(Video) Bioscience Fellowship recipients to be honored

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Deaetta Grinnage, an undergraduate student at Delaware State University, is exploring leading-edge technologies that prevent breast cancer by examining the regulation of genes by a cell receptor found in this form of cancer.
As one of three recipients of the 2013 Delaware Governor’s Bioscience Fellowship (DGBF), Deaetta and her fellow awardees were nominated by their professors to gain experience in their pursuit of a career in biotechnology while doing a summer research project. Awarded annually, the Governor’s bioscience fellowships support Delaware high school graduates who attend Delaware State University, the University of Delaware or Delaware Technical Community College by funding their research projects.
DGBF awardee Julia Yu is currently a senior enrolled at the University of Delaware. Her summer research project included studying antibiotic resistance of bacteria found in bee bread, also known as bee pollen. The antibodies found in bee bread are one of many new technologies being studied to produce vaccines more safely, quickly and economically than the time-consuming, 50-year-old traditional approach in eggs.
And this year’s Delaware Technical and Community College awardee Stephen Krasucki literally went from the caves to the lab for his summer fellowship in examining protein and bacteria characterizations from fungus grown on bat wings. His summer project could eventually lead to more effective vaccines to combat bioterrorism and prevent life-threatening infectious disease epidemics.
Created in 2006 to develop local talent for employment at biotechnology companies within the state, the fund thus far has helped more than 21 Delaware college students in their pursuit of a career in the growing field of biotechnology.
“Through the contributions of Delaware companies to the DGBF fund, we’re able to develop a workforce that consists of the brightest and best bioscience students in Delaware,” explained Vidadi Yusibov, Ph.D., DGBF sponsor and executive director of Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB). “The research experience funded by the fellowships provides these students with hands-on laboratory experience and an opportunity to present the results of their research, thus providing them with excellent preparation for their future careers,” Yusibov noted.
“Delaware’s biotechnology and life science sector is an important contributor to the state’s economy,” commented Bob Dayton, president of Delaware BioScience Association. “Having a readily available, well-educated workforce is critical to the growth and competitiveness of Delaware-based bioscience companies.”
A luncheon to recognize this year’s Delaware Governor’s Bioscience Fellows will take place on September 17 at the Hotel du Pont, in Wilmington. To register for the luncheon or to learn more about the Delaware Governor’s Bioscience Fellowship, visit www.dgbfellowship.org or call Dale Ervin at 302-369-3034.

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