FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pikes Peak State College Secures $1.5 Million NSF Grant to Introduce Gene-Editing Technology Opportunities for Students
Colorado Springs, CO – November 26, 2024 – Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) is embarking on an innovative research initiative to provide undergraduate students, particularly those at two-year colleges, with greater access to hands-on scientific research experiences. In partnership with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), PPSC has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) utilizing the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas gene-editing technology.
Dr. Amber Marean of PPSC, along with Dr. Lisa Hollis-Brown, Dr. Lisa Hines, and Dr. Tom Wolkow from UCCS's Biology Department, will lead this transformative project. Their goal is to empower two-year college faculty to implement CRISPR-Cas research experiences in the classroom, bridging the gap for students who often lack access to high-level research opportunities.
“This project is unique because it brings research opportunities directly to community colleges. By training our partners in CRISPR techniques, they can offer the experience to all their students, providing equal access and inspiring more to pursue careers in science,” says Dr. Marean.
CRISPR-Cas is a revolutionary technology that enables precise gene editing. Originally discovered in bacteria as a natural defense mechanism against viral invaders, scientists have adapted CRISPR-Cas to target and modify genes in other organisms, including humans. Its potential applications are vast, ranging from medical research to developing treatments for diseases such as sickle cell anemia, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, and various cancers.
The research experience developed through this project will allow students to disable a gene of interest in yeast and investigate the resulting physical or metabolic changes. This hands-on approach makes complex molecular biology techniques accessible in a classroom setting while allowing flexibility for diverse research questions.
Over the next five years, PPSC and UCCS will host annual summer workshops for two-year college faculty across the Midwest region. Faculty participants will learn how to implement the CRISPR-Cas course-based research experience at their respective institutions, thereby offering more students the chance to explore the benefits, challenges, and excitement of scientific research early in their college careers.
About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC):
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes.