University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s Chelsea Miller has received national recognition for expanding access to hands-on genomics education.

Miller, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering in the (CTAHR), earned the Outstanding Poster Award at the (NISBRE), held June 17 in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Breaking barriers in science education

Her award-winning poster, “Genome on the Go: Decentralizing Molecular Biology Education through Portable Genomics Tools and Near-Peer Mentorship,” highlights a training model designed to reduce barriers to advanced laboratory instruction for students in Hawaiʻi and other geographically isolated regions.

Developed through the (Hawaiʻi INBRE) program with support from U.S. Department of Agriculture workforce development initiatives, the project brings portable DNA sequencing tools and graduate student mentors directly to learners, enabling a full “sample-to-sequence” workflow in classroom and field settings.

Over the past year, Miller and her team conducted 11 workshops across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and the continental U.S., training 72 participants using Bento Lab and Oxford Nanopore technologies.

Strengthening biomedical workforce development

The approach helps prepare the next generation of biomedical workforce while giving students access to modern molecular biology techniques typically limited to well-equipped research laboratories.

“This award reflects the incredible efforts of our graduate student instructors and the vision of making genomics accessible to every student, regardless of location,” said Jon-Paul Bingham, Hawaiʻi INBRE PATHways director and co-author of the project.

Miller was one of three Hawaiʻi INBRE-affiliated researchers recognized at the biennial NISBRE meeting, which highlights national research and training supported through the IDeA program. Also honored were Li Tao, professor at the , who received the Outstanding Mentorship and Teaching Award, and Natalie Graham, assistant professor at 糖心视频 Hilo, who earned the Scientific Merit Award.

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Researchers at the and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) were awarded more than $12 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID)—a new research center dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through artificial intelligence and data science to benefit people in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, and worldwide.

Funded through the NIH‘s (COBRE) program, the five-year award will provide approximately $12 million through February 2031. The award was administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, with a federal award date of June 4, 2026.

The center will be led by Principal Investigators John Shepherd and Youping Deng. Shepherd is chief scientific officer at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center, and B.H. and Alice C. Beams Endowed Professor in Cancer Research at JABSOM. Deng is co-director, Genomics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center; and professor and director, Bioinformatics Core Facility, at JABSOM.

PAC-AID will serve as a central hub integrating AI into biomedical research to improve health outcomes in Hawaiʻi. Over five years, the project will renovate the 糖心视频 Cancer Center Data Center to establish a new Medical AI Core (MedAI Core), providing advanced, high-performance computing resources and AI expertise. Physically located within both the 糖心视频 Cancer Center and JABSOM on the shared Kakaʻako campus, PAC-AID will directly fund four major inaugural research projects and establish a Pilot Projects Program to support more than eight new, locally relevant pilot studies.

“At the heart of our mission as a flagship research university is the drive to translate innovation into meaningful impact,” said Vassilis Syrmos, incoming chancellor of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. “PAC-AID is a vital expansion of that mission, enabling our faculty to harness the power of artificial intelligence to pioneer new avenues of biomedical inquiry that were previously unreachable, solidifying the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s role as a global leader in health innovation.”

“AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who played a pivotal role in securing the grant. “This new funding will help Hawaiʻi continue to attract top-tier talent and develop treatments and cures that will benefit people across the state.”

“The $12 million over five years will substantially strengthen AI and data science capabilities and support the development of the next generation of investigators,” said 糖心视频 Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno. “The research advances made possible by PAC-AID will further the 糖心视频 Cancer Center鈥檚 work toward new understandings and treatments for cancer, to save lives in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, and across the globe.” In addition, high paying jobs generated by this project will have a strong economic benefit for our local communities.

“At JABSOM, our mission is to improve the health of Hawaiʻi through education and research,” said Sam Shomaker, JABSOM dean. “This investment will help accelerate discoveries that address the real health challenges facing our communities and ensure that advances in AI translate into better outcomes for patients.”

Enabling workforce development

Shepherd and Deng will oversee efforts to build research capacity, as well as foster the next generation of independent investigators using artificial intelligence and advanced data science approaches to address critical medical and public health challenges. Beyond funding research, this award establishes a workforce development mechanism to support the next generation of faculty investigators.

“This COBRE award provides the critical infrastructure to bridge advanced AI computational methods with our specific clinical and community health challenges,” Shepherd said. “By fostering a collaborative environment for our investigators, we are equipping them with the technical capabilities to tackle the most persistent health disparities in our islands and turn complex data into actionable health solutions.”

“By the end of this project, we expect to have a nationally competitive Medical AI Core, four independently funded research leaders, and more than 10 pilot projects,” said Deng. “Through these efforts, alongside workshops and collaborative research opportunities, we will significantly strengthen Hawaiʻi‘s capacity for AI-enabled biomedical research and innovation to address important health challenges in our region and beyond.”

Transforming medical research with AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming healthcare and biomedical research by helping scientists analyze large and complex datasets, identify patterns that may otherwise go undetected, and accelerate the development of new approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it.
—U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

Shepherd, who leads the , is using a massive breast imaging database to develop AI biomarkers that predict cancer risk specifically for Asian and Pacific Islander populations.

The new PAC-AID will support similar faculty-led research projects, provide funding for pilot studies, and establish shared research resources that can be used by investigators across disciplines.

Initial funded projects include AI-driven research by 糖心视频 Cancer Center researchers Kevin Cassel (using full-body imaging to triage skin lesions) and Elizabeth Nakasone (studying pancreatic cancer in Native Hawaiian and Japanese populations); 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 public health researcher Jonathan Huang (modeling environmental toxicant effects on fetal development); and JABSOM researcher Yiqiang Zhang (identifying genetic traits in congenital heart disease).

COBRE Phase 1 grants focus on the development of independent biomedical researchers and research centers, and are designed to have a 15-year cycle.

