University of Toledo Awarded $367,275 to Benefit Human Health Research
HHS NIH award supports health research to be conductedby students and faculty
WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur announced today that the University of Toledo has been awarded $367,275 in federal support to investigate nocturnin, a chemical in the body that may affect sleep cycles and changes in weight. The award will come through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) initiative under the Extramural Research Program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
"Federal recognition of University of Toledo research capabilities is welcome news for our region, especially as we grow our reputation as a medical and pharmaceutical center of scientific excellence,” said Rep. Kaptur. “The work being done on this project could change the way we understand important aspects of body chemistry and, over time, change the way we live and work. I applaud the University of Toledo student and faculty research team involved in this project for their commitment, and HHS and NIH for their support."
Dr. John Bellizzi, the UT assistant professor of chemistry who directs the project, said, “Studying the biochemical reaction catalyzed by nocturnin and growing crystals to allow us to determine the three-dimensional structure of the nocturnin molecule will help us understand how it carries out its cellular functions. This award will provide critical support not only for carrying out our experiments, but also for the training of UT graduate and undergraduate students in the techniques of protein biochemistry and X-ray crystallography.”
“Dr. Bellizzi’s work is an example of the many ways that scientists from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Toledo are using fundamental scientific expertise and techniques to investigate real world issues,” added Dr. Karen Bjorkman, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Toledo. “Projects like these also provide great opportunities for our students to be involved, helping to develop the next generation of scientists.”
“Dr. Bellizzi is conducting fundamental research to advance our understanding of how our bodies metabolize fat differently depending on the time of day,” said Dr. Bill Messer, Vice President of Research at the University of Toledo. “With this grant award and UT’s exceptional facilities in the field of X-ray crystallography, Dr. Bellizzi and his research team will study the chemical structure of nocturnin for a better understanding of how the enzyme works. This research could provide important insights that lead to new approaches to treating diabetes and other metabolic disorders.”
Projects funded through AREA are generally small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible domestic institutions. The initiative was created to stimulate research in higher education settings, and to promote research that increases understanding of biological processes and supports advances in disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
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