Eric Nybo, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, previously received a National Science Foundation grant for the project in 2020.
Ferris State University Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Eric Nybo has received another grant from the National Science Foundation’s Chemistry, Bioengineering, Environment, and Transportation Systems Research division for his research into anthracyclines as a potential cancer treatment.
According to an article on Ferris State University’s website, Nybo explained the project, saying, “We have developed a bacterial cell factory to produce anthracycline compounds, which has resulted in the creation of between 30 and 40 distinct chemical structures. Approximately 2,000 naturally occurring anthracyclines have been identified globally. We are developing anthracyclines into designer drugs for the treatment of cancers.”
Previously, this project received a National Science Foundation grant in 2020 in the amount of $407,901. This time, the project received a grant of $369,651, which will run through February 2027. The grant will allow for 12 undergraduate students in Pre-Pharmacy and other related programs to work on the project and be financially compensated for their contributions.
The funding from the grant will funnel into something called “BIOPOLYMER,” or the BIObricks POLYketide Metabolic EngineeRing platform. The BIOPOLYMER team includes Nybo, Mikko Metsa-Ketela of the University of Turku in Finland, and Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Khaled Shaaban of the University of Kentucky.
Thomas Dowling, who is the director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Ferris State University, which assists faculty in finding grants, said of the award and others like it, “Research activities at Ferris are focused on innovation, a pillar of the University Strategic Plan. Engaging students in research with mentors like Dr. Nybo and others is a high-impact practice known to improve student success, with many students pursuing graduate (Ph.D.) programs after their time at Ferris. We take pride in creating this type of vibrant intellectual community for our students.”
Nybo said of the second round of grant funding for this project, “The new grant cycle allows us to continue creating the most complex structures in nature.”
For more information about Ferris State University, visit the school’s website.