“PAC-AID is specifically designed to develop six to eight early-stage faculty members at the University of Hawaiʻi and across Pacific Island institutions who will use artificial intelligence and data science to address cancer and chronic disease outcomes in one of the nation’s most medically underserved and understudied regions,” Shepherd said.

He added that the expected impact to Hawaiʻi is substantial. “Our benchmark for success is that the funded faculty projects, four initially and two to four more when those graduate in year 3, and will later achieve independent NIH R01 (Research 01 level university) funding at an estimated $3.25 million per award. That represents a projected $19.5 million in additional federal research funding returned to the State of Hawaiʻi (six funded R01s) on top of the initial $12 million COBRE award itself — a combined potential economic and research impact of more than $31 million for Hawaiʻi‘s research and healthcare workforce. These estimates are for the first 5-year period.”

PAC-AID joins a growing portfolio of NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, including the , and the .

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green emphasized that cancer research and medical science are not only matters of public health, but also essential to national and global security, during a roundtable discussion at the ’s 17th Annual on January 23.

The three-day international symposium, held January 21–23, at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center in Kakaʻako, brought together leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to share cutting-edge discoveries in cancer genetics and environmental carcinogenesis — the interaction between genetic and environmental factors that influence cancer risk and treatment outcomes.

Cuts, costs, commitment

Speaking before nearly 100 attendees including international and U.S. cancer researchers, 糖心视频 faculty, students and community members, Green addressed concerns about the future of medical research amid rising costs and federal funding cuts. The discussion was moderated by Michele Carbone, co-founder of the Weinman Symposium and director of thoracic oncology at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center.

Cancer does not know a red state or a blue state.
—Gov. Josh Green

“The challenges are many, but there鈥檚 no question that states can help,” said Green. He pointed to a plan to provide an additional $7.5 million to the 糖心视频 Cancer Center to help sustain research momentum during a difficult fiscal period.

Green warned that reductions in federal research funding threaten the nation鈥檚 ability to respond to future health crises and stressed that science should transcend politics.

“Cancer does not know a red state or a blue state,” he said. “It doesn鈥檛 know ideology. This is something we should commit ourselves to for humanity.”

He also tied biomedical research directly to global security, citing emerging technologies such as RNA-based research and vaccines. “If we don鈥檛 fund important research and someone else does—and they control that scientific discipline—we鈥檙e not just at a disadvantage during outbreaks,” Green said. “It鈥檚 unsafe to have monolithic control of major technologies.”

糖心视频 Cancer Center Director Naoto Ueno expressed appreciation for the governor鈥檚 support. “His vision, making sure that there is long-term cancer research, really makes a big difference,” Ueno said. “There are 70,000 people in Hawaiʻi with cancer. The only way to cure cancer for future generations is to advance research.”

Green also presented the 2026 Weinman Award to Antoni Ribas of UCLA, a leader in cancer immunotherapy research.

Read more at the .

University of Hawaiʻi at researcher Jesse Owens has received a $2 million NIH (National Institutes of Health) grant to advance his lab鈥檚 pioneering gene-editing technology at the (JABSOM).

Related 糖心视频 News story: Next generation gene therapy tools built by 糖心视频 scientist

“This is my dream grant,” said Owens, associate professor at JABSOM鈥檚 Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. “It鈥檚 the project I鈥檝e always wanted to do. It funds exactly what our lab is passionate about, which is developing safer, more precise tools for gene therapy that can be used across many different diseases.”

The four-year, $2 million R01 award supports Owens鈥� effort to create a new generation of transposases, the specialized enzymes that insert genes into precise genome locations. Unlike other gene-editing tools such as CRISPR—which cut DNA and can sometimes lead to unwanted mutations during the repair process—Owens鈥� method replaces genes without cutting or exposing the DNA, allowing for safer and more precise gene delivery.

Refining precision in gene therapy

That precision is the result of years of meticulous research. Graduate student Chris Tran created and tested more than 200 mutated enzymes to find one that makes very few mistakes and changes only the intended genes without affecting others. The lab鈥檚 next goal is to improve the system鈥檚 “on-target” efficiency—the rate at which genes land exactly where intended.

“Our goal now is to find that perfect balance,” Owens said. “We鈥檝e minimized the off-target effects; now we鈥檙e working on boosting the on-target performance so that the system is both incredibly safe and incredibly effective.”

Owens鈥� lab has already made remarkable progress. Early versions achieved less than 1% gene delivery efficiency. Through years of refinement, the latest system now reaches nearly 100% efficiency, a leap Owens once thought impossible.

“What we didn鈥檛 realize early on was just how fine-tuned this system needed to be,” he said. “If you move the target by just two base pairs, the efficiency can drop dramatically. We had to test hundreds of iterations to find the right combination.”

Building tools to fight many diseases

Owens describes his lab as “disease agnostic,” building tools that can be applied broadly, from hemophilia to cystic fibrosis to cancer.

Imagine something that started in your PhD eventually becoming part of a therapy that fights cancer.
—Jesse Owens

“It鈥檚 a special type of R01 (grant),” he explained. “It鈥檚 not tied to one disease area, which is perfect for us. We can focus on making the best tool possible, and then share it with researchers who specialize in different diseases.”

Ultimately, Owens hopes the technology will accelerate CAR T immunotherapy, which reprograms immune cells to destroy cancer. His team plans to test the system in human T-cells before collaborating with clinical researchers.

“The really exciting thing is that this could one day help treat actual patients,” Owens said. “Imagine something that started in your PhD eventually becoming part of a therapy that fights cancer. That鈥檚 what drives us.”

The grant also supports two JABSOM graduate students, providing hands-on experience at the forefront of gene therapy research.

“Dr. Owens and his team are not only advancing the science of gene editing, they鈥檙e inspiring the next generation of scientists who will continue our legacy of innovation and discovery,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker.

