRAL REGION OF POTATO CHROMOSOME IV. TO ELUCIDATE THE MECHANISM OF DISEASE PRODUCTION, THEREFORE, WE WILL USE NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING CAPABILITIES AND SOPHISTICATED BIOINFORMATICS APPROACHES TO UNCOVER KEY FACTORS PLAYING A ROLE IN THE PRODUCTION OF PVY INDUCED DISEASE IN POTATO. SUCH INFORMATION IS KEY TO DESIGNING CONTROL STRATEGIES TO CONTAIN THIS VIRUS IN POTATO, AND INDEED OTHER CROP PLANTS.ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL DEVELOP A CONTROL METHOD BASED ON GENETIC ENGINEERING. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH INTRODUCTION OF NATURAL RESISTANCES INTO CULTIVATED POTATO VARIETIES. HENCE, WE HAVE SHOWN IN PRELIMINARY WORK THATTRANS-ACTING SMALL INTERFERING RNAS (TASIRNAS), A WIDESPREAD AND DEEPLY CONSERVED PHENOMENON IN DIVERSE LAND PLANTS, CAN BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONTROL OF PVY. IN THIS PROCEDURE, TASIRNAS-DERIVED FROM THE VIRUS ARE PROCESSED IN THE PLANT AND THESE TASIRNAS DEGRADE COMPLEMENTARY VIRAL RNAS, THEREBY CONTROLLING THE VIRUS. WE WILL ALSO CHARACTERIZE NATURAL RESISTANCE TO PVY AS FOUND INRANDNGENES--WHICH ARE FOUND IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF POTATO VARIETIES--BY MOLECULARLY CHARACTERIZING POTATO VARIETIES EXHIBITINGRANDNGENE RESISTANCES TO PVY STRAINS. IDENTIFICATION OF GENES IMPLICATED INRANDNGENE RESISTANCE, WILL BE CONDUCTED BY INVESTIGATING SPECIFIC TYPES OF RNAS (INCLUDING SMALL RNAS OR MRNAS) PRODUCED DURING PVY INFECTION.THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS AN IMPORTANT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, NOTABLY, TRAINING OF MINORITY SCIENTISTS.INDEED, HBCUS, INCLUDING DSU, PLAY KEY ROLES IN EXPANDING ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE FOR MINORITY STUDENTS IN STEM. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATISTICS SHOW THAT BETWEEN 2005 AND 2010, HBCUS ENROLLED ONLY 14% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, YET 35% OF BLACK RECIPIENTS OF STEM PHDS HAD RECEIVED THEIR BS DEGREE AT AN HBCU. IN STEM DISCIPLINES, A KEY REASON FOR LOW RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES AMONGST MINORITY STUDENTS IS UNPREPAREDNESS, FREQUENTLY DUE TO LACK OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, EACH YEAR, AT LEAST TWO UNDERGRADS WILL BE TRAINED IN GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES. FURTHERMORE, TO IMPROVE THE WRITING SKILLS OF THESE STUDENTS, WE WILL ESTABLISH A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL WRITING MODULE WITHIN SELECTED INQUIRY-BASED LAB PROJECTS. WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN 11-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH-TRAINING PROGRAM IN GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS EVERY YEAR FOR DSU UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER. ADDITIONALLY, TWO MS STUDENTS WILL BE TRAINED IN GENOMICS AND NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING DATA ANALYSIS. THEIR THESIS RESEARCH WILL BE ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL.IMPORTANTLY, THE DATA OBTAINED, AND TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN A FREELY ACCESSIBLE, PUBLIC DATABASE FOR THE WIDER RESEARCH COMMUNITY.

BREAD: ENGINEERING BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE AGAINST MULTIPLE GEMINIVIRUSES AND CASSAVA BROWN STREAK VIRUSES USING SYNTHETIC TRANS-ACTING SMALL INTE

A NEUROSCIENCE-FOCUSED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT AN HBCU

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: SEEDING STIMULATED RAMAN BACKSCATTERING WITH INTENSE AND ULTRA-INTENSE LASER PULSES

FY22 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY

AN INTER-INSTITUTIONAL NEUROSCIENCE PHD PROGRAM TO EXPAND GRADUATE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY STUDENTS

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE CERIFICATE IN BIOIMAGING & BIOPHOTONICS TO STRENGTHEN RESEARCH AND DOCTORAL TRAINING

ADVANCED NANOMATERIALS FOR ENERGY RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS (ANERA)

VESICULAR ACETYLCHOLINE TRANSPORTER FUNCTION IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM -REGULATION OF THE SYNTHESIS, STORAGE, RELEASE AND DEGRADATION OF THE NEUROTRANSMITTER ACETYLCHOLINE (ACH) IS ESSENTIAL FOR NORMAL ORGANISMAL CAPABILITIES SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO MOVE, THINK AND REMEMBER. SCIENTISTS PRESENTLY UNDERSTAND THE MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MACHINERY REQUIRED FOR THESE ASPECTS OF BRAIN FUNCTION, WHICH INCLUDE THE MOLECULAR COMPLEX THAT THIS PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON, CALLED THE VESICULAR ACETYLCHOLINE TRANSPORTER (VACHT). VACHTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTING ACETYLCHOLINE INTO SYNAPTIC VESICLES INSIDE NERVE TERMINALS SO THAT IT CAN BE RELEASED ONTO ITS TARGET CELLS. HOWEVER, THE DETAILED MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH VACHTS MEDIATE THIS TRANSPORT PROCESS REMAIN UNCLEAR, AS DOES THE ROLE THAT VACHT-RELATED CHANGES IN ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE MAY PLAY IN REGULATING BEHAVIORAL CHANGES. THIS PROJECT USES THE OUTSTANDING GENETIC RESOURCES THAT FRUIT FLIES POSSESS FOR STUDYING THE ACETYLCHOLINE REGULATION SYSTEM TO DETERMINE HOW CHANGES IN VACHT AFFECT ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE AND THE REGULATION OF THE BEHAVIORS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS PROJECT ALSO UTILIZES A WIDE RANGE OF SOPHISTICATED TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES (INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO RECORD ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY FROM FLY BRAIN CELLS) TO TRAIN UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED MINORITY BACKGROUNDS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH AN UP-TO-DATE SET OF TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM), AND BROADENING THE PARTICIPATION OF MINORITIES IN THE ADVANCED STEM WORKFORCE. THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES A STRONG FOCUS ON RESEARCH TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH A VIRTUAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE HOW SPECIFIC CHANGES IN THE VESICULAR ACETYLCHOLINE TRANSPORTER (VACHT) ALTER ACETYLCHOLINE (ACH) RELEASE BY USING A COLLECTION OF GENETIC ALTERATIONS AVAILABLE IN DROSOPHILA. A VARIETY OF EXPERIMENTS EMPLOYING THIS MUTATION AND OVEREXPRESSION COLLECTION WILL HELP ELUCIDATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACH RELEASE AND ACH-LINKED BEHAVIORS. THE CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT AN INVERTED V-SHAPED MODEL UNDERLIES ACH SYNAPTIC RELEASE, SUCH THAT STRONG DECREASES IN OR OVEREXPRESSION OF THE TRANSPORTER CAUSE SEVERE DEFECTS IN SYNAPTIC PHYSIOLOGY AND ACH-LINKED BEHAVIOR, WHILE MILD INCREASES IN VACHT EXPRESSION WILL ENHANCE SYNAPTIC ACTIVITY. THE WORK WILL TEST THIS HYPOTHESIS USING THREE SPECIFIC AIMS. AIM 1 WILL DETERMINE HOW SPECIFIC CHANGES IN VACHT AFFECT THAT PROTEIN?S EXPRESSION, ITS ACTIVITY, AND THE LEVELS OF ACH. AIM 2 IS FOCUSED ON DETERMINING HOW CHANGES IN VACHT EXPRESSION AFFECT SYNAPTIC VESICLES (SV) BY TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS THAT GRADED INCREASES IN VACHT UPREGULATE BOTH SV RELEASE AND SV FUSION. AIM 3 WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF GRADED CHANGES IN VACHT FUNCTION ON ACH-LINKED BEHAVIORS. ALTOGETHER, THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH VACHT ULTIMATELY HELPS TO MEDIATE SYNAPTIC RELEASE. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE ORGANIZATION PROGRAM, THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR), AND THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP). THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: E-CORE RII: STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS FOR ADVANCING RESEARCH CAPACITY IN DELAWARE -THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IS LED BY THE UNIVERSITY DELAWARE. THE PROJECT'S VISION IS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE, OPEN, COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM WHERE FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED TO EXPAND THEIR INTERESTS. A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE WILL BE EXPANDED AND RETAINED, AND RESEARCH INNOVATION AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS WILL BE INCREASED ACROSS ALL STATE PRIORITY SECTORS. THE PROJECT HAS POTENTIAL TO FOSTER NEW COLLABORATIONS ACROSS INSTITUTIONS IN DELAWARE. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH ITS FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE STATE'S RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PROJECT HAS POTENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S DATA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND ACCESS TO STEM PROGRAMMING, AND SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING. BY ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS, THIS PROJECT HAS POTENTIAL TO BOOST CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH CARRIED OUT BY INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL GAINS IN DELAWARE'S KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IS LED BY THE UNIVERSITY DELAWARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DELAWARE EPSCOR STATE COMMITTEE, DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, DELAWARE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, GOLDEY-BEACOM COLLEGE AND WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE TO FORM LASTING NETWORKS THAT FACILITATE ACCESS TO EXPERTISE, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT FOR MEANINGFUL EXPERIENTIAL-ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE PROJECT WILL INVEST IN THREE SPECIALIZED CORES, ALONG WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE CORE. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A RESEARCH SUPPORT CORE TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH TRANSLATION, STRENGTHEN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, CONNECTIVITY, AND NETWORKING CAPABILITIES THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN CYBER, HUMAN, AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE STEM PATHWAYS K-16 CORE AIMS TO STRENGTHEN AND BROADEN PARTICIPATION IN DELAWARE'S STEM PIPELINE AND RELATED PATHWAYS. THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CORE WILL FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING SKILLS AND BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN STEM THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN TEAM BUILDING, RESEARCH COLLABORATION, AND CONNECTIVITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE'S PRIORITY AREAS. IN ADDITION, AN ADMINISTRATIVE CORE WILL SUPPORT OVERALL COHESION, FACILITATE RESEARCH AND INFRASTRUCTURE COLLABORATIONS, COMMUNICATE OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN JURISDICTION-WIDE RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION. THESE INVESTMENTS WILL MAKE DELAWARE AN IDEAL TESTBED TO IMPLEMENT E-CORE'S MISSION TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND R&D CAPACITY AND COMPETITIVENESS. THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE EPSCOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: EPSCOR COLLABORATIONS FOR OPTIMIZING RESEARCH ECOSYSTEMS (E-CORE). E-CORE SUPPORTS JURISDICTIONS IN STRENGTHENING THEIR JURISDICTION-WIDE RESEARCH ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH FOSTERING INTERCONNECTED NETWORKS, BUILDING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND GROWING RESEARCH CAPACITY AND COMPETITIVENESS ALIGNED WITH JURISDICTIONAL PRIORITIES. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES OF DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, AN 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION

ACETYLCHOLINERGIC NEUROTRANSMISSION DURING AGING

TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: MAPPING OF NATURAL DISASTERS BY DEEP SUBSPACE LEARNING IN MULTI-BAND AND MULTI-SPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGES -THIS PROPOSAL DEVELOPS A SUITE OF TECHNIQUES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF REGIONS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS ON SATELLITE IMAGES TO MONITOR NATURAL PHENOMENA AND MAP NATURAL DISASTER EVENTS. SUCH EVENTS INCLUDE FLOODING, WILDFIRES, EARTHQUAKES, FAULTING, VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, AND LANDSLIDES. ACCURATE AUTOMATED IMAGE ANALYSIS AND MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES ENABLE THE IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS MOST AFFECTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER THAT IS CRITICAL FOR SAVING HUMAN LIVES AND ASSESSING DAMAGES. REAL TIME MONITORING USING HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND A LARGE DYNAMIC DATABASE OF DISASTER DATA WILL BE THE RESULT OF THIS WORK. SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS PRODUCE ABUNDANT GLOBAL COVERAGE AND REPETITIVE MEASUREMENTS VIA SIMULTANEOUS AND/OR MULTI-TEMPORAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE SAME FEATURES BY DIFFERENT SENSORS. HOWEVER, MOST SENSORS ARE HOSTED BY DIFFERENT PLATFORMS; THEREFORE, COMBINING THIS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DATA BECOMES A NON-TRIVIAL TASK. HUMAN VOLUNTEERS CAN PERFORM CO-REGISTRATION AND CHANGE DETECTION MANUALLY; HOWEVER, IT IS TIME-CONSUMING AND DEPENDS ON THEIR LEVEL OF TRAINING, WHICH IS OFTEN LIMITED. TO ADDRESS THESE LIMITATIONS, THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS A SYSTEM THAT DETECTS SEMANTIC VISUAL INFORMATION TO GUIDE REGISTRATION AND DETECTION OF AREAS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS. IT EMPLOYS DEEP NETWORK ARCHITECTURES TO OBTAIN REGIONAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR MULTI-TEMPORAL AND MULTI-BAND IMAGE REGISTRATION AND FUSION FOR NATURAL DISASTER MAPPING. THIS METHODOLOGY USES CONCEPTS FROM SELF-SUPERVISED AND SEMI-SUPERVISED LEARNING TO REDUCE THE REQUIREMENT FOR LARGE TRAINING DATA. IT THEN UTILIZES DEEP SUBSPACE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY CHANGES CAUSED BY NATURAL DISASTERS. FOR THE CASE OF MULTIPLE DISASTER TYPES, IT EMPLOYS SUPERVISED LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO CLASSIFY THE DISASTER TYPE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MULTISCALE BIOENGINEERING, BIOIMAGING, AND BIOSENSING - CENTER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MULTISCALE BIOENGINEERING, BIOIMAGING, AND BIOSENSING SUMMARY: IN THIS HBCU BEITA PROJECT WE PROPOSE TO ESTABLISH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MULTISCALE BIOENGINEERING, BIOIMAGING, AND BIOSENSING (REMB3 CENTER) AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU). DSU IS AN HBCU AND A PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO INTEGRATE TEACHING EXCELLENCE WITH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. OVER THE UG3 AND HG3 PHASES OF THIS APPLICATIONTHE CENTER WILL CREATE A SYNERGISTIC AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR PROMOTING BIOENGINEERING AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND FOR ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN BIOIMAGING AND BIOSENSING FOR IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH. THE CENTER’S FOCUS WILL BE: 1) TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED BIOENGINEERING PROGRAM WITH EMERGING DATA SCIENCE DISCIPLINE AND MODERN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES AT DSU; 2) TO ESTABLISH ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE AND ROWAN UNIVERSITY TO OPEN PIPELINES TO DSU STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN BS+MS DEGREES IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING; 3) TO STRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR ADVANCING AND SUSTAINING RESEARCH IN BIOIMAGING, BIOSENSING, AND DATA-DRIVEN METHODOLOGIES; 4) TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT FOR ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESS, ENABLING A DIVERSIFIED NEXT-GENERATION WORKFORCE IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CAREERS; 5) TO DEVELOP A HUB FOR PROMOTING BIO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND NETWORKING WITH BIOMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THE REMB3 CENTER WILL FACILITATE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR 1) ESTABLISHING CURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS AND REMB3 RESEARCHERS; 2) EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS AT DSU WHO ARE PURSUING RESEARCH AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN OPTICAL SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, DATA SCIENCE, AND LIFE-SCIENCE; 3) MENTORING THESE INVESTIGATORS TO ACHIEVE GRANT SUCCESS AND SCIENTIFIC MATURITY AND TO BECOME INDEPENDENT EXTERNALLY-FUNDED RESEARCHERS; AND 4) TALENTED STUDENTS - UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE- FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN STEM FIELDS TO PARTICIPATE IN REMB3 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OR TO COMPLETE SUCCESSFULLY THEIR GRADUATE DEGREES. ONE MAJOR UNDERLYING PILLAR OF THE REMB3 CENTER IS THE EMPHASIS ON UNDERREPRESENTED RESEARCHERS’ STRENGTHS AND COMPETENCIES AND THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY IN RESEARCH AND SCIENCE. AS SUCH REMB3 CENTER WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO TRAINING IN BIOENGINEERING AND DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH BY INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC AND RACIAL LINES AND WILL ADDRESS ISSUES IN ETHICS AND BIASES IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY. ONCE ESTABLISHED THE CENTER WILL BE A HUB FOR A DYNAMIC RESEARCH COMMUNITY INTERESTED IN BIOENGINEERING, BIOIMAGING, AND BIOSENSING AS WELL AS FOR AN EMERGING GROUP OF BIO-ENTREPRENEURS. THE SUCCESS OF THE REMB3 CENTER WILL BE MEASURED BY HOW WELL THE INITIATIVE EXPANDS OUR RESEARCH AND TRAINING CAPACITY TO BUILD A DIVERSE AND TALENTED WORKFORCE. THIS WILL INCLUDE: THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF RECRUITED AND TRAINED RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS, THE NUMBER OF GRANT AWARDS, THE ENROLLMENT, RETENTION, AND GRADUATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF DEVELOPED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY MECHANISMS, AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR TRAINEES IN ENTERING BIOENGINEERING AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CAREERS. MOREOVER, THE CENTER WILL CONTRIBUTE TO STRENGTHENING THE ENGINEERING AND DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AT DSU IN A WAY THAT FOSTERS INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, AND DIVERSITY.

CF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED GRANTS

CONSTRAINING EXOSPHERIC WATER USING MID-IR SENSING AND LIBS FOR LUNAR ROVER MISSIONS

PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN SOFT MATTER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY AND QUANTUM CONFINEMENT MATERIALS DESIGN (SMART QD)

"DEFECT ENGINEERING IN 2D SYSTEMS FOR PHOTONIC AND NANO-DEVICES (2D-SPAND)" DATED 29 JUL 2022 (THE GRANTEE'S TECHNICAL PROPOSAL) IS HEREBY INCORPORATE

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: OPTICAL STUDIES OF NANOPARTICLES AND BIOMACROMOLECULES IN COMPLEX BIOPOLYMERIC SYSTEMS

1890 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS

15.932 PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES ON THE CAMPUSES OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS). SAM.GOV OPPORTUNITY P23AS00501 BENEFICIARIES ARE HBCUS. IN 1988, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ESTABLISHED THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM TO DOCUMENT, PRESERVE, AND STABILIZE STRUCTURES ON HBCU CAMPUSES. THE HBCU GRANT PROGRAM EXISTS TO REPAIR HISTORIC STRUCTURES ON CAMPUSES OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR AS CONTRIBUTING TO A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT. PROJECTS MUST MEET MAJOR PROGRAM SELECTION CRITERIA AND ALL WORK MUST MEET THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIORS STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THIS PROJECT IS AWARDED TO DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE HOPE HOUSE.

