USM Research Network Seeks to Improve Mississippi Health Rankings
Mon, 10/09/2023 - 03:06pm | By: Danny Holland
For years, Mississippi has ranked at or near the bottom of national public health
statistics. From obesity to diabetes, the state is well known for its below-average
health outcomes. However, 91少女集中营 (USM) research network,
the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (MS-INBRE), hopes to
change that.
MS-INBRE is a statewide biomedical research network funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It has been headquartered on USM鈥檚 Hattiesburg campus since its establishment in 2001. While one might not directly think of public health when they hear the term 鈥渂iomedical research,鈥� the program is critical to improving Mississippi鈥檚 health standings.
The program鈥檚 mission is to enhance the biomedical research infrastructure of Mississippi. Through the establishment of research labs, student programs and faculty research projects, MS-INBRE has made significant improvements to research efforts across the state. These improvements are necessary to enhance the capabilities of Mississippi researchers, therefore speeding the translation of research to real-world public health solutions.
On Sept. 6, MS-INBRE and USM administration announced the renewal of its grant, totaling $21 million. This is the largest grant ever received by the program. Using these funds, the program can further strengthen research at Mississippi鈥檚 institutions. Under the direction of recently hired Program Director Dr. Alex Flynt, associate professor of biology at USM, MS-INBRE has already established two new research labs and an advanced data science center since the renewal began Sept. 1.
鈥淢y goal is to make this program better than it鈥檚 ever been before,鈥� explains Dr. Flynt, 鈥淎nd by enhancing the research capabilities available to Mississippi鈥檚 top researchers, we can give them the resources they need to begin solving Mississippi鈥檚 health issues.鈥�
Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of USM鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, also participated in the announcement. He spoke of how student training provided by MS-INBRE may lead to the next great scientific discovery, such as new treatments for cancer and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
鈥淚 always, always think highly about the impact on our students,鈥� Dr. Winstead said. 鈥淎nd so, while there is fantastic research being supported by this program, we never want to forget the human capital that is grown through this type of research across the state and here at Southern Miss for our students.
鈥淭he next great breakthrough that enables a new treatment for Alzheimer's or cancer might come through one of the leading researchers on this project, or it might come years from now through one of the students that's trained on this project when they're leading their own labs.鈥�
A key example is the MS-INBRE Research Scholars (MIRS) program. MIRS is a 10-week summer research internship for undergraduates. The students are mentored by faculty researchers as they investigate solutions to chronic diseases faced by Mississippians.
Zack Wallace, 2022 MIRS Scholar and undergraduate at USM鈥檚 School of Polymer Science and Engineering, researched how antioxidants may help to treat heart disease. A Mississippi native, he鈥檚 seen first-hand the difficulties state residents face.
Wallace said, 鈥淕rowing up in Mississippi, I've seen the prevalence of diseases and conditions such as cancer, obesity and heart disease. Through the MIRS program, I have done biomedical research to impact the lessening of these diseases directly. The opportunities to continue this crucial research have been fundamental to my growth as a researcher and individual.鈥�
With the combined forces of Dr. Flynt鈥檚 fresh leadership and the record renewal from the NIH, MS-INBRE paints a bright future for the state of Mississippi.