partnerships

George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective

Katarina Benson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:18:12 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective Katarina Benson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 17:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, �鶹��Ƶ is collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) to make sure the contributions of all Americans are being recognized.

Gabrielle Tayac, an associate professor in the Department of History and Art History in the College of Humanities of Social Sciences, has received a grant from NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War, a community-driven research project that will examine the Revolutionary War and its aftermath from the perspectives of tribal nations.

Tayac serves as the principal investigator and will assist the NPS in facilitating educational and interpretive strategies that will be implemented in sites around the Mid-Atlantic region and throughout the Northeast.

Gabrielle Tayac has received a grant NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War. Photo provided

“My hope is that it will help everyone get a sense of deep connection and relationship to the lands we live on now, to the people who are still here and maybe who are not here and wonder what happened to them,” Tayac said. “To be better caretakers of our communities and places.”

The NPS grant runs through 2027 and coincides with America’s semiquincentennial celebration. Tayac is working with fellow Department of History and Art History professors C. Joseph Genatin-Pilawa and George Oberle, BA History ’96, MA ’98, PhD ’16, who also serves as a history librarian and the director of the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies (CML). Digital Humanities Librarian Alyssa Fahringer, who collaborates with Oberle in the CML, will also contribute to the project.

Tayac, who served as the inaugural curator historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and New York, will set up workshops in the Northeast region from the Chesapeake Bay up to Maine. These seminars will provide insight from historians, NPS park rangers, and Indigenous community scholars. Tayac and her George �鶹��Ƶ colleagues will then produce digital work for historic sites and visitor centers.

Tayac, who collaborated on the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 2007, hopes the project and the 250th celebration will serve as a focal point to “deepen those histories so that people can see them for a long time.”

“It is really critical it is done in a way that Native communities want their stories to be told,” said Tayac, who is an enrolled citizen of the Piscataway Indian Nation. “We also know that it has to be done in a way where the American public can really understand it, relate to it, and find the information relevant and intriguing to open up those conversations.”

George �鶹��Ƶ alum and NPS regional cultural anthropologist Noel Lopez, PhD Cultural Studies ’18, serves as a tribal liaison officer for the National Capital Region. He said previous interactions with George �鶹��Ƶ, such as collaborations on ecological study units with tribal communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, have made the transition into the project easier.

“A lot of the work all of us do, whether it is anthropology or tribal liaison, a lot of it is around connections with people and connections with networks,” Lopez said. “All of this work we’re doing on both sides is relationship building. It is building trust with people.”

George �鶹��Ƶ students will also play a role. Tayac will offer training and hands-on opportunities, including through an undergraduate course, History 397 Public History in Action, which she will teach in spring 2027. Students will pull from the tribal communities’ stories and transform those into projects for museums, historic sites, a cultural center, or a website.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity for this project to not only workshop in the relationships with Native tribal community representatives but also to bring it back into �鶹��Ƶ,” Tayac said. “In real-time, my students can also have a hand in it. I think that’s really important, and it tends to make them really excited about history work, too.”

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

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Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies

George �鶹��Ƶ researchers put firefighter fitness to the test

Katarina Benson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:25:07 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ researchers put firefighter fitness to the test Katarina Benson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 12:25

With a new grant from Prince William County, �鶹��Ƶ kinesiology professor Joel Martin is leading a comprehensive yearlong study to uncover whether the Fire and Rescue Department’s Work Performance Exam (WPE) truly mirrors the grueling realities of firefighting. By tracking everything from metabolic strain to air consumption, the project aims to refine the test and strengthen the scientific foundation behind firefighter readiness standards.

The WPE is an occupational test to evaluate the fitness of an individual to the level required in firefighting. These functions include donning and securing a complete set of personal protective equipment; carrying, lifting, and extending a ladder; forcibly entering a structure with a sledgehammer; moving and lifting heavy loads from one location to another; and performing other essential occupational tasks in firefighting.

Firefighting tasks will be re-evaluated with the WPE study. Photo provided

The goal of the study is to determine whether the WPE accurately reflects the demands of real-world firefighting. Martin’s team also wants to see if they can predict the aerobic capacity of firefighters performing each task. They will generate evidence-based recommendations to refine the WPE while preserving its operational authenticity.

“We hope to support firefighter health and ensure that fitness standards are scientifically defensible and aligned with job demands,” said Martin, an associate professor in the Kinesiology Program of George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Education and Human Development.