THE INCREASING IMPACTS OF DISASTROUS WEATHER ON AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS&#39; LIVELIHOODS AND FOOD SECTORS ALONG WITH PROJECTED US POPULATION GROWTH HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO TRAIN THE NEXT-GENERATION WORKFORCE. THIS WORKFORCE MUST ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SECURITY ISSUES USING SCIENCE-DRIVEN APPROACHES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LIKE AI AND REMOTE SENSING. THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE 1890 AND 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS TO ENGAGE RECRUIT RETAIN TRAIN AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND ENHANCING THE WORKFORCE IN FOOD AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES AND HUMAN SCIENCES (FANH) BY: 1) PROVIDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL COMMUNITIES WITH AN 8-WEEK EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (ELP) AND OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROJECT (OEP) IN EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH THROUGH THE PAID EXTENSION SCHOLAR PROGRAM (ESP); 2) ESTABLISHING A STUDENT COHORT FROM ALL COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF FANH CAREERS CAREER/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SKILLS AND EXPOSURE TO GLOBAL AGRICULTURE IN AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE; 3) PAID STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (SSP) WITH 3-CREDITS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATING IN A 10-WEEK EXTENSION SCHOLAR PROGRAM (INCLUDING 8-WEEK INTERNSHIP); AND 4) HANDS-ON OEP EXPERIENCES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH TO INTRODUCE THEM TO VARIOUS FANH CAREERS. WE EXPECT TO TRAIN 30 UNDERGRADUATE EXTENSION SCHOLARS, 15 HIGH SCHOOL EXTENSION SCHOLARS (DSU ONLY) AND OVER 500 HIGH- AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM GENERAL POPULATIONS. THE STEP FORWARD TRAINING WILL INCREASE RECRUITMENT RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF STUDENTS AND BETTER EQUIP THE FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR CHALLENGING JOB MARKETS AND HIGH-PAID CAREERS IN FANH DISCIPLINES VIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES COOPERATIVE RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION AND GLOBAL TRAINING. THE MAJOR OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SKILLED WORKFORCES AND ENHANCED ENROLLMENT AND RECRUITMENT IN FANH. THIS WOULD ADDRESS THE AMERICAN FIRST GOAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION, BY PROVIDING STUDENTS INSIGHTS INTO GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TRACK 1 AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY -THIS NOYCE TRACK 1 PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL NEED OF PREPARING HIGHLY QUALIFIED STEM TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE PROPOSED PROJECT COMPONENTS WILL ENABLE HIGH-ACHIEVING PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS TO BECOME STEM TEACHERS WORKING IN AREA SCHOOLS. THIS PROJECT AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH CAPITAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOL AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE PRODUCING 10 HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OVER 5 YEARS IN STEM SUBJECTS SPANNING BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND PHYSICS, DRAWING FROM BOTH STEM UNDERGRADUATES AND POST-BACCALAUREATES. EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT WILL BE GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING EVALUATION QUESTIONS: (A) WHICH PROGRAM STRATEGIES CONTRIBUTED TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHER SCHOLARS AND (B) HOW DO PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE THE SUPPORTS PROVIDED BY PROJECT FACULTY AND ACTIVITIES AS THEY LEARN TO BECOME EFFECTIVE TEACHERS? THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO HELP ENHANCE THE FIELD. THIS TRACK 1: SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (NOYCE). THE NOYCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS TALENTED STEM UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE K-12 STEM TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCED, EXEMPLARY K-12 TEACHERS TO BECOME STEM MASTER TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND RETENTION OF K-12 STEM TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

NEW REP GRANT

CLASSROOM OFFICE BUILDING

CLASSROOM OFFICE BUILDING

CLASSROOM OFFICE BUILDING

IDENTIFYING NEEDS AND BUILDING RESEARCH CAPACITY AT AN HISTORICALLY-BLACK UNIVERSITY - IDENTIFYING NEEDS AND BUILDING RESEARCH CAPACITY AT AN HISTORICALLY-BLACK UNIVERSITY SUMMARY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) IS AN HISTORICALLY-BLACK UNIVERSITY WITH AN EMERGING EXCELLENCE IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. HBCUS SUCH AS DSU PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN INCREASING DIVERSITY IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. HBCU FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND GRADUATES BRING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES THAT FOSTER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND ENSURE THAT RESEARCH ADDRESSES HEALTH DISPARITIES, THE NEEDS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A BROADER, MORE INCLUSIVE POPULATION IN GENERAL. DSU IN PARTICULAR, SERVES A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, PRIMARILY AFRICAN AMERICAN (75% OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT) AND PROVIDES OUR STUDENTS VALUABLE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND MENTORSHIP TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. OUR STRONG PROJECT WILL SUPPORT STRUCTURED NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TO EXAMINE DSU’S RESEARCH AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOP SHORT- AND LONG-TERM ACTION PLANS TO LEVERAGE EXISTING STRENGTHS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIC APPROACHES FOR IMPROVEMENT. WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 20 LEADERS ACROSS ALL INSTITUTIONAL SECTORS THAT SUPPORT THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, INCLUDING OPERATIONS FUNCTIONS SUCH AS FACILITIES AND IT, TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES SUCH AS HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCE, AND RESTRICTED FUNDS ACCOUNTING, AND INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM SUCH AS COLLEGE DEANS, MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY SENATE RESEARCH COMMITTEE, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, AND THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH. THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO SUBCOMMITTEES WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS AREAS RELATED TO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE. THE PI TEAM FOR THIS PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER A RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR WITH A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN WINNING NIH GRANTS (HARRINGTON), DSU’S SR. ASSOCIATE VP FOR INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS (MURRAY-JACKSON) AND THE ASSOCIATE VP FOR ACADEMIC OPERATIONS (SUDLER), WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN PROCESS IMPROVEMENT USING THE LEAN SIX SIGMA FRAMEWORK. WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSULTANTS PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS (NORDP) THAT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO VETTED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL CONDUCT A CONFIDENTIAL ONSITE REVIEW OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, INTERVIEW KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AND ENGAGE WITH THE STRONG GRANT STEERING COMMITTEE TO HELP DETERMINE INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHS, LIMITATIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT. THE CONSULTANTS WILL THEN WORK WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP ACTION PLANS AND MILESTONES TO STRENGTHEN DSU’S BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CAPACITY AND DEVELOP INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH THEMES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR ACADEMIC STRENGTHS AND DSU’S HISTORIC MISSION TO SERVE UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS. OUR STRONG PROJECT WILL ENABLE DSU TO DEVELOP BENCHMARKS, AND ACTION ITEMS TO LEVERAGE STRENGTHS AND MEET IDENTIFIED NEEDS LEADING TO INCREASED COMPETITIVENESS FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING AND TRANSFORMATION OF DSU’S BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PORTFOLIO.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ASTROCYTE NEURON INTERACTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITY IN NEURONAL NETWORKS

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES - EVANS ALLEN

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 FACILITIES GRANT (EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY)

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 FACILITIES GRANT (EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY)

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 FACILITIES GRANT (EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY)

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 FACILITIES GRANT (EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY)

ADAPTIVE APPROACH TO IDENTIFY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR IN VIDEO IMAGERY

CRCNS: MECHANISMS AND MODELING OF THE ADAPTIVE MODULATION OF THE INTRINSIC PROPERTIES OF SPINAL MOTONEURONS

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 FACILITIES GRANT (EXTENSION MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY)

QUANTITATIVE IMAGE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR STUDIES OF AGING PHENOTYPES AND AGE-RELATED DISEASES

SELECTIVE OVER EXPRESSION OF TDP-43 IN APP/PS1 MICE ALTERS APP PROCESSING

CLASSROOM OFFICE BUILDING

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: EFFECT OF HYDRATION ON THE THERMO-ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF MANTLE MINERALS AND THE GEOPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM - 2012

CLASSROOM OFFICE BUILDING

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: SCALING SOCIAL CAPITAL AND HEALTH ACROSS SPACE

BLACK MALE INITIATIVE SUMMER EXPERIENCE

AS THE HUMAN POPULATION INCREASES WORLDWIDE THERE IS A GROWING DEMAND TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE JOB MARKET FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND TRAINED IN THE AREAS OF FOOD AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND HUMAN (FANH) SCIENCES. THUS, WE MUST DEVELOP A DIVERSE WORKFORCE OF WELL-TRAINED AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS AND NUTRITIONAL EXPERTS THAT CAN GENERATE AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE WORKFORCE THAT IS WELL-TRAINED KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EQUIPPED WE NEED TO PROVIDE GRADUATE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ENGAGEMENT. THIS WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO GAIN SOFT TECHNICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE LINK BETWEEN COURSE WORK AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO: 1) EXPAND GRADUATE STUDENTS&#39; KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH SUPERVISED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECTS IN ANIMAL PLANT NATURAL RESOURCES AND/OR NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES; AND 2) DEVELOP STUDENTS&#39; SOFT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH PEER MENTORING LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH DATA AT CONFERENCES AND EXTENSION WORKSHOPS. THESE GOALS ARE ALIGNED WITH BOTH INSTITUTIONAL GOALS AND USDA HIGH PRIORITY AREAS IN FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES AND OTHERS. THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT INCLUDING DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY. IMPLEMENTATION WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE RESEARCH EXTENSION AND TEACHING CAPACITY AT BOTH INSTITUTIONS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WELL-TRAINED STUDENTS PURSUING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES. THIS PROJECT ALIGNED WITH THE EO 14283 ON HBCUS TO BOLSTER WORKFORCE PREPARATION IN KEY INDUSTRIES.

