Tennessee State University

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND-HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

MTSU APPLICATION FOR CARES ACT FUNDING FOR IHES--INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

MTSU APPLICATION FOR CARES ACT FUNDING FOR IHES

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

UNKNOWN TITLE

IDENTIFY AND DISBURSE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS (HEERF) TO STUDENTS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE DISRUPTION OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS, AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 18004 OF THE CARES, ACT

IDENTIFY AND DISBURSE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS (HEERF) TO STUDENTS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE DISRUPTION OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS, AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 18004 OF THE CARES, ACT

CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING FOR TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (INSTITUTIONAL PORTION)

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING FOR TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL $18,110,000 PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH AN INCLUSIVE CONSORTIUM OF INSTITUTIONS FROM NEARLY EVERY MSI CATEGORY TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES (FANHS). WE WILL BUILD PRESENT AND FUTURE STUDENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESSES AND PATHWAYS LEADING TO EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYMENT IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES WHILEADVANCING EQUITYTHROUGHSTUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS(SSP),EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING(ELP), ANDOUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT(OEP).TASKS/ACTIVITIES TO BE CONDUCTED WILL ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT: 1) ATTRACT AND ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (JUNIOR MANRRS AND NATIVE YOUTH CLUBS ESTABLISHMENT AND CULTIVATION, YOUTH LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION, IMMERSIVE LEARNING AND EDUCATORS DEVELOPMENT); 2) ATTRACT AND ENGAGE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEARNERS THROUGH RESEARCH, WORK EXPERIENCES, AND STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES; 3) FUND HIGH QUALITY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS THROUGH FANHP SCHOLARSHIPS (DUAL ENROLLMENT, IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE TUITION, ROOM, AND BOARD) AND CULTIVATE INNOVATIVE UNDERSERVED STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES; 4) ATTRACT UNDERSERVED LEARNERS THROUGH OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT [POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PYD) CONFERENCE, PYD , DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY, AND PRECISION/DIGITAL AG CERTIFICATES, NEW FARMER ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NONTRADITIONAL YOUTH]; 5) DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN AND MARKETING MATERIALS TO ATTRACT/ENGAGE FUTURE UNDERSERVED LEARNERS TO THE FANHP. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:ACTIVITY 1.1 ESTABLISH JUNIOR MANRRS (JM) CHAPTERS AND NATIVE YOUTH CLUBS IN FANHS. ACTIVITY 1.2 CREATE AND DISSEMINATE A FANHS CAREERS CURRICULUM FOR YOUTH. ACTIVITY 1.3. CREATE A VARIETY OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH. ACTIVITY 1.4 TRAIN FORMAL AND NONFORMAL EDUCATORS IN THE USE OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR ATTRACTING STUDENTS TO THE FANHP. ACTIVITY 2.1. ENGAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SUPERVISED FANHS RESEARCH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPERIENCES. ACTIVITY 2.2. ATTRACT AND ENGAGE INCOMING COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH BRIDGE PROGRAMS. ACTIVITY 2.3. ENGAGE COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATES IN A DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND LEADERSHIP ACADEMY THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK. ACTIVITY 2.4. DEVELOP, FUND, AND ENGAGE STUDENTS IN PAID DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN FANHS. ACTIVITY 2.5. FUND COLLEGE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. ACTIVITY 3.1. ATTRACT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH FUNDED, ONLINE, OUT-OF-STATE DUAL ENROLLMENT (DE). ACTIVITY 3.2. SUPPORT UNDERSERVED STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS. ACTIVITY 3.3. CREATE GREATER COURSE ACCESS, ENHANCE EASE OF COURSE TRANSFER, AND RETAIN MORE STUDENTS IN THE FANHS BY EXPANDING COURSE SHARING. ACTIVITY 4.1. CREATE AND HOST A POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PYD) FOR CAREER SUCCESS CONFERENCE. ACTIVITY 4.2 DE,VELOP AND DELIVER AN ONLINE PYD LEADERS CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. ACTIVITY 4.3 ENGAGE UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN TSU'S NEW FARMER ACADEMY (NFA). ACTIVITY 4.4 ENGAGE UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND ADULTS IN A PRECISION/DIGITAL AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. ACTIVITY 5.1 ESTABLISH TWO STUDENT-OPERATED PODCASTS TO ATTRACT AND ENGAGE UNDERSERVED YOUTH. ACTIVITY 5.2 BUILD, MARKET, AND DISSEMINATE A MOBILE JOB OPPORTUNITY-MATCHING APP. ACTIVITY 5.3 CREATE AND DISSEMINATE NEXTGEN-BRANDED EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, A WEBSITE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

HEAD START

UNKNOWN TITLE

EARLY HEAD START

MMC, VICC & TSU: PARTNERS IN ELIMINATING CANCER DISPARITIES (3 OF 3)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

EARLY HEAD START

QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BUILDING 119 RENOVATION

HIGHER EDUCATION - INSTITUTIONAL AID - HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM (FUTURE ACT)

ADVANCING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STEM GRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH, ENHANCING ACADEMIC WRITING, EXPLORING CAREER PATHWAYS.

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT - CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

EARLY HEAD START

EARLY HEAD START/CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP

THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF FLATHEADED BORERS (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) IN THE GENUS CHRYSOBOTHRIS. FLATHEADED BORERS ARE SERIOUS PESTS OF NURSERY, TREE NUT AND FRUIT CROPS. THESE CROPS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY, ACCOUNTING FOR MILLIONS OF JOBS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS. THE CHRYSOBOTHRIS SPECIES OF CONCERN ARE NATIVE AND FOUND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. FEMALES LAY EGGS IN THE TRUNKS OF TREES AND LARVAE FEED ON THE VASCULAR TISSUE, DISRUPTING WATER AND NUTRIENT MOVEMENT. ATTACKS CAUSE TRUNK SCARS, BARK SHEDDING AND SPLITS, SUCKERING, SAP LEAKAGE, CROWN DIEBACK, AND TREE DEATH. THIS PROJECT WILL ENGAGE A TEAM OF EXPERTS TO ADDRESS BORER MANAGEMENT CONCERNS THAT CROSS COMMODITIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS. THE PROPOSAL WILL ADDRESS: WHICH CHRYSOBOTHRIS SPECIES ARE PRESENT IN SPECIALTY CROPS (OBJECTIVE 1), WHEN AND HOW FEMALES INFEST CROP FIELDS (OBJECTIVE 2), HOW GROWERS CAN BETTER MONITOR BORERS IN THEIR FIELDS (OBJECTIVE 3), THE ROLE PRODUCTION CONDITIONS PLAY IN PROMOTING ATTACKS AND HOW THOSE CONDITIONS CAN BE MITIGATED (OBJECTIVE 4), THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TOOLS AGAINST BORERS IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS (OBJECTIVE 5), AND TOOLS ALLOWING GROWERS TO SELECT CONTROL METHODS THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFITS WHILE ALSO MEETING CONSUMER PREFERENCES AND MARKET DEMANDS (OBJECTIVE 6). EXPERIMENTS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN NURSERY AND ORCHARD SETTINGS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLATHEADED BORERS ACROSS ALL EFFECTED COMMODITIES. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE GOALS OF SCRI BY ADDRESSING THREATS FROM PESTS, IMPROVING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY AND INCORPORATING NEW TECHNOLOGY INTO BORER MANAGEMENT.

** 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 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL COLLABORATE WITH ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, AND LANGSTON UNIVERSITY TO HOST THE 1890 CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT (COE-NREE): A CLIMATE SMART APPROACH. THE PRIMARY GOALS AND THRUST AREAS OF THE COE-NREE ARE 1) NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION, 2) SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, 3) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND EQUITY, AND 4) WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. THESE FOUR THRUST AREAS WILL PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AMONG 1890 INSTITIUTIONS AND NOVEL APPROACHES TO TACKLE CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS. THROUGH THIS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH, THIS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE WILL DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO CONSERVE AND PROMOTE NATURAL RESOURCES, EXPLORE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, AND DEVELOP CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE COE-NREE WILL HOST A VARIETY OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, AND FACULTY AVAILABLE FOR ALL 1890 INSTITUTIONS. WE WILL DEVELOP THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH A VARIETY OF PROJECT PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTERS, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AGENCY, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACADEMY. COLLECTIVELY, THE COE-NREE WILL PROVIDE A COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE NOVEL SCIENCE AS IT RELATES TO GLOBAL CHANGE, WHICH WILL BENEFIT A VARIETY OF FEDERAL, STATE, NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (TSU) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A STATE-OF-THE-ART FOOD BIOSCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITY AND A CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY AND PROCESS INNOVATION TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION AND HEALTH. THESE TWO WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES WILL HOUSE ACADEMIC, RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS IN THE DISCIPLINE OF FOOD SCIENCE AND ALLOW FOR AN INCREASED CAPACITY TO CONDUCT GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH AND TRAIN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE ON FOOD SAFETY, MATERIAL SCIENCE, FOOD BIO-ENGINEERING, NUTRITION AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS. THIS FACILITY WOULD SUPPORT THE TRAINING AND TEACHING OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPING PROTOCOLS FOR ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH, DETECTION AND CONTROL OF FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES. FURTHERMORE, FACULTY AND STUDENTS WILL BE BETTER PREPARED TO CONDUCT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROPOSED FOOD BIOSCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITY WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR TSU AND ITS STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE DYNAMIC FOOD AND NUTRITION INDUSTRIES IN TENNESSEE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD. THE PILOT FACILITY (I.E., CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY AND PROCESS INNOVATION) WILL HOUSE INCUBATION SUITES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND A SENSORY ANALYSIS LAB FOR ASSESSING NEW PRODUCTS AND FORMULATIONS. THESE FACILITIES WILL HAVE LASTING AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC AND IN INNOVATION AND CREATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE AND PRODUCTS.

STEM, LITERACY AND COMPUTATION IN EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL LEADERS (SLICE-SL)

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING INNOVATION TO MEET THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. TSU IS DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS THAT AIM TO KEEP U.S. PRODUCERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PRODUCTIVITY, PROMOTE STRENGTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR FOOD SYSTEMS, AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY OF COMMUNITIES IN TENNESSEE AND ACROSS THE NATION. TSU LEVERAGES CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES AND FACULTY EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH RESEARCH WITH LONG-TERM, MEANINGFUL IMPACT. WE FOCUS ON 1) ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: WE ARE SAFEGUARDING AND ENHANCING OUR NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, THROUGH COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY, PRODUCERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND GOVERNMENT; 2) ENRICHING OUR ECONOMY: OUR PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ALL FACETS OF AGRIBUSINESS AND HELP TENNESSEANS BUILD AND PROTECT WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, WHICH IN TURN BOOSTS THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES; 3) STRENGTHENING OUR HEALTH: AS A LEADER IN NUTRITION, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE FUEL IN NOVATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF HEALTHY, SAFE FOOD FOR CONSUMERS WHILE PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES; 4) SUPPORTING FOOD, FIBER, AND ENERGY SYSTEMS: OUR WORK ENHANCES THE SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF U.S. FOOD, FUEL, AND FIBER SUP PLIES AND AIMS TO DELIVER DISCOVERIES USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY THAT PROVIDES PRODUCERS WITH CUSTOMIZABLE SOLUTIONS. EVANS-ALLEN FUNDING ENABLES THE TSU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE TO ADVANCE THESE EFFORTS BY CONDUCTING A WIDE RANGE OF RESEA RCH WHILE TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AGRICULTURAL LEADERS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR AGRIBUSINESS RESEARCH HELPS TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH; EXPAND AND DEVELOP DOMESTIC MARKETS; AND EQUIP STUDENTS, FARMERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS THEY N EED TO ADAPT TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING FOOD SYSTEM. CURRENT STUDIES INCLUDE EXAMINING HOW CONSUMER DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE, UPCYCLED FOODS IS RESHAPING MARKETS, CREATING NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, AND REDUCING WASTE. OUR ANIMAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING RESILIENCE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY IN LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS. BY IDENTIFYING TRAITS AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE ANIMAL HEALTH, FERTILITY, AND GROWTH, OUR SCIENTISTS ARE SUPPORTING PRODUCERS IN BUILDING STRONGER, MORE EFFICIENT HERDS. OUR FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH ADVANCES UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DIET AND INNOVATION SHAPE HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CONSUMER WELL-BEING. WE ARE DEVELOPING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE NUTRITION, EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHIER CHOICES, AND STRENGTHEN RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS. OUR NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH ADVANCES SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS BY IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH, OPTIMIZING NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT, AND REDUCING RELIANCE ON CHEMICAL INPUTS. THROUGH INNOVATIONS SUCH AS INTEGRATED FORAGES, COVER CROPS, AND DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS, OUR RESEARCHERS ARE ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY WHILE CONSERVING ECOSYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING FARM PROFITABILITY ACROSS TENNESSEE AND BEYOND. OUR PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH DEVELOPS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT CROPS, ENHANCE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, AND REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY ADVANCING DISEASE DETECTION, PEST AND WEED MANAGEMENT, AND RESOURCE-EFFICIENT PRACTICES. SUCH INNOVATIONS ARE STRENGTHENING PLANT HEALTH, SUPPORTING GROWER PROFITABILITY, AND FOSTERING RESILIENT NURSERY AND CROP SYSTEMS THAT ENSURE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. OUR FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE RESEARCH PROMOTES HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES BY ADVANCING FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, THESE EFFORTS ARE EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ADOPT SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE THEIR LONG-TERM QUALITY OF LIFE.

