AUGUST 19, 2020 — Maria Gonzalez Porras, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at UTSA, has been awarded a fellowship from the National Institutes of Health to study nanoparticle delivery in adipose tissue.
The three-year, $208,182 award is funded through National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and will support Gonzalez Porras’ work in studying the role of the extracellular microenvironment on adipocyte fat.
Obesity is a public health crisis and generates an economic burden of more than $190 billion annually on the U.S. health care system. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and infection from COVID-19.
The unique bioengineering approach utilized by Gonzalez Porras could leader to new therapeutic treatments for obesity that could have a transformative impact on the American population and health care spending.
Gonzalez Porras joined UTSA in 2018 after completing her graduate studies in biomedical engineering at the Mayo Clinic. In her previous work she developed nanotechnology delivery strategies for treatment of neuropathologies.
This new work will combine her expertise in nanotechnology with research on the study of cell-matrix interactions to identify new treatments for adipose tissue in conjunction with Eric Brey, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering.
“Dr. Gonzalez Porras proposes work that will have significant impact on the study of obesity and diabetes. She has incredible potential and this work will help establish her as a future leader in the field,” said Brey, the Peter Flawn Distinguished Professor in biomedical engineering.
The National Institutes of Health’s Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship supports the research and training of outstanding postdoctoral fellows with potential to become leaders in biomedical research. Fellows receiving this award are more likely to be successful in securing NIH funding.
Gonzalez Porras is the first recipient of this prestigious grant in UTSA’s College of Engineering.
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Once the students have the basics down, we go further in this Intermediate Coding Camp in collaboration with experts from UTSA NASA CAMEE center to see how the coding knowledge applies to real-time data such as data received by NASA, daily weather data, and satellite imagery. This camp lets students put their creative hats on and explore creating more advanced Python programs with graphics.
Virtual EventThis camp will introduce students to the world of white-hat hacking and penetration testing. Starting with a comprehensive introduction of foundational cybersecurity principles, this camp will introduce participants to the various toolkits and approaches used to compromise and secure vulnerable computer and network systems, applications, and protocols.
Virtual EventTransitioning from summer courses to fall semester might leave you feeling burned out. Since self-care is important, join us for ways to destress and recharge.
Virtual EventAs the pandemic continues, many individuals are facing significant stress, changing circumstances, and uncertainty. This important session will provide supervisors and managers with several practical strategies for helping their employees to better manage their stress and adjust to changes including transitioning back to the physical workplace
Virtual EventThe vaccine clinics, hosted by Metro Health San Antonio, will be held in the Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28) and will continue through early August. After you receive your vaccine on campus, you can enjoy lunch on us. All participants will receive a free $10 Rowdy Dollars gift card, redeemable at any dining or retail location on campus.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28), Student Union, Main CampusSince 2020, most of us have been dealing with higher levels of stress, changing circumstances, and uncertainty. This important session will discuss several practical strategies for managing stress, adjusting to change, and coping with a future that may seem unclear.
Virtual EventThe vaccine clinics, hosted by Metro Health San Antonio, will be held in the Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28) and will continue through early August. After you receive your vaccine on campus, you can enjoy lunch on us. All participants will receive a free $10 Rowdy Dollars gift card, redeemable at any dining or retail location on campus.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28), Student Union, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