DELAWARE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (DSU-STEM)

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OBESITY AND TYPE II DIABETES ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES, AFFECTING NOT ONLY AMERICANS, BUT MANY IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA REVEALED THAT RISING LEVELS OF OBESITY AND DIABETES AMONG AFRICAN-BORN IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE TO RISING HEALTHCARE COSTS. DIET IS A SIGNIFICANT, MODIFIABLE RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY AND TYPE II DIABETES AND PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN WEIGHT CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES. DIET IS AN INTEGRAL TOOL MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES, FROM PREVENTION TO TREATMENT. FOOD ANALYSIS OF INDIGENOUS FOODS IS ESSENTIAL TO ASSESS DIETARY QUALITY AND DEVELOP NUTRIENT INTAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIETARY PATTERNS WITH INDIGENOUS FOODS BASED ON USDA DIETARY GUIDELINES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ASSESS DIETARY PATTERNS OF AFRICAN ETHNIC FOODS USING METHODOLOGIES DEVELOPED BY THE USDA AND NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE TO ASSESS DIET QUALITY BASED ON THE 2020-2025 DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT BECAUSE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON ETHNIC FOODS CONSUMED BY AFRICANS LIVING IN THE USA IS LIMITED. PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) ASSESS AFRICAN BORN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY PERCEPTION OF HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND EXERCISE, 2) CONDUCT NUTRIENT ANALYSIS OF IDENTIFIED STAPLE FOODS AND DETERMINE THE RECOMMENDED PORTION SIZE FOR THE SELECTED IMMIGRANT STAPLE FOODS AND 3) DEVELOP TRAINING/EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. PROPOSED FOOD PATTERN EQUIVALENTS AND AFRICAN RECIPE COLLECTION/COOKBOOK WILL ASSIST EXTENSION SPECIALISTS, HOSPITAL FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO GUIDE AFRICAN-BORN IMMIGRANTS IN MAKING HEALTHY DIETARY CHOICES AND SERVE AS THE RESEARCH-BASED FOUNDATION FOR NUTRITION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE US

EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SCIENTISTS THROUGH GENOMICS.

SENSORS AND INFRA-RED MATERIALS FOR PHOTODETECTION (SIMPLE)

EVANS-ALLEN

EVANS-ALLEN

A COLLABORATIVE, TEAM SCIENCE APPROACH TO TRANSFORMING STEM EDUCATION INTO AN IMMERSIVE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

HBCU EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH- MID-INFRARED HOLLOW-CORE FIBER SENSING OF DISSOLVED TRACE GASES -RISING SEA LEVELS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ARE THREATENING OUR WAY OF LIFE AND POSING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE EARTH'S OCEANS AND THE ATMOSPHERE AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OCEANIC TRACE GASES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP NEW OPTICAL AND PHOTONIC SENSING TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP US GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS INTERACTION AND THE PRESENCE OF TRACE GASES IN THE OCEAN. THE PROJECT IS CLOSELY LINKED TO THE INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELDS OF PHOTONICS AND OCEAN SENSING, AND IT WILL HAVE A WIDE-REACHING IMPACT ON VARIOUS ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES. WE NEED TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS IN OCEAN SENSING AND BLUE TECHNOLOGY. THUS, THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE STUDENTS AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IN YEAR-ROUND RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN OCEAN SENSING TECHNOLOGIES AND INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE AIM TO INTEGRATE NEW RESEARCH WITH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR ATTRACTING AND RETAINING STEM STUDENTS. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE NEW SMALL-SCALE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DETECTING TRACE GASES DISSOLVED IN WATER. OUR APPROACH INVOLVES USING A NOVEL MID-INFRARED PHOTONICS SENSING TECHNIQUE THAT UTILIZES HOLLOW-CORE OPTICAL FIBERS COUPLED WITH MID-INFRARED LASERS. UNLIKE CURRENT SENSING TECHNIQUES, OUR METHOD IS IN SITU AND DOES NOT REQUIRE PERMEATION MEMBRANES FOR EQUILIBRATION AT THE AIR-LIQUID INTERFACE, WHICH HAS BEEN A MAJOR LIMITATION. THESE SENSORS OR SENSOR NETWORKS CAN BE DEPLOYED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SUCH AS UPSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM, INSHORE, AND OFFSHORE, TO MONITOR THE AIR-WATER INTERFACE. WITH THESE TECHNOLOGIES, WE AIM TO BUILD A MARINE SENSOR NETWORK THAT CAN ADAPT TO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE HIGHLY DETAILED AND REAL-TIME DATA ON THE PRESENCE OF TRACE GASES AT THE AIR-WATER INTERFACE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEN

STRAWBERRIES ARE PRODUCED AND CONSUMED WORLDWIDE. THE UNITED STATES IS THE SECOND LARGESTPRODUCER OF STRAWBERRIES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT STRAWBERRY GROWERS ARE FACING IS FRUITROT DISEASE OF GRAY MOLD CAUSED BY THE FUNGUS BOTRYTIS CENEREA. IF UNTREATED, IT CAN CONTRIBUTE UP TO AN 80% YIELD LOSS, REDUCED MARKETABLE YIELD AND SHELF LIFE. WE WILL UTILIZE THE ADVANCES IN SEQUENCING TECHNOLOGY AND AVAILABLE GERMPLASM RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS (SNPS) AND GRAY MOLD RESISTANT LINES. WE WILL DEVELOP GENOME WIDE ASSOCIATION MAPS (GWAS) FOR GRAY MOLD RESISTANCE AND ITS RELATED TRAITS. THE ELITE STRAWBERRY LINES IDENTIFIED IN THIS STUDY WILL BE FURTHER UTILIZED IN THE BREEDING PROGRAMS OR WILL BE ADVANCED FOR MULTI-LOCATION TRAILS. THE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE SMALL AND UNDERSERVED FARMERS IN DELMARVA REGION ON GRAY MOLD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND USE OF RIGHT GENOTYPES. THE POST-HARVEST SPECIALIST WILL BE EVALUATING THE ELITE LINES WITH A VOLATILE COMPOUND TO EXTEND SHELF LIFE OF FRUITS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS MOSTLY FROM UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATION WITH MODERN PLANT BREEDING TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS HELP BUILD SMALL FRUITS BREEDING PROGRAM AND RESEARCH CAPACITY AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY.

CISE-MSI: DP: III: TRAINING AND PARTNERSHIP IN DATA SCIENCE FOR ADVANCING RESEARCH IN BIOMOLECULAR DETECTION -DETECTING AND IDENTIFYING BIOMOLECULES SUCH AS PROTEINS, VIRUSES, CARBOHYDRATES, AND DNAS ARE CRITICAL TO DIVERSE DISCIPLINES SUCH AS MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS, FORENSIC ANALYSIS, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, FOOD SAFETY, DRUG DELIVERY, AND MATERIALS DESIGN. DATA MEASURED FROM DIVERSE SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THESE BIOMOLECULES. MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS -DESIGNED OR NATURAL- ARE MADE OF MULTIPLE AND DIVERSE BIOMOLECULES, AND ARE CHALLENGING TO INVESTIGATE, INCLUDING ANALYSIS OF THEIR CONVOLUTED DATA. FOR THIS PURPOSE, DATA SCIENCE, WHICH COMBINE STATISTICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS, CAN BE INTEGRATED TO NOT ONLY ANALYZE LARGE COMPLEX DATA BUT ALSO GENERATE NEW INSIGHTS FROM THE DATA. THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES THE INTEGRATION OF DATA SCIENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES WITH SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENTS ON SELECTED BIOMOLECULES. THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO DEVELOP AN AUTOMATIC DATA-DRIVEN MODEL FOR EFFICIENT DETECTION AND ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION OF BIOMOLECULES, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR ACCELERATING DISCOVERY AND DESIGNING NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES. THE PROJECT OPENS A RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAIN STUDENTS FROM GROUPS HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM FIELDS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN DATA SCIENCE, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON BUILDING INITIALLY-SPECTRAL DATABASES STARTING WITH CARBOHYDRATE BIOMOLECULES AND ON DESIGNING MACHINE LEARNING MODELS TO BE TRAINED AND TESTED WITH MULTIMODAL AND HETEROGENEOUS SPECTRAL DATA OF THESE BIOMOLECULES. IT HAS DUAL OBJECTIVES: 1) TO DEMONSTRATE INTERPRETABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PHYSICS-INFORMED MACHINE-LEARNING MODELS THAT CAN IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY OF BIOMOLECULAR DETECTION; AND 2) TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS IN KNOWLEDGE-BASED MACHINE LEARNING WHEN HANDLING MIXED OR SPARSE DATA, AUGMENTING ONE-DIMENSIONAL DATA IN LIMITED DATABASES, AND UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONAL INTRICACIES BETWEEN NOISY DATA AND ACCURACIES OF TRAINING AND TESTING. THIS PROJECT IS BUILT ON COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN TWO HBCUS (DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGIN ISLANDS) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, A RESEARCH INSTITUTION. UNDER A DOMAIN-GUIDED DATA LIFE SCIENCE FRAMEWORK, THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO A FULL CYCLE OF DATA SCIENCE APPROACHES INCLUDING COLLECTING DATA, PREPROCESSING AND ANALYZING THE DATA, DESIGNING MACHINE LEARNING MODELS, TRAINING AND TESTING THE MODELS, VALIDATING THE MODELS, AND PROVIDING INFORMED FEEDBACKS ABOUT THE DATA AND THE MODELS. ONCE DEMONSTRATED, THE SCOPE OF THE APPROACH WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER OTHER BIOMOLECULES SUCH AS PROTEINS AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY MSI AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (UCEDIT)

SECTION 1444

SECTION 1444

DELAWARE SPECIAL EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION - PROJECT DE-SPEC

