In a groundbreaking development for South Carolina State University, Dr Courtney Thomas has received a $715,803 grant from the National Cancer Institute to conduct pivotal research on prostate cancer.
The grant marks a significant milestone. It is the first time in memory—possibly ever—that a SC State researcher has garnered an independent award from the National Institutes of Health.
“Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American males, and although death rates have declined, it is still the most diagnosed cancer in males,” Thomas said in the project’s abstract. “Having a better understanding of prostate cancer will help decrease these rates.”
Dr. Stanley Ihekweazu is the dean of SC State’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Transportation. He expressed his enthusiasm for the grant.
“We are very excited about this grant from NIH to Dr. Courtney Thomas the 1st of its kind to SC State,” said Dr. Ihekweazu. “The grant will provide an opportunity for Dr. Thomas to explore research in the area of prostate cancer and also build her career into a successful independent scientist.
The Research Game Plan
The funding will support Thomas’s investigation of calreticulin, a protein associated with the endoplasmic reticulum that plays a role in prostate cancer. Thomas aims to explore two primary objectives: the expression of surface-exposed CRT in prostate cancer and the effect of CRT acetylation on its movement to the cell surface. Her preliminary data suggests that the structure of CRT alters with the binding of acetyl groups. That finding indicates a potential link between CRT acetylation and its increased presence on the surfaces of prostate cancer cells.
Undoubtedly, this grant is a critical step forward in SC State President Alexander Conyers’ initiative to elevate the university to Research II status within Carnegie classifications.
“Since the NIH is an internationally recognized research facility and funding agency, having an SC State faculty member be awarded an NIH grant as the sole principal investigator is paramount for SCSU’s strive to R2 status,” Thomas said. “This helps us be recognized as a research quality institute leading to increased recruitment of quality faculty, and students. This could also be beneficial toward the development of more graduate programs in the STEM-T College.”
The NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award provides early-stage investigators with five years of mentored research experience. It allows them to focus 75% of their time on advancing their scientific careers. This award will cover 75% of Thomas’s salary, research supplies, training costs, travel expenses for presentations, and publication fees. It will also cover stipends for student researchers assisting in her lab.
