SDSU influenza researcher wins Nelson Scholarship

A South Dakota State University Ph.D. student whose work could help chart a path for a new generation of anti-influenza drugs has won a prestigious scholarship.

Dan Wang of Brookings has won the Joseph F. Nelson Graduate Scholarship for 2009-2010, awarded to an SDSU graduate student in part on the strength of original research in physics, chemistry, physical geography, biology, soils, geology, mathematics or other physical sciences. Wang is nearing completion of her Ph.D. degree in biological sciences.

The award is for $5,000, plus tuition and fees.

“Dan Wang is a gifted graduate student who is an emerging scientist in influenza virology research,” said her dissertation adviser, associate professor Feng Li of SDSU’s Department of Biology/Microbiology and the Department of Veterinary Science. “She wishes to elucidate the mechanism of how influenza proteins interplay with the cellular protein network to drive the production of infectious influenza virus particles.”

Li adds that scientific findings from Wang’s dissertation work helped provide the preliminary data that enabled SDSU to win three influenza-related research grants totaling more than $620,000 over the past two years. More grant applications based partly on her data are pending with federal agencies interested in the influenza work.

Wang said her Ph.D. research uses a multidisciplinary approach involving pharmacology, genetics, biochemistry, virology, and cell imaging.

“One of the least understood parts of influenza virology is the assembly and budding, the final step during which new virus particles emerge from the infected-cell surface and are released to spread the infection to new cells,” Wang said. “My proposed research on influenza is significant because better understanding of viral assembly and budding can aid in the identification of new viral targets and the development of novel antiviral drugs, which can effectively overcome the rising problem of drug resistance and combat future influenza pandemics.”

Wang’s work has led to several publications as a lead author or co-author in peer-reviewed academic journals such as the Journal of Virology. She was also part of a team that presented findings about SDSU’s influenza research at the 21st International Conference on Antiviral Research in Montreal, Canada, in 2008.

SDSU Vice President for Research Kevin Kephart said Wang’s influenza research stood out to the committee awarding the scholarship, although competition was tight.

“There were 21 scholarship applications for the one award this year. All candidates were excellent and the quality of research was very high,” Kephart said. “Dan Wang assembled an excellent application about ongoing SDSU research that is of international importance.”