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With Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian populations facing some of the highest diabetes rates in the nation, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 has received a $2.35 million renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand research, strengthen infrastructure and train the next generation of scientists. In its seventh year of funding, the center is part of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and continues to focus on tackling this critical public health challenge.

“Diabetes and prediabetes affect nearly half of the U.S. population, and even more so in underserved communities,” said Mariana Gerschenson, professor in the at the (JABSOM), who leads the initiative as principal investigator. “Our goal is to build a sustainable, collaborative center that addresses both the biological mechanisms and health differences associated with diabetes in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.”

Related 糖心视频 News story: $11.7M grant renewal advances diabetes research in Hawaiʻi

Since its inception, the center has played a pivotal role in mentoring seven research leaders and seven pilot investigators. Phase 2 will significantly expand this mission through several key initiatives:

• Investigating diabetic complications: Focused research on complications that occur at higher rates in racial and ethnic minorities.
• Faculty recruitment: Bringing in four new tenure-track faculty members specializing in translational diabetes and insulin resistance research.
• Pipeline development: Supporting pilot projects to cultivate a robust pipeline of future research leaders.
• Community engagement: Strengthening community outreach through an annual symposium and enhanced digital resources.

The renewed award will support key research project leaders, including cell and molecular biology faculty Kathryn Schunke and Michael Ortega, as well as graduate students, postdocs, and the led by Chair Olivier Le Saux.

Innovative research projects

Current research projects at the Diabetic Research Center are exploring innovative solutions and deeper understandings of diabetes, including:

• Developing non-invasive sweat sensors for monitoring complications.
• Studying the genomic links between diabetes and stroke in Native Hawaiians.
• Understanding diabetic autonomic neuropathy using animal models.
• Investigating diabetic renal disease using animal models.

When retired U.S. Army Col. Jason Barnhill steps into the lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM), he brings more than 30 years of active duty experience and a mission to protect soldiers on the battlefield.

Barnhill, now an associate professor in JABSOM鈥檚 , is working to build human tissue models through bioprinting, a cutting-edge technique that uses “bio-inks” instead of plastic to produce organ-like structures. These models, created from human stem cells, could help improve treatments for burns, chemical exposure, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and more.

This work is part of a new collaboration between 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and the Army鈥檚 Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC).

“We plan to use these models for biomedical testing, instead of using animal models,” said Barnhill. “Animal models have various drawbacks that we hope to avoid with our models.”

Barnhill explains that human-based models are more accurate than testing on animals. “Reactions in human genomes are very distinct to those in ‘little white lab mice,’” he said. “It’s really critical that we develop bioprinting and other advanced manufacturing techniques here in Hawai驶i because we’re so isolated. Ideally we can build up our capacity and then be in a position to assist others.“

A personal focus on eye health

While the partnership covers a range of threats, Barnhill is particularly drawn to eye research. “I鈥檓 especially interested in the cornea鈥� and how we could make models of the cornea that could then be used to look at chemical exposure or infectious disease exposure,” he said.

Inspired by a family history of macular degeneration, he鈥檚 also exploring the idea of 3D-printed contact lenses that could protect against chemical burns.

“I’ve been tossing around the idea with some of my colleagues (at DEVCOM)鈥aybe being able to 3D print some type of contact lens or other thing that would be protective for the eye,” Barnhill said.

A return home to Hawaiʻi

Barnhill鈥檚 ties to Hawaiʻi run deep. After arriving in 2000 for a master鈥檚 in biomedical sciences at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, he kept returning—earning his PhD, working at Tripler Hospital, and living in the islands for more than a decade.

Related 糖心视频 News story: New 糖心视频 manufacturing tech makes wearable health sensors more affordable, September 2024

“Really, Hawaiʻi has become home for me and my family,” he said.

Now, he鈥檚 mentoring undergraduates at JABSOM and hopes to spark collaborations across 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, including with Associate Professor Tyler Ray from the , whose lab houses several bioprinting devices.

“Hawaiʻi‘s home for me now, so I want to help my home as much as I can,” said Barnhill. “I鈥檓 excited to have the chance to do this work that I think will be beneficial to both our service members and to the people of Hawaiʻi.”

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A new drug delivery system developed by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) and Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea may significantly reduce serious lung damage. The study was recently published in the .

The team designed tiny particles, called lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), to carry two drugs directly to immune cells in the lungs called neutrophils. Using COVID-19 as a model, they showed that the LNPs only targeted these lung cells, didn鈥檛 cause harm and reduced inflammation and early signs of scarring in mice.

The researchers hope this new method can also be used to treat other lung conditions like the flu and sepsis by targeting different immune cells or delivering other types of medicine.

“This project is a great example of how interdisciplinary research can facilitate the development of novel drug delivery platforms and evaluate their efficiency in animal models,” said Saguna Verma, JABSOM professor of tropical medicine. “Recently, LNP-based selective organ targeting (SORT) has been developed for specifically targeting the liver, lung or spleen. However, the strength of this study is that our LNPs are designed not only to target the lung but specifically to lung neutrophils.”

Researchers used 糖心视频鈥檚 high-security lab to safely study the virus. For the first time, they were able to send two drugs—DNase I and Sivelestat—directly to infection-fighting cells in the lungs using a new delivery method.

Normally, these immune cells release web-like traps (called NETs) to catch germs. However, when too many are made, they can harm the lungs and lead to serious problems, especially in illnesses like COVID-19, explained Juwon Park of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“Although drugs that block NETs exist, they often require high doses due to instability in the body and nonspecific off-target effects,” Park said. “Our new approach overcomes these limitations by delivering both drugs directly to lung neutrophils using lipid nanoparticles, which improves drug effectiveness and minimizes side effects.”

