Project Grant 2414448

This federal Project Grant award, provided by the National Science Foundation's Integrative Activities (IA) program (CFDA 47.083), establishes the Mississippi Nano-Bio and Immunoengineering Consortium (NIEC) to enhance biomaterials research, education, and workforce development in Mississippi. The $153,716 award, effective August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2028, supports a collaborative project between seven institutions: Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Tougaloo College, the University of Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

The key objectives of this grant are to: 1) synthesize and characterize novel biomaterials for safe clinical use, 2) educate and retain a diverse group of scientists and engineers in Mississippi, and 3) secure sustained funding to advance this work. The project aims to foster a collaborative, multidisciplinary research team focused on three research areas: modulating nano-immuno interactions, designing polymer nanocarriers for nucleic acid delivery, and developing pathogen-resilient bioinspired polymeric scaffolds for tissue regeneration. This project seeks to enhance understanding of the interface between biological systems and nanomaterials, support the translation of innovative biomaterials into clinical applications, and promote economic growth in Mississippi through the development of the state's biotech industry.