SUNY Potsdam Chemistry Professor Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah Awarded $600,000 NSF Grant to Advance Research on Ferritin & Cellular Iron Management, Train Undergraduates
SUNY Potsdam Professor of Chemistry Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah has been awarded a $600,000 National Science Foundation grant to advance research on ferritin and cellular iron management.
Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah, a SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Potsdam, has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate the complex interactions between ferritin, the iron reservoir in humans, and different cellular components, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), as well as the role that ATP plays in cellular iron regulation.
Funded through the NSF’s Molecular Biophysics program, this cutting-edge research will seek to uncover insights into cellular iron management with potentially far-reaching implications for human health and diseases, particularly those linked to iron homeostasis.
“This funding not only advances cutting-edge research in cellular iron homeostasis, but also empowers our students to gain invaluable skills and experience,” Dr. Bou-Abdallah said. “I am profoundly grateful for the ongoing support from the NSF, and very excited about the new discoveries this grant will enable. Our students will have exciting opportunities to participate in summer internships, present their work at national conferences, and collaborate with leading experts in chemistry and molecular biophysics both nationally and internationally.”
This award builds on Dr. Bou-Abdallah’s impressive track record of fostering undergraduate research and mentorship at SUNY Potsdam. Over the past five years alone, his efforts have attracted more than $2.5 million in research funding, produced a patent, and resulted in 22 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious scientific journals, all of which were co-authored by undergraduate students.
The new NSF-funded project will employ a suite of advanced techniques, including calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM), to unravel the intricate dynamics of ATP’s interaction with ferritin. In addition to the interdisciplinary scientific training and laboratory research, SUNY Potsdam undergraduates will have the opportunity to travel to collaborator sites, such as New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, Purdue University, Northeastern University and Arizona State University. Through their visits, the students will be exposed to state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technologies, such as CryoEM, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics and computational biology.
Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah poses along with his students and research assistants in his lab at SUNY Potsdam. Pictured are (from left): Dr. Ayush Srivastava (postdoctoral researcher), Aliaksandra Reutovich (biochemistry major), Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah, Maximilian Beyer (chemistry major), Colby Hladun (chemistry major) and Farida Ibrahim (biology major).
Over the years, Bou-Abdallah’s dedication to training and mentoring undergraduates has profoundly impacted students' career trajectories, while enhancing the department’s national reputation through prestigious awards. His work highlights SUNY Potsdam’s commitment to offering transformative educational opportunities, equipping students with research training and skills for success in graduate studies and careers in health, biochemistry and molecular biophysics, among other opportunities.
“Dr. Bou-Abdallah brings experience and insight to his work, providing students with a research environment that is supportive and impactful. I appreciate his continued contribution to the department and discipline as we offer programs that prepare students for the healthcare field,” said School of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Dr. Shiho Imai. “We are excited by the many opportunities for student growth and discovery that this grant will afford."
The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. To learn more, visit www.nsf.gov.
To find out more about SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Chemistry, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Chem.
To explore all of SUNY Potsdam’s programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/about/our-campus/study-stem.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.