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Decades of support for underrepresented students in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific has been shut down due to federal budget cuts. Two student research programs run by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM) have been ended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

If the decision stands, we鈥檒l feel the void in five to 10 years鈥攊n our classrooms, our clinics and our communities
—Angela Sy

The unexpected termination of the (STEP-UP) and the is anticipated to have lasting effects on local students and the state鈥檚 ability to grow its own biomedical workforce.

Pathways cut short

Pacific STEP-UP, a high school research pathway program active since 2002, has served more than 445 students directly and hundreds more through laboratory education. Its director, George Hui, explained that the program trained underserved students, often from rural or isolated communities in the Pacific, to conduct research relevant to their communities.

“From studying taro farming in the presence of global warming and sea level rising, to investigating pollution in the Marshall Islands, students tackled real-world, locally rooted problems,” Hui said.

NIH recently and unexpectedly ended funding for the program. “They said we were engaged in DEI activities that are not aligned with the current administration,” Hui said.

The cut came despite Pacific STEP-UP changing its eligibility rules in March 2024 to include everyone in the Pacific, removing race, ethnicity or sex as criteria for application reviews or funding decisions.

“We were confident we wouldn鈥檛 be affected,” Hui said. “We adjusted a year ago. And we had more applications than ever, over 500 this cycle. Now, we鈥檙e telling kids they can鈥檛 participate. There鈥檚 no time, no backup plan, and no comparable alternative.”

Over the last two decades, Pacific STEP-UP was a proven success with students launching successful careers in STEM. Most recently, Nichelle Torcelino from Guam was accepted to Yale, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. Others from American Samoa have gone to Harvard and claim advanced degrees in public health.

Programs offered more than research experience

“We don鈥檛 just give our students lab time,” Hui added. &dquo;We help them believe they belong in science and research. Without programs like this, that path disappears for many.”

The MHRT program, launched in 2013 by Vivek Nerurkar, and now led by Angela Sy, both from the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, sent underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students to conduct mentored research in places such as Thailand, India, American Samoa, Guam, Cameroon and Liberia.

“These students often had never traveled beyond the state. They return transformed鈥攏ot just as budding scientists, but as global citizens,” said Sy.

More than 123 students participated, with 66% pursuing graduate degrees and many now working in medicine, research, and academia.

Sakaria Laisene Auelua-Toomey a MHRT 2015 alumni who graduated from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in 2016 earned a PhD in psychology from Stanford University in 2024 and is now a faculty at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

Impact on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 research future

Program leaders say the cuts hurt Hawaiʻi鈥檚 ability to build a local workforce. “These are resource-limited areas,” Hui said. “Without exposure to science, there鈥檚 no pipeline.”

JABSOM officials are hoping for a legal reprieve. The termination is being challenged as part of a multistate lawsuit against NIH鈥檚 rollback of DEI programs.

“If the decision stands, we鈥檒l feel the void in five to 10 years鈥攊n our classrooms, our clinics and our communities,” said Sy.

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Diabetes affects 10% of Hawaiʻi‘s population, with another 37% living with pre-diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. To address this significant health issue, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM) secured a $11.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) five-year grant renewal for its Diabetes Research Center, originally funded with $11.3 million in 2017.

“Living in Hawaiʻi, many of us have diabetes or know someone who has it, so it is our obligation as researchers in Hawaiʻi to investigate problems that affect the people of this state,” said Mariana Gerschenson, JABSOM associate dean for research and director of the Diabetes Research Center. “The renewal of this grant allows us to continue to do this critical research, and we are excited about starting Phase 2 of this research, which will explore the impact diabetes has on other parts of the body.”

Related story:$10.4M to 糖心视频 researchers links environmental microbiomes to human health

Originally, the NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant enabled JABSOM to study the mechanisms behind diabetes and pre-diabetes using cell and animal models. This initiative also facilitated the training of five young investigators across 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 to continue to contribute to local research and education.

“This is a very exciting time for us to have the opportunity to give young people in Hawaiʻi an opportunity to study this abundant disease and its complications here at home,” said Majorie Mau, the center’s deputy director and professor in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health.

Impact on local community

The next research phase will focus on how diabetes leads to complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney issues, with a special emphasis on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations, which are disproportionately affected by diabetes.

Gerschenson’s team includes JABSOM assistant professors Kathryn Schunke, who is researching diabetic cardiomyopathy; Stacy Brown, who studies the genetics of diabetes and stroke among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and Noemi Polgar, who investigates glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Additionally, Tyler Ray, assistant professor from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , is developing wearable technology to monitor kidney function.

The renewal of the grant not only supports ongoing research but also boosts Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy. According to the United for Medical Research report, every dollar received in grants adds $2.46 in new economic activity. The funding supports the recruitment and development of new faculty and young investigators, ensuring the continuation of innovative diabetes research and education at JABSOM and across 糖心视频.

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The University of Hawaiʻi was awarded just over $58 million in federal biomedical research grants from the (NIH) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (July 1, 2022—June 30, 2023), generating $158 million in economic activity in the state and supporting 819 local jobs. This is according to the United for Medical Research that assesses the economic impact of NIH funding in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

NIH funding awarded to researchers supports employment and purchase of research-related goods, services and materials. The income generated from these jobs and purchases cycles through the economy to produce new economic activity. The report estimates that every $1 of NIH funding generates $2.46 in new economic activity.

Related 糖心视频 News story: 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 a national leader in federal health funding

“The funding that we receive from NIH is vital to sustaining the important work of our researchers, as they seek to cure diseases, eliminate cancer, and to improve health equity amongst under-represented groups and in rural communities across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific,” said 糖心视频 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “At the same time, these extramural grants inject much needed dollars into our state鈥檚 economy through research-related expenditures.”

