Acquisition of an isothermal titration calorimeter for research and education in biomedical sciences

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded Kennesaw State University $249,490 on September 1, 2026, to acquire an isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) for biomedical research and STEM education under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859).

The ITC will serve as a core instrument in the College of Science and Mathematics, supporting faculty research across the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Chemistry and Biochemistry. The instrument will enable label-free measurement of biomolecular interactions—including binding affinity, stoichiometry, and thermodynamic parameters—for interactions between proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. The calorimeter will support interdisciplinary collaborative research spanning fundamental biomedical investigation through translational therapeutic development and will be integrated into undergraduate and graduate STEM educational programs at KSU.

Performance occurs in Kennesaw, Georgia, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. This is a Project Grant, classified as assistance funding.

Abstract

This proposal requests funding for the acquisition of an automated isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) to support biomedical research and stem education in the college of science and mathematics (CSM) at kennesaw state university (KSU). The ITC will serve as a core instrument supporting faculty across multiple biomedical research disciplines, particularly in the departments of molecular and cellular biology and chemistry and biochemistry, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborative research spanning the spectrum from fundamental biomedical investigations to translational therapeutic development. In addition to its research applications, the ITC will be integrated into stem educational programs at KSU. ITC is a highly versatile and sensitive technique that enables direct, label-free measurement of biomolecular interactions. IT is widely used in biochemical, biophysical, and pharmaceutical research to determine key thermodynamic parameters, including binding affinity (KD), stoichiometry (N), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS), in a single experiment. This instrument is particularly effective for analyzing interactions between proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, and is compatible with both in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as other analytical techniques currently available at KSU. Unlike other binding analysis methods, ITC does not require labeling, thereby eliminating artifacts commonly associated with labeling molecules and yielding highly reliable and reproducible data. Moreover, IT is cost-effective, requiring no additional reagents or consumables. Due to these advantages, the proposed ITC system will significantly enhance training opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students in stem disciplines at KSU. IT will be incorporated into our current and developing course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) programs to provide students with hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and data analysis. As the fastest-growing public research university in georgia and the third largest by enrollment, serving approximately 50,000 students, KSU will benefit from this advanced research instrument through expanded research and educational programs. The acquisition of the ITC will increase institutional research capacity and support the preparation of students for biomedical careers in academia and industry.