National Science Foundation grant awarded to Valparaiso University to research parasitic disease treatments

Valparaiso University’s College of Engineering has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Initiation grant program in order to research a new treatment for lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease that involves worms living inside one’s lymphatic system, which leads to disabilities.

The grant will allow for four student researchers for Valparaiso University to look into liposomal drug delivery as a treatment for this disease. One student from Ivy Tech Community College will join the team, as well. The students will all be studying bioengineering, and throughout the project, will use instruments to simulate liposomes before eventually working with the parasites. This will allow the students to research different ways to deliver drugs to the system of one living with lymphatic filariasis in order to combat it.

According to an article on Valparaiso University’s website, Lauren Sestito, Ph.D., who is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and bioengineering, as well as the project lead, said of the opportunity this project gives to students, “The goal for undergrads is always for it to be an enriching experience for them. They’ll do everything from literature review to experimental design to data collection, all the way to presenting the data in a meaningful way.”

One such student who will be getting hands-on experience with this grant project is Gretchen Schmierer-Knust, who said, “When I found the opportunity to apply the engineering process in hopes to create an impactful change for others, I was more than willing to do so. I hope the skills I gain from this will help me to become more comfortable with the research process.”

The student researchers will be collaborating with the biology department throughout the process. In addition to the hands-on technical skills the students will be gaining from the experience, they will also learn important skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and project management.

For more information about Valparaiso University, visit the school’s website.