Bioscience authority awards almost $4 million for projects

The Kansas Bioscience Authority awarded nearly $4 million today for projects that will help develop and commercialize new drugs in the state.

The University of Kansas received nearly $3 million for its work.

KU will receive $2.49 million to spend over the next five years for a position that would direct and expand the school's laboratory for macromolecule and vaccine stabilization. KU will receive an additional $500,000 over the next three years to attract a "rising star" researcher in the field of polycystic kidney disease.

Other projects to receive KBA funding:

* $500,000 to Kansas State University for collaborative research for treatment of pancreatic cancer, using new gene therapy based on umbilical cord stem cells.

* $375,000 to Manhattan-based Nanoscale as partial match of $1.5 million Department of Defense funding for the development of substances that can neutralize biological warfare agents.

* $50,000 to Nanoscale as a partial match of $150,000 from the National Science Foundation for researching the synthesis and delivery of nanoparticles to help in early detection of cancer.

* $50,000 to Lawrence-based CritiTech for research and commercialization in the ovarian cancer market.