Albany State University has announced a substantial achievement, as the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs reported, with the acquisition of more than $6.6 million across 20 grants.
In a statement reflecting on this accomplishment, ASU President Lawrence Drake emphasized the importance of these grants. “The successful acquisition of nearly $7 million in grants is a significant milestone that underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and enhancing community engagement. ASU will direct these vital funds will towards innovative research initiatives and student success programs, reinforcing our mission to empower our students and enrich our community.”
Grants That Support Research and Students
Among the notable grants received is $250,000 from the Department of Justice-COPS for the “ASU De-escalation Grant.” This initiative aims to develop a comprehensive program to enhance law enforcement de-escalation techniques, ultimately promoting safer interactions between police officers and the communities they serve.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded ASU $600,677 through the Childcare Access Means Parents in School Program. The project, titled “Albany State University: Caring for the Next Generation of Golden Rams,” will provide high-quality childcare at no cost for the two, three, and four-year-old children of Pell-eligible student-parents attending classes or utilizing ASU’s study resources during weekday evenings or Saturdays.
Research at ASU is also set to benefit significantly from the new funding. Dr. Olabisi Ojo has received a grant of $20,592 from the Aim-Ahead Initiative, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. His project, “Generation of AI-enabled Diagnostic and Therapeutic Music from Biometric Data to Promote Equity of Medical Services,” focuses on leveraging AI to create diagnostic music tailored to users’ physical and mental health conditions to address health disparities.
Another critical research project funded is led by Dr. Yixuan Wang, who secured $136,616 ($558,328 total over five years) from the National Institutes of Health. Her research aims to develop more effective treatments for breast cancer.
Further emphasizing ASU’s dedication to student success, the university received a $99,998 grant from the Volcker Alliance for the Next Generation Service Corps. This national initiative aims to expand undergraduate public service-learning experiences, assisting Schools of Public Service in designing and implementing new or enhanced credential programs focused on public sector problem-solving and cross-sector collaboration.
For a complete list of the 20 grants that ASU click here.