CAPACITY: BIOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS: CURATORIAL UPGRADE AND DIGITAL UNCOVERING OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF DELAWARE TO SAFEGUARD, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO, CENTURIES OF BOTANICAL LEGACY -SCIENTIFIC SPECIMENS, COLLECTED OVER MULTIPLE CENTURIES, AND THEIR ASSOCIATED DATA REPRESENT A BODY OF RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BIODIVERSITY. HOWEVER MOST OF THEM ARE STILL NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE OR READILY USABLE; THUS, HAMPERING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BIODIVERSITY QUESTIONS. IT IS OFTEN THE BIODIVERSITY DATA FROM REGIONALLY FOCUSED SMALL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE INACCESSIBLE, DESPITE THEIR IMPORTANCE. SUCH AN INSTITUTION IS THE CLAUDE E. PHILLIPS HERBARIUM IN DELAWARE, WHICH HOUSES OVER 200,000 SPECIMENS FROM ALL MAJOR PLANT GROUPS. THESE SPECIMENS WERE COLLECTED LOCALLY ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA AS WELL AS NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS, AND REPRESENT VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. THIS PROJECT WILL DIGITIZE ABOUT 130,000 PLANT SPECIMENS TO HELP FILL GAPS IN HERBARIUM SPECIMEN DIGITIZATION. THE MOBILIZED DATA ARE PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC, TAXONOMIC, AND TEMPORAL COVERAGE AND WILL PROVIDE BASELINE INFORMATION TO ASSESS PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN BIODIVERSITY ACROSS SPACE AND TIME. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE HERBARIUM WORKFORCE TO HELP ENSURE THAT CENTURIES OF BOTANICAL LEGACY WILL BE CARED FOR AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM BENEFITS. TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF BIODIVERSITY DATA, THE PROJECT WILL PRODUCE ABOUT 130,000 HIGH RESOLUTION SPECIMEN IMAGES AND A DATABASE OF BOTH TRANSCRIBED SPECIMEN METADATA AND GEOREFERENCED LOCALITIES, ALL OF WHICH WILL BE RELEASED ONLINE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH IDIGBIO (IDIGBIO.ORG) AND THE CONSORTIUM OF MID-ATLANTIC HERBARIA'S SYMBIOTA PORTAL (MIDATLANTICHERBARIA.ORG). IN PARALLEL WITH, AND AIDED BY, THE DIGITIZATION PROCESS, A CURATORIAL UPGRADE WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO MODERNIZE COLLECTIONS CARE AND MANAGEMENT AT THE CLAUDE E. PHILLIPS HERBARIUM, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOALS OF IMPROVING CURATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL AS PROMOTING USAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE COLLECTIONS. TRAINING OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROJECT AND WILL EXPAND PARTICIPATION OF GROUPS STILL UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM, PARTICULARLY NATURAL HISTORY. PROJECT PERSONNEL WILL BE INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF DIGITIZATION AND CURATION. MEANWHILE, ACCESS TO THE MOBILIZED DATA WILL ENABLE FURTHER EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTION. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING BY ENGAGING THE PUBLIC THROUGH WORKSHOPS, TOURS, CROWDSOURCING, AND OTHER OUTREACH EVENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

MICROBIAL AND CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS IN PROCESSED CATFISH FOR FOOD SAFETY

A TALE OF TWO SYNAPSES: THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROTRANSMITTER PHENOTYPE IN MOTOR NE

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: MODULATION OF SYNAPTIC NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS BY AUTO-RECEPTORS

SCIENCE TEACHERS IN K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEMS PLAY CRITICAL ROLES IN EDUCATING OUR YOUTH ABOUT THE SEVERITY, MECHANISMS, AND IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHAN

(NO IDC) - NEW REP EQUIPMENT START GRANT TITLED ACQUISITION OF A SPUTTER DEPOSITION SYSTEM FOR ONGOING RESEARCH, RESEARCH TRAINING AND TEACHING ON NEW MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVICE FABRICATION AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE FY24 COPS OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT PROGRAM (TEP) PROVIDES GRANTS TO STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, AND OTHER ENTITIES TO DEVELOP AND ACQUIRE EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO AND PREVENTING CRIME. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE COMMUNITY POLICING CAPACITY AND CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS WHICH IMPROVE POLICE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. FUNDING SHALL BE USED FOR THE PROJECTS, AND IN THE AMOUNTS, SPECIFIED UNDER THE HEADING COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS/COPS LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT IN CONGRESSIONAL JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT DIVISION C, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO PUBLIC LAW 118-42.

ULTRA-HIGH PRECISION SENSING OF ISOTOPIC SIGNATURES USING MID-INFRARED (DUAL) FREQUENCY COMB SPECTROSCOPY

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STEAM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THIS PROGRAM STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. FORTY STUDENTS OVER FOUR YEARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) RECRUIT QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND INCREASE RETENTION OF FRESHMEN IN AGRICULTURE MAJORS; 2) DEVELOP AN ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM, THAT WILL STRENGTHEN COURSEWORK AND CURRICULA, INCLUDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE AND MATH (STEAM) STUDENTS; 3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATE STEAM STUDENTS GRADUATING NATIONALLY WITH BS DEGREES IN AGRICULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STEM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS, AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. 20 STUDENTS OVER FOUR YEARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS, ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS.

BUILDING A GENOMICS CORE FACILITY AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY

RUI: FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A GEMINIVIRUS AC4 N-MYRISTOYLATED PROTEIN

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY`S COOPERATIVE RESEARCH INITIATIVES

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ENGAGES STUDENTS IN STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING STUDENT CAPACITY THROUGH ACADEMIC TRAINING, HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES THAT PREPARE GRADUATES WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, AT LEAST 100 STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, GAINING EXPOSURE TO INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSEWORK, APPLIED RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES CENTERED ON FOOD SYSTEMS. THIS APPROACH EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE WHILE DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) ENGAGES STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE, AND MATH (STEM) LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THIS PROGRAM STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM IS AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. OVER FOUR YEARS, TWENTY-ONE STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, GAINING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. THE ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS, ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICA&#39;S AGRICULTURAL GOALS. STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPOSED TO VARIOUS DISCIPLINES THEY CAN CONSIDER AS CAREERS IN AGRICULTUREAND BETTER UNDERSTAND CRITICAL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. THEY WILL ADDRESS USDA-NIFA&#39;S STRATEGIC GOALS OF CAPACITY BUILDING FOR IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT RATE, NEW BUSINESS CREATION AND JOB GROWTH, GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SAFETY, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE RURAL ECONOMIES. THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO HELPING THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS THESE GOALS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ENGAGES STUDENTS IN STEM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRIECULTURAL SIENCES. THE PROGRAM STRATEGY PROVIDES VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITY OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES, WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. AT LEAST TWENTY STUDENTS OVER FOUR YEARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STEAM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THIS PROGRAM STRATEGY PROVIDES VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. FORTY STUDENTS OVER FOUR YEARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS.

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (SEM) FOR PERFORMING MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IMAGING FACILITY

THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CARRY OUT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSES OFPOTENTIAL BENEFITS ANDUSAGEOF SEVERAL KNOWN AFRICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRACTS AGAINST COLORECTAL CANCER CELLS. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHETHERTHEEXTRACTS TO BE ANALYZED MIGHT HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR CLINICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

2017 HPF HBCU - DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STEM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS, AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. 20 STUDENTS OVER FOUR YEARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS, ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN STEAM LEARNING PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEIR CAREER PATHWAY IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THIS PROGRAM STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF STUDENTS TRAINING IN FOOD SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO ARE COMPETENT IN SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS. NINETEEN STUDENTS OVER ONE YEAR WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. ACADEMIC STUDIES WILL ORIENT STUDENTS TO INTERDISCIPLINARY, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ON FOOD SYSTEMS ENABLING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE GOALS. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) RECRUIT QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND INCREASE RETENTION OF FRESHMEN IN AGRICULTURE MAJORS; 2) DEVELOP AN ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM, THAT WILL STRENGTHEN COURSEWORK AND CURRICULA, INCLUDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE AND MATH (STEAM) STUDENTS; 3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATE STEAM STUDENTS GRADUATING NATIONALLY WITH BS DEGREES IN AGRICULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

DEVELOPMENT OF GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION MARKERS FOR HEAT STRESS TOLERANCE IN BLUEBERRIES