THROUGH THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, THE GOAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS TO CREATE AND COMMUNICATE NEW KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HUMANKIND, FOCUSING ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES FACED BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CITIZENS OF TENNESSEE, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. RESEARCH IN TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURE IS ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUES DESCRIBED BELOW. ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SAFEGUARDING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, RESOURCE AND PERSONAL CONTEXTS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY, PRODUCERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND GOVERNMENT, WE ARE HELPING PRESERVE A DIVERSE AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ENRICHING OUR ECONOMY HELPING FARMS AND AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES BECOME MORE PROFITABLE AND INDIVIDUALS BECOME FINANCIALLY SECURE BOOSTS THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES. OUR PROGRAMS STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ALL FACETS OF AGRIBUSINESS, AND IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL LITERACY OF TENNESSEANS AND BEYOND SO THEY MAY BUILD AND PROTECT WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. STRENGTHENING OUR HEALTH MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES IS IMPORTANT FOR HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND EVEN OUR PLANET. AS A LEADER IN NUTRITION, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE ARE WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AFFECT OVERALL HEALTH. SUPPORTING FOOD, FIBER, AND ENERGY SYSTEMS SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ARE KEY TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF TENNESSEANS AND SUPPORTING A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION. WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO DELIVER DISCOVERIES USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY THAT WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMIZABLE SOLUTIONS FOR PRODUCERS. 2 OUR RESEARCH ADDRESSES THESE CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH FACULTY GROUPS IN THE PLANT, ANIMAL, FOOD, AND HUMAN SCIENCES. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SCIENTISTS WORKING TO SOLVE CURRENT AND EMERGING CHALLENGES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLY FEEDING AN EVER-GROWING POPULATION UNDER VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL COMPLICATIONS. IN THE AREA OF AGRIBUSINESS, WE PREPARE STUDENTS, FARMERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE USE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF A DYNAMIC AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM. RESEARCH IN ANIMAL SCIENCE IS DIRECTED AT IMPROVING LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS BY GENERATING NOVEL FINDINGS THAT IMPACT ANIMAL WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE. ONGOING FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE SAFETY, QUALITY, SHELF-LIFE, NUTRIENT PROFILE AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF NOVEL FOOD INGREDIENTS, DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING ADVANCED AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR FOOD PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, PACKAGING, AND SANITATION TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE PRESENCE OF FO ODBORNE PATHOGENS. RESEARCH IN NATURAL RESOURCES USES MULTIDISCIPLINE APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND AND ATTENUATE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, LAND DEGRADATION, LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, EMERGING CONTAMINANTS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC STRESSORS. PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH INCL UDES DIVERSE FIELDS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WITH A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AND APPLYING SCIENTIFIC AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCE LOSSES FROM DISEASE, INSECT PESTS, AND TOXIC METAL STRESS. TO ADDRESS THE WELL-BEING AND HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, RESEARCH IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOURCES.

EVANS ALLEN PROJECT ABSTRACT THROUGH THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, THE GOAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS TO CREATE AND COMMUNICATE NEW KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HUMANKIND, FOCUSING ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES FACED BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CITIZENS OF TENNESSEE, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. RESEARCH IN TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURE IS ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUES DESCRIBED BELOW. ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SAFEGUARDING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, RESOURCE AND PERSONAL CONTEXTS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY, PRODUCERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND GOVERNMENT, WE ARE HELPING PRESERVE A DIVERSE AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ENRICHING OUR ECONOMY HELPING FARMS AND AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES BECOME MORE PROFITABLE AND INDIVIDUALS BECOME FINANCIALLY SECURE BOOSTS THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES. OUR PROGRAMS STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ALL FACETS OF AGRIBUSINESS, AND IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL LITERACY OF TENNESSEANS AND BEYOND SO THEY MAY BUILD AND PROTECT WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. STRENGTHENING OUR HEALTH MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES IS IMPORTANT FOR HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND EVEN OUR PLANET. AS A LEADER IN NUTRITION, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE ARE WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AFFECT OVERALL HEALTH. SUPPORTING FOOD, FIBER, AND ENERGY SYSTEMS SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ARE KEY TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF TENNESSEANS AND SUPPORTING A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION. WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO DELIVER DISCOVERIES USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY THAT WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMIZABLE SOLUTIONS FOR PRODUCERS. 2 OUR RESEARCH ADDRESSES THESE CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH FACULTY GROUPS IN THE PLANT, ANIMAL, FOOD, AND HUMAN SCIENCES. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SCIENTISTS WORKING TO SOLVE CURRENT AND EMERGING CHALLENGES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLY FEEDING AN EVER-GROWING POPULATION UNDER VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL COMPLICATIONS. IN THE AREA OF AGRIBUSINESS, WE PREPARE STUDENTS, FARMERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE USE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF A DYNAMIC AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM. RESEARCH IN ANIMAL SCIENCE IS DIRECTED AT IMPROVING LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS BY GENERATING NOVEL FINDINGS THAT IMPACT ANIMAL WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE. ONGOING FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE SAFETY, QUALITY, SHELF-LIFE, NUTRIENT PROFILE AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF NOVEL FOOD INGREDIENTS, DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING ADVANCED AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR FOOD PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, PACKAGING, AND SANITATION TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE PRESENCE OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS. RESEARCH IN NATURAL RESOURCES USES MULTIDISCIPLINE APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND AND ATTENUATE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, LAND DEGRADATION, LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, EMERGING CONTAMINANTS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC STRESSORS. PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH INCLUDES DIVERSE FIELDS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WITH A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AND APPLYING SCIENTIFIC AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCE LOSSES FROM DISEASE, INSECT PESTS, AND TOXIC METAL STRESS. TO ADDRESS THE WELL-BEING AND HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, RESEARCH IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOURCES.

