Three College of Charleston professors will benefit from an $18 million IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence grant designed to boost the Palmetto State’s biomedical research capacity for the next five years. The award from the National Institutes of Health is administered by the University of South Carolina and is shared between 13 universities in South Carolina. At least 72 professors and 200 students across South Carolina are estimated to receive support.

The College’s Jim Deavor, associate dean of the School of Sciences & Mathematics, will receive $100,000 a year for five years to support the Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Program (BSURE) that pairs students with CofC faculty mentors.  The grant will support approximately 12 undergraduates performing summertime biomedical research in areas that include biochemistry, chemical biology, genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, and organic chemistry.

Developmental research grants were also made to Christine Byrum, associate professor of biology, and Renaud Geslain, assistant professor of biology, to fund their biomedical research programs for up to three years. The support will provide them with money for equipment, supplies, travel expenses, and salaries in the summer for them and two undergraduate students.