Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
Ashlee Plummer-Medeiros of Bryn Mawr College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Pennsylvania, received a $515,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Plummer-Mederios, an assistant professor of chemistry, will use the funding for a new project seeking to uncover how certain bacteria maintain the protective double-membrane barrier that helps them survive antibiotic treatment.
A team of scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have received funding from the National Institutes of Health to extend the Mom Genes study, an initiative that aims to understand the deeper causes of postpartum depression, particularly among Black and Latina mothers — women who have been historically underrepresented in medical research. Participants in the study complete an anonymous survey regarding their postpartum experiences. Some participants are also provided with an at-home blood sample kit, which is then returned to the research team to investigate the genetic variants that may contribute to postpartum symptoms.
University of Richmond alumni Paul and Anne-Marie Queally have donated $10 million to their alma mater to build a new athletic facility with dedicated space for the women’s lacrosse team. The facility, expected to open in summer 2029, will feature new locker rooms, strength and conditioning spaces, and meetings rooms and offices.