CMSRU researcher receives $1.3 million grant
Darren Boehning, PhD, head of biomedical sciences and assistant dean for research at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), was recently awarded a $1.3 million research grant over four years from the National Institutes of Health.
“This new grant will be used to study how some proteins can cause inherited immune diseases,” explained Dr. Boehning. “We’ve found that fatty acids are required for the proper function of proteins inside immune cells, and we will be examining how this process works at the molecular level, and how it might be exploited to find new treatments for immune-related disorders.”
According to Dr. Boehning, this is a new area of immune biology that could potentially help patients with devastating diseases. Dr. Boehning’s team at CMSRU plans to collaborate with fellow researchers at Rowan University, in Texas, and the greater South Jersey biomedical research community on this important new project.
“Together we have the opportunity to greatly improve patient care through scientific discovery,” he added.
The first installment of the grant, $345,853, was recently announced by U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) as part of more than $2.6 million designated for federally-funded scientific research in South Jersey. Rowan University received close to $1.7 million for projects at CMSRU, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Math. Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified national doctoral research institution.
“Rowan University is committed to engaging in practical research that solves real-world problems and improves the lives of others,” said Ali A. Houshmand, Rowan University President. “We’re proud that we’ve seen a 190-percent increase in our research funding in just the last four years. These grants will fund research that will address the health and safety of our citizenry. It’s vitally important work.”