Biology professor has been awarded a $370,561 grant from the National Institutes of Health for his research into a group of viruses known as reoviruses.
Holm and his student researchers will be applying state-of-the-art genetic and molecular techniques to explore the manner in which infected cells respond to the presence of the reoviruses.
Specifically, they will research why some strains of reovirus cause devastating disease while others, despite striking genetic similarities, are far less virulent.
As other disease-causing microbes exhibit similar patterns of infection, this research will contribute to a basic overall understanding of pathogenesis in infectious disease.
In addition to the obvious importance of the project for human health, this NIH grant will provide exciting opportunities for our students to participate in important biomedical research, said Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lyle Roelofs.