THROUGH THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, THE GOAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS TO CREATE AND COMMUNICATE NEW KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HUMANKIND, FOCUSING ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES FACED BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CITIZENS OF TENNESSEE, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. RESEARCH IN TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURE IS ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUES DESCRIBED BELOW. ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SAFEGUARDING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, RESOURCE AND PERSONAL CONTEXTS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY, PRODUCERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND GOVERNMENT, WE ARE HELPING PRESERVE A DIVERSE AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ENRICHING OUR ECONOMY HELPING FARMS AND AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES BECOME MORE PROFITABLE AND INDIVIDUALS BECOME FINANCIALLY SECURE BOOSTS THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES. OUR PROGRAMS STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF ALL FACETS OF AGRIBUSINESS, AND IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL LITERACY OF TENNESSEANS AND BEYOND SO THEY MAY BUILD AND PROTECT WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. STRENGTHENING OUR HEALTH MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES IS IMPORTANT FOR HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND EVEN OUR PLANET. AS A LEADER IN NUTRITION, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE ARE WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AFFECT OVERALL HEALTH. FROM FOOD SAFETY TO DISEASE PREVENTION AND MAINTENANCE TO THE STATE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP AMERICANS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SUPPORTING FOOD, FIBER, AND ENERGY SYSTEMS SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ARE KEY TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF TENNESSEANS AND SUPPORTING A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION. WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO DELIVER DISCOVERIES USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY THAT WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMIZABLE SOLUTIONS FOR PRODUCERS. UTILIZING FACULTY IN THE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SCIENCES, OUR RESE ARCH ADDRESSES THESE CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH FACULTY GROUPS IN THE PLANT, ANIMAL, FOOD, AND HUMAN SCIENCES. THESE FACULTY-LED GROUPS FACILITATE THE IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES WITHIN OUR CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SCIE NTISTS WORKING TO SOLVE CURRENT AND EMERGING CHALLENGES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLY FEEDING AN EVER-GROWING POPULATION UNDER VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL COMPLICATIONS. THIS RESEARCH ALSO BUILDS HUMAN AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITYNEEDED BY A VARIETY OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NONPROFIT EMPLOYERS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR. ALSO STUDIED ARE WAYS TO DEVELOP HUMAN CAPACITY AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP WITHIN COMMUNITIES. MUCH RESEARCH IN THIS AREA ALSO IDENTIFIES THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS LECTURE-CAPTURE, DRONES, ROBOTS, EXTENDED REALITY, AND 360-DEGREE VIDEO. IN THE AREA OF AGRIBUSINESS, WE HAVE STRONG APPLIED-RESEARCH COMPONENT. WE PREPARE STUDENTS, FARMERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE USE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF A DYNAMIC AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM. THE RESEARCH AREA EMPHASIZES PROMOTING, DEVELOPING, AND IMPROVING THE UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH, OUTREACH CAPABILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES INVOLVING AGRIBUSINESSES, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES. MAIN ACTIVITIES INCLUDE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE SOLE OR COMBINATION OF STRATEGIES FOR PROFITABILITY, AND THE SUSTAINABILITY, SURVIVAL, EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AGRICULTURALOPERATIONS, PARTICULARLY SMALL FARM OPERATIONS. ANTICIPATED RESULTS INCLUDE FARMERS' ADOPTION OF NEW CROPS; INVESTMENT FOR ALTERNATE INCOME DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES SUCH AS AGRITOURISM; ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE ON BENEFITS AND COSTS OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES; IMPROVED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING STRATEGIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS. RESEARCH IN ANIMAL SCIENCE IS DIRECTED AT IMPROVING LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS BY GENERATING NOVEL FINDINGS THAT IMPACT ANIMAL WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE. SUB-DISCIPLINES SUCH AS GENETICS, HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY ARE INTEGRATED IN THE POULTRY AND RUMINANT LIVESTOCK RESEARCH ENDEAVORS. RESEARCH SPANS FROM BASIC, MOLECULAR MODELS TO APPLIED, WHOLE-ANIMAL SYSTEMS. PRIMARY END-USERS OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS THAT ARE OFTEN SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED, RESOURCE-LIMITED OWNER-OPERATORS OF SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES. WE HAVE RESEARCH EFFORTS DIRECTED AT ELUCIDATING, MOLECULARLY AND FUNCTIONALLY, ANIMAL IMMUNE AND METABOLIC GENES. IN PARTICULAR, THOSE GENES THAT HAVE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL. WE ARE USING COMBINED APPROACHES OF BIOINFORMATICS, GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TO ELUCIDATE GENES OR GENE FAMILIES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT IN ANIMAL HEALTH. SOME OF OUR ANIMAL PRODUCTION RESEARCH EMPHASIZES GOAT PRODUCTION. PROJECTS HAVE FOCUSED ON EVALUATING BREEDS TO GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO BEST USE THE DIFFERENT BREEDS FOR ENHANCED COMMERCIAL MEAT GOAT PRODUCTION. PRODUCERS HAVE MODIFIED THEIR GENETIC MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING LEADING TO IMPROVED HERD HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, AND ECONOMIC RETURN. IN POULTRY RESEARCH, THE CURRENT DEMAND FOR POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS REQUIRES A GAIN IN GENETIC POTENTIAL COMPLEMENTED WITH NUTRITIONAL REGIMENS THAT MAXIMIZE GROWTH AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF FEED UTILIZATION. EXAMINATION OF OPTIMAL FEED COMPOSITION AND ALLOCATION IS OPTIMIZING SPECIFIC AMINO ACID CONCENTRATIONS. FEEDING THESE NEW LEVELS OF AMINO ACIDS WILLREDUCE FEEDING COST IN GUINEA FOWL PRODUCTION. OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION IS ADDRESSED IN A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING A SMARTPHONE APPLICATION FOR WIC FAMILIES THAT WILL PROVIDE TOOLS TO MAKE USING THEIR BENEFITS EASIER WHILE PROVIDING HEALTHY RECIPES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND A GOAL TRACKING TOOL. HEALTHY EATING EXTENDS BEYOND LIMITING INTAKE OF FATS AND CALORIES. OUR NUTRITION RESEARCH IS AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS AND MECHANISMS OF FOOD-DERIVED BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND THEIR ROLE IN COMBATING HUMAN CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH CANCER, OBESITY, AND DIABETES. RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT HUMAN CHRONIC DISEASE CAN BE PREVENTED OR TREATED BY SELECTING FOODS HAVING HIGH LEVELS OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS. FOOD IS A CORNERSTONE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE. ONGOING FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE SAFETY, QUALITY, SHELF-LIFE, NUTRIENT PROFILE AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF NOVEL FOOD INGREDIENTS, DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING ADVANCED AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR FOOD PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, PACKAGING, AND SANITATION TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE PRESENCE OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS. ALSO, WE ARE DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF PERSISTENT RESERVOIRS OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND MITIGATING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE ACROSS THE FOOD CHAIN. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW WAYS TO REMOVE PATHOGENS FROM FOODS BY PRECISELY DEFINING THE LIMITS OF USING UV LIGHT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PASTEURIZATION TO ACHIEVE A SPECIFIED LETHALITY FOR DEADLY AGENTS IN FOODS. THIS PROCESS IS USING ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL MODELS. TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE APPLICATION TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF SARS-COV-2 AND OTHER VIRUSES. OTHER FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH IS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF CAMPYLOBACTER. THIS ORGANISM IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DIARRHEAL ILLNESS IN THE UNITED STATES. DUE TO THE PREVALENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER IN RAW CHICKEN PRODUCTS, ROUTINE AND RELIABLE MONITORING IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE ITS IMPACT UPON HUMAN HEALTH. THE METHOD BEING DEVELOPED IS INTENDED TO BE USED BY FOOD INDUSTRY AND REGULATORY TESTING LABORATORIES TO FACILITATE IMPROVED IDENTIFICATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER IN PROCESSING FACILITIES AND FINAL PRODUCTS. TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT CONTAMINANTS IN FOODS, WE HAVE RESEARCH THAT HAS GENERATED A SERIES OF HOTSPOT MAPS THAT WILL BE USED IN WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS TO ILLUSTRATE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES ON PRODUCER'S FARMS. BY USING PERSONALIZED HOTSPOT MAPS THAT DISPLAY THE FREQUENCY OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA IN FARMS, PRODUCERS WILL MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON THE USAGE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN THEIR LIVESTOCK, THUS REDUCING THE THREAT OF CONTAMINATION OF FOOD CROPS FERTILIZED WITH THE ANTIMICROBIAL-RESISTANT MANURE. RESEARCH IN NATURAL RESOURCES USES MULTIDISCIPLINE APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND AND ATTENUATE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, LAND DE GRADATION, LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, EMERGING CONTAMINANTS, AND ANTHROPOGENIC STRESSORS. TRADITIONAL AND CUTTING-EDGE CHEMISTRY METHODS ARE USED TO STUDY FATE OF CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, THE INTERACTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES WITH SOILS AND WATER AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES. BIOTECHNOLOGY IS USED TO STUDY AND RECTIFY HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, WILDLIFE DISEASES AND PARASITES, MONITOR RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND SOIL HEALTH. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, REMOTE SENSING AND ADVANCED STATISTICS ARE USED TO MODEL CLIMATE CHANGE ON A LARGE SCALE, WILDLIFE ECOSYSTEMS, DETERMINE THE VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND DOCUMENT WATER RESOURCES. OUR RESEARCH TAKES PLACE IN CHEMISTRY LABS, COMPUTER LABS, RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS AS WE SEEK TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THE NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCES. IN ADDITION TO RESEARCH, WE BUILD INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND STRENGTHEN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM THROUGH BRIDGE PROGRAMS, STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND MENTORING, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AGGRESSIVE PROPOSAL WRITING AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A STRONG DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT REFLECTS OUR NATION'S DEMOGRAPHICS. PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH INCLUDES DIVERSE FIELDS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WITH A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AND APPLYING SCIENTIFIC AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCE LOSSES FROM DISEASE, INSECT PESTS, AND TOXIC METAL STRESS; IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT STRESS TOLERANCE MECHANISMS FOR HANDLING HEAT, DROUGHT AND OTHER STRESS FACTORS. RESEARCH INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS FOR REDUCING PESTICIDE INPUTS IN CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS SUCH AS MICROBIAL-BASED PRODUCTS, PHEROMONES, AND PLANT OILS, PLANT GENETIC RESISTANCE AND BY BROADENING SOYBEAN GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR FUTURE GAINS IN CROP PRODUCTIVITY AND PREPAREDNESS FOR EMERGING NEW DISEASES AND INSECT PESTS. CROPS ADDRESSED ARE DIVERSE, INCLUDING VEGETABLES, CORN, SOYBEANS, ORNAMENTAL NURSERY CROPS, BIOENERGY CROPS, HYDROPONICS, AND URBAN AGRICULTURE. TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS RESEARCH INCLUDE INCREASING CROP DIVERSITY BY INTRODUCING NEW EXOTIC VEGETABLES AND AMARANTH, DEVELOPING NEW CROP ALTERNATIVES LIKE HEMP, AND BIOFUEL ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS PERENNIAL SWITCHGRASS AND WINTER CANOLA THAT HAVE IMPROVED DIGESTIBILITY AND PROCESSING, AND DEVELOPING NEW PLANTS TOLERANT TO HEAT STRESS. OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ON BEST CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, NITROGEN APPLICATION RATES TO ENHANCE YIELD AND FEEDSTOCK CHARACTERISTICS, THE BEST WINTER CANOLA VARIETIES AND NITROGEN RATES FOR TENNESSEE DELIVER SERVICES OF VALUE TO SOCIETY. AN OVERALL LACK OF CROP DIVERSITY IN THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES INCREASES THE THREATS OF DISEASE EPIDEMICS, INSECT PEST OUTBREAKS OR RISKS OF CROP FAILURE DUE TO ABIOTIC STRESSES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE CROPS FOR PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS. RESEARCH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE HAS PRODUCED THE RELEASE OF TWO GRAIN AMARANTH VARIETIES AND THE RELEASE OF TWO GRAIN LEGUME VARIETIES. THESE ALTERNATIVE CROPS GIVE PRODUCERS OPTIONS IN SELECTING PRODUCTION MARKETS. ANOTHER PROGRAM LEADING TO CROP DIVERSITY IS EXAMINING THE ROLE OF SWEET SORGHUM AS A POTENTIAL DEDICATED US BIOFUEL CROP. THIS PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHING INNOVATIVE PROTOCOLS FOR SWEET SORGHUM GENETIC ENHANCEMENT. AS MORE KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE EARTH, THE ROLE OF ANTIBIOTIC CONTAMINATION ON SOIL HEALTH IS BEING EXAMINED. MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY IS A MAJOR CONCERN IN THE PRODUCTION OF SOME CROPS, SOME OF OUR RESEARCH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN THE PRESENCE OF ANTIBIOTICS. THREATS FROM DISEASE AND INSECT PESTS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN A NUMBER OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS. PLANT DISEASE IS A MAJOR THREAT TO GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION COSTING THE US ECONOMY AN ESTIMATED $33 BILLION ANNUALLY IN YIELD LOSS. WE HAVE RESEARCH THAT IS FOCUSED ON UNEARTHING THE MOLECULAR SECRETS OF PLANT-BACTERIAL INTERACTIONS THAT RESULT IN TWO IMPORTANT DISEASES OF VEGETABLES - BACTERIAL SOFT ROT OF ALL VEGETABLES AND BACTERIAL WILT OF CUCURBITS CROPS. RESEARCH HAS IDENTIFIED ACCESSIONS RESISTANT TO WILT DISEASE AND WHICH CAN BE EMPLOYED IN A BREEDING PROGRAM FOR RESISTANCE CULTIVARS. OTHER DISEASE RESEARCH IS EXAMINING THE USE OF BIOCONTROL AGENTS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT. THESE ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICAL FUNGICIDES WILL PROVIDE TOOLS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ESPECIALLY IN ORGANIC FARMING AND REDUCE USAGE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS IN CONVENTIONAL FARMING. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) OF INSECT PESTS IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THAT FOCUSES ON MANAGING PESTS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CULTURAL, PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL METHODS. IPM IS A CROP PROTECTION PRACTICE THAT IS COST EFFECTIVE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. TO FULFILL THIS NEED, WE CONDUCT RESEARCH FOCUSED ON CONDUCTING APPLIED RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS AND EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS ON IPM THROUGH TRAINING AND PUBLICATIONS. IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EXTENSION AGENTS AND IPM WORKSHOPS FOR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ARE CONDUCTED ON STATE-WIDE BASIS IN EAST, MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE REGIONS. IN OTHER INSECT RESEARCH, JAPANESE MAPLE SCALE RESEARCH, TIMED APPLICATIONS OF GROWTH REGULATORS AND ANNUAL MANAGEMENT PLANS DEVELOPED AT THE TSU NURSERY RESEARCH CENTER HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY TENNESSEE GROWERS, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF REJECTED SHIPMENTS AND CULLED TREES. INVASIVE INSECTS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN IN NURSERY PRODUCTION. OUR RESEARCH IS PRODUCING DATA FOR NEW PESTICIDE REGULATIONS FOR FIRE ANT, JAPANESE BEETLE AND OTHER IMPORTANT INSECTS THAT ARE REDUCING WORKER EXPOSURE RISK, SAVING PRODUCERS TIME, AND OVERALL REDUCING THE COST OF PRODUCTION. MORE PRODUCER SAVINGS ARE EXPECTED WITH NEW PROTOCOLS UNDER DEVELOPMENT. SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH WILL LEAD TO NEW PRACTICES THAT RESULTS IN REDUCTION OF INPUTS (PESTICIDES, FERTILIZER, WATER, LABOR, ETC.) IN THE NURSERY PRODUCTION SYSTEM, THUS ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY, IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT, REDUCING PRODUCTION COSTS FOR GROWERS, IMPROVING CROP QUALITY, AND BROADENING THE MARKET FOR TENNESSEE GREEN INDUSTRY PRODUCTS. TO ADDRESS THE WELL-BEING AND HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, RESEARCH IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH FCS EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THEIR HEALTH AND W ELL-BEING, BUT ALSO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOURCES. THIS GROUP IS CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASES, FOOD SECURITY VIA FOOD RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND OF COURSE, MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 AS WE LIVE THROUGH THE P ANDEMIC. TSU AGRICULTURE IS PROUD OF THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY OUR FACULTY AND STAFF AS WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE WELFARE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CITIZENS OF TENNESSEE, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO FULFILL OUR UNIQUE ROLE AS AN HBCU LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION IN TENNESSEE AND TO CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUCCESS.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY CAPACITY

ROLE OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR SIGNALING IN CARDIAC ISCHEMIA

EARLY HEAD START/CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP

EXPANDS MARKETS FOR CLIMATE-SMART HEMP IN TENNESSEE AND SUPPORTS FARMERS WITH IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CENTER OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TARGETING CNTF TO INCREASE ADULT FOREBRAIN NEUROGENESIS

TRAINING INNATE IMMUNITY: A NEW APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF SEPSIS

RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AFFERENT MECHANISMS OF VAGAL NEUROMODULATION THERAPY

THE EXTENSION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT OF TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY'S LAND-GRANT MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. THE PROGRAM'S MISSION AND PURPOSE ARE TO PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED, PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO TENNESSEE RESIDENTS THROUGH INFORMAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AIMED AT ENHANCING THE STATE'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRENGTHS. TSU EXTENSION PLACES A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON REACHING OUT TO ASSIST FARMERS AND PRODUCERS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. TSU EXTENSION HAS A BROAD REACH, WITH COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS/EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN 62 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. THESE COUNTY PERSONNEL RECEIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL/TEACHING MATERIAL FROM TSU'S 23 CAMPUS-BASED EXTENSION FACULTY/SPECIALISTS. OUR PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED AROUND ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES IN FOUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AREAS: 1) AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR), WHICH ENHANCES URBAN AND RURAL PROSPERITY BY ASSISTING FARMERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN PRODUCING FIELD CROPS, RAISING LIVESTOCK, MANAGING FORESTLANDS, GROWING FRUIT CROPS, AND TENDING HOME GARDENS, ACTIVITIES THAT PRODUCE FOOD AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE AGROECOSYSTEM. THE ANR PROGRAM PROVIDES FARMERS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, FARM PROFITABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE, FOCUSING ON ENTOMOLOGY, FORESTRY, SOIL HEALTH, BIOENERGY, PLANT NUTRITION, HORTICULTURE, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE; 2) FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, WHICH IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF TENNESSEANS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS ON COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION, NUTRITION SECURITY, FAMILY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION; 3) EXTENSION 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WHICH FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE PREPARATION, STEM EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS; AND 4) COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUDES AGRIBUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING FOR FARMERS (MANAGEMENT, BASIC ACCOUNTING, ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES, BUDGETS, WHOLE-FARM PLANNING, LAND ACQUISITION, TAX MANAGEMENT) AS WELL AS TRAINING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES (BUSINESS PLANNING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MODERN MARKETING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT).

THE EXTENSION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT OF THE LAND-GRANT MISSION OF THE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RES EARCH-BASED, USEFUL, AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF TENNESSEE, THROUGH INFORMAL EDUCATION TO IMPROVE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. TSU'S COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM PUTS EXTRA EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THE LIMITED-RESOURCE FARMERS, PRODUCERS, AND OTHERS IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. AND THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. TSU EXTENSION HAS COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS/EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN 60 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. OUR COUNTY PERSONNEL RECEIVE THEIR TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL/TEACHING MATERIAL FROM THE 20 CAMPUS-BASED EXTENSION FACULTY/SPECIALISTS. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES IN FOUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES. I. AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR) THE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR) PROGRAMS FOCUSES ON ASSISTING FARMERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN GROWING FIELD CROPS OR HOME GARDENS TO PRODUCE FOOD AND ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE AGROECOSYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF RESEARCHBASED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO FARMERS TO ENHANCE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, FARM PROFITABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE ENTOMOLOGY, PLANT PATHOLOGY, SOIL HEALTH, BIOENERGY, PLANT NUTRITION, HORTICULTURE, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE ANR PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE THE RURAL PROSPERITY. II. FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES (FCS) FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION, NUTRITION SECURITY, FAMILY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH EDUCATION THROUGH THE EXTENSION AGENTS AND CAMPUS BASED FACULTY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE POPULATION. III. EXTENSION 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THE 4-H AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE PREPARATION, STEM EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. IV. COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE FOCUS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, TSU EXTENSION PROGRAM PROVIDES AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING TO FARMERS. THE TRAINING INCLUDES TOPICS ON MANAGEMENT, BASIC ACCOUNTING, ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES, BUDGETS, WHOLE-FARM PLANNING, LAND ACQUISITION, TAX MANAGEMENT, AND WHOLE FARM PLANNING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES ON BUSINESS PLANNING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MODERN MARKETING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM THE EXTENSION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT OF THE LAND-GRANT MISSION OF THE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED, USEFUL, AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF TENNESSEE, THROUGH INFORMAL EDUCATION TO IMPROVE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. TSU'S COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM PUTS EXTRA EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THE LIMITED-RESOURCE FARMERS, PRODUCERS, AND OTHERS IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. AND THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. TSU EXTENSION HAS COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS/EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN 60 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. OUR COUNTY PERSONNEL RECEIVE THEIR TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL/TEACHING MATERIAL FROM THE 20 CAMPUS-BASED EXTENSION FACULTY/SPECIALISTS. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES IN FOUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES. I. AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR) THE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR) PROGRAMS FOCUSES ON ASSISTING FARMERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN GROWING FIELD CROPS OR HOME GARDENS TO PRODUCE FOOD AND ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE AGROECOSYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM PROV IDES A WIDE VARIETY OF RESEARCHBASED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO FARMERS TO ENHANCE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, FARM PROFITABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE ENTOMOLOGY, PLANT PATHOLOGY, SOIL HEALTH, BIOENERGY, PLANT NUTRITION, HORTICULTURE, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE ANR PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE THE RURAL PROSPERITY. II. FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES (FCS) FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY NUTRITION EDUCATION, NUTRITION SECURITY, FAMILY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH EDUCATION THROUGH THE EXTENSION AGENTS AND CAMPUS BASED FACULTY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE POPULATION. III. EXTENSION 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THE 4-H AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE PREPARATION, STEM EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. IV. COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE FOCUS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, TSU EXTENSION PROGRAM PROVIDES AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING TO FARMERS. THE TRAINING INCLUDES TOPICS ON MANAGEMENT, BASIC ACCOUNTING, ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES, BUDGETS, WHOLE-FARM PLANNING, LAND ACQUISITION, TAX MANAGEMENT, AND WHOLE FARM PLANNING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES ON BUSINESS PLANNING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MODERN MARKETING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE LAND GRANT OUTREACH MISSION OF THE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS FULFILLED THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF THE TSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, HOUSED IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED, USEFUL, AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF TENNESSEE, THROUGH INFORMAL EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES FOR BETTER LIVING. TSU EXTENSION HAS COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS/EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ASSISTANTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN 56 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. OUR COUNTY PERSONNEL RECEIVE THEIR TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL/TEACHING MATERIAL FROM THE 20 CAMPUS-BASED EXTENSION FACULTY/SPECIALISTS. ALL EXTENSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING FOUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR); FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES (FCS/HS); 4 - H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (4-H YD), AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CRED). SOME OF OUR SIGNATURE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE LISTED BELOW: O TSU SUPPLEMENTARY NUTRITION ASSISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGE, MINORITY, WOMEN AND LIMITED FARMERS O OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGE, MINORITY, WOMEN AND LIMITED FARMERS O CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM O TENNESSEE (TSU) NEW FARMER ACADEMY O EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH AND ADULTS O OUTREACH EDUCATION IN WOMEN'S PRISON IN NASHVILLE O PLANT NUTRITION DEFICIENCY DIGITAL DIAGNOSIS GLOBAL OUTREACH EDUCATION O TENNESSEE NURSERY CROPS EXTENSION OUTREACH EDUCATION O BIOFUELS, BIOENERGY AND BIO-CHAR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM O TSU EXTENSION HEMP RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM O 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CAMPUS PROGRAMS O EXTENSION OUTREACH TO TEACH FOOD SAFETY, FOOD HANDLING AND FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS O TSU ANNUAL SMALL FARMS EXPO AND SMALL FARMER RECOGNITION PROGRAM THE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES/COMMUNITY RESOURCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (ANR/CRED) COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY FOCUSES ON ASSISTING FARMERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN GROWING CROPS FOR THE FIELD OR HOME GARDEN AND ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE AGROECOSYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING ON IMPORTANT TOPICS INCLUDING ENTOMOLOGY, PLANT PATHOLOGY, SOIL HEALTH, BIOENERGY, PLANT NUTRITION, HORTICULTURE, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE TO FARMERS TO ENHANCE THEIR AGRIBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE ADVANTAGES, IN TURN, PROVIDE BENEFITS TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND HELP ENHANCE RURAL PROSPERITY. PROVIDING THE SAME TYPE OF INFORMATION TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS FOR GARDEN PRODUCTION ENHANCES COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND PROVIDES FOR GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCY. IN 2022 - 2023 THE ANR/CRED PROGRAM AT TSU WILL FOCUS ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTED BELOW: O CONTINUE THE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY NEW FARMER ACADEMY PROVIDING HANDS-ON TRAINING TO NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS IN THREE REGIONAL TENNESSEE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE EIGHT-MONTH TRAINING PERIOD O CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT WITH COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNICATION KNOWLEDGE NEEDS OF AGENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND CONDUCT WORKSHOPS TO HELP EXTENSION AGENTS BETTER DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST REACH THEIR AUDIENCES. O WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOCUSED ON INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR VEGETABLES AND SMALL FRUITS TO GROWERS, SMALL FARMERS, BACKYARD AND COMMUNITY GARDENERS, TSU NEW FARMER ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS, MASTER GARDENERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC O ON-FARM VISITS (COMMERCIAL AND BACKYARD), LAB ASSESSMENTS OF POULTRY WATER SUPPLIES, AND FEEDING PROGRAM EVALUATIONS FOR POULTRY. POULTRY DRINKING WATER SANITIZER PRODUCTS WILL BE EVALUATED FOR THEIR EFFICACIES. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL BE PRESENTED TO POULTRY PRODUCERS, FLOCK OWNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS VIA ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, OUTREACH WEBINARS, AND ON-SITE TALKS. O EXTENSION AGENTS, GROWERS, HOBBYISTS AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS WILL BE TRAINED IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SELECTED VEGETABLES IN TENNESSEE. FARMERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH ORGANIC CERTIFICATION TRAINING. O PROVIDE IN-PERSON, HANDS-ON TRAINING TO FARMERS ON DRONE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE AND DRONE CERTIFICATION TRAINING TO FARMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. O ENGAGE WITH FARMERS ON INTERNATIONAL, ALTERNATIVE AND NICHE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT CROPS AND WORK WITH THEM ON MARKETING THESE CROPS, PROVIDE HORTICULTURAL TRAINING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE TSU COMMUNITY GARDEN AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS STATEWIDE WITH FOCUS ON SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED STAKEHOLDERS. O PROMOTE THE 4RS (RIGHT: SOURCE, RATE, TIME AND PLACE) NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION FOR CONTAINER GROWN PLANTS AND DIAGNOSIS OF THE VISUAL NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENT FOR NURSERY CROPS. O ENGAGE IN TRAINING FOR STAKEHOLDERS RELATED TO FOOD SAFETY AND THE FEDERAL INFORMATION SECURITY MODERNIZATION ACT (FISMA) O CONTINUE OFFERING EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LIKE CASE AND TRAINING ON NEW PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH TSU O PROVIDE AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING TO FARMERS FOCUSED ON MANAGEMENT, BASIC ACCOUNTING, ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES, BUDGETS, WHOLE-FARM PLANNING, LAND ACQUISITION, TAX MANAGEMENT, AND WHOLE FARM PLANNING IN 2022-23, EXTENSION 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL FOCUS ON WORKFORCE PREPARATION, LIFE SKILLS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT. CURRENTLY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, EXTENSION PROGRAM HAS THREE FACULTY SPECIALISTS ASSIGNED TO 4-H YD. THEY PLAN TO FOCUS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS AND STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS) EDUCATION. 4-H FACULTY/SPECIALISTS WILL TRAIN 4-H, ANR AND FCS AGENTS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION, TRAININGS AND PROGRAMS TO YOUTH IN TENNESSEE IN AREA OF STEM TEACHING METHODS, STEM SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN COMPUTER CODING, DRONE TECHNOLOGY, AND ROBOTICS. TSU EXTENSION AGENTS PLAN OF WORK WILL INCLUDE: VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT: AGENTS ARE RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND IMPLEMENTING ADULT VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. ADULT VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED TO LEAD PROJECT GROUPS AND JUDGING TEAMS. SCHOOL CLUBS: AGENTS ARE DELIVERING PROGRAMS PRIMARILY IN SCHOOL CLUBS. AGENTS ARE REACHING YOUTH IN GRADES 4TH-12TH PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON TENNESSEE ACADEMIC STANDARDS RELATED TO SCIENCE, COMMUNICATION, AND ETHICAL DECISION MAKING. LIVESTOCK PROJECTS: AGENTS ARE DELIVERING PROGRAMS IN EQUINE, POULTRY, AND LIVESTOCK TO FURTHER SKILLS IN DECISION MAKING, AGRICULTURAL LITERACY, STEM. YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH JUDGING EVENTS, LIVESTOCK EXHIBITION, AND SKILL-A-THONS. HEALTHY LIVING PROJECTS: AGENTS ARE DELIVERING PROGRAMS IN NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, FOOD PREPARATION, YOGA, AND TEEN DATING. YOUTH LEARN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND PERSONAL HEALTH THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES. SHOOTING SPORTS: AGENTS ARE DELIVERING PROGRAMS IN MARKSMANSHIP, THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF FIREARMS, THE PRINCIPLES OF HUNTING AND ARCHERY, AND CONSERVATION. YOUTH COMPETE IN MULTIPLE LEVELS (LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL) IN ACTIVITIES AND COMPETITIONS. FINANCIAL LITERACY GARDENING: AGENTS ARE DELIVERING PROGRAMS IN HOME HORTICULTURE AND PLANT SCIENCE. YOUTH LEARN ABOUT PLANT NUTRITION, PLANT MANAGEMENT, SOIL MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION. IN 2022-23, TSU EXTENSION FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE (FCS/HS) EXTENSION FACULTY AND AGENTS WILL FOCUS ON TWO KNOWLEDGE AREAS: KNOWLEDGE AREA - I: HEALTH EQUITY, WELLNESS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS: O *HEALTH EQUITY AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS BASED ON COOPERATIVE EXTENSIONS NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND WELL-BEING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: O NORMS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES O SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH O ROOT CAUSES OF STRUCTURAL INEQUITY O STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND VOICES WORKSHOPS O SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH TRAINING O HEALTH DISPARITIES/ HEALTH FACT SHEETS O SUBSTANCE USE/MENTAL <(>&<)> BEHAVIORAL HEALTH O ATTEND CONTENT-RELATED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE OPPORTUNITIES

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

MTSU APPLICATION FOR CARES STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DOE-EM) IS ENHANCING AND FOSTERING A SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSE DOE-EM WORKFORCE STEM PIPELINE. THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CPDP) AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS SHARED INTEREST RESEARCH PROGRAM (SIRP).

