Bard Professors Craig Anderson and Swapan Jain Awarded $427,016 National Institute of Health Research Grant
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY — Bard College is pleased to announce that Craig Anderson, Wallace Benjamin Flint and L. May Hawver Professor of Chemistry and Director of Undergraduate Research, and Swapan Jain, professor of chemistry, have been awarded an R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The three-year grant, in the amount of $427,016, will support Anderson and Jain’s research on the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of ruthenium complexes.The project consists of the synthesis, characterization, and biochemical evaluation of ruthenium-based compounds as potential pharmaceutical agents. Ruthenium compounds have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents against infections, cancer, and diabetes. Most pharmaceutical agents either target DNA or proteins; however, ruthenium compounds offer the opportunity to target RNA, a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions. This project, supported by the NIH grant, will investigate how ruthenium complexes bind to various RNA molecules.
“We are very excited about this NIH award as it will increase and enrich research opportunities for our undergraduate students at Bard College,” said Anderson and Jain. “We believe that undergraduate research is one of the highest impact practices that contributes to the success of our students. We would like to thank Johnny Brennan in OIS and Bard College leadership for their help and support.”
The National Institutes of Health is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the country’s medical research agency. The Institute’s goal is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that information to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Research mentioned above and published through this project is supported by the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R15GM159331. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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About Bard College
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 13 graduate programs; nine early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 165-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 13 graduate programs; nine early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 165-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.
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This event was last updated on 09-23-2025
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