The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $185,706 EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) project grant to Utah State University (USU) with an award date of September 1, 2024. The project, titled "EAGER: UNVEILING THE TRANSPORT MECHANISM OF BIOSYNTHETIC CURCUMIN IN ENGINEERED ESCHERICHIA COLI", aims to develop a novel strategy for producing hydrophobic biomolecules, using the model compound curcumin, by modifying them inside E. coli cells to make them water-soluble. The immediate goal is to characterize the mechanisms controlling the transport of curcumin out of the E. coli cells, with a focus on the surface binding processes involved. This research falls under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), which supports fundamental research and development across diverse engineering disciplines. The project is expected to be completed by February 28, 2026.
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