D Y S O N Y E A R I N R E V I E W • 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 1 8
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Zafir Buraei
Assistant Professor of Biology Zafir Buraei
has been awarded $372,130 from the
National Institutes of Health to pursue
several ongoing research projects in his
lab at Pace centered on elucidating the
molecular underpinnings of neurological
diseases, including Alzheimers disease,
epilepsy, migraines, and autism. Buraei and
his team of students study cells, genetically
modified to express the mutant genes, to
test various approaches to normalize the
mutant genes function.
I M P A C T
If the mechanistic nature
of a particular mutations harm can be
identified, doctors will be able to more
accurately prescribe medicine to treat
neurological disorders more effectively,
and with fewer side effects. Overall,
this research is an important first step
towards proposing new therapeutic
approaches and allowing for more
personalized medicine.
Zafir Buraei (m)
Elmer-Rico Mojica
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Physical
Sciences Elmer-Rico Mojica has been awarded
a National Science Foundation Major Research
Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant for $48,000 to
purchase an accelerated solvent extractor.
I M P A C T
This equip-
ment will be used to
improve the department's
sampling preparation
methods by providing a
more advanced instru
-
ment to do extraction in
different research fields
such as natural products,
material science, food
science, and environmen
-
tal science. It will also be
used in laboratory classes
so students can gain
experience in its use.
