CIU’s Biomedical Sciences Program Awarded $328,000 NIH Grant to Research Metabolic Disorders

Exciting News from Columbia: CIU’s Biomedical Sciences Program Makes Waves!

Columbia, SC has something to celebrate! The Biomedical Sciences program at Columbia International University (CIU) just snagged an impressive research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This important milestone comes courtesy of Professor Dr. Jeong-Ho Kim, who has exciting plans over the next three years to make a real impact on treating patients with metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Let’s Talk Numbers!

Get ready for this—CIU has received a whopping $328,000 to support their groundbreaking research! This funding is designated for research that aims to unlock significant insights into how our bodies manage various biological processes. With this grant, CIU is poised to pave the way for advances in diagnosing, treating, and even preventing metabolic diseases.

The grant application process isn’t a walk in the park, either! Only the most innovative and promising research projects make the cut, going through an intense peer review and evaluation by scientific experts. CIU is especially proud, as it is the only private Christian university in the Southeast to receive an NIH AREA grant in 2024. The AREA (Academic Research Enhancement Award) grants are all about enriching the research environment for undergraduate students.

Kim’s Vision for the Future

What exactly will this research look like? According to Dr. Kim, the results will offer valuable insights into how our bodies maintain glucose homeostasis, particularly under challenging conditions such as hyperglycemia often seen in diabetic patients, as well as the heightened glycolysis that occurs in some solid tumors.

But that’s not all! Dr. Kim is on a mission to involve students in this exciting research journey. He’s leading a summer research program for undergraduates in Biomedical Sciences that offers intensive training in Cell and Molecular Biology. Not only will participants dive into hands-on research, but they’ll also get the chance to attend prestigious national and international conferences. Imagine networking with experts and presenting their findings on a big stage—all supported by the NIH grant!

Dr. Kim: A Wealth of Experience

Dr. Kim’s journey to CIU has been impressive. Before arriving this fall, he was a professor at institutions like Liberty University, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science, and The University of Southern Mississippi. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for research and teaching. “I am very grateful to continue my teaching and research journey at CIU, which actively promotes research as one of its missions,” expressed the enthusiastic professor.

Let’s Celebrate Columbia!

This is a huge win for CIU, the students, and the entire Columbia community! The promising research efforts under Dr. Kim’s leadership will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the understanding of diseases that affect so many lives. As we look forward to the next three years of exciting discoveries, one thing is clear: Columbia’s commitment to education and research is shining brighter than ever!

Stay tuned for more updates from CIU as they embark on this impactful research journey. Together with Dr. Kim and his dedicated team, we can look forward to breakthroughs that could change the way we understand and treat critical health issues in our society!