Chemistry professor receives grant

Reed

Scott Reed, an assistant professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Colorado Denver, received a $395,000 grant from the NSF Biosensors program.

The title of the grant, "Collaborative Research: A Nanostructured Model of the Apoptotic Cell Surface," reflects that the project is a collaboration with Michelle Knowles at the University of Denver. Together, they will create sensors that mimic the surface of damaged (apoptotic) cellular membranes. They will study how the body recognizes changes in membrane shape to identify damaged cells for removal.

Sensors designed using this approach will be useful for understanding how proteins interact with curved membrane surfaces.  In turn, this will allow for the design of sensors that recognize physiological responses to apoptotic cells that could be critical in diagnosing cardiovascular disease.