The WPE’s tasks are administered in a certain order and must be completed within specific time limits. These requirements were adopted as part of a previous validation based on interviews, conducted by a third-party research group, and an assessment of their test performance to determine acceptable time limits.

Martin’s project will expand on this work and evaluate the intensity of the physiological and metabolic requirements involved in performing each task to determine if the test accurately reflects demands.

Joel Martin leads the study. Photo provided

“While physical fitness does play a major factor in the time it takes to complete the test, it is not a physical fitness test per se,” Martin said. “There is a skill component to performing many of the tasks on the WPE.”

Also, while performing the WPE, firefighters are in full firefighting gear and breathing through a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a specialized respirator worn in hazardous environments. “This adds additional challenges,” he said.

Approximately 100 medically cleared career firefighters will participate in the project, during which they will complete the tasks of the WPE and undergo laboratory-based fitness testing. These include calculating VO2max (amount of oxygen consumed), and strength and power assessments. During the administration of the test, wearable technology will be used to quantify the physiological responses of the firefighters, such as heart rate and estimated metabolic demand. In addition, VO2max levels will be assessed based on the amount of air firefighters consume wearing their SCBA.

The project team is also exploring a metric called “work efficiency,” which is computed based on the time needed to complete the WPE and how much air is consumed from the SCBA. Martin says this will provide further insight as to how capable firefighters are at their occupational duties.

“Understanding the overall levels of physical fitness that support safe and effective performance of firefighter tasks is essential,” Martin said. “Often the role of physical fitness components is studied from the perspective of individual fitness components. We are taking a more holistic approach in terms of considering all components of fitness in our analyses.”

Funding for this project is supporting the participation of Ramsey Zaytoun, a graduate student working with Martin who is pursuing a master of science in kinesiology through George �鶹��Ƶ’s accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program. Zaytoun will be using the data collected in this project as part of his MS thesis.

“This experience really helped me grow because it gave me hands-on exposure to the entire research process,” said Zaytoun.

This project will build upon the university’s prior collaborations with PWC Fire and Rescue and facilitate the implementation of an embedded research model in the future to support firefighter health and safety.

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College of Education and Human Development

Research

partnerships

George �鶹��Ƶ researchers lead statewide study on ethical use of AI in higher education

Shayla Brown — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:07:37 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ researchers lead statewide study on ethical use of AI in higher education Shayla Brown Tue, 02/17/2026 - 11:07

�鶹��Ƶ’s leadership in advancing 21st-century education took another leap forward this month when several university researchers were named to a statewide project exploring the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and learning in higher education classrooms.  

Funded by a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Fund for Excellence and Innovation grant, the cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional project aims to promote ethical integration of AI into educational settings. 

The initiative, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Teaching and Learning,” involves 80 faculty, graduate students, and staff from multiple Virginia institutions including University of Virginia, James Madison University, Roanoke College, Bridgewater State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Amanda Bryan, an assistant professor in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of English and co-lead on the study, said it is “designed to test onboarding activities in increasing students’ ethical and responsible use of AI tools.”

Amanda Bryan. Photo provided.

 The study is an example of a Mega Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, or SoTL, project. It’s one of 11 projects George �鶹��Ƶ is involved in, generating evidence of learning from multiple institutions.

“The research team designed the activities, which we then make available to other professors to adapt to their own disciplines and provide us data on how effective the activities were in increasing ethical use of AI tools for the students,” said Bryan.

The team also considered different levels of activities to accommodate students who were inexperienced with AI versus those who had advanced skills. 

“We took the task on ourselves that we’re asking students to do because we actually used AI to revise the activities in the ethical, responsible way that we would want students to be able to do,” said Bryan, who is conducting this project with data from students in her ENGH 302 Advanced Composition course. 

“We asked students open-ended questions, including whether they think they’re over-reliant or under-reliant on generative AI tools. That feeds directly into the next activity, which is all about under-reliance, over-reliance, and the harm of being either. We want students to find a cushy middle,” she said. 

The team got their first round of data from students in spring 2025, which showed that just providing these discussion spaces has increased students’ ethical thinking about AI use in college by more than 60%, explained Bryan. 

“We went to the institutional review boards at all the different institutions to get permission to do the research,” said Breana Bayraktar, an educational developer with George �鶹��Ƶ and one of the projects primary investigators.  

Students working on their laptops in class. Photo by Getty Images.