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

ETSU GEAR UP

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE CHILDREN EATING WELL (CHEW) FOR HEALTH

INNATE IMMUNITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION IN SEPSIS

MARC U*STAR PROGRAM AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

TENNESSEE SBDC CARES ACT

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN THE PURSUIT FOR COMPETITIVE AND ADEQUATE ACADEMIC/RESEARCH/EXTENSION PROGRAMS WHICH ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING, RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (TSU) IS COMMITTED TO INCREASE ITS TEACHING/RESEARCH/EXTENSION CAPACITY THROUGH THE REMODELING OF EXISTING AND ADDITION OF NEW FACILITIES. IN THIS APPLICATION, THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE IS PROPOSING TO RENOVATE AND ADD NEW TEACHING/RESEARCH/OUTREACH FACILITIES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: 1) CONSTRUCTION OF AN ANIMAL HANDLING FACILITY; 2) SUPPLEMENT CONSTRUCTION OF A BROILER HOUSE AND RENOVATION OF OTHER EXISTING POULTRY FACILITIES; 3) CONSTRUCTION OF GREENHOUSE TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND TEACHING OF THE PLANT SCIENCES; 4)RENOVATION OF THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER LABORATORY.THE PROPOSED FACILITIES WILL BE SITUATED AT THE TSU&#39;S MAIN CAMPUS - AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER AND EARLY LEARNING CENTER, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE CUTTING-EDGE EDUCATIONAL CAPABILITY TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING ESPECIALLY IN CLASSES, RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES. THESE FACILITIES WILL: 1) EXPAND CURRENT TEACHING EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE PRACTICAL AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, 2) ENGAGE STUDENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM IN CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES, 3) PROVIDE RESEARCH TRAINING TO STUDENTS (UNDERGRADUATE AND/OR GRADUATE) ENROLLED IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES, AND 4) ENHANCE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AIMED AT EDUCATING THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE CONSUMER.

TENNESSEE SBDC

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (MID-LEVEL ALLIANCE)

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TSU 1890 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

EARLY HEAD START

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

PURPOSE: THE RENOVATION OF A BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH BUILDING IS HIGHLY CRITICAL TOWARDS THE PROGRESS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF BIOLOGY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCH AND TEACH THE LATEST TECHNICAL SKILLS TO STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MODERNIZING TEACHING AND RESEARCH LABORATORY SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE NEW RESEARCH PLATFORMS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO FOSTER THE INTERACTION BETWEEN STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND INSTRUCTORS, ADVANCE SEVERAL BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH FIELD, PERFORM HIGH-LEVEL RESEARCH, AND TRAINING. THE RESEARCH LABS ARE INTENDED TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES, IMPLEMENT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH TECHNIQUES, AND ADD MEASURABLE VALUE TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO THE QUALITY OF RESEARCH SOLUTIONS UTILIZED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE RENOVATION PROJECT ARE STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WITH IMPROVEMENTS IN LABORATORY SPACE, LEARNING AND SUPERVISED PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES WILL BE ENHANCED. THE MODERNIZATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ALSO INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO UNDERTAKE AND SUPPORT LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. BESIDES THAT, DISCOVERIES AND ADVANCEMENTS MADE THROUGH THIS RESEARCH FACILITY WILL HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFIT PUBLIC HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY THAT WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO COMPLEX DISEASES AND CONDITIONS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NO SUBRECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OR PROPOSED.

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

SCIENCE FIRST!

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TSU 1890 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM - MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT ACCESS

1890 EXTENSION IN TENNESSEE

TRIAD: REFORMING GRADUATE EDUCATION BY INTEGRATING TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS TO DEEPEN SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING

1890 EXTENSION IN TENNESSEE

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

ENGAGING PARTNERS IN CARING COMMUNITIES (EPICC): BUILDING CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE SBDC

TENNESSEE SBDC

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

TENNESSEE SBDC

AN APPEARANCE-BASED INTERVENTION TO REDUCE TEEN SKIN CANCER RISK

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (JOHNSON CITY) UPWARD BOUND

VALUE-BASED MEDICAL STUDENT EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM - APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: DIVISION OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, JAMES H. QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (ETSU) ADDRESS: PO BOX 70412, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37614-1709 PROJECT DIRECTOR: THOMAS G. KINCER II, MD CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS: 423-439-6758 (VOICE); 423-439-7720 (FAX) E-MAIL ADDRESS: KINCERT@ETSU.EDU; WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.ETSU.EDU/COM/RURALPROGRAMS/ FUNDS REQUESTED: $3,350,908 IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS OVER 2 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS FUNDING PRIORITY: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS LOCATED IN THE UNDERSERVED RURAL REGION OF SOUTH CENTRAL APPALACHIA, EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY-QUILLEN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (QUILLEN) HAS MAINTAINED THE MISSION OF EDUCATING MEDICAL STUDENTS TO PRACTICE PRIMARY CARE IN UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES. AS A TESTAMENT TO SUCCESS, QUILLEN RANKED 5TH IN THE NATION FOR GRADUATES PRACTICING IN HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS ACCORDING TO THE 2024 US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, AND OVER 50% OF OUR GRADUATES ENTER PRIMARY CARE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FOCUSED EFFORTS ON RECRUITMENT OF APPLICANTS MEETING OUR MISSION, DEVELOPING COLLEGE PATHWAY PROGRAMS OFFERING GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCES FOR STUDENTS FROM RURAL BACKGROUNDS, HAVING A DEDICATED FOUR-YEAR RURAL PRIMARY CARE TRACK, A THREE-YEAR TRACK INTO OUR PRIMARY CARE RESIDENCIES, AND A CURRICULUM FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT REQUIRES DEDICATED PATIENT CARE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WORKFORCE PROJECTIONS SHOW TENNESSEE WILL HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE OF 38% BY 2035. TO COMBAT THAT PREDICTION QUILLEN PLANS TO INCREASE THE MEDICAL STUDENT CLASS SIZE BY 25% BY 2026. ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS AND UPHOLDING OUR MISSION NECESSITATES A NEED TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS, CREATE NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH RURAL HEALTHCARE PRACTICES, HIRE AND DEVELOP ADDITIONAL FACULTY AND STAFF, POTENTIALLY CREATE A REGIONAL CAMPUS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY, AND CONSIDER EXPANSION OF OUR PRIMARY CARE RESIDENCIES. TRIBAL, RURAL, UNDERSERVED EDUCATION EXPANSION, TRUEE, WILL EXPAND EXISTING PRIMARY CARE CURRICULUM, INCORPORATE STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL NATIONS INTO OUR COLLEGE PATHWAY PROGRAM, INCREASE STUDENT PLACEMENT AT REGIONAL FREE AND CHARITABLE CLINICS PARTNER WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST RURAL PRIMARY CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN TENNESSEE TO CREATE ADDITIONAL CLINICAL TRAINING SITES AND DEVELOP A REGIONAL MEDICAL CAMPUS, AND OFFSET THE COST OF TUITION FOR STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS BY CREATING TUITION AND MEDICAL SPANISH SCHOLARSHIPS. TO MEET THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, WE WILL ACCOMPLISH AND EVALUATE THE FOLLOWING PROJECT OBJECTIVES: EXPAND EXISTING MEDICAL STUDENT CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS THE TRIBAL, RURAL, AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN TENNESSEE, INCLUDING THE RURAL PRIMARY CARE TRACK, TRI-TRAILS, AND UNDERSERVED MEDICINE CLERKSHIP; RECRUIT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL, RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO QCOM THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF THE EQUIP PROGRAM (EXTENDING QUILLEN TO THE UNDERSERVED THROUGH AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM); ENGAGE MEDICAL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PRACTICING PRIMARY CARE IN TRIBAL, RURAL, AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN STATE AND NATIONAL RURAL AND PRIMARY CARE CONFERENCES, STUDENT INTEREST GROUPS, TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS, AND RESIDENCY MATCH SUPPORT; AND EXPAND AND ENHANCE THE NETWORK OF RURAL AND UNDERSERVED CLINICAL TRAINING SITES, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING NEW CLINICAL SITES FOR MEDICAL STUDENT ROTATIONS. WE ARE LEADERS IN EDUCATING FUTURE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS FOR TENNESSEE AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL APPALACHIAN REGION, ESPECIALLY THOSE DESIRING TO PRACTICE IN UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY OUR FREE AND CHARITABLE CLINICS, PROVIDED LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH THE CLASS EXPANSION AND ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED NEED FOR MORE CLINIC EXPERIENCES. ALREADY HAVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, PROVEN SUCCESSES AND A DEDICATED GOAL OF EXPANSION MAKE US A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR THIS FUNDING.

STUDIES TO ADVANCE RECOVERY SUPPORTS (STARS) IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA

TENNESSEE SBDC

1890 EXTENSION IN TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE SBDC

IMPLEMENTATION GRANT: SECURING SUCCESS BY SCAFFOLDING UNDERGRADUATE STEM RESEARCHER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COLLABORATIVE INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS FOR STUDE

TLSAMP

TENNESSEE LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION

ACCESS ETSU

PURPOSE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING AWARDS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022 PUBLIC LAW 117-328 AND THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR DIVISION L OF THAT ACT. PROJECTS SELECTED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING ARE LISTED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) THAT ACCOMPANIES A SPECIFIC FISCAL YEAR’S APPROPRIATIONS ACT OR CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. THE JES LISTS PROJECT, RECIPIENT, STATE, AMOUNT AND CONGRESSIONAL SPONSOR.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AWARD PROJECTS INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT RESULT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES. HUD WILL NOT KNOW THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT UNTIL THE RECIPIENT SUBMITS THE REQUIRED PROJECT NARRATIVE AND CONFIRMS ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE AS PROVIDED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. TO FIND THE DETAILS OF THE GRANT AWARD AS WRITTEN WITHIN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD USE THE FOLLOWING LINK AND PATH SELECTIONS TO GET TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANTS HTTPS://WWW.HUD.GOV/PROGRAM_OFFICES/COMM_PLANNING/EDI-GRANTS, SELECT THE FISCAL YEAR OF INTEREST, SCROLL DOWN TO PROGRAM LAWS AND REGULATIONS, UNDER FISCAL YEAR 20XX CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 20XX: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT).; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVED PROJECT NARRATIVE.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PROJECT BENEFICIARIES ARE THE INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS OR SERVED BY THE ENTITIES THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE JES RECIPIENT OR PROJECT DESCRIPTION SECTIONS.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

OPTIMAL GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT IDENTIFICATION: MAXIMIZING EFFICACY, EFFICIENCY, AND EQUITY

RESIDENCY TRAINING IN PRIMARY CARE

DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION: SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND FACULTY THROUGH RETENTION AND CAREER PREPARATION

DOE CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE PROFESSORSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL DISCIPLINES

