News

The Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute is currently seeking applications for two funding opportunities. The University Faculty Research Grant Program supports new interdisciplinary research with potential for growth. Research teams must include members from at least three distinct disciplines. The Graduate and Professional Research Grant Program funds student research related to interdisciplinary learning in food, agriculture, and human health. Deadlines are in April and May. The Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives institute is a Consortium member center. Read more about the funding opportunities here.

Professor Francis Shen of the University of Minnesota Law School has been awarded the Early Career Scholars Medal by the American Law Institute (ALI). According to Judge Diane P. Wood, who serves as the chair of the selection committee, “Francis has been a pioneer in establishing the interdisciplinary field of law and neuroscience. His research has helped lead to the better administration of justice in areas such as criminal and elder law, and it has been essential in developing tools to improve the legal system through the responsible use of neuroscientific evidence and neurotechnology.” Prof. Shen is a principal investigator for Highly Portable and Cloud-Enabled Neuroimaging Research: Confronting Ethics Challenges in Field Research with New Populations, a NIH-funded grant based in the Consortium on Law and Values, and is an affiliate faculty member of the Consortium. Read more here.

Scientists at the University of Minnesota Genomics Center are analyzing wastewater samples in an effort to track the spread of COVID variants. This gives scientists and policy-makers another tool to track the spread COVID variants, in addition to clinical testing. The Star Tribune reports, “Kenny Beckman, director of the U Genomics Center, said a long-term goal is to develop a way to rule out the presence of newer strains.”  The Genomics Center is a Consortium member center. Read more about their efforts here.

The March of Dimes recently announced Prof. Michael Georgieff as the recipient of the 2020 Agnes Higgins Award. This award is given for “distinguished achievement in research, education or clinical services in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition.” Prof. Georgieff was recognized for his research on how iron deficiency in early life can cause lasting neurobehavioral effects. Prof. Gerogieff is co-Director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, and a longtime member of the Consortium’s Executive Committee. Read more about Prof. Georgieff’s award here.