Florida State University has announced that Assistant Professor Robert Lazenby from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has received a $2 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The five-year Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) will support research into how cells communicate at the molecular level.
The funding will allow the Lazenby Laboratory to develop nanoscale imaging technologies designed to measure molecules within living cells. This work aims to provide insights into cellular communication, which is essential for basic functions such as growth, tissue repair, and immune responses. Disruptions in these processes are linked to diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and cancer.
“This grant is huge news for our lab because it provides long-term, stable support,” said Lazenby. “It gives us the opportunity and freedom to pursue a range of ideas in multiple projects related to single-cell analysis — studying one cell at a time — as well as the resources to follow new discoveries as they emerge.”
The MIRA award differs from traditional NIH grants by supporting broader research programs rather than specific projects with predetermined goals. According to NIH, this approach is intended to give researchers greater stability and flexibility, potentially increasing scientific productivity.
“This opportunity strengthens the foundation of my lab’s research program and accelerates our ability to develop tools that could improve understanding of disease and inform future therapies,” Lazenby said. “I am delighted that it affords my students the freedom to pursue new ideas without resource constraints.”
Lazenby’s research focuses on electroanalytical chemistry—developing tools for studying chemical signals released by cells. These tools can detect multiple molecules simultaneously, including neurotransmitters involved in brain function. The goal is to enhance methods for diagnosing diseases and testing medical treatments without relying on animal or human studies.
“Long term, our development of advanced nanoscale imaging tools and new analytical methods could lead to a means of testing the efficacy of medical treatments without relying on animal or human studies,” Lazenby said. “Our approach could also improve how we study diseases that are difficult to study with current imaging techniques, potentially leading to better diagnostic strategies across many health conditions from cancer to diabetes.”
Wei Yang, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at FSU, commented on Lazenby’s expertise: “Dr. Lazenby is an electroanalytical expert dedicated to the development of novel imaging modalities and sensing methodologies, enabling the study of complex biological systems that are beyond the reach of current techniques. The research program he builds will not only further enhance the department’s strength in analytical chemistry, but it will also enhance the university’s reinvigorated emphasis on molecular bio-design and drug discovery.”
For more information about Robert Lazenby’s work or ongoing research in FSU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit chem.fsu.edu.