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR BATTLEFIELD SENSOR FUSION

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

1890 EXTENSION IN TENNESSEE

THE ETSU CCAMPIS PROJECT

UPWARD BOUND

UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY - FISK - ILLINOIS PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MATERIALS -TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (TSU), FOUNDED IN 1912, AND FISK UNIVERSITY, ESTABLISHED IN 1866, REPRESENT THE BIGGEST AND THE OLDEST HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITIES IN NASHVILLE. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (UIUC) IS A LARGE PUBLIC INSTITUTION WITH TOP-RANKED ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS. THE TSU-FISK-ILLINOIS (TSUFI) PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MATERIALS (PREM) CREATES A LONG-TERM COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ILLINOIS MATERIALS RESEARCH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CENTER (I-MRSEC) AT UIUC. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS ENHANCING RECRUITMENT OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY (URM) STUDENTS TO MATERIALS RELEVANT GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS THROUGH MENTORED RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING, WITHIN A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. TSUFI PREM FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN AREAS: THE PREM PATHWAY, SCIENCE, AND PARTNERSHIP. THE PARTNERSHIP WILL ADVANCE MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY IN MULTIFUNCTIONAL NANOMATERIALS AND MACHINE-LEARNING-INFORMED DESIGN AT BOTH ATOMIC AND MACROSCALE LEVELS, THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS, DEVELOPMENT OF SHARED RESEARCH FACILITIES AND COMPUTATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN FISK AND TSU, RECRUITING NEW FACULTY IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AT TSU, AND EXPANDING ACADEMIC OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE NEW DEGREES IN THE FIELD. TSUFI PREM WILL BROADEN PARTICIPATION IN MATERIALS RESEARCH BY FOSTERING A VIBRANT RESEARCH COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION TO DRIVE RESEARCH ADVANCEMENTS AND NURTURE STUDENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM WILL IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES TO RECRUIT DIVERSE STUDENTS INTO GRADUATE PROGRAMS, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE, AND BUILD ON SUCCESSFUL STEM OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND OFFER EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES AT PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. THIS PROJECT IS PARTIALLY SUPPORTED WITH CO-FUNDING FROM THE HBCU-UP PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF EQUITY FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM (EES) IN THE DIRECTORATE FOR STEM EDUCATION (EDU), AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVE FROM THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (OSI) IN THE DIRECTORATE FOR MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES (MPS). THE TSU-FISK-ILLINOIS (TSUFI) PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MATERIALS (PREM) INITIATIVE AIMS TO ADVANCE MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (TSU), FISK UNIVERSITY, AND THE ILLINOIS MATERIALS RESEARCH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CENTER (I-MRSEC) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN. TSUFI PREM FOCUSES ON THREE STRATEGIC AREAS: THE PREM PATHWAY, SCIENCE, AND PARTNERSHIP. THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE DOMAINS OF MULTIFERROIC NANOMATERIALS INTERFACES AND MACHINE-LEARNING INFORMED DESIGN AT BOTH ATOMIC AND MACROSCALE LEVELS, WITH PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY RESEARCHERS AT ALL THREE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. KEY RESEARCH INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHARED RESEARCH AND COMPUTATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN FISK AND TSU, RECRUITMENT OF FACULTY WITH MATERIALS EXPERTISE AT TSU, AND EXPANDED ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A NEW MINOR AND GRADUATE DEGREES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE. PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE REGULAR JOINT-INSTITUTION MEETINGS, CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL MENTORING OF STUDENTS, AND FOSTERING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION ACROSS ALL LEVELS TO DRIVE RESEARCH ADVANCEMENTS AND STUDENT PROGRESS. THE INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF TSUFI PREM IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH TWO PRIMARY RESEARCH GROUPS: THE STUDY OF NANOSTRUCTURED MULTIFERROIC MATERIALS AND INTERFACES, PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO SIZE REDUCTION, SURFACE PHENOMENA; AND THE ANALYSIS AND MACHINE-LEARNING-INFORMED DESIGN OF INTELLIGENT LATTICE MATERIALS, EXPLORING GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS, TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS, AND ATOMIC-LEVEL ELASTIC STRAINS IN 2D MATERIALS. TSUFI PREM?S BROADER IMPACTS INCLUDE INCREASING TRANSITIONS OF UNDERGRADUATE AND MS STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATION TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS THROUGH TARGETED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES, MATERIALS RESEARCH TRAINING AND MENTORING, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. TSUFI PREM WILL ESTABLISH ROBUST RECRUITMENT PATHWAYS AND PROVIDE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND ACADEMIA. 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.

INTER-PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION TO PREVENT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN APPALACHIA

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (JOHNSON CITY)UPWARD BOUND

NOVEL ROLE OF LACTATE FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DYSFUNCTION IN SEPSIS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

PROJECT TITLE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT OF THE TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AWARDPURPOSE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ARE TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA S MANAGEMENT PLAN,ACTIVITIES TO BEPERFORMED INTERPRETATION, CONSERVATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HERITAGE AREA PER THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THEIR ENABLING LEGISLATIONDELIVERABLES AND OR EXPECTEDOUTCOMES PUBLIC OUTREACH, PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION, RECREATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ITS APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE HERITAGE AREA AND SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE UNDER THE ACT SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES IFKNOWN N A

NRT-QISE-AI: MIDDLE TENNESSEE INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND AI -THIS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP (NRT) AWARD TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL ESTABLISH A TRANSFORMATIVE GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM IN QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE (QIS) AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI). THE PROJECT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL NATIONAL NEED TO DEVELOP A DIVERSE, TECHNICALLY SKILLED WORKFORCE CAPABLE OF ADVANCING THESE FAST-EVOLVING FIELDS. TRAINEES WILL EXPLORE EMERGING APPLICATIONS RANGING FROM QUANTUM COMPUTING TO ETHICAL AI FOR BIOMEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS AND NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BUILD INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE, AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN ACADEMIA, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT. IT WILL INTEGRATE COURSEWORK, HANDS-ON RESEARCH, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE FOSTERING COLLABORATION ACROSS MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE. THE PROJECT ANTICIPATES TRAINING OF 40 GRADUATE STUDENTS, INCLUDING 16 FUNDED TRAINEES?FROM MASTER?S AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, AND 24 ADDITIONAL NON-STIPEND TRAINEES FROM FIELDS SUCH AS COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, QUANTUM MATERIALS, CYBERSECURITY, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THIS EFFORT BUILDS ON MTSU?S QUANTUM SCIENCE INITIATIVE, THE DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE, AND THE EMERGING QUANTUM INFORMATION AND MATERIALS CENTER (QIMC) TO DEVELOP AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PLATFORM FOR BOTH RESEARCH AND TRAINING AT THE INTERSECTION OF QIS AND AI. THIS TRAINEESHIP WILL ADVANCE THE FRONTIER OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH THROUGH THREE INTEGRATED RESEARCH THEMES. FIRST, THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP QUANTUM MACHINE LEARNING MODELS AND QUANTUM-ENHANCED ALGORITHMS FOR HIGH-DIMENSIONAL DATA INTEGRATION AND CYBERSECURITY. SECOND, IT WILL CREATE NEW COMPUTATIONAL METHODS FOR MODELING QUANTUM MATERIALS WITH STRONG ELECTRONIC CORRELATION AND DISORDER, UTILIZING NOVEL DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY (DFT) APPROACHES AND MANY-BODY EMBEDDING TECHNIQUES. THIRD, IT WILL APPLY QUANTUM COMPUTING AND ETHICAL AI FRAMEWORKS TO BIOMEDICAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY OPTIMIZATION AND EARLY DETECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH BIOMARKERS SUCH AS AUTISM AND ADHD. THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES A RELATIONSHIP-RICH, WORK-INTEGRATED TRAINING MODEL THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALIZED DEVELOPMENT PLANS, MULTI-TIER MENTORING, AND CONTINUOUS EVALUATION. TRAINING WILL INCLUDE A NEW QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE TRACK WITHIN MTSU?S COMPUTATIONAL AND DATA SCIENCE PHD, MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAMS, MULTI-TIERED MENTORING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH IN QISE AND AI. THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE BLEND OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND ETHICS, THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING A ROBUST QIS AND AI WORKFORCE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-IMPACT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. THE NSF RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP (NRT) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF BOLD, NEW, AND POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE MODELS FOR STEM GRADUATE EDUCATION TRAINING. THE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO EFFECTIVE TRAINING OF STEM GRADUATE STUDENTS IN HIGH PRIORITY INTERDISCIPLINARY OR CONVERGENT RESEARCH AREAS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TRAINEESHIP MODELS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED, AND ALIGNED WITH CHANGING WORKFORCE AND RESEARCH NEEDS. 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.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP-BASED ORGANIC GRAIN AND FORAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND THE VALUE-ADDED SECTORS IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. THE PROJECT TEAM AIM TO ENHANCE THE ADAPTATION OF ORGANIC PERENNIAL CROP PRODUCTION BY POSTING AND ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: HOW CAN SCIENTISTS/PRODUCERS DESIGN AND MANAGE ORGANIC PERENNIAL GRAIN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS THAT COULD PROVIDE SUCCESSFUL ESTABLISHMENT AND WEED CONTROL CAPACITY WITH ADEQUATE PRODUCTIVITY, QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS? HOW CAN PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP-BASED SYSTEMS CONTRIBUTE TO ENHANCED AGROECOLOGICAL FUNCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF SOIL SYSTEMS? HOW WILL NEW KNOWLEDGE BE DELIVERED TO PRODUCERS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS? THE SOUTHERN U.S. IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE AND CRITICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH GRAIN/FORAGE PRODUCTION AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN LOCAL ECONOMY IN THIS DRAMATICALLY CHANGING CLIMATE AND LAND USE PATTERNS. THE PROJECT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGES OF EXISTING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATIONAL/EXTENSION COLLABORATION TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TASKS: ASSESS THE GRAIN YIELD, FORAGE PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRITIVE VALUE, AND WEED SUPPRESSION CAPACITY OF THREE PERENNIAL GRAIN SPECIES VS. CORRESPONDING ANNUAL SPECIES GROWN ORGANICALLY UNDER FOUR ESTABLISHMENT METHODS INCORPORATING SMOTHER CROPPING AND INTERCROPPING PRACTICES; ASSESS THE IMPACTS ON SOIL HEALTH AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION; EVALUATE THE BREWING AND MALTING POTENTIAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF ORGANICALLY PRODUCED PERENNIAL GRAINS COMPARED TO THEIR ANNUAL AND CONVENTIONAL COUNTERPARTS; CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENT METHODS; SYNERGISTICALLY INTEGRATE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION GAINS FROM ALL FOUR PREVIOUS OBJECTIVES INTO EXTENSION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

MATHEMATICS AS A FIRSTSTEP TO SUCCESS IN STEM

RENOVATION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES IN BROWN HALL EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

SUPPORTING TALENTED, LOW-INCOME UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY THROUGH CAREER EXPLORATIONS, RESEARCH EXPERIENCES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS -THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL NEED FOR WELL-EDUCATED SCIENTISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, ENGINEERS, AND TECHNICIANS BY SUPPORTING THE RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, A PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY IN MURFREESBORO, TN. OVER ITS SIX-YEAR DURATION, THIS PROJECT WILL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UP TO 60 UNIQUE MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) STUDENTS, AND UP TO 90 FULL TIME JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS) DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY OR BIOCHEMISTRY. THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE STUDENT PERSISTENCE IN STEM FIELDS BY LINKING SCHOLARSHIPS WITH PROVEN EFFECTIVE SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING FACULTY AND PEER MENTORING, RESEARCH EXPERIENCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES, GRADUATE SCHOOL AND EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC CONFERENCES. WITH THE HELP OF MENTORS AND ADVISORS, SCHOLARS WILL CREATE INDIVIDUAL PLANS FOR CAREER GOALS AND STEPS TOWARD ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS. OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH FACULTY MENTORS, PEER MENTORS, AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS WILL ALLOW SCHOLARS TO FIND SUPPORT AS THEY NAVIGATE PROFESSIONAL, SOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. PROJECT RESEARCH AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES WILL EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT?S MENTORING, ENGAGEMENT, AND SCHOLAR SUPPORT COMPONENTS ON ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AND CAREER DIRECTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO INCREASE TIMELY DEGREE COMPLETION FOR LOW-INCOME, HIGH-ACHIEVING BS AND MS STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO DELIVER HIGH IMPACT SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SCHOLARS. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO SELECT TWO CREDITS OF RESEARCH PER YEAR OR ENGAGE IN (PAID) SUMMER RESEARCH; AND GRADUATE SCHOLARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH LEADING TO A SUCCESSFUL THESIS. NETWORKING WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND ALUMNI, INTERACTING WITH EMPLOYERS AT CAREER FAIRS, AND PARTICIPATING IN SEMINARS, LITERATURE DISCUSSIONS, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL EVENTS WILL ALSO BE ENCOURAGED. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL COLLECT AND ANALYZE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DATA ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND SELF-EFFICACY TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT LOW INCOME AND UNDERREPRESENTED SCHOLARS AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION EFFORT WILL ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT AT MEETING THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF SCHOLARS AND, ALONG WITH PROJECT RESEARCH, CONTRIBUTE TO THE BROAD DISSEMINATION OF ACTIVITIES, FINDINGS, AND OUTCOMES. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY NSF?S SCHOLARSHIPS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED WHO EARN DEGREES IN STEM FIELDS. IT ALSO AIMS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE STEM WORKERS, AND TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, RETENTION, TRANSFER, GRADUATION, AND ACADEMIC/CAREER PATHWAYS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. 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.

