COLUMBUS - Cancer research, airline safety and perinatal care are among the 184 diverse Ohio State research projects funded during April. The Ohio State University Research Foundation received nearly $21 million in research grants and contracts that month, according to a report given Friday (6/2) to the university's Board of Trustees.

Since the start of the fiscal year in July 1999, Ohio State has been awarded 1,928 grants and contracts for a total of more than $177 million.

Moon S. Chen Jr., professor of public health, is principal investigator for a National Cancer Institute grant of $1.4 million. Chen will lead the first-ever national effort aimed at reducing cancer among Asian Americans in the United States. The Asian-American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training will explore why the percentage of Asian Americans dying of cancer in rising more rapidly than any other racial group.

Since many of the cancers are preventable, Chen plans to develop cancer awareness and prevention programs targeted specifically to Asian Americans. The project also aims to increase the number of Asian Americans participating in clinical and prevention trials, train more Asian-American health workers in community cancer prevention, and develop grant-funded research that will reduce the burden of cancer among Asian Americans.

In other cancer-related research, Samson T. Jacob, professor and chair of medical biochemistry, will use a $297,338 grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the role of tumor suppressor genes in malignant cancer cells. Jacob and his colleagues hope the study will provide a basis to explore ways to reactivate the repressed genes, resulting in the arrest of uncontrolled malignant growth.

A $363,540 grant from the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute will allow Stephan A. Sebo, professor of electrical engineering, and his team to study the electromagnetic field build-up that occurs when an airplane is struck by lightning. They will assess the susceptibility of electrical circuitry in spacecraft and fighter-type aircraft to educate engineers and students at the Air Force Research Laboratory and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on electromagnetic field build-up.

The Ohio Department of Health has awarded Leandro Cordero, professor of pediatrics, a $170,000 grant to continue the Ohio State University High Risk Perinatal Project, aimed at increasing the number of healthy babies born in Franklin County. The project promotes perinatal health in program participants, reducing maternal and infant mortality through early intervention by an interdisciplinary team consisting of a nurse, nutritionist and social worker.

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