Bayraktar said thanks to the support of the SCHEV grant, they've been able to hire graduate research assistants and get undergraduates involved in organizing the collected data. 

“We support each of the institutional teams for their research objectives and collect data from students,” said Bayraktar. “There's a number of teams that have done presentations or have written projects that are either published or on the track to publication that have come out of the different research projects. With this data, we were able to make one coherent project with one survey.” 

Students in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), and OSCAR Research Assistant (OSCAR-RA) Program also helped in the research. 

“The students really gain professional experience and exposure to real-world research practices. It’s very much a mentoring role with the students,” Bayraktar said. 

There is an Open Educational Resources (OER) portion of the study, “so even after this study is complete, all of the research methods and activities we’re using are being compiled into OERs for future use under a creative commons license,” said Bryan.  

Under this SCHEV grant, George �鶹��Ƶ is hosting three conferences on AI, the last of which will be in May 2026. The grant funding goes through summer 2026. 

Learn more about AI at George �鶹��Ƶ

In This Story

Amanda Leigh Bryan

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Artificial Intelligence

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

�鶹��Ƶ Korea partners with defense organizations to advance military technology

Katarina Benson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:15:50 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea partners with defense organizations to advance military technology Katarina Benson Mon, 02/16/2026 - 17:15

�鶹��Ƶ Korea's Industry–University Collaboration Foundation is taking its defense capabilities to the next level. They recently signed a memorandum of understanding with two major Korean players, the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and the Defense Information and Communication Association. Together, they'll work on developing advanced defense information and communications technology (ICT) and command, control, communications, computing, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) systems.

"Aligned with Korea's national objective of becoming a leading AI power by 2026, this collaboration will leverage the C5I Korea Center's strengths with the operational expertise of the Defense Information and Communication Association and the military practitioners of the Association of the Republic of Korea Army," said Insub Shin, who directs the C5I Korea Center and leads the Defense Information Communication Association.

At the heart of this collaboration is the C5I Korea Center, a local extension of George �鶹��Ƶ's C5I Center in Virginia. The center will serve as ground zero for joint research, education, and industry partnerships focused on ICT, cyber capabilities, and artificial intelligence.

�鶹��Ƶ Korea signed an MOU with the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and the Defense Information and Communication Association. Photo provided

The partnership's roadmap is packed: collaborative research on C5I systems tailored for Korea, a "C5I-AI Convergence" exhibit at next year's Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition, and building bridges between the military, industry, academia, and civilian sectors through professional education programs and workshops.

For �鶹��Ƶ Campus Dean Joshua Park, the partnership represents a chance to blend the campus' strengths in data science and AI with real-world defense applications.

"Through practical training and partnerships across military, academic, and industry sectors, we aim to cultivate professionals who can support digital transformation and AI-enabled missions," Park said.

The opening ceremony for the new center will take place during �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s spring semester, which begins March 3.

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ Korea

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�鶹��Ƶ named lead academic partner for Connected DMV’s spaceNEXT

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:19:04 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ named lead academic partner for Connected DMV’s spaceNEXT Katarina Benson Mon, 02/02/2026 - 12:19

Connected DMV has announced that �鶹��Ƶ, one of the nation’s most innovative and fastest-growing public research universities, will serve as the Lead Academic Partner for spaceNEXT, the inaugural global convening focused on the commercialization of space and a flagship program of Connected DMV’s Potomac Center for the New Space Economy.

Observatory on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The spaceNEXT event will take place February 18–20 at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia, and bring together global leaders across industry, government, academia, and the investment community to accelerate what’s next in the space-for-space and space-for-Earth economy.

“George �鶹��Ƶ is the ideal academic anchor for spaceNEXT. Their leadership in space science, satellite engineering, and frontier research perfectly aligns with our mission to build Greater Washington into the global capital of the new space economy,” said George Thomas, president and CEO, Connected DMV. “This partnership brings world-class expertise, talent, and innovation to the main stage, and we couldn’t be prouder to shape this inaugural event together.”

George �鶹��Ƶ’s collaborative and creative research strengths align directly with the new space economy

Advancing space innovation that serves life on Earth—through Earth observation, remote sensing, planetary exploration, and space weather research—is a core focus of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Grand Challenge Initiative, which aligns research, education, and partnerships around solving problems that shape the future of humanity. The university’s growing strengths in robotics and autonomy, artificial intelligence, quantum science, integrated sensing and communication, and sustainable cyberinfrastructure—anchored by Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square—support next-generation capabilities such as autonomous spacecraft operations, in-space servicing, on-orbit manufacturing, and resilient space infrastructure that connect scientific discovery to real-world impact.

