The Mississippi Emerging Research Institution Council (MERIC) congratulates the recipients of the recent seed and instrumentation grants awarded by the Mississippi Research Alliance (MRA). These competitive awards support innovative research and enhance research capacity across Mississippi’s colleges and universities.
The Mississippi Research Alliance funds initiatives that strengthen the state’s research infrastructure, foster collaboration, and encourage discovery that addresses critical societal challenges. MERIC is proud to recognize the accomplishments of faculty from its member institutions who were selected for this round of awards.
Seed Grants
“Enhancing Research Capacity and Workforce Development through Multidisciplinary Simulation and Experimental Testing of Novel Ventricular Shunt Designs” — PI: Mohammed Elmellouki, Mississippi Valley State University
“Effects of Anionophores on Trafficking of CFTR – A Plasma Membrane Protein” — PI: Ghanshyam Heda, Mississippi University for Women
“Supramolecular Engineering of Nitrosamine Cocrystals for Risk Reduction” — PI: S. Ariel Kelley, Belhaven University
“Determination of Substituent Effects on the Region- and Stereochemistry of Photochemical Cyclization Reactions: Towards the Synthesis of Isoindolone Piperidines as Kinase Inhibitors with Photochemical Key Step” — PI: Wolfgang Kramer, Millsaps College
Instrumentation Acquisition Awards
Clinical Anatomage Table Bundle — PI: Severine Groh, Delta State University
CombiFlash System — PI: Wolfgang Kramer, Millsaps College
“These awards demonstrate the strength and creativity of researchers working across Mississippi’s emerging research institutions,” said Dr. Brandon Magers, Chair of MERIC and faculty member at Belhaven University. “MERIC is proud to see our faculty receiving recognition and support for projects that expand research capacity and engage students in meaningful inquiry.”
These awards directly advance MERIC’s mission to foster collaboration, empower researchers at institutions where research is not the primary mission, and translate innovative ideas into real-world impact.
