Research and Innovation
| September 2025 Newsletter
Dr. Rodney Guttmann
Dr. Rodney Guttmann has been awarded his second major National Institutes of Health R15 grant, bringing his total funding to $860,000 over six years for cutting-edge research into blood-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The three-year, $420,000 renewal grant supports hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students in his lab, where they engage in world-class scientific investigation aimed at identifying specific biomarkers that signal the onset of Alzheimer's disease, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses that could lead to better patient outcomes.
Mrs. Tabithia Ross
Mrs. Ross has been awarded a $5,000 Living Lab Grant to work with undergraduate students investigating bacterial antibiotic resistance genes within the "UWF Living Lab" and whether pedestrian activity increases the presence of resistance genes. This research provides valuable hands-on experience for students while addressing important questions about environmental factors affecting antibiotic resistance.
Dr. Michelle Jenson
Dr. Jenson has developed a new course, BSC4401 Forensic Biology, a lecture-laboratory hybrid course designed for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students. The course provides entry-level skills required of forensic serologists and DNA analysts, bridging academic learning with practical professional applications in forensic science.
Dr. Waldir Miron
Dr. Miron has been awarded a $45,000 CNPq grant to investigate the genomic basis of different paces-of-life syndromes in killifishes, with sample collection now ongoing in collaboration with researchers in the USA, South America, and Europe. He has published research in Nature Communications and Proceedings of the Royal Society B examining the ecology and evolution of fish with limited genetic diversity resulting from different reproductive systems. Dr. Miron's lab now features two complete zebrafish self-circulating systems, enabling experimental research across multiple topics in his fish evolution research program.
Dr. Peter Cavnar
Dr. Cavnar published new research in the journal PLOS ONE investigating the detrimental effects that atypical antipsychotic medications, such as aripiprazole, have on human neutrophils. This publication involved collaborative work with a team of undergraduate and graduate students at UWF, demonstrating the department's commitment to hands-on research training.