“Our future in space is a key component to solving humanity’s grand challenge of creating a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous future,” said Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “George �鶹��Ƶ is forging strategic partnerships and driving novel research across disciplinary boundaries to help shape and secure this bold future, recognizing that it will reach far beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, and we are proud to partner with Connected DMV to further these ambitious goals.”

The George �鶹��Ƶ College of Science’s multi-million-dollar portfolio in Earth- and space-observation research gives the university the region’s strongest capabilities in satellite data, remote sensing, and climate-driven analytics. Home to the Center for Earth Observing and Spatial Research, the  Satellite and Earth System Studies Program, the Center for Geospatial Intelligence, and the second largest observatory on the East Coast, the College of Science maintains research collaborations with NASA, NRL, Department of Energy, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Army Research Office, as well as a recent $13M collaboration with the Department of the Navy to study increased solar activity. These fields underpin the expanding market for commercial Earth intelligence, environmental monitoring, and mission-critical geospatial tools, while offering immersive training for tomorrow’s scientists and regional workforce. 

"The future of space commercialization will be driven by institutions like George �鶹��Ƶ that can bridge scientific discovery, facilitate industry collaboration, and drive real-world innovation,” said College of Science dean Cody W. Edwards. “For years, we have invested in the research, facilities, and workforce development infrastructure to become a valued partner in the emerging space economy. We look forward to bringing George �鶹��Ƶ’s research, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit to this global convening—and to helping chart the course for the next era of space exploration and economic growth in the region and beyond.”

George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Engineering and Computing is also a regional leader in workforce development for the new space economy. Its graduate Small Satellite Engineering program trains engineers in full spacecraft lifecycles—including design, power, communications, sensors, attitude control, and resilient architectures—while the university’s CubeSat Engineering Lab and satellite ground stations (including a 9.1-meter dish) provide students and researchers hands-on experience with small satellite buses, flight systems, and embedded software hardened for the realities of space.

“We find solutions to problems in aerospace engineering that advance the field,” said Kenneth Ball, College of Engineering and Science dean. “Our researchers make air travel safer, satellites smaller, and surfaces stronger. Our students learn to fly airplanes, launch satellites, and explore the multidisciplinary nature of aerospace and aviation from the capabilities of materials to the possibilities of space. Our alumni have traveled in space, driven the Mars rover, and held leadership positions at NASA.”

As part of its powerful portfolio, the university is leading the $19.5 million NASA Landolt Space Mission, which will place an artificial “star” into orbit to calibrate telescopes and significantly advance the precision of space-based observations—unlocking new discovery pathways and supporting commercial applications across astronomy, imaging, quantum materials, space weather, and navigation.

Advancing the mission of the Potomac Center for the New Space Economy

spaceNEXT is a core program of the Potomac Center for the New Space Economy, Connected DMV’s initiative to position the Washington, D.C., region as the heart of the global space economy. The center leverages the region’s unparalleled mix of assets—federal space agencies, aerospace giants, venture investment, world-class universities, national security infrastructure, and diplomatic reach—to build the partnerships, standards, workforce, and innovation pathways that will shape humanity’s next giant leap.

With George �鶹��Ƶ at the helm of the academic program for spaceNEXT, the center strengthens its ability to:

Showcase regional leadership in orbital manufacturing, microgravity research, and logistics;
Bridge federal space policy with the commercial and investment momentum driving new markets;
Catalyze workforce growth through academic pipelines deeply tied to industry demand;
Accelerate commercialization of frontier technologies across satellites, AI, autonomy, Earth intelligence, and in-space services; and
Unite the region’s public, private, academic, and policy talent under one global platform.

George �鶹��Ƶ’s expertise and programs embody the center’s mission: Turn bold ideas into market-shaping realities and ensure that the Washington, D.C., region captures a decisive share of the growing space economy—projected to top $1 trillion by 2040.

A launchpad for the next space economy

With �鶹��Ƶ as Lead Academic Partner, the inaugural spaceNEXT convening will demonstrate how universities, industry, and government can work together to accelerate the space-for-space and space-for-Earth economy—advancing national security, scientific breakthroughs, economic growth, and human progress on a global scale.

Learn more at spacenextglobal.com.