Hawaiʻi received $68.7 million in NIH funding in FY 2023 with 85% going to 糖心视频, including 79 of the 93 NIH grants awarded. The 糖心视频 Cancer Center and the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 were responsible for the majority of the NIH-funded research projects in FY 2023.

Nationally, NIH funding totaled $37 billion in FY 2023 and supported 412,041 jobs and generated $92.9 billion in new economic activity.

A national center of excellence at the is doing much more than groundbreaking biomedical research. The (ICEMHH) is building infrastructure and capacity to better Hawaiʻi鈥檚 human, environmental and economic health.

“We’re designated a center of excellence for microbiome research. It means that people are really looking to Hawaiʻi to make the next vanguard discoveries in this field,” said Principal Investigator Anthony Amend, a professor with the . “We’re making incredible discoveries about microbiomes—symbiotic microbes, things like bacteria, fungi, viruses that are inside living hosts, including us—and this underpins life on Earth as we know it.”

Utilizing two grants from the National Institutes of Health (COBRE) totaling more than $21 million, ICEMHH has also developed three state-of-the-art “cores”—an insectary, a microbial genomics laboratory and a microscopy imaging center—for cross-disciplinary public impact research beyond how microbiomes impact human health.

Fruit flies, mosquitos, related diseases

The Insectary for Scientific Training and Advances in Research or InSTAR promotes research on insect microbiomes (the microorganisms of a particular site or habitat) and advanced research in medical entomology (study of insects). It offers insect-rearing equipment and services, a collaborative lab and rearing space, insect containment, and other training and insect-management services.

Amend said, “Users of this core include some of our researchers here at the university and state agencies that are trying to understand disease鈥攈ow it spreads in our state and how to mitigate those risks.”

Some of those mosquito-carried diseases include zika, dengue fever and malaria.

DNA sequencing, genetic analysis

The Microbial Genomics and Analytical Laboratory or MGAL houses the necessary instrumentation to provide a wide variety of services, such as high-throughput DNA/RNA extractions (to examine molecules that make up our genomes, and to generate “barcodes” for identifying microbes), amplicon library preparation (a highly targeted approach that enables researchers to analyze genetic variation in specific genomic regions), natural product and small molecule analysis, and culturing and storage of microbial strains.

“What this core does is enable somebody to come in with a sample of an animal or a soil sample or any sort of environmental sample. They can bring it to the core, drop it off and in a matter of weeks come out with a list and a figure of all of the microbes and their genomes that are within that sample,” Amend said. “This has really revolutionized our ability to determine ecological processes that are happening on microscales.”

Photons, electrons, more in high resolution

The Microscopy Imaging Center for Research through Observation or MICRO provides researchers with state-of-the-art instrumentation, training and services for high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical, fluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscopy and image analysis.

“You can look at photons. You can look at electrons鈥攁ll these different tools to study microbes in their host environments,” Amend said.

The three research cores have already attracted a wide variety of users.

“We host researchers from all over the world, who come to learn about microbes, to use our facilities and to take that knowledge back to their countries, to develop their own expertise,” Amend said.

At the other end of the spectrum, there was the gentleman who walked in off the street and wanted to know which microbes were in his sourdough starter—which he thought made the most delicious bread and helped to keep his skin clear. In a matter of weeks the MGAL facility had a list of all the beneficial bacteria and yeasts contained in that flour and water sample.

Sustaining excellence

COBRE grants are awarded in three sequential five-year phases.

• Phase 1 awards build capacity in an area of biomedical research through the establishment of a center of excellence that helps develop a critical mass of investigators who are able to compete effectively for independent research funding and improve infrastructure in the center鈥檚 research area. Researchers in 糖心视频鈥檚 Phase 1 $10.4-million grant generated almost $22 million in extramural funding.
• Phase 2 awards strengthen successful COBRE Phase 1 centers through continued development of investigators to compete effectively for independent research, pilot project funding and further improvements to research infrastructure at the institution. Improving the three research cores is a focus of 糖心视频鈥檚 $10.7-million Phase 2 grant.
• Phase 3 awards provide support for maintaining research cores developed during Phases 1 and 2 to sustain a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment with pilot project programs, mentoring and training components.

糖心视频 will be applying for a Phase 3 award to sustain its world-class microbiome research and three research cores. According to Amend, the center is accelerating many kinds of projects that people care about.

He said, “We hope that by launching this center of excellence and by maintaining these three cores, it puts Hawaiʻi at the forefront of this research where we can make these discoveries to promote our own livelihoods, economic opportunities and sustainability going into the future.”

—by Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

A University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) program that builds the foundation for the next generation of biomedical researchers has been funded $21.3 million for another five years by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) received funding from the National Institutes of Health to continue the work of expanding research opportunities in Hawaiʻi. is administratively based at JABSOM with a mission to fortify research programs statewide in order to put more undergraduates on the road to a biomedical science career.

The renewal of the INBRE grant allows the JABSOM program to continue to increase the pipeline of students in STEM and strengthen the biomedical research expertise at undergraduate institutions and community colleges in Hawaiʻi. This is a pathway for these students to pursue biomedical research and workforce careers. The grant will also facilitate infrastructure development, support postdoctoral fellows and expand the state-of-the-art Data Science Core.

This includes strategic approaches to providing resource and mentorship opportunities to junior and pilot investigators as a means to incorporate research into curriculum. INBRE increases biomedical research capacity across the state by providing these resources and expertise to community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutes across the state.

Professor Robert Nichols led the last previous two cycles.Peter Hoffmann, a professor who is also with the department, will take over as principal investigator with Ben Fogelgren, associate professor of , taking on the role of program coordinator.

“We are thrilled to have this competitive renewal fully funded so that we can continue to build upon our past successes and expand the Hawaiʻi network of biomedical researchers, scholars and students,” said Hoffmann. “Our leadership works closely with the participating faculty with the goal of strengthening our research capacity throughout Hawaiʻi. We have many exciting programs and lofty goals set for the INBRE V cycle—time to get to work!”

