James Ankrum, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and researcher at the UI Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, has received a

$75,000 one-year grant from the National Blood Foundation.

Ankrum will use the funding for elucidating the role of FOXO3 in restoring the potency of in vitro expanded mesenchymal stem cells.

The National Blood Foundation (NBF), established in 1983, is a program of Advancing Transfusion and Cellular Therapies Worldwide (AABB) that distributes funding to support research and education in all aspects of blood banking, transfusion medicine, cellular therapies, and patient blood management.