Alabama State University August 26, 2021 $75-K Grant Awarded to ASU Ph.D. Student A graduate student studying advanced microbiology at Alabama State University has been awarded a $75,000 grant to study the mechanisms of infections in cold-like viruses in order to better understand how they work and to develop ways to combat them. Ayodeji Ipinmoroti, a third-year doctoral student from Lagos, Nigeria, is the recipient of the grant that is awarded by the Alabama Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which is funded by the National Science Foundation. STUDENT IS A RISING STAR "He is one of ASU's rising stars in microbiology and virology, and this most recent grant is just another of his many scholarly accomplishments," said ASU's Dr. Qiana L. Matthews, associate professor of Microbiology. She noted that this is the second time Ipinmoroti has been awarded a $75,000 grant by EPSCoR, a consortium of Alabama's Ph.D.-granting research universities, including Alabama State University, along with state agencies and numerous business leaders. "I feel very appreciative to have again received the funding grant that allows me to better conduct my research; and I am thankful that Alabama State University offers me a great infrastructure to do scientific research with its up-to-date laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment," Ipinmoroti said from ASU's Life Science building. He explained that the grant is derived from a funding opportunity made available through the cooperation of academic, government, and industrial organizations. The award was established to increase Alabama's science and research capabilities, especially research ideas that could lead to curative and cutting-edge scientific discoveries. "My first set of modules taken as part of my microbiology Ph.D. degree requirement at Alabama State University motivated my interest in virology and infectious disease research. I have acquired research experience in vaccine development at ASU's Center for Nano-Biotechnology Research, which has further strengthened my interest and fueled my decision to continue in the field of virology and infectious disease," stated Ipinmoroti. RESEARCH MIGHT SUGGEST POTENTIAL COVID-19 APPROACHES His research is focused on human viruses which cause severe infections such as respiratory illnesses, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal abnormalities and other illnesses, especially in children. The goal of his study is to investigate human cells and their potential as diagnostic tools for therapeutic purposes since they are present in all kinds of bodily fluids and are released virtually in all types of cells. Ipinmoroti's future plans include completing his Ph.D. program in 2022 and working to obtain placement as a scientist in a pharmaceutical or an infectious disease facility. "This research we are doing at Alabama State University is not only important in the case of human adenovirus infections, but could also suggest potential therapeutic approaches to the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants," Ipinmoroti explained. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/