High-Impact, Collaborative Research Happens in Providence

Funding from the Rhode Island Science & Technology Advisory Council to help advance research in traumatic brain injuries, mercury emission control, and infection prevention

Scientific and technological research conducted by Providence-based companies Simulia, Banyan Environmental, EpiVax, Isis and Tracelytics in collaboration with their partners, Brown, URI, Rhode Island Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital are part of the $1.43 million in Rhode Island Research Alliance Collaborative Research Grants awarded by the Rhode Island Science & Technology Advisory Council (STAC) on February 3, 2011.

"We are very proud of the groups who received STAC funding this year. This is a terrific program that promotes interdisciplinary research across our City and State and we are thrilled that these exciting growth organizations are now able to expand their work in Providence. These partnerships are a prime example of what can be accomplished when entrepreneurs and world class research organizations collaborate," said Mayor Angel Taveras.

A symbol of the growing health, science and technology sectors in the capital city, the grants will allow high-impact, innovative research to continue in Providence, and are well positioned to receive further support from federal agencies.

Some of the award-winning scientific research taking place in the city includes:

• Development of multi-scale brain injury models for concussion and traumatic brain injury
  
• Development of new technologies for reducing human health risks associated with anthropogenic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and cement kilns
  
• Study of the molecular structure on the surface of the fungus Candida albican that are recognized by previously discovered antibodies to stop infection
  
• Proof of concept for a first generation immunoinformatics derived anti-tick vaccine with transdermal delivery
  
• Development of techniques for comprehensive measurement of the performance of rich web applications by applying causal tracing techniques to both the server and client
  

For more on STAC, visit http://stac.ri.gov/