Engaging with 糖心视频 community colleges, other institutions

INBRE has worked closely with faculty and students from , , , , , , Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Engaging students interested in biomedical research at the community college level and other higher education institutions is the first step in building a strong community of health science research in Hawaiʻi. INBRE provides aspiring biomedical researchers opportunities to investigate complex issues such as obesity and vaccine development, which impact the population of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

I found people who were willing to spend time nurturing the education and skill set of future scientists.
—Lance Nunes

In the past five years alone, HI-INBRE has engaged more than 600 students from more than 20 different ethnic groups in research opportunities with the goal of building a &lduqo;pipeline” for biomedical research careers in our state. In so doing, HI-INBRE enhances biomedical science and technological knowledge amongst our state鈥檚 workforce.

Lance Nunes is one of them. He was part of the INBRE program during his time at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and is now at the JABSOM pursuing a doctorate in developmental and reproductive biology, winning awards along the way such as the Kai Bowden ARCS Award in Medicine as well as the 2023 Biomedical Symposium Best Presentation award.

“INBRE is one of the main reasons I became a scientist,” Nunes said. “Going through undergraduate school, you try different things. You never know what you want to do until you try it, and INBRE introduced me to different research labs. I found people who were willing to spend time nurturing the education and skill set of future scientists.”

Nearly 25 years after her birth made international headlines, Cumulina, the first cloned mouse and the first cloned mammal in the United States recently made the trek to her new home in the renowned Smithsonian鈥檚 in Washington, D.C.

The most celebrated mouse in scientific history was named for the cumulus cells whose nuclei were used to clone her. Cumulina was created in a lab in 1997 using the distinctive “Honolulu Technique” developed by an international team led by Ryuzo Yanagimachi at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 . Yanagimachi鈥檚 work helped lay the groundwork for in vitro fertilization in the early 1960s. Although Yanagimachi officially retired in 2005, he continues to be an active researcher at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (IBR), which he founded.

“I view Cumulina as being an ambassador to the world for the biomedical research that鈥檚 done at the University of Hawaiʻi. The University of Hawaiʻi is a world-class Research 1 university. The discovery that a mouse could be cloned over and over again happened here before it happened anywhere else in the world,” said W. Steven Ward, director of the IBR and JABSOM professor.

Cumulina lived to a ripe age of 31 months, equivalent to age 95 in human years. She died of natural causes in 2001 and until she was donated to the museum, had been kept at the 糖心视频 IBR, part of JABSOM.

“The fact that the Smithsonian Institute so eagerly accepted this gift is confirmation of the place in history that the discovery has. We are thrilled that the University of Hawaiʻi will now be recognized in the nation鈥檚 flagship history museum as having made a major discovery in biomedical science,” said Ward.

Along with Cumulina, the museum also acquired a sheet of paper streaked with the mouse鈥檚 footprints, made on her second birthday, which speaks to the research team鈥檚 excitement about the mouse鈥檚 normal aging process.

“Cumulina is a wonderful addition to our collection,” said Curator Kristen Frederick-Frost. “This tiny mouse will help our audiences explore complex topics, from the science of making copies of organisms to the ethics of doing so. When Cumulina was born, people wondered what, or who, was next. We still wonder. She is a part of the past that pushes us to consider the possibilities of the future.”

Smithsonian magazine spotlight

Like a celebrity, Cumulina was greeted in her new hometown with a special photoshoot courtesy of . She鈥檒l be featured in the . In D.C., she will be preserved in the museum鈥檚 Medicine and Science Division.

“I鈥檓 happy that more people can see her than here at IBR鈥� It’s very good for us and for Cumulina too,” said Yanagimachi.

While the museum is exploring future display opportunities, details about Cumulina will be available on the museum鈥檚 website and in the American Treasures column of the Smithsonian Magazine. Cumulina was the first mammal to be cloned more than once and for several generations. In fact, the Yanagimachi Laboratory produced more than 50 carbon-copy mice using what was thought to be a more reliable cloning technique than the one used to create Dolly the Sheep. The clear reproducibility of the Honolulu Technique for cloning mammals convinced the world that cloning was real.

This work is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 accounted for $49,613,708 million in research funding awarded by the (NIH) in the federal fiscal year 2021 (October 1 2020 and September 30, 2021), according to the by United for Medical Research released on March 21. Sixty-eight of the 82 NIH grants awarded in Hawaiʻi, totaling $57,370,429, went to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 biomedical research projects, including programs that look to address health and socioeconomic disparities for Indigenous and minority populations.

“We are grateful to the NIH for its sustained support of our 糖心视频 researchers and the advancements toward biomedical research, which is not only making a difference for national and global health, but is supporting our local people through jobs and stimulating economic growth,” said 糖心视频 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis Syrmos.

The three top-funded projects came from the (JABSOM) and the , including:

$4,620,000— (JABSOM). The Research Centers in Minority Institutions Specialized Center, Ola Hawaii focuses on “ola” (health) for communities suffering disproportionately from genetic, environmental and socioeconomic disparities. The center supports a community of health disparities investigators who harness the power of diverse thought to determine the causes of and interventions for health disparities. Principal investigators: Jerris Hedges and Noreen Mokuau.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 receives $3.4M to mitigate COVID-19 disparities, September 28, 2020

$3,000,000— (PIKO/JABSOM). The center is helping build a statewide clinical and translational research infrastructure to improve the health of Indigenous Pacific people. Principal investigators: Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula and Neal Palafox.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: $15M research center to improve Indigenous health, August 31, 2021

$2,972,823— (糖心视频 Cancer Center). An annual renewal award to support the infrastructure of the Multiethnic Cohort Study, in its 28th year. The most ethnically diverse cancer cohort in existence, the study identifies risk factors for cancer and other chronic diseases. Principal investigators: Loic Le Marchand, Christopher Haiman and Lynne Wilkens.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Cancer, diabetes findings unlocked by the world鈥檚 most ethnically diverse study, March 7, 2021

Among the other grants 糖心视频 received in FY2021 were those that assisted with testing and therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, training grants that prepare students for future scientific jobs in Hawaiʻi, clinical research grants that bring in new clinical therapies such as clinical trials for cancer patients, and grants to better prevent and diagnose cancer.