OPERATION LEAP

PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING CENTER

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

TSU EVANS-ALLEN RESEARCH FY 2011

MIRNA-MEDIATED PREMATURE T CELL AGING IN VACCINE FAILURE DURING VIRAL INFECTION

THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR LAND, WATER, AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (COE-LWRM), LED BY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLLABORATION WITH EIGHT PARTNER 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS, IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. THE CENTER ADDRESSES CRITICAL REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHALLENGES BY INTEGRATING RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ACROSS FOUR PRIMARY THRUST AREAS: 1) FOREST, WILDLIFE, AND WATERSHED HEALTH, 2) SOIL AND WATER RESILIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, 3) HABITAT RESTORATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT, AND 4) WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, THE COE-LWRM WILL ENHANCE SOIL AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROMOTE FOREST HEALTH, RESTORE WORKING LANDS, AND PROVIDE INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS. THE CENTER ALSO SERVES AS A HUB FOR WORKFORCE PREPARATION BY OFFERING HANDS-ON TRAINING, RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ACROSS THE 1890 SYSTEM.

** 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 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS CURRENTLY HOSTING THECENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT (COE-NREE). THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE NREE ARE, 1) NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION, 2) SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, 3) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND EQUITY, AND 4) WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. THESE FOUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY THRUST AREAS WILL COORDINATE AND UNIFY DIVERSE PARTICIPANTS VIA SCHOLARLY RESEARCH. THE COE-NREE IS EMPLOYING A ONE HEALTH APPROACH TO EVALUATE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, LANDUSE PATTERNS, AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY. THESE FOUR THRUST AREAS, ALONG WITH THE FOCAL RESEARCH OBJECTIVES WILL PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AMONG 1890 INSTITUTIONS AND WILL PROVIDE NOVEL APPROACHES TO TACKLE CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.THE COE-NREE IS ACCOMPLISHING TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION GOALS THROUGH ENHANCED RESEARCH, COMMITTED GRADUATE STUDENT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND TRAINING, CURRICULA AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAMS. WE ARE USING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN STUDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.OVERALL, THE PROPOSED CENTER ALIGNS WITHUSDA STRATEGIC GOAL 6 TO ENSURE PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF OUR NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDSAND PROVIDES A COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A RESEARCH CENTER AMONG FIVE HBCUS. THE COE-NREE PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCORPORATE RESEARCH INTO LEARNING AND EDUCATION VIA PROPOSED MENTORING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS. IN ADDITION, THE COE-NREE COLLABORATES TO DEVELOP THE FOURTH THRUST AREA (WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT). COLLECTIVELY, PROJECT PARTICIPANTS ARE HOSTING A VARIETY OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, AND FACULTY. WE WILL DEVELOP THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH A VARIETY OF PROJECT PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, COUNCIL OF AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH COUNCILS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACADEMY. COLLECTIVELY, THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL COE-NREE PARTICIPANTS AND PARTICIPATING1890 INSTITUTIONS.

IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT: BLUE-SHIRT PROGRAM: ENGINEERING CLINIC-BASED CURRICULUM TO ENHANCE RETENTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AT TENNESSEE STATE UN

OPERATION LEAP

ADVANCED NURSE EDUCATION-SEXUAL NURSE ASSAULT EXAMINER PROGRAM

TALENT SEARCH IS A COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTION SUPPORT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EMPOWER ITS PARTICIPANTS WITH SKILLS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

IMPROVING OLFACTORY NEUROPLASTICITY THROUGH FAK/CNTF SIGNALING - PROJECT SUMMARY OLFACTORY SENSORY NEURONS (OSNS) IN THE OLFACTORY EPITHELIUM (OE) ARE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED FROM BASAL STEM CELLS AND GROW THEIR AXONS TO THE OLFACTORY BULB TO MAINTAIN THE SENSE OF SMELL. FAILURE TO RECONSTITUTE THE OE AFTER INJURY, INFECTION OR AGING, CAUSES OLFACTORY DYSFUNCTION WHICH IS A SAFETY AND A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. NO TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE. DEFINING THE SIGNALS THAT REGULATE OLFACTORY NEUROPLASTICITY WOULD REVEAL NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGETS TO IMPROVE OLFACTORY DEFICITS. CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR (CNTF) IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN HORIZONTAL BASAL CELLS (HBCS) AND OLFACTORY ENSHEATHING CELLS (OECS), WHILE THE CNTFRA RECEPTOR IS EXPRESSED IN THE NEIGHBORING NEURONAL PROGENITOR GLOBOSE BASAL CELLS (GBCS). WE FOUND THAT CNTF IS SUPPRESSED BY FOCAL ADHESION KINASE (FAK) AND THAT INTRANASAL APPLICATION OF AN FAK INHIBITOR PROMOTES OE NEUROGENESIS VIA CNTF. IMPORTANTLY, FAK INHIBITOR FURTHER ENHANCES CNTF EXPRESSION CAUSED BY OE INJURY WITH METHIMAZOLE. WE WILL USE GENETIC, PHARMACOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES IN MALE AND FEMALE MICE TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT FAK INHIBITION PROMOTES OLFACTORY NEUROPLASTICITY FOLLOWING INJURY BY INCREASING CNTF EXPRESSION. AIM 1 WILL DEFINE THE FAK-CNTF-CNTFRA PATHWAY UNDERLYING GBC PROLIFERATION BY FIRST DETERMINING WHETHER FAK INHIBITION INDUCES CNTF IN HBCS, OECS OR BOTH. WE WILL ALSO DETERMINE WHETHER CNTF IS RELEASED TO ACTIVATE CNTFRA SIGNALING IN STIMULATING GBC PROLIFERATION, AND WHETHER FAK INHIBITION ACTS THROUGH THIS INTERCELLULAR MECHANISM. TO INCREASE THE RELEVANCE OF OUR FINDINGS, AIM 2 WILL DETERMINE WHETHER FAK INHIBITION CAN INCREASE OLFACTORY NEUROGENESIS VIA CNTF FOLLOWING ACUTE OE INJURY. THUS, WE WILL USE ACUTE INJURY WITH METHIMAZOLE AND DETERMINE WHETHER INJURY INCREASES CNTF IN HBCS AND/OR OECS WHICH LEADS TO INCREASED GBC PROLIFERATION AND NEUROGENESIS. THE EFFECT OF FAK INHIBITOR TREATMENT FOLLOWING METHIMAZOLE MAY BE WITHIN HBCS AND/OR OECS, SOMETHING WE WILL TEST. TO PREPARE FOR ADDITIONAL STUDIES, WE WILL DEFINE AN OPTIMAL DOSE OF FAK INHIBITOR AND THEN TEST WHETHER CNTF MEDIATES THE EFFECT OF FAK INHIBITOR TO PROMOTE OE NEUROGENESIS AFTER ACUTE INJURY. CHRONIC OLFACTORY INFLAMMATION INHIBITS HBC PROLIFERATION AND INCREASES FAK SIGNALING IN HBCS, SUGGESTING THAT CNTF MIGHT BE SUPPRESSED. TO BROADEN THE RELEVANCE TO MORE TYPES OF OLFACTORY INJURIES, AIM 3 WILL USE A REFINED CHRONIC OLFACTORY INFLAMMATION MOUSE MODEL TO DETERMINE WHETHER FAK INHIBITION INCREASES CNTF AND PROMOTES GBC PROLIFERATION AND OLFACTORY NEUROGENESIS. AIM 4 WILL DETERMINE THE ABILITY OF FAK INHIBITION TO PROMOTE OSN AXONAL GROWTH AND OLFACTORY FUNCTION RECOVERY FOLLOWING ACUTE AND CHRONIC TYPES OF OE INJURY, USING GENETIC AXON TRACING METHODS COMBINED WITH BEHAVIORAL TESTS. THIS PROPOSAL WILL DEFINE THE ROLE OF FAK AND CNTF AND VALIDATE THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF FAK INHIBITORS TO IMPROVE OLFACTORY FUNCTION AFTER INJURY. FAK INHIBITORS ARE WELL-TOLERATED IN CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS AND INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION AVOIDS SYSTEMIC SIDE EFFECTS.

S100A9 AND MDSC DEVELOPMENT IN SEPSIS.

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A NEUTRON SINGLE CRYSTAL DIFFRACTOMETER

IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT: ENHANCEMENT OF CURES-BASED CURRICULUM AND IMMERSIVE ENGINEERING STUDIO TO ENHANCE ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND RETENTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED ENGINEERS AT TSU -IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS IN THE HBCU-UP PROGRAM PROVIDE SUPPORT TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, STUDY AND ASSESS COMPREHENSIVE INSTITUTIONAL EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR PREPARATION BY STRENGTHENING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. THIS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED ENGINEERS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A FIVE-YEAR PILOT ENGINEERING CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES A PRE-ENGINEERING PROGRAM AND CURES-BASED IMMERSIVE ENGINEERING STUDIO TO ENHANCE UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENT RETENTION AND GRADUATION AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY. A SOCIOCULTURAL EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF HBCU ENGINEERING STUDENTS. FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE EVALUATION WILL BE USED TO EVALUATE THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR PILOT ENGINEERING PROGRAM AT TSU TO IMPROVE STUDENT COMPLETION RATES, FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING A INNOVATIVE PRE-ENGINEERING CURRICULUM FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN. A STEM ENHANCEMENT INSTITUTE WILL BE FORMED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR STEM COURSES IN THEIR PRE-ENGINEERING PROGRAM. STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN CURES AND AN IMMERSIVE ENGINEERING STUDIO PROJECT EVERY YEAR TO ENHANCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT IN STEM LEARNING. THE IMMERSIVE ENGINEERING STUDIO WILL USE VIRTUAL/AUGMENTED REALITY (VR/AR) FACILITATED INSTRUCTIONAL MODELS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' VISUAL-SPATIAL ABILITY, CREATE A SITUATED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND ENABLE DATA-DRIVEN TEACHING DECISIONS IN STEM CLASSROOMS. THE FACULTY TEAM AIMS TO STRUCTURE AN INTERVENTION AROUND ENGINEERING CURRICULUM TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' LEARNING COMMITMENT, MOTIVATION, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF TRAINED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH VARIOUS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DESIGN SKILLS, WHILE ALSO SYSTEMATICALLY STUDYING THE SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING RETENTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. OVERALL, THE PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE RETENTION AND SUCCESS OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING PROGRAMS AT TSU THROUGH INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH. 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.

AMELIORATION OF SEPSIS BY MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION

THE ROLE OF HISTONE DEACETYLASES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED ANTI-PNEUMOCOCCAL FUNCTIONS OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS

DEVELOPING LEADERS IN EDUCATION TO ADVANCE DATA SCIENCE LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM CLASSROOMS -THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL NEED OF RECRUITING AND RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY STEM TEACHER LEADERS IN HIGH NEED K-12 SCHOOLS BY DEVELOPING STEM TEACHERS IN GRADES 5-8 INTO BOTH LEADERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION (DSE) COMMUNITIES. DATA SCIENCE COMPETENCIES ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO BE WELL PREPARED FOR PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGE IN CIVIC DISCOURSE. HOWEVER, MOST STEM TEACHERS LACK THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS WITH DATA IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS, ESPECIALLY THE EVER-EXPANDING FORMS OF DATA FROM NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. IN ADDITION, STEM TEACHERS OFTEN LACK THE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO GROW INTO LEADERS THAT CAN SUPPORT AND INFLUENCE COLLEAGUES IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. THE PROJECT'S DESIGN INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER COMPETENCY, RECOGNITION, BELONGING AND IDENTITY SO THAT PARTNER TEACHERS BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR LOCAL CONTEXT WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF STEM EDUCATION IN SUSTAINABLE AND PROFESSIONALLY FULFILLING WAYS. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND STUDY THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM FOR IN-SERVICE STEM TEACHERS IN GRADES 5-8. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM WILL INTEGRATE COURSEWORK IN LEADERSHIP AND DSE AND SUPPORT TEACHERS IN USING CONCEPTS FROM THESE CLASSES IN THEIR LOCAL CONTEXTS THROUGH LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND RECURRING REFLECTION MEETINGS. THIS PROJECT AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CANNON COUNTY SCHOOLS, BEDFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, MURFREESBORO CITY SCHOOLS, AND THE CONCORD CONSORTIUM. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING TEACHER LEADERS IN DSE, 16 MASTER TEACHING FELLOWS (MTFS) WITH NEW EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO GUIDE COLLEAGUES TO CREATE NOVEL APPROACHES TO DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. THIS PROJECT WILL RECRUIT MTFS FROM A POOL OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM TEACHERS IN PARTNER DISTRICTS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THEIR CHANGING IDEAS AND PRACTICES RELATED TO DSE AND LEADERSHIP IN THEIR LOCAL CONTEXTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE CONCORD CONSORTIUM, THIS PROGRAM WILL CENTER AN INNOVATIVE PLATFORM FOR LEARNING ABOUT DATA SCIENCE, THE COMMON ONLINE DATA ANALYSIS PLATFORM (CODAP). CODAP?S DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED THROUGH MULTIPLE NSF GRANTS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES BUILT FROM THIS PLATFORM WILL RESULT IN A COHORT OF TEACHER LEADERS THAT WILL BE EQUIPPED TO MAKE CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO STEM EDUCATION THROUGH RESEARCH FINDINGS ON HOW TEACHERS' IDEAS AND PRACTICES CHANGE AS THEY GROW INTO DSE LEADERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. THIS STUDY WILL EXAMINE MTFS? CHANGING KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY USING INTERVIEWS, MTF DATA SCIENCE LESSONS, WRITTEN REFLECTIONS FROM MTFS, AND THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECTS. THE INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THIS PROJECT IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION LEADERS, AND THE BROADER IMPACTS WILL BE MORE LEADERS IN SCHOOLS SUPPORTING STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT DATA AND MODELING. AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR WILL EVALUATE THE PROJECT THROUGH REGULAR REVIEWS AND DISSEMINATE THE PRODUCTS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, AND PROGRAMMING FOR THE TENNESSEE STEM EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTER AND THE CONCORD CONSORTIUM. THIS TRACK 3: MASTER TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS 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 PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

