Research Initiation Award: Life after death - The role and composition of the thanatomicrobiome in the decomposition of mammalian organs

Information

  • NSF Award
  • 1401075
Owner
  • Award Id
    1401075
  • Award Effective Date
    7/1/2014 - 10 years ago
  • Award Expiration Date
    6/30/2017 - 7 years ago
  • Award Amount
    $ 240,001.00
  • Award Instrument
    Standard Grant

Research Initiation Award: Life after death - The role and composition of the thanatomicrobiome in the decomposition of mammalian organs

Research Initiation Awards (RIAs) provide support for junior faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who are starting to build a research program, as well as for mid-career faculty who need to re-direct and re-build a research program. It is expected that the award helps to further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness, improves research and teaching at the researcher's home institution, and involves undergraduate students in research experiences.<br/><br/>Alabama State University's (ASU) HBCU-UP RIA is aimed at systematically evaluating the role of the thanatomicrobiome (i.e., death-microbiome) in the decomposition of human organs. The goals of the proposed study are threefold: (i) to establish a working baseline of the thanatomicrobiome (blood, liver, spleen, heart and brain) of human cadavers that have known post-mortem intervals (PMIs) (i.e., the elapse time since actual death), (ii) to narrow down the number of sampling sites (blood, liver, spleen, heart and brain) to one/three in order to provide an in-depth assessment of the thanatomicrobiome in selected organs in many cadavers, (iii) identify the microbial community signatures that could be used to accurately determine PMI. <br/><br/>During the two-year project, the award supports four undergraduate and one master student in molecular biology, microbiology and bioinformatics STEM training. The project has the potential for local, regional and national impact as a collaboration with researchers at ASU, the University of Washington and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, As a designated Experimental Program to Stimulate Research (EPSCoR) jurisdiction, the project broadens research capacity and capability in Alabama and contributes to preparation of a diverse workforce in the biological and computation sciences.<br/><br/>The project has the potential to lead to a tool that will assist in predicting the death interval for which, to date, no scientific method exists.

  • Program Officer
    Martha L. James
  • Min Amd Letter Date
    6/20/2014 - 10 years ago
  • Max Amd Letter Date
    9/6/2016 - 8 years ago
  • ARRA Amount

Institutions

  • Name
    Alabama State University
  • City
    Montgomery
  • State
    AL
  • Country
    United States
  • Address
    915 South Jackson Street
  • Postal Code
    361010271
  • Phone Number
    3342294742

Investigators

  • First Name
    Gulnaz
  • Last Name
    Javan
  • Email Address
    gjavan@alasu.edu
  • Start Date
    6/20/2014 12:00:00 AM

Program Element

  • Text
    HIST BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIV
  • Code
    1594
  • Text
    CROSS-EF ACTIVITIES
  • Code
    7275

Program Reference

  • Text
    HBCU-Strengthening Research Capacities
  • Text
    EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
  • Code
    9150
  • Text
    UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
  • Code
    9178