Across the nation, a total of $35.73 billion was awarded to researchers in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from the NIH, which supported 552,444 jobs and generated $94.18 billion in economic activity last year鈥攐r $2.60 of economic activity for every $1 of research funding.

In May 2021, the reported that 糖心视频 had a $3.6 billion impact on the state economy, while supporting more than 22,500 jobs in fiscal year 2020. More recently, 糖心视频 topped $400 million in extramural funding for the third consecutive year with a near-record total of $485.5 million to close FY2021.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: 糖心视频 extramural funding hauls in a near-record $485.5M in FY2021, August 18, 2021

This effort is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Hawaiʻi, a prime tourism destination, in combination with its largely multi-racial resident population, presents a unique opportunity to identify and chart the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease. The National Institutes of Health has committed $779,792 for two years to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) toward advancing public impact research on the spread and continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the state鈥檚 underserved communities.

We want to further understand why certain variants are so much more transmissible than others.
—Vivek R. Nerurkar

The study, “Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Hawaiʻi,” is part of the . It is based on the prediction that additional variants will be found in Hawaiʻi because of its high influx of recreational travelers from COVID-19 hotspots.

Vivek R. Nerurkar, professor and chair of JABSOM鈥檚 , leads a team of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and bioinformaticians, including the INBRE Bioinformatics Core group, in sequencing and analyzing the genetic information of these variants circulating throughout the state.

“We want to further understand why certain variants are so much more transmissible than others,” said Nerurkar, who has spearheaded COVID-19 diagnostic testing among the underserved and vulnerable populations in the state.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: New 糖心视频 lab provides free rapid result COVID-19 testing to underserved, December 4, 2020

The project represents a collaboration with four Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified laboratories in Honolulu that perform FDA Emergency Use Authorization COVID-19 diagnostic tests. In addition, the study is providing a unique opportunity for participation by undergraduates in the Hawaiʻi INBRE student research program.

Algorithm to predict mutations

The research group鈥檚 work preceding this grant was published in , the and in , where they present an algorithm developed to predict particular mutations that can lead to more transmissible COVID-19 variants.

“We developed this model hoping we can contribute to the new generation vaccines so that there is no delay in preparing the new vaccines when variants arrive,” Nerurkar said.

“The work by Dr. Nerurkar and his team will ensure that Hawaiʻi is out in front of any new variants of concern either entering the state or arising here on the islands, as part of a national effort to track and quickly respond to the entry and movement of coronavirus variants across the states,” said Principal Investigator and Director of the Hawaiʻi INBRE Robert Nichols.

This research is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

A federal initiative seeking to recruit and mentor STEM students from underrepresented backgrounds toward pursuing careers in biomedical research has awarded the a five-year, $2 million grant.

The National Institutes of Health鈥檚 (MARC) grant will enable 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 faculty from the College of Natural Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), Pacific Biosciences Research Center, 糖心视频 Cancer Center and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to select 30 (six per year) undergraduate students in their junior or senior years to enroll in a two-year that pairs trainees with research mentors.

The mission of MARC@糖心视频M is to provide paid training in biological research for a diverse group of students, including Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian, other Pacific Islanders (Samoan, Tongan, Micronesian, Guamanian/Chamorro, mixed Pacific Islander), Filipino, Latinx, African American; under-represented Asians (e.g., Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian); those from disadvantaged backgrounds, including low social-economic and residents of rural outer islands; and students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities.

Addressing inequities through training

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the undergraduate student body and faculty at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 is the most diverse in the nation, but inequities persist. Only 8.5% of PhD candidates in STEM-related programs at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 are from under-represented backgrounds. Additionally, a considerable number of these students do not apply to STEM-related PhD programs at 糖心视频. As a result, their cultures have little involvement in our nation鈥檚 workforce. This program seeks to increase their numbers in scientific research.

Participating in MARC@糖心视频M are more than 25 惭腻苍辞补 faculty and 10 faculty at other institutions. They represent diverse backgrounds in ethnicity, age, gender and rank.

Serving as principal investigator on the grant is Vivek R. Nerurkar, professor and chair of the JABSOM .

鈥淭he primary outcome measure will be the number of trainees graduating with BA/BS in four years who transition to research-intensive graduate programs,鈥� said Nerurkar. 鈥淭hus, MARC@糖心视频M seeks to increase Hawai驶i’s under-represented citizens who transition to research careers, and bring their diverse cultural backgrounds, life experiences, ideas and interests to biomedical research.鈥�

More on MARC@糖心视频M

Objectives:

• Enroll six students in their junior or senior year of college annually and teach them to identify important research questions, design and conduct rigorous and reproducible experiments, and analyze data and interpret results
• Provide each trainee with four semesters of paid, mentored research and a summer research experience
• Develop skills trainees need to be competitive in graduate school and in careers as research professionals
• Assist each trainee in applying to at least five graduate school programs early in the senior year

The two-year MARC@糖心视频M program for juniors and seniors begins with a summer workshop, which includes a two-credit course each semester designed specifically for MARC trainees, four semesters of mentored research, a summer research experience (either at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 or working with a collaborator of their 糖心视频 mentor at an external site), a short workshop, attending an annual national meeting and presenting their research at professional meetings.