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Walkability initiative is a win-win partnership for Alexandria City residents and George �鶹��Ƶ researchers

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:30:46 +0000

Walkability initiative is a win-win partnership for Alexandria City residents and George �鶹��Ƶ researchers Taylor Thomas Mon, 01/26/2026 - 09:30

In This Story

Iulia Fratila, PhD

“Imagine living in a place where you can comfortably send your child and their friends on a safe route to your local library on foot or by bike. How about being able to engage in physical activity by simply accessing an expansive network of trails that might connect parks to local suburbs? This is what walkability looks like—and walkability is public health,” said social science researcher Iulia Fratila, an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at �鶹��Ƶ.

Fratlia participated as a cohort member of the 2025 Virginia Walkability Action Institute (VWAI) and was awarded $9,000 in funding to enhance a local park in Alexandria, Virginia. In partnership with the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA), Fratila and third-year undergraduate social work student Bryce Neuman devised the plan for the Alexandria City Ben Brenman Park project, which aims to encourage walkability, promote physical activity among community members, and improve access to fitness.

Fratlia emphasizes the role of partnerships in bringing sustainable change to fruition. “A partnership like this is a win for everyone involved," she said. "Academic researchers bring knowledge and expertise on the science that shapes health outcomes and the potential prevention efforts and the governmental agencies can bring resources and design structures that support health-promoting landscapes and decision-making.”

Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health Iulia Fratila (left) and Senior Transportation Planner at Equitable Cities Reba Oduro (right) standing in Ben Brenman Park currently, before enhancement. Photo provided.

The goal of the Ben Brenman Park project is to upgrade a trail segment in the south side of the park that has been underdeveloped and underutilized. The anticipated result is more walking and community engagement, healthier residents in the city of Alexandria and surrounding areas, and addressing health and recreation access gaps.

“We need to make sure we are creating and enhancing built environments and infrastructure that make healthier habits like walking and biking a possibility for all,” said Fratlia.

Neuman joined the Ben Brenman Park project to explore her interest in the built and natural environment as an important factor of public health as well as connections to macro-level social work dimensions. Together, Fratlia and Neuman developed the project’s action plan and strategic goals that guided them through the project proposal and implementation process.

Fratlia attended the farmers' market held at the park to distribute QR codes linking to the survey, and the RPCA emailed the survey to the city residents via their newsletter. These data collection methods garnered more than 400 responses. Based on the survey responses, the community identified priorities, including planting native trees and plants and installing adult fitness equipment in the park. Subsequently, the RPCA Urban Planning team created a plan outlining the proposed layout for exercise equipment and tree plantings.

“I am looking forward to being able to see the final product implemented at the park and see that positive change. I’m particularly excited about the addition of native wildlife around the park, and I hope the people who live near and visit the park also appreciate the changes,” said Neuman.

In addition to the pitch and execution of the Ben Brenman Park project, the VWAI program, in partnership with Equitable Cities LLC, involved attending distance learning modules and in-person workshopsfocused on topics such as Placemaking and Tactical Urbanism, the Economic Impact and Sustainability of Active Transportation Investment, Inclusive Community Engagement, Safe Routes programming, and Complete Streets initiatives. This experience allowed Fratila and Neuman to apply public health principles to a real-world built environment project while engaging directly with community members to address their needs and priorities.

The park enhancement project, which has officially been named a case study by the VWAI, is scheduled to be completed in early 2026 and will be installed by the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. The VWAI is a program of the Virginia Department of Health and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key Takeaways

George �鶹��Ƶ College of Public Health researchers are partnering with the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Virginia Walkability Action Institute to study and improve neighborhood walkability at Alexandria City's Ben Brenman Park, ensuring research is grounded in community-identified needs rather than academic theory alone.
The initiative provides hands-on, real-world research experience for College of Public Health students, integrating applied public health training with community-based data collection and analysis to inform local planning decisions.
George �鶹��Ƶ’s involvement helps translate walkability research into practical policy insights, supporting Alexandria’s goals around healthier, safer, and more equitable streets while positioning the university as a long-term community partner.

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GCH Research

CPH research

In the George

Collaboration with Children’s National Hospital aims to reduce child mortality rates caused by Sickle Cell kidney failure

Katarina Benson — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:12:42 +0000

Collaboration with Children’s National Hospital aims to reduce child mortality rates caused by Sickle Cell kidney failure  Katarina Benson Tue, 01/20/2026 - 17:12

Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic disorder affecting red blood cells, experience terrible bouts of pain when the blood cells contort into a sickle shape and block small blood vessels, hindering oxygen delivery to critical organs. Whenever these bouts occur in the kidneys, the filtration system of the kidneys can be irreversibly damaged. Kidney failure is associated with a 30% death rate in SCD patients. 