TN-QUMAT: TENNESSEE QUANTUM MATERIALS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING, AN R2-HBCU-ORNL PARTNERSHIP

MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA REMODELS THE CARDIAC NERVOUS SYSTEM

NOVEL ROLE OF LACTATE IN SEPSIS IMPAIRED IMMUNE FUNCTION - SEPSIS REPRESENTS A LIFE-THREATENING DISORDER CAUSED BY A DYSREGULATED HOST RESPONSE. SEPSIS SURVIVORS FREQUENTLY HAVE LONG-TERM IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO HIGH MORTALITY FROM OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS. CLINICAL DATA SHOWS THAT LACTATE LEVELS STRONGLY AND POSITIVELY CORRELATE WITH SEVERITY, MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN SEPSIS5-8. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER LACTATE CONTRIBUTES TO SEPSIS IMPAIRED IMMUNE RESPONSE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SUBSEQUENT INFECTION. TO ADDRESS THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION, WE PERFORMED PRELIMINARY STUDIES AND OBSERVED THAT ENHANCED LACTATE LEVELS MARKEDLY INCREASED MORTALITY. WE ALSO OBSERVED THAT LACTATE SUPPRESSES MACROPHAGE PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. OUR FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT LACTATE EXERTS A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION CONTRIBUTING TO THE MORTALITY OF SEPSIS AND RE-INFECTION OF SEPSIS SURVIVORS. CELLULAR SENESCENCE IS A FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISM OF AGE-RELATED ORGAN DYSFUNCTION. OUR RNA-SEQ AND OTHER PRELIMINARY DATA SHOWS THAT LACTATE MARKEDLY INDUCES MACROPHAGE SENESCENCE DURING SEPSIS. OUR PRELIMINARY DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT SPLENIC MACROPHAGE SENESCENCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER IN MACROPHAGE SPECIFIC YAP/TAZ DEFICIENT (MYAP/TAZ-/-) SHAM AND SEPTIC MICE THAN IN WT CONTROLS. OUR FINDING SUGGESTS THAT YAP IS REQUIRED FOR THE PROTECTION AGAINST CELLULAR SENESCENCE DURING SEPSIS. INTERESTINGLY, WE FOUND THAT LACTATE INDUCES LACTYLATION OF YAP. WE REPORTED THAT LACTATE INDUCES HMGB1 LACTYLATION IN MACROPHAGES25, SUGGESTING THAT LACTATE COULD INDUCE LACTYLATION OF NON-HISTONE PROTEINS. INDEED, WE MADE A NOVEL OBSERVATION IN OUR PRELIMINARY STUDIES THAT LACTATE INDUCES KEAP1 LACTYLATION AND INCREASES NRF2 ACTIVATION. KEAP1 IS AN IMPORTANT SUPPRESSOR FOR ACTIVATION OF NRF2 TO UPREGULATE THE EXPRESSION OF GENES RELATED TO SUPPRESSIVE IMMUNE RESPONSES. OUR FINDINGS INDICATE THAT LACTATE ALTERS MACROPHAGE IMMUNE RESPONSE DURING SEPSIS THAT MAY BE MEDIATED BY PROMOTING MACROPHAGE SENESCENCE AND INDUCING LACTYLATION OF IMPORTANT TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND CO-EFFECTORS. BASED ON OUR NOVEL FINDINGS, WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT LACTATE IS A NOVEL ENDOGENOUS MEDIATOR WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO IMPAIRED MACROPHAGE IMMUNE FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS VIA LACTYLATION OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND EFFECTORS AND PROMOTION OF CELLULAR SENESCENCE. TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE THIS HYPOTHESIS, WE PROPOSE THREE SPECIFIC AIMS. SPECIFIC AIM 1. INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF LACTYLATION OF YAP/TAZ IN MACROPHAGE IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. SPECIFIC AIM 2. DEFINE THE ROLE OF KEAP1 LACTYLATION AND NRF2 ACTIVATION IN MACROPHAGE IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. SPECIFIC AIM 3. INVESTIGATE WHETHER LACTATE PROMOTED SENESCENCE OF MACROPHAGES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO IMPAIRED MACROPHAGE IMMUNE FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROPOSED STUDIES WILL RESULT IN A WEALTH OF NEW AND NOVEL DATA SHOWING THAT LACTATE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF IMMUNE RESPONSES DURING SEPSIS.

TAS::89 0222::TAS - COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA

NORADRENERGIC SYSTEM IN DEPRESSION

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CHRONIC ALCOHOL EXPOSURE AND FEAR MEMORIES

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

TAS::89 0313::TAS TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY DOE MASSIE CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE PROFESSIONALS IN ENGINEERING: CHEMICAL FATE AND DETECTION IN THE ENVIRONM

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE

TARGETING BLOOD-DERIVED INTEGRIN SIGNALING AFTER STROKE

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

PRIMARY CARE TRAINING AND ENHANCEMENT

EVANS-ALLEN

EVANS-ALLEN

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES TO IMPROVE CANCER COMMUNICATION

ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF NURSERY PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S - THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE REGIONAL NURSERY INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. BY REMOVING ENTOMOLOGICAL, PATHOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF WOODY ORNAMENTAL NURSERY CROPS. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL TRAITS OF ORNAMENTAL PESTS, SUCH AS FLATHEAD BORERS AND AMBROSIA BEETLES, AND ASSOCIATES TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS, INVESTIGATE LOWER RISK PRODUCTS AND TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE ORNAMENTAL PESTS, EVALUATE INSECTICIDE EFFICACY IN ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATES FOR CONTAINER GROWN NURSERY CROPS, EVALUATE CHEMICAL AND NON-CHEMICAL WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR NURSERY CROP PRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION, EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF CHEMICAL AND BIORATIONAL PRODUCTS FOR CONTROLLING SOIL-BORNE DISEASES WITH DIFFERENT APPLICATION METHODS, INTERVALS AND REDUCED-RATE APPLICATIONS IN WOODY ORNAMENTALS, AND DEVELOP IMPROVED SOIL-BORNE DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BASED ON CULTURAL APPROACHES FOR SUPPRESSION OF RHIZOCTONIA AND (OR) PHYTOPHTHORA SPP. AND OTHER SOIL-BORNE PATHOGENS.

ROLE OF PROLYL HYDROXYLASE OXYGEN-SENSOR IN CARDIOPROTECTION

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

MTSU NSF MASTER TEACHING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL HOST PATHWAY THAT REGULATES CHLAMYDIAL DEVELOPMENT

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF FUNGAL SEPSIS IN THE CRITICALLY ILL PATIENT

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITYVETERANS UPWARD BOUND

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (KINGSPORT) UPWARD BOUND

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (BRISTOL) UPWARD BOUND

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITYUPWARD BOUND MATH SCIENCE

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITYTRIO RONALD MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROJECT

MTEACH NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION EXPANSION

CAREER COMMITMENT AND RETENTION IN STEM: THE INTERSECTION OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AND CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN MINORITY AND WOMEN STEM STUDENTS

NOVEL ROLE OF LSECS IN HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS - ABSTRACT: SEPSIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION CAUSED BY AN UNCONTROLLED HOST RESPONSE TO INFECTION AND IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS. LIVER DYSFUNCTION CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH SEPSIS. LIVER SINUSOIDAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS (LSECS) PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC FUNCTIONS, BUT THEIR SPECIFIC ROLE IN BACTERIAL INFECTION AND SEPSIS REMAINS POORLY UNDERSTOOD. OUR STUDY FOCUSED ON HSPA12B, A MEMBER OF THE HSP70 FAMILY, SHOWS DISTINCT EXPRESSION IN LIVER SINUSOIDAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS (LSECS), BEING PROMINENT IN PERIPORTAL LSECS AND REDUCED IN MIDZONAL LSECS. INTERESTINGLY, MICE LACKING ENDOTHELIAL CELL HSPA12B (EHSPA12B-/-) EXHIBIT DISRUPTED HEPATIC KUPFFER ZONATION AND IMPAIRED HEPATIC GLUCONEOGENESIS EVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. FURTHERMORE, WE INDUCED SEPSIS IN THESE MICE AND OBSERVED SEVERE LSEC CAPILLARIZATION, ALONG WITH INCREASED BACTERIAL LOAD AND LACTATE ACCUMULATION COMPARED TO WT SEPTIC MICE. THESE FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF EHSPA12B IN MAINTAINING LSEC PHENOTYPE AND AS WELL AS HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT EHSPA12B IS NECESSARY FOR GATA4 NUCLEAR TRANSLOCATION IN LSECS. ENDOTHELIAL CELL-SPECIFIC GATA4 DEFICIENCY RESULTED IN AN ABNORMAL LSEC PHENOTYPE, IMPAIRED KUPFFER CELL ZONATION, AND DYSFUNCTION OF HEPATIC GLUCONEOGENESIS. THESE DATA SUGGEST A COOPERATIVE ROLE OF EGATA4 AND HSPA12B IN MAINTAINING THE SPECIALIZED PHENOTYPE AND FUNCTION OF LSECS. PATIENTS WITH NASH/CIRRHOSIS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND SEPSIS. OUR STUDY FOUND DECREASED HSPA12B EXPRESSION AND IMPAIRED GATA4 TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY IN LSECS OF NASH/CIRRHOSIS PATIENTS, SUGGESTING THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO NASH/CIRRHOSIS ASSOCIATED HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION AND INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BACTERIAL INFECTIONS. BASED ON OUR NOVEL FINDINGS, WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT EHSPA12B SERVES AS A NOVEL CO-TRANSCRIPTIONAL FACTOR OF GATA4 TO MAINTAIN THE UNIQUE PHENOTYPE AND FUNCTION OF LSECS, AND THAT FUNCTIONAL LSECS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING KUPFFER CELL ZONATION, ENHANCING BACTERIAL CLEARANCE, AND REGULATING HEPATIC GLUCONEOGENESIS DURING BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND SEPSIS. TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE THIS HYPOTHESIS, WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING AIMS. AIM 1. INVESTIGATE HOW HSPA12B AND GATA4 COOPERATIVELY REGULATE LSEC PHENOTYPE AND FUNCTION DURING SEPSIS. AIM 2. DEFINE THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH LSECS REGULATE HEPATIC KUPFFER CELL ZONATION AND BACTERIAL CLEARANCE DURING SEPSIS. AIM3. INVESTIGATE THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH LSECS REGULATE HEPATIC GLUCONEOGENESIS. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THESE STUDIES WILL PROVIDE NOVEL INSIGHTS INTO THE NOVEL ROLE OF LSEC IN REGULATING HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC FUNCTION. THESE FINDINGS COULD BE AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO ENHANCE HEPATIC HEPATIC IMMUNE AND METABOLIC FUNCTION, LEADING TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND SEPSIS.

SECTION 1444

SECTION 1444

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

NURSE EDUCATION PRACTICE AND RETENTION

UPWARD BOUND IS DESIGNED TO GENERATE IN PARTICIPANTS THE SKILLS AND MOTIVATION NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN EDUCATION BEYOND SECONDARY SCHOOL.

MATERNAL HEALTH RESEARCH NETWORK (MH-RN) FOR MSIS--RESEARCH AWARDS

EARLY HEAD START

UNKNOWN TITLE

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: NURSE MANAGED HEALTH CLINICS

MICRORNAS AND MYELOID CELL DEVELOPMENT DURING SEPSIS

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY EVANS-ALLEN RESEARCH FY-2011