The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) has announced the latest award from its Springboard Science and Research Fund, a program designed to provide crucial support to early-career biomedical scientists and researchers facing funding gaps. This program ensures that researchers feel supported and that their discoveries make an impact in their fields.  

Karen Hannigan, Ph.D.

This fall, Karen Hannigan, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, was selected to receive $50,000 in support of her project, “Sympathetic hyperactivity in the penile vasculature during the development of hypertension.”  This research project will determine any changes in sympathetic innervation and activity in the penile vasculature in hypertensive animals. For Hannigan, this fund not only offers financial support — it encourages early-career scientists and researchers to focus on career development and advancing scientific research with proper resources.

"It gives me the opportunity to set myself apart from my mentor and will provide critical step for gaining independence,” Hannigan said. “I am excited about developing my future research career and having this support is crucial to my future success.”  

In addition to reviewing new applicants, the program welcomed back its 2024 awardees, Sineenart Sengyee, Ph.D., and Rajan Singh, Ph.D., who shared progress updates on their funded projects. 

• “Characterization of Pulmonary Immune Responses Against a Melioidosis Subunit Vaccine” by Sineenart Sengyee, Ph.D. Sengyee’s research focuses on developing a vaccine to combat melioidosis, a serious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. 

• “Deciphering the role of miR-10b in modulating gut-resident macrophages in gastroparesis” by Rajan Singh, Ph.D. Singh’s research explores how the microRNA miR-10b can restore gut-resident macrophages and improve gastrointestinal motility in diabetic gastroparesis, offering a promising path toward treating the disease at its cellular root. 

Because of the springboard fund, researchers like Sengyee and Singh have made meaningful progress and important discoveries within their field.  

“The fund empowers me to advance my research and build collaborations that would not be possible otherwise,” Sengyee said. “It strengthens the University’s research portfolio, enhances scientific advancement, and improves our ability to compete for larger external grants.” 

Advancing scientific research also highlights the exceptional talent present at UNR Med. “Strategic seed funding is where discovery begins; it turns ideas into evidence, de-risks innovative directions, and trains the next generation,” Singh said. “It also trains students and fellows at the bench, amplifying impact across our talent pipeline.” 

The Springboard Science and Research fund continues to show how vital early-stage support is for advancing biomedical research. By investing in promising projects and providing stability during funding gaps, the program empowers scientists like Hannigan, Sengyee and Singh to contribute to UNR Med’s research community.