UGA researchers boost efficacy of drugs by using nanoparticles to target ‘powerhouse of cells’

Nanoparticles have shown great promise in the targeted delivery of drugs to cells, but researchers at the University of Georgia have refined the drug delivery process further by using nanoparticles to deliver drugs to a specific organelle within cells.

By targeting mitochondria, often called "the powerhouse of cells," the researchers increased the effectiveness of mitochondria-acting therapeutics used to treat cancer, Alzheimer's disease and obesity in studies conducted with cultured cells.

Gregory H. Robinson honored with Humboldt Research Award

Gregory H. Robinson, Franklin Professor and Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry at the University of Georgia, is one of a select group of international academics awarded a 2012 Humboldt Research Award from Germany's Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

The award is valued at 60,000 euro (approximately $80,000), and Robinson is the second UGA chemist to receive the award in as many years.

Chemistry graduate students recognized as outstanding teaching assistants

Five graduate students in the Department of Chemistry have been awarded the 2012 Outstanding Teaching Award. These awards are conferred annually by the UGA Center for Teaching and Learning. The recipients, (left-to-right in photo) Daniel Sexton, Matthew Davidson, Timothy Pope, Robert Gilliard and Christopher Nealon, are recognized for their outstanding contributions to instruction by students serving as teaching assistants in the classroom or laboratory.

Chemistry professor named among the nation’s best by Princeton Review

Dr. Charles Kutal, chemistry professor and associate dean of the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been named one of the best undergraduate teachers in the nation by the Princeton Review and RateMyProfessors.com. Dr. Kutal was included among The Best 300 Professors which was released April 3rd, 2012. Two other UGA faculty were also included on this list: Dr. John Knox, an associate professor of geography, and Dr. Audrey Haynes, an associate professor of political science.