Central Michigan University

Friday, May 30, 2008

CMU awards President's Research Investment Fund grants

Ecological and biological systems, Parkinson's disease, and local water quality are examples of research subjects that faculty at Central Michigan University will study with financial support from the President's Research Investment Fund. The PRIF, implemented in 2001 by CMU President Michael Rao, exists to "increase state and federal funding for CMU's research, creative endeavors, and faculty and student development programs," according to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Faculty members from the departments of biology, psychology, and engineering and technology received this year's awards, totaling more than $67,000.

This year's recipients include:

Gregory Colores, biology

Colores received $14,960 to study an area of Drummond Island, located in northern Lake Huron, called the Maxton Plains, a well-known grassland alvar. Alvars are described as "open areas of limestone bedrock containing cracks, crevices and pockets with little to no soil cover," according to Colores' proposal. Colores will study how the rare microorganisms that inhabit alvars contribute to the ecological systems and to the endangered habitat as a whole.

Oh-Lee received a $7,500 award to write a grant proposal to study the effects of levodopa, a common drug used to treat Parkinson's disease. Patients taking levodopa demonstrate decreased motor responses over time. Experiments with rats and alternative drug treatments hope to uncover safer medications to manage Parkinson's.








Scott McNaught and Elizabeth Alm, biology

McNaught and Alm were awarded $15,000 to study the levels of bacteria and sediments in water supplies close to livestock farms. Contingent upon the results of studying five sites in Isabella County, the study could lead to development of additional watershed programs that would offer more protection for water supplies, better environmental practices for livestock farms and improved food safety through cleaner water supplies.


Joseph Langenderfer, engineering and technology

Langenderfer received $15,000 to study shoulder tears, specifically within rotator cuff muscles. Depending upon the location and size of the tear, varying degrees of muscle damage can occur. By studying sizes and locations of rotator cuff tears and comparing the data to normal shoulder strength, doctors and patients will have more information to work with when making decisions regarding surgery.

Kourtev was awarded $14,868 to study the sarracenia purpurea, a pitcher plant found in northern regions of North America. Kourtev wants to understand the diverse microbial community that inhabits pitcher plants to determine if the pitchers "control their bacterial communities in order to maximize their nitrogen gain," according to his proposal. By studying and understanding these processes, he hopes the endangered species of pitcher plants can be more protected.






The President's Research Investment Fund encourages full-time regular faculty and staff to seek out external funding for research projects or to participate in grant writing to seek that funding.