UNIVERSITY CENTER 2011

PEANUT ALLERGYTHE LEADING CAUSE OF FATAL FOOD-INDUCED ANAPHYLAXIS IN THE U.S.REMAINS CHALLENGING TO MANAGE WITH AVOIDANCE, CURRENTLY THE ONLY EFFECTIVE PREVENTION. ALLERGENS TRIGGER THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVIDUALS ELEVATING ANTIBODY IMMUNOGLOBULIN E (IGE) LEVELS. IGE BINDS TO ALLERGENS WHICH CAUSE THE RELEASE OF HISTAMINES RESULTING IN PEANUT ALLERGY. IN THIS STUDY A COMPUTATIONAL DE NOVO DESIGN APPROACH EMPLOYING ADVANCED AI DEEP LEARNING FRAMEWORKS WILL GENERATE HIGH-AFFINITY NANOBODY-LIKE PROTEIN (NB-PROT) VARIATIONS TO BIND WITH ARA H 2 TO BLOCK THE IGE BINDING. THE NB-PROTS WILL BE FURTHER VALIDATED WITH IN VITRO EXPERIMENTS. CRISPR-CAS9 TECHNOLOGY WILL EDIT THE ARA H 2 GENE IN PEANUTS AIMING TO MODIFY THE ALLERGENS ASSOCIATED WITH IT THEREBY REDUCING ALLERGIC REACTIONS. THE NB-PROTS WILL ACT AS A DETECTOR TO CONFIRM THE DELETION OF ARA H 2. ADDITIONALLY, THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED AND WILDTYPE PEANUT SEEDS WILL BE ANALYZED USING GENOMIC TRANSCRIPTOMIC PROTEOMIC AND CHEMICAL TECHNIQUES TO CONFIRM THE PROPER INTEGRATION OF THE ENGINEERED GENE AND TO REVEAL THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF THE MODIFIED PEANUT COMPARED TO THE WILDTYPE. THE PROJECT LEVERAGES THE UNIQUE METHODOLOGIES AND EXPERTISE OF EACH INVESTIGATOR CREATING A SYNERGISTIC COLLABORATION CRUCIAL FOR ITS SUCCESS. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH PURSUING GRADUATE EDUCATION, NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND LEADERS FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUPPORT HBCU EXECUTIVE ORDER BY IMPROVING WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE USE OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS TO PRODUCE BIOFUELS AND OTHER CHEMICALS HAS BEEN IMPEDED BY THE RESISTANCE OF PLANT CELL WALLS TO ENZYMATIC DECONSTRUCTION, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE HIGHLY HETEROGENIC POLYMER, LIGNIN. VARIOUS PRETREATMENT STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO REDUCE THIS RECALCITRANCE. WHILE ENCOURAGING RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED, THE METHODS SUFFER FROM TECHNO[1]ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. ADVANCES IN MOLECULAR GENETICS HAVE OFFERED TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCING ENZYMES IN PLANTA THAT CAN MODIFY CELL WALL COMPOSITION TO OVERCOME BIOMASS RECALCITRANCE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE RECOMBINANT ENZYMES HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN THE BIOFUEL INDUSTRY ON A COMMERCIAL SCALE THUS FAR. THIS APPROACH ALSO HAS ITS OWN SET OF DRAWBACKS INCLUDING THE METABOLIC LOAD ASSOCIATED WITH PLANTS PRODUCING LARGE QUANTITIES OF ENZYMES, HENCE REQUIRING MORE FERTILIZER INPUTS, AND THE RISK OF UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS ON NORMAL PLANT DEVELOPMENT. OUR RECENT STUDY REVEALED THAT HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION OF A BACTERIAL LIGNIN-DEGRADING PEROXIDASE DEPOLYMERIZES LIGNIN AND REDUCES BIOMASS RECALCITRANCE IN TRANSGENIC TOBACCO (NICOTIANA BENTHAMIANA). THIS PROJECT WILL EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF HIGHLY EFFICIENT BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL LIGNIN-DEGRADING PEROXIDASES TO IMPROVE BIOMASS DIGESTIBILITY. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) GENERATING EXPRESSION CASSETTES OF A FUNGAL PLEUROTUS ERYNGII (VPL2) AND BACTERIAL AMYCOLATOPSIS SP. 75IV2 DYP2 LIGNINASES, A CONSTRUCT CONTAINING BOTH GENES FOR CO-EXPRESSION, AND A CHIMERIC VPL2::DYP2 CONSTRUCT OBTAINED BY SWAPPING N- AND C-TERMINAL DOMAINS OF THE TWO PROTEINS; 2) DEVELOPING AND CHARACTERIZING TRANSGENIC SWITCHGRASS LINES EXPRESSING ONE OR TWO LIGNINASES USING MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL TOOLS; 3) DETERMINING LIGNIN MODIFICATION, SACCHARIFICATION, AND FERMENTATION EFFICIENCY OF BIOENGINEERED BIOMASS; 4) PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND JUNIOR LEVEL SCIENTISTS. WE INTEND TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY THAT WILL ADDRESS THE LONG-STANDING CHALLENGE OF BIOMASS RECALCITRANCE. THE PLATFORM ESTABLISHED USING SWITCHGRASS WILL SERVE AS A MODEL TO ENGINEER OTHER BIOENERGY GRASSES AND TREES. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE UNIQUE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOFUELS AND PREPARE THEM FOR THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE. IT WILL ALSO ENHANCE FACULTY SKILLS TO DEVELOP GRANT PROPOSALS TO SEEK FUNDING FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS. FURTHERMORE, IT WILL STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION BETWEEN DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY WITH INSTITUTIONS EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED RESEARCH FACILITIES.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SNACKS ARE ENJOYED BY BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. HOWEVER, THE GROWING PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PHYSICAL INACTIVITY, UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS, AND OBESOGENIC ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS THE AVAILABILITY OF CALORIE-DENSE NUTRIENT-POOR SNACKS. WITH INCREASING CONSUMER APPEAL FOR READY-TO-EAT (RTE) PRODUCTS INCLUDING SNACKS WITH NUTRITIONAL, SENSORIAL, AND HEALTHFUL PROPERTIES, CONSUMERS ARE DRAWN TO PLANT-BASED FOOD (PBF) PRODUCTS. ONE STRATEGY IS TO LEVERAGE THE INCREASING INTEREST IN PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS, THAT ALSO MEET CONSUMER DEMAND FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND HEALTHIER OPTIONS. ALTERNATIVES LIKE LENTIL AND QUINOA HAVE RECEIVED RELATIVELY LITTLE ATTENTION AS INGREDIENTS FOR FOOD APPLICATION DUE IN PART TO THE MANY LIMITATIONS IN THEIR NUTRITIONAL PROFILE, FUNCTIONALITY, AND SENSORY PROPERTIES. IT IS STILL UNCLEAR HOW THEY IMPACT GUT MICROBIOTA AND HEALTH. OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE ACCEPTABILITY AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF LENTIL AND QUINOA BY DESIGNING ALTERNATIVE PROCESSING CONDITIONS THAT DEVELOP VALUE-ADDED INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCTS WITH ENHANCED NUTRITIONAL, TECHNO-FUNCTIONAL BIOACTIVE, AND SENSORY PROPERTIES. THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN PIS AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, AND ALABAMA A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY WITH SUPPORT FROM RESEARCHERS AT NCAT, UMD, USDA-ARS-ERRC, AND INFRAREADY PRODUCTS LTD, CANADA. OUR PROJECT PROPOSES TO: (1) DETERMINE EFFECT OF PROCESSING ON KEY INGREDIENTS PROPERTIES; (2) DEVELOP AND CHARACTERIZE FORMULATED PUFFED SNACKS; AND (3) ASSESS IMPACT OF METABOLITES ON GUT MICROBIOTA AND AMELIORATING EFFECT ON OBESITY. WE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF THESE SNACK PRODUCTS THROUGH IN VITRO, CONSUMER STUDIES, ANIMAL MODELS TO VALIDATE THEIR NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH IMPACT, CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL COUNTERPARTS. WE WILL INCORPORATE IMMERSIVE MACHINE LEARNING TRAINING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH STUDENTS&#39; EXPERIENTIAL RESEARCH, THAT WILL IMPROVE STUDENTS&#39; EMPLOYABILITY, AND EQUIP PIS WITH RESOURCES TO TRANSLATE RESEARCH TO COMMERCIAL INNOVATION.

DEVELOPMENT OF EPIGENOMIC TOOLS IN LEGUMES-GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF BIOTIC STRESS METHYLOMES AND TRANSCRIPTOMES IN COMMON BEAN

RANSGENIC SELF-PROCESSING ENERGY GRASSES FOR EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE PRODUCTION OF BIOFUELS

THE STRENGTHENING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC CAMPUS APPROACHES TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING INITIATIVE (CSC INITIATIVE) SUPPORTS HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS), HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (HSIS), AND TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (TCUS) TO STRENGTHEN THEIR INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS. THE CSC INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS TO ESTABLISH CULTURALLY RELEVANT STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE RESPONSE PROTOCOLS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY IS A PUBLIC, FOUR-YEAR, HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY (HBCU) LOCATED IN DOVER, DE. WITH THIS NEW AWARD, DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY, IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS CAMPUS PARTNERS, WILL CREATE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TAILORED TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQ+ STUDENTS, AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AND WORK WITH THE DESIGNATED CAMPUS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER TO: 1) BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THE INSTITUTION TO DEVELOP A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC, COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY SECURING RELEVANT PARTNERSHIPS, CONDUCTING TRAININGS, AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES TAILORED TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY; 2) DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO OUTLINE KEY STRATEGIES NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE; AND 3) ESTABLISH A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM THAT WILL OVERSEE AND IMPLEMENT PROJECT ACTIVITIES.

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: INVESTIGATION OF ENHANCER-FREE PHOTOGENERATED SINGLET OXYGEN

CHEMICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES MAPPING BY NANO FT-IR

TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES

ACQUISITION OF A RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEM FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TRAINING OF STUDENTS ON DEVICE CHARACTERIZATION

A NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPACT, HIGH-PERFORMANCE RUBIDIUM CLOCK USING RAMAN-RAMSEY INTERFERENCE IN ATOMIC VAPOR

THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS AN INTEGRATED MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL TEACHING AND EXTENSION PROJECT WITH THE PRIMARY PROGRAM CODE FORTEACHING (EP). THE NEED AREAS ADDRESSED BY THIS PROGRAM ARE STEM EDUCATION, PREPARATION OF DIVERSE, WELL-QUALIFIED WORKFORCEAND PREPARE STUDENTS WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE FOR AGRICULTURAL RELATED CAREERS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO FOCUSES ONEXTENSION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND EXTENSION DELIVERY AND METHODOLOGY. PROGRAM PRIORITY AREAS INCLUDE WATERQUALITY, GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD SAFETY, GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY, AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND YOUTHDEVELOPMENT.OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PREPARE FUTURE WORKFORCE ON NATIONAL AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES AND ENHANCE THEIRKNOWLEDGE, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS SO THEY CAN BE BETTER PREPARED AND ADAPT CHANGES. UNDERGRADUATESTUDENTS, PRECOLLEGE STUDENTS, AND YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES DISCIPLINES WILL BE BETTER PREPARE AS A FUTUREWORKFORCE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE FORMAL EDUCATION COUPLED WITH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMGOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED BY THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:(A) CURRICULA DESIGN AND MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT WITH ENHANCED LABORATORY AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SWAT MODELAND GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR STUDYING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.(B) STUDENT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH SUMMER INTERNSHIPS, WORKSHOPS, AND INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE FIELD CLASS.(C) PRECOLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN STEM DISCIPLINES BY PROVIDING INTERNSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ANDCAMPS FOR YOUTH TO IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SOCIAL, AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS.(D) CLIMATE CHANGE TEACHERS&#39; WORKSHOPS TO THE LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. TEACHERS WILL HAVE HANDS-ON HEAVY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING GREENHOUSE GASES, CO2 EMISSION, CARBON-CYCLE, HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE, SEA LEVEL RISE, PUBLIC HEALTH...ETC.

THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE SPREAD AND MITIGATE THE INFECTION OF SARS-COV-2 WITHIN SMALL-SCALE, LIMITED RESOURCE MINORITY FARMS, FOOD PROCESSING, AND FOOD SERVICE COMMUNITIES. USING THE STRONG COLLABORATION AMONG THE 1890 INSTITUTIONS, THE PLAN IS TO CREATE MEASURABLE IMPACTS AMONG TARGETED MINORITY COMMUNITIES WITHIN 90 DAYS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL IMPACT DURING ITS YEAR-LONG DURATION WITH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES ACROSS 18 STATES:&BULL; OBJECTIVE# 1 - TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN MULTIPLE USERS, FOCUSING ON: SMALL-SCALE, LIMITED-RESOURCE AND MINORITY PRODUCERS AND RANCHERS, SMALL-SCALE PACKINGHOUSES AND PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, CSA PROGRAMS, AND DIRECT DELIVERY ON TO CONSUMERS, SMALL RETAILERS, AND SMALL PROCESSORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD SARS-COV-2 AND MITIGATE INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF SARS-COV-2.&BULL; OBJECTIVE# 2 - CREATE AND ASSESS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SARS-COV-2 ON SMALL, LIMITED-RESOURCE, AND MINORITY FARMERS AS A BASELINE.THROUGH THE PROPOSED APPROACH, THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN 200 EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO EDUCATE AT LEAST 1,000 PRODUCERS AND 3,000 FARMWORKERS ON PPE, HYGIENE AND SARS-COV-2 SAFETY. THE NETWORK WILL ALSO REACH 500 FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD PROCESSORS AND HUBS, ETC. WITH THE SAME TRAINING. AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD WE WILL SHARE PUBLICATION OF BASELINE RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS DETAILING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SARS-COV-2. CREATING AN IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL HELP TO CONTROL THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SARCOV-2 ON THE CLIENTELE WE SERVE BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HEALTHY SOIL IS THE BASE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. THE HEALTH OF A SOIL, HOWEVER, IS DETERMINED BY ITS PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND IS INFLUENCED BY HUMAN LAND USES AND MANAGEMENT. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ESTABLISH A SOIL HEALTH TRAINING ACADEMY AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) AS A MODEL TO THE 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS TO PREPARE MINORITY AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS WITH THE EXPERTISE OF SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED TEACHING AND EXTENSION TRAINING EFFORTS. THE PROJECT TEAM AT DSU WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE THE SOIL HEALTH TRAINING ACADEMY, CONSTRUCT A DESIGNATED WEBSITE, DEVELOP SOIL HEALTH TRAINING MATERIALS, INTEGRATE SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION IN FOUR COURSE CURRICULA, AND TRAIN STUDENTS AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WITH THE EXPERTISE OF SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT THROUGH INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECTS, AND OTHER EXTENSION ACTIVITIES. SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THEPROJECT WILL GREATLY ENHANCETHE PROFESSIONALISM OF AGRICULTURAL STUDENTS, IMPROVE THE SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT SKILLS OF DELMARVA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS,AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

MAKING AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING WHERE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THE LANDSCAPE TO MAINTAIN THE CONDITION OF NEARBY ECOSYSTEMS, SINCE HUMANS RECEIVE DIVERSE BENEFITS FROM NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AS WELL AS AGRICULTURAL LANDS. WETLANDS IN PARTICULAR PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF THESE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, INCLUDING NUTRIENT TREATMENT, CARBON STORAGE, POLLINATION, AND FLOOD MITIGATION. PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN DELAWARE IS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING WITH SEA LEVEL RISE. WE PROPOSE TO ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE ON AGRICULTURE AND WETLAND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND EXPLORE NOVEL USES OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES MAPPING FOR PLANNING BMPS. IN OUR RESEARCH (PRIMARY FOCUS), WE WILL (A) EVALUATE HOW WETLAND SERVICES CHANGE WITH PROXIMITY TO AGRICULTURE, (B) STATISTICALLY PINPOINT "HOTSPOTS" WITH HIGH DELIVERY OF DIVERSE BENEFITS AND INVESTIGATE THE BMPS PROMOTING HOTSPOTS NEAR AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND (C) USE SEA LEVEL PREDICTIONS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL MARGINAL CROPLANDS (CANDIDATES FOR DIFFERENT BMPS) AND SERVICE HOTSPOTS THAT MAY BE LOST. OVERALL, UNDERSTANDING THE FEEDBACKS BETWEEN LAND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND THE FULL ARRAY OF BENEFITS THAT OUR LANDS PROVIDE WILL HELP US INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES. THE PROJECT ALSO STRENGTHENS DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY&#39;S RESEARCH AND TEACHING CAPABILITIES IN SPATIAL ANALYSIS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE WILL (A) IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFORMATION-SHARING FOR SPATIAL RESEARCH, (B) DEVELOP A NEW COURSE AND WORKSHOPS IN ADVANCED SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND UPDATE MATERIALS IN OTHER COURSES, AND (C) SHARE RESEARCH PRODUCTS WITH FARMERS, PROFESSIONAL DATA USERS, AND K-12 AUDIENCES.

MARINE DISTRIBUTION OF GULF OF MEXICO STURGEON; IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF NAVSEA TESTING THROUGH A MULTI-PHASE PASSIVE ACOUSTIC BIOTELEMETRY APPROACH

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TAS::57 3600::TAS "(HBCU) ELECTRICALLY AND MAGNETICALLY ANISOTROPIC MEDIA BASED TIME-DOMAIN VECTOR MAXWELL"

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM-PSYCHOSTIMULANT SUPPORT

TAS::57 3600::TAS 'SENSORS AND INFRA-RED PHOTO DETECTORS BASED ON STACKED LAYERS OF TWO DIMENSIONAL MATERIALS (2D-SIMPLE)'

AUTOMATED CELL SEGMENTATION, TRACKING AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS: MATHEMATICAL METHODS AND ALGORITHMS

SYSTEMATIC THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF IONIZATION REACTION

REU SITE: INCLUSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY -THIS REU SITE AWARD TO DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU), LOCATED IN DOVER, DELAWARE WILL SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF 10 STUDENTS FOR 10 WEEKS DURING THE SUMMERS OF 2024-2026. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT A TOTAL OF 30 STUDENTS, PRIMARILY FROM SCHOOLS WITH LIMITED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES OR FROM AN UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUP, WILL BE TRAINED IN THE PROGRAM. THE SITE IS OPEN TO ALL BUT WILL FOCUS ON STUDENTS FROM DSU AND PARTNERING HBCUS. IT WILL LEVERAGE THE SUCCESS OF HBCUS IN EDUCATING STUDENTS FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS, AND THE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT DSU, TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN A RIGOROUS SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN A CULTURALLY-CONGRUENT ATMOSPHERE. THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP BROADEN THE PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN STEM BY INCREASING THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD HELP THEM BE COMPETITIVE FOR MATRICULATION INTO STEM GRADUATE PROGRAMS. STUDENTS WILL LEARN AND PRACTICE HOW RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED, AND MANY WILL PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES. ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE DONE THROUGH THE ONLINE SALG URSSA TOOL. THE NSF ETAP SYSTEM WILL BE USED TO REGISTER PARTICIPANTS (HTTPS://WWW.NSFETAP.GOV/). STUDENTS WILL BE TRACKED AFTER THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THEIR CAREER PATHS. THE SCIENTIFIC FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE HIGH-IMPACT INTERDISCIPLINARY SUMMER RESEARCH IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TO HBCU STUDENTS. THE DEPARTMENTS/PROGRAMS INVOLVED INCLUDE NEUROSCIENCE, CELL BIOLOGY, PHYSICS, AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. THE RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE VARIED AND INCLUDE THOSE IN NEUROSCIENCE, MICROBIOLOGY, STRESS RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MACHINE LEARNING. THE PROGRAM COMPONENTS ALSO INCLUDE WEEKLY RESEARCH MEETINGS AND STRONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. STUDENTS WILL BE RECRUITED THROUGH MARCH TO PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO APPLY. STUDENTS WILL BE RECRUITED BASED ON RESILIENCE (NOT GPA), RESPONSE TO ESSAY QUESTIONS, AND REFERENCES FROM MENTORS. THE SELECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY A COMMITTEE COMPRISING THE PI, CO-PI, AND POTENTIAL MENTORS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE BY VISITING THE NSF REU WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.NSF.GOV/CRSSPRGM/REU/LIST_RESULT.JSP?UNITID=5047 OR BY CONTACTING THE PI (DR. HAKEEM LAWAL AT HLAWAL@DESU.EDU) OR THE CO-PI (DR. ERIN PERCHINIAK AT EPERCHINIAK@DESU.EDU). THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DIRECTORATE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR), AND THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP). THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

