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PROVIDENCE, RI - The Rhode Island Life Science Hub announced $128,810 in its second round of small grant funding to bolster the state’s life sciences sector through strategic investments in research and workforce development.
In its first round, announced in August, the Hub distributed $98,780 to support innovative projects in the life sciences. This second round continues that momentum, providing funding to fourteen diverse grantees focusing on addressing critical health challenges and advancing scientific research.
“We are proud to support Rhode Island's medical and educational institutions, along with the dedicated students, teachers and researchers tackling real-world health issues,” said Patrice Milos, interim president of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. “By investing in the life sciences, we are driving meaningful research, helping our local life science institutions thrive and bolstering Rhode Island’s economy.”
Recipients of the second round of funding include:
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Bryant University’s Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences will receive $10,000 to investigate a new small molecule antimicrobial aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance, generating essential data to support clinical use.
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The Scaplen Lab at Bryant University’s Department of Psychology will receive $10,000 to explore the impact of alcohol on memory circuits and maladaptive behaviors. The funding will enhance behavioral evaluations to study the interaction between reward and punishment circuits in the context of alcohol use.
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Providence College will receive $10,000 to study the interaction between gut microbes and non-biological chemicals, like drug and food dyes. This research aims to identify potential drug metabolites and genetic markers, which could help doctors personalize treatments for better health outcomes.
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Rhode Island College will receive $10,000 to create an interdisciplinary, state-of-the art neuroscience laboratory for its psychology department. The lab will be used by behavioral neuroscience minors and research students in biotechnology and other science majors.
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Rhode Island Hospital will receive $10,000 to enhance research on tumor treating fields for brain cancer treatment, utilizing an FDA-approved device that delivers alternative electric fields.
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The University of Rhode Island’s College of Engineering will receive $10,000 to conduct a proof-of-concept study on synthetic materials for novel drug delivery vectors, aiming to evaluate their performance more efficiently than traditional animal studies.
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The University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy will receive $10,000 to optimize training for the 2025 RI Biotech Boot Camp through the purchase of Dual-Gel Vertical Electrophoresis Systems, addressing local employers’ demands for lab skills.
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The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Chemical Engineering will receive $10,000 to address the urgent medical need for effective, safe and durable therapies to treat intervertebral disk degeneration.
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The University of Rhode Island’s Wearable Biosensing Lab and the Division of Kidney Disease and Hypertension at Rhode Island Hospital will receive $10,000 to support the CareWear system, a digital health solution that uses smartwatches like Fitbit to monitor sleep quality in dialysis patients. The project will conduct a feasibility study at Rhode Island Hospital, where researchers will assess the effectiveness of this system in addressing sleep disorders, with the aim of improving healthcare interventions and enhancing the overall quality of life for those undergoing dialysis.
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The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design will receive $10,000 to support the development of VectorShield-Smartwear, a wearable textile that releases mosquito repellent to protect against bites and reduce the spread of diseases like malaria and Zika. It features a mini 3D-printed container and pump for controlled release of safe repellents like DEET and Picaridin.
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William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School will receive $10,000 to support the “Investigating the Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents on Cancer Cell Lines” project, where students will design experiments to investigate the effects of different chemotherapeutic agents on cancer cell lines through research, lab work, data analysis and presentations.
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Brown University’s Biomedical Engineering Program will receive $9,300 to advance the development of TissueToCells EZ, an innovative device that automates tumor tissue dissociation for single-cell sequencing. The funding will help improve the device’s efficiency and reliability while keeping the cells healthy for accurate results.
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The University of Rhode Island’s Center for Health Monitoring and Intervention will receive $8,500 to develop an innovative sensor system to detect sleep bruxism, a condition that can cause significant damage to teeth and jaw structure. This initiative will also investigate the neurological pathways associated with the disorder, with pilot testing of the system planned to assess its effectiveness.
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Toll Gate High School will receive $1,010 to develop interactive LEGO kits for biology labs, focusing on photosynthesis, climate change and ocean acidification.
“Our commitment to investing in Rhode Island's life science industry is key to driving innovation in the state. This funding will enable our researchers to explore new solutions that can have a lasting impact on public health and strengthen our workforce in the life sciences sector,” Milos continued.
The Small Grant Fund, established by the Hub’s board of directors earlier this year, supports innovation and collaboration in Rhode Island by providing grants of up to $10,000 to educational and academic organizations, non-profits and trade associations. The Hub will continue to accept applications for the Small Grant Fund on a rolling basis and will award grants subject to the availability of funds. Grant guidelines and application information can be found on the Rhode Island Life Science Hub website.
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About the Rhode Island Life Science Hub: The Hub positions the state to deliver on a bold vision of transforming Rhode Island into a globally recognized life science innovation hub by coalescing existing stakeholders, activities, and investments, while building new capabilities. Through an initial three-year, $45 million investment, the Hub will serve as the central and coordinating organization facilitating the development of medical advances and scientific breakthroughs by supporting companies who specialize in life sciences.
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