The rolling application deadline is October 8. Students who meet the qualifications can . All questions regarding the MARC@糖心视频M application process or the program can be directed to uhm-marc@lists.hawaii.edu.

This is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Two students received awards for their research at the (ABRCMS), a national conference held online November 9–13. ABRCMS is one of the largest professional conferences for underrepresented students. The four-day conference included more than 2,000 virtual poster and oral presentations given by undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students.

Kailee Yoshimura won her award in the category of Physiology and Pharmacology of an Undergraduate for her research project, “Development of Quercetin Containing Polymeric Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery.”

Fellow student Michelle Biete received her award in the category of Computational and Systems Biology of an Undergraduate Junior for her presentation on her presentation, “A Pragmatic Approach to Standardizing Ultrastructure Morphology in Tissue and Cell Culture.”

A total of seven 糖心视频 Hilo (SHARP) students, including Yoshimura and Biete, were selected to present their research in biomedical or biobehavioral science as first authors. The other student presenters were:

• Taylor A.U. Barongan, “Synthetic Studies of Antitubercular Atrovimycin”
• Kit Neikirk, “Increased Efficacy of Difluoromethylornithine and Metformin Containing Anionic Permeation Enhancers for the Treatment of Neuroblastoma”
• Evangeline Lemieux, “COVID-19 and Student Life in Hawaiʻi: Challenges, Adjustments, and Adaptations”
• Jace Taka, “Development of Resveratrol Containing Polymeric Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery”
• Jane M.U. Walsh, “Traditional Preparations of ʻAwa (Piper methysticum) Address the Intersection of Mental and Cancer Health Disparities in Native Hawaiians”

While the pandemic has left many industries flailing, the field of clinical research is one area actually thriving in Hawaiʻi. Globally last year, clinical trials market size was worth more than $46 billion. Jobs in clinical research are expected to grow 13 percent by 2026. The 鈥檚 new clinical research professional certificate program is designed to provide clinical research associates (CRAs) knowledge in coordinating oncology clinical trials, basic statistical and epidemiologic methods, ethical and regulatory aspects of human subjects research, protocol development and more.

CRAs play a vital role in improving the outcomes for cancer patients and other patients participating in clinical trials. Offered through 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , the program is designed to train CRAs to work at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center (one of only 71 research organizations in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute), its affiliated hospitals, industry partners or at other academic centers in support of clinical trials.

The program runs from August 26 to December 2. The certificate is intended for current or future biomedical and research scientists, public health professionals, nurses and allied health professionals and professionals with a natural science background considering a career change.

“There is always a need for well trained clinical research professionals both here in Hawaiʻi and on the mainland. This program will give individuals a head start into this exciting career,” said Randall Holcombe, 糖心视频 Cancer Center Director and course coordinator.

This accelerated program employs a blended learning model. Foundational knowledge is provided via online materials that students must complete before attending classroom-based face-to-face training sessions at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center.

The average salary range for clinical research associates in Hawaiʻi is between $45,000 and $85,000.

To participate in a free informational webinar or to register for the certificate program, visit .

The annual held on April 25–26 at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 drew 170 different ideas, laid out in poster form by undergraduate students from all University of Hawaiʻi campuses and colleges around the state, as well as graduate students, medical students, medical residents and faculty.

The annual event brings together people from fields ranging from medicine to engineering, who find their skills and their goals can complement one another as they work toward scientific breakthroughs in health care.

This year’s symposium offered a rare clinical diagnosis of Kawasaki’s Disease in an adult鈥攁 disease usually seen in children. A first-year medical student offered a proposal he hopes will inspire the training of young medical residents across the country and motivate them to conduct quality improvement projects in their own practices.

Another high-tech 3D anatomy teaching tool was demonstrated by the anatomy faculty at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM), who are working to make the most minute anatomical details accessible and realistic by using a cellphone.

were selected for five divisions including faculty, medical fellows and residents, medical students, postdoctoral fellows and research associates, graduate students and a JABSOM undergraduate.

The 2019 Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium was sponsored by JABSOM, , Hawaiʻi , Research Centers in Minority Institutions Hawaiʻi and the .

—By Tina Shelton

Editor’s note: The federal government withdrew grant funding for this research in 2025.

John Berestecky, a microbiology professor, is on a mission in Liberia, and his spirit is unstoppable.

This past summer, Berestecky accompanied three Kapiʻolani CC and University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 students to help with Ebola and Lassa virus research at the University of Liberia in Monrovia.

“We wanted to demonstrate that we could put together a laboratory here on short notice and conduct decent science in this environment,” Berestecky said, adding that the most challenging part about the project was the country驶s underdeveloped infrastructure.

Berestecky鈥檚 goal is to forge a collaboration between 糖心视频 and the University of Liberia, which will lead to a graduate and research program in emerging viral diseases at the latter.

Kapiʻolani CC student Melissa Takaaze worked with him at the University of Liberia over the summer. “The work can be done and it can be done well,” said Takaaze. “I am proud and humbled to be a part of that experience, to be able to demonstrate the way that we are able to overcome these obstacles and perform great work.”

Berestecky hopes to involve the biotechnology and medical laboratory technician programs at Kapiʻolani CC as well as the graduate education resources of the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology programs at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 John A. Burns School of Medicine, where he is an affiliate graduate faculty member.

Takaaze currently serves as an IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) student researcher in Berestecky鈥檚 laboratory at the medical school. Brien Haun, a graduate student in the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, and senior biology major Kialanei Garalde-Machida were also part of the Liberia team.

Before he began teaching, Berestecky served in the Peace Corps in Liberia from 1979 to 1982. Over the years, he has made numerous trips to Liberia and, in 2013 took a leave of absence to work with its university to revamp and renew its biology and chemistry curricula.

More information on INBRE may be found at:

—By Louise Yamamoto