EVANS-ALLEN

THE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007 (EISA) REQUIRES AN AGGRESSIVE SCALE-UP OF CELLULOSIC BIOFUELS AS PART OF THE RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD (RFS) PROGRAM, WITH A PRODUCTION TARGET OF 39.7 BILLION L YR-1 (10.5 BILLION GAL YR-1) BY 2020. HOWEVER, CELLULOSIC BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IS CURRENTLY LESS THAN 10% OF THE 2016 GOAL SET BY EISA. THIS PRODUCTION GAP IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE COST OF CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES CURRENTLY BEING COMMERCIALIZED. TWO SPECIFIC BARRIERS ARE THE PROHIBITIVE COSTS OF CELL WALL DEGRADING ENZYMES AND OF BIOMASS PRETREATMENT, BOTH REQUIRED BY EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES AND FEEDSTOCKS. A MAJOR STRATEGIC GOAL IN MAKING COST-COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS IS TO REDUCE THE COST OF CELLULOLYTIC ENZYMES AND BIOMASS PRE-TREATMENT WHICH IN TURN HAS LIMITED COMMERCIALIZATION OF BIOMASS FUELS AND CHEMICALS. ONE WAY TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THESE PRODUCTION COSTS IS TO CO-EXPRESS LIGNOLYTIC AND CELLULOLYTIC ENZYMES IN TRANSGENIC DEDICATED BIO-ENERGY CROPS AT LEVELS THAT ARE HIGH ENOUGH TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DECONSTRUCT AND HYDROLYZE LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS. BRACHYPODIUM DISTACHYON (BRACHYPODIUM), A MODEL SYSTEM FOR GRASS RESEARCH WILL BE USED TO TEST OUR MULTIPLE GENE TECHNOLOGY. METABOLIC ENGINEERING OF BRACHYPODIUM TO EXPRESS HYPERTHERMOPHILIC CELLULOSE AND LIGNIN-HYDROLYZING ENZYMES REQUIRED FOR BIOMASS DECONSTRUCTION TO FERMENTABLE SUGARS COULD REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE NEED TO PRE-TREAT THE BIOMASS AND ADD MICROBIAL CELLULOTIC ENZYMES DURING BIOMASS CONVERSION. THE AIMS OF THIS PROJECT ARE: 1) TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT CONSTITUTIVE SINGLE AND MULTI-GENE EXPRESSION CASSETTES WITH CODON-OPTIMIZED, ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM TARGETED HEAT OR MANGANESE INDUCIBLE GENES FOR DEGRADATION OF CELLULOSE AND LIGNIN ; 2) TO TRANSFORM BRACHYPODIUM PLANTS WITH THESE CASSETTES, RECOVER, AND EVALUATE TRANSGENIC TISSUES, AND PLANTS FOR CELLULOSE, LACCASE OR LIGNIN PEROXIDASE EXPRESSION AND CORRESPONDING ENZYMATIC SPECIFIC ACTIVITY; 4) TO COMPARE THE CELLULOSE AND LIGNIN COMPOSITION OF BIOMASS OF PARENTAL AND TRANSFORMED LINES; 5) TO EVALUATE THE SACCHARIFICATION, AUTO-HYDROLYSIS, MICROPYROLYSIS OF THE ENGINEERED BIOMASS AS WELL AS EVALUATE THE FERMENTABILITY OF THE SACCHARIFIED SAMPLES. 6) DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT AGROBACTERIUM TRANSFORMATION SYSTEM FOR MISCANTHUS X GIGANTEUS; 7) TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN ADVANCED BIOFUEL RESEARCH, MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY; 8) TO INCREASE CAPACITIES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIO-ENERGY RESEARCH AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS FEASIBILITY PHASE, FUTURE WORK WILL INCLUDE INCREASING THE ACTIVITY OF THESE ENZYMES IN BRACHYPODIUM THROUGH ENZYME EVOLUTION, CHARACTERIZING THE BEST TRANSGENIC LINES FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION AND EVALUATE THEIR FIELD PERFORMANCE. THIS APPROACH WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO MISCANTHUS X GIGANTEUS, A HIGH BIOMASS-YIELDING ENERGY GRASS AS A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP NOVEL GRASS WITH ENHANCED BIOPROCESSING CHARACTERISTICS ONCE VALIDATE,D IN MODEL BRACHYPODIUM.

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THE NEUROPATHOLOGY OF CEREBELLUM IN SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY - THIS IS A RESUBMISSION (A1) OF APPLICATION 1R15 NS120154-01, “THE NEUROPATHOLOGY OF CEREBELLUM IN SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY”, WHICH WAS REVIEWED IN JUNE 2020 AT THE ZRG1 MDCN-R (86) SECTION. SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA) IS THE LEADING GENETIC CAUSE OF INFANT MORTALITY. IT ARISES FROM THE MUTATION OF THE SURVIVAL MOTOR NEURON ONE (SMN1) GENE. DESPITE DECADES OF RESEARCH, ITS MECHANISMS OF NEUROPATHOLOGY ARE FAR FROM CLEAR. THE RECENT US FDA APPROVED SMN RESTORATION THERAPIES (NUSINERSEN, ZOLGENSMA, AND RISDIPLAM) ARE EFFECTIVE IN RESCUING THE MOTOR DYSFUNCTION BUT NOT CURE FOR SMA. IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THE EFFECT WILL LAST, NOR WHETHER PATIENTS WILL SUFFER PROBLEMS DUE TO DYSFUNCTION OF SMN DEFICIENT NEURONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. ACCUMULATING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT LOW LEVELS OF SMN NOT ONLY ALTER THE FUNCTION OF SPINAL MOTOR NEURONS, BUT ALSO OF NEURONS AND NEURAL CIRCUITS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTOR NETWORK. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY THERE IS LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF NEURONAL PATHOLOGY IN SMA BEYOND THE SPINAL CORD MOTOR NEURON (MN) CIRCUIT. AS NEW TREATMENTS ALLOW PATIENTS TO LIVE LONGER, KNOWLEDGE OF THE ROLE OF CENTRAL MOTOR NETWORK IN THE NEUROPATHOLOGY OF SMA WILL BE KEY FOR DEVELOPING LONG-TERM PROGNOSES AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR PATIENTS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS APPLICATION IS TO INVESTIGATE CEREBELLAR PATHOLOGY AND NEURAL CIRCUIT DYSFUNCTION IN SMA MOUSE MODELS USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES. THE RATIONAL FOR THIS PROJECT IS BASED ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF CEREBELLUM IN MOTOR CONTROL, THE REPORTS OF CEREBELLAR PATHOLOGY IN HUMAN SMA PATIENTS, AS WELL AS OUR PRELIMINARY DATA SHOWING ALTERATIONS IN THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF CEREBELLAR NEURAL NETWORK IN MOUSE MODELS OF SMA. OUR CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT IN SMA, ALTERATIONS IN THE NEURONS AND NEURAL CIRCUITS OF THE CEREBELLUM DECREASE CEREBELLAR OUTPUT AND ALTER DESCENDING MOTOR COMMANDS FROM THE MOTOR CORTEX AND BRAINSTEM TO THE SPINAL CORD, CONTRIBUTING TO NEUROPATHOLOGY AND MOTOR SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION. THIS CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS WILL BE TESTED BY THREE SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) IDENTIFY CHANGES IN THE MORPHOLOGY AND FIBER CONNECTIONS OF THE CEREBELLUM IN SMN7 AND MN RESCUE MICE BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TECHNIQUES; 2) ELUCIDATE THE FUNCTIONAL ALTERATION OF CEREBELLAR NEURONS AND NEURAL CIRCUITS RELATED TO SMA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY USING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES; 3) RELATE CHANGES IN CEREBELLAR STRUCTURE AND NEURAL CIRCUIT FUNCTION TO SMA DISEASE PROGRESSION IN MN RESCUE MOUSE MODEL. TO DETERMINE THE CONTRIBUTION OF STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL PATHOLOGY IN THE CEREBELLUM TO THE PHENOTYPE OF SMA, WE WILL USE MRI AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROPATHOLOGY IN THE CEREBELLUM AT PRE-SYMPTOMATIC (POSTNATAL DAY 3–4, P3–P4), EARLY- (P7–P8), AND END-SYMPTOMATIC (P12–P13) STAGE OF SMA. THE COMPARISON STUDIES BETWEEN SMN7 AND MOTOR NEURON MN MOUSE MODELS WILL CONFIRM AND ELUCIDATE THE CORRELATION OF CEREBELLAR NEUROPATHOLOGY WITH SPINAL MOTOR NEURON DYSFUNCTION IN SMA MICE. IDENTIFYING THE START AND PROGRESSION OF CEREBELLAR NEUROPATHOLOGY WILL INDICATE HOW CEREBELLAR STRUCTURAL OR FUNCTIONAL PATHOLOGY OR BOTH CONTRIBUTE TO THE SMA PHENOTYPE. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS INNOVATIVE BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE FIRST THOROUGH STUDY OF THE DYSFUNCTION AND ITS MECHANISMS OF THE CEREBELLAR NEURAL NETWORK IN SMA MICE WITH A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL, MRI AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES. THIS KIND OF STUDY IS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A COMPLETE SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SMA, AND ALMOST NO STUDIES SO FAR HAVE INVESTIGATED THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF DYSFUNCTION IN THE BRAIN NETWORK AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO MOTOR DYSFUNCTION. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE UNDERSTANDING SPECIFIC ABNORMALITIES CEREBELLAR NETWORK CAN LEAD TO NEW TARGETS FOR POTENTIAL THERAPEUTICS AIMED AT PRESERVING MOTOR FUNCTION IN SMA PATIENTS.

THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE STABILITY OF AN NV CENTER NEAR THE SURFACE AND DECOHERENCE MECHANISMS DUE TO BULK AND SURFACE IMPURITIES

TARGETED INFUSION PROJECT: COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE INITIATIVE (CSI) DELAWARE