GRAMBLING, LA – An endowed professor at Grambling State University has received a $54,000 grant to research cancer prevention.

Waneene Dorsey, the Ernest Everett Just Endowed Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, received the grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents to fund cancer research on toxicogenomics.

This field of science combines toxicology and genomics to understand the collection, interpretation and storage of information about gene and protein activity within a particular cell or tissue of an organism in response to toxic substances.

Since cancer is the uncontrolled multiplication of DNA-damaged cells, identifying what molecules activate cancer gene proteins could lead to the discovery of ways to prevent the onset of cancer.

“I am identifying molecules that turn on cancer gene proteins in mouse liver cells, which allow the uncontrolled behavior of cells,” Dorsey said. “Once the biomolecules have been identified, they can be blocked by various chemicals. These chemicals have the potential to provide a medicinal tool to help prevent the onset of cancer.”

Dorsey’s research proposal was submitted to cancer research specialists in other states for review by the Louisiana Board of Regents. Her proposal ranked number 18 out of 36 funded proposals and received high marks for institutional capabilities, commitment and support.

Dorsey is a globally known cancer researcher who performs most of her experiments in the Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory in Carver Hall at GSU. Over the years, she has trained many biology students through internships, while her research activities have provided a strong platform for toxicogenomics at GSU.

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