Des Moines Register, IA
07-06-07
ISU team tops list of grants for state research
Scientists are awarded more than $1 million to study new technologies.
By BONNIE HARRIS
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITER
A team of three Iowa State University professors pursuing a protective vaccine against pneumonic plague has received the largest of 10 research grants totaling more than $1 million in state economic development money.
Michael Wannemuehler, a professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine , said the team would focus on pneumonic plague because the disease can affect large populations and be made resistant to antibiotics - an ideal weapon for bioterrorists. The team's research could extend to anthrax, influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, he said.
"If we can immunize against viral pathogens so there's a good immune response, we may be better able to control diseases," said Wannemuehler, who will lead the team that includes Chris Minion, a professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, and Balaji Narasimhan, a professor of chemical and biological engineering.
The grants are the result of Iowa lawmakers' pledge two years ago to give $5 million per year for 10 years to support research projects at Iowa's regent universities. The money, matched by the universities, is meant to help projects that focus on new technology that could create or boost Iowa businesses.
Wannemuehler's team received $150,444, the largest share of ISU's latest round of grants. The nine other projects and teams that also received support:
- Develop a technique for converting uncooked dry-grind corn into ethanol. The technique reduces the energy required to produce ethanol while boosting fuel production. Research team: Jay-lin Jane, a professor of food science and human nutrition; Sathaporn Srichuwong, a post-doctoral research associate in food science and human nutrition; Charles Hurburgh, a professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering; Tony Pometto, a professor of food science and human nutrition; Larry Johnson, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research; and Jacek Koziel, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering. Grant amount: $149,233.
- Find effective ways to remove oil from the co-products of corn fermentation for ethanol production, which would also improve the quality of livestock feeds made

from it. The oil could then be used to produce biodiesel. Research team: Tong
Wang, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition, Johnson and
Pometto. Grant amount: $113,462.
- Commercialize a software package that uses 3-D visualization to help doctors model, manipulate and manage data, which would result in better surgical planning and training. Research team: Eliot Winer, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering; and James Oliver, director of the Virtual Reality
Applications Center. Grant amount: $109,533.
- Improve and commercialize a previous invention of techniques and software tools that objectively assess the quality of colonoscopy procedures. Research team: Johnny Wong, a professor of computer science; and Wallapak
Tavanapong, an associate professor of computer science. Grant amount:
$100,397.
- Develop a tool that will focus software testing and retesting on the parts of the software code that have been changed, which would improve the efficiency of software testing. Research team: Arun Somani, chair of electrical and computer engineering; and Suraj Kothari, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Grant amount: $95,001.
- Replace chemicals used to stabilize soils beneath road projects with lignin, a co-product of ethanol produced from plant fiber. Research team: Halil Ceylan, an assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering; and
Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan, a post-doctoral research associate in civil, construction and environmental engineering. Grant amount: $93,775.
- Study how laser-based sensors can analyze combustion systems that burn alternative fuels. The sensors allow researchers to peer into combustion chambers for a better understanding of fuel sprays, fuel-air mixing and energy release. The goal is to encourage the use of alternative fuels and reduce pollutants. Researcher: Terrence Meyer, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Grant amount: $86,814.
- Develop new technology that improves the effectiveness of a vaccine for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, an illness that costs the pork industry $600 million a year. Research team: Hank Harris, a professor of animal science and veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine;
Matthew Erdman, director of research and development for Sirrah LLC, a company in the Iowa State Research Park that's developing vaccines for the pork industry; and Ryan Vander Veen, a graduate student in animal science. Grant amount: $82,437.
- Research project: Testing a new dietary fiber product based on corn bran to see

how it affects human digestion. Researcher: Suzanne Hendrich, a professor of food science and human nutrition. Grant amount: $18,954.