In partnership with Children’s National Hospital, scientists at �鶹��Ƶ have discovered a new way to detect early signs of kidney damage in childhood patients with SCD. A recently awarded two-year $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth Health Research Board will support a team led by George �鶹��Ƶ systems biologist and research fellow Marissa Howard; Children’s National Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program Director Andrew Campbell, MD; and urinary biomarker expert Oliver John Semmes, of Old Dominion University.

Marissa Howard with collaborator Andrew Campbell, MD, at Children's National Hospital. Photo provided

The multi-institutional trial leverages unique proteomic expertise blended within the Children’s National SCD Program’s ongoing clinical study of the progress of SCD within pediatric patients over time and will transform kidney disease detection in these SCD patients.

According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, SCD is a global health problem that affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, with about 2,000 babies annually being diagnosed with the disease at birth. With each SCD crisis, kidney damage accumulates, increasing the risk of total kidney failure mortality for SCD patients. Early detection of kidney damage, especially in childhood, allows for rapid treatment and prevention of long-term kidney damage-related effects.

“Our team will analyze the actual damaged mitochondria, the power houses of the cell, that are crippled by lack of oxygen that occurs during each sickle-cell crisis,” said Howard, who first reported this pathway and methodology to rescue mitochondrially damaged cells in her prior National Institutes of Health-supported and published research.  

“We measure these damaged mitochondria shed by the kidney in a few milliliters of urine so we can develop an early warning system for the onset of kidney damage,” said Howard, an expert in isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), small packages of cellular information shed into the urine, and the methods required to complete this analysis. “Our partners at Children’s National are known for identifying innovative approaches to treat SCD. This exciting collaboration is collectively motivated by our ultimate goal of reducing the high mortality rate caused by Sickle Cell kidney failure in children affected by this disease.”   

 Children’s National Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program, among the largest in the country, follows more than 1,500 patients from birth through age 21 and is one of the few centers offering gene therapy treatments for SCD. The program has amassed a large base of patient samples, some of which will be analyzed in this project.  

Campbell, a physician-scientist caring for SCD patients at Children’s National, will oversee the recruitment, consenting, and collection of biological samples throughout the study's duration, as well as coordinate the delivery of these samples to George �鶹��Ƶ’s CAP/CLIA certified laboratory facilities for analysis. 

While current screening methods rely on established urine tests for albumin, this groundbreaking research will use advanced proteomic analysis to detect kidney injury at its earliest stages—before conventional tests show abnormalities.

“We've watched as silent kidney damage progresses year after year, often going undetected until significant harm has occurred,” said Campbell. “By identifying kidney disease earlier, we can intervene sooner with more effective disease-modifying therapies and curative treatments, potentially preventing or slowing progression to kidney failure.”

According to Campbell, this grant is more than funding—it's a commitment to SCD patients and their families, a collaboration to build the next generation of diagnostics, which can fundamentally change how to manage SCD and protect the health of children and young adults living with this debilitating disease.

“This partnership leverages our collective strengths to address a compelling global challenge that might have a multitude of applications,” shared Lance Liotta, MD, codirector of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Center for Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), who will certify that all work performed is under CAP/CLIA compliance for the data to be presented to the FDA for future clinical application.  

George �鶹��Ƶ is highly regarded for offering real world, hands-on learning experiences for its science students, and this medical research project is no exception. As part of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Honors College student Naureen Zahra, who had interned the previous summer at the National Institutes of Health on a project focused on curing SCD with bone marrow transplants, performed portions of this experimental study over the summer.  

 Naureen Zahra interned at the National Institutes of Health. Photo provided

“One of my educational goals was to become an expert in performing key molecular biology techniques such as western blots to analyze the presence of proteins like PINK1, which plays a key role in regulating mitochondrial health,” said Zahra, a neuroscience major. The team worked to isolate EVs from Children’s National patient urine samples and analyze protein data. “Working with these scientists on actual patient samples connected me to real-world outcomes, expanding my sense of empathy for what these children are going through.” 

In addition to its potential to improve the lives of those affected by SCD, this research effort may also have even wider impact.   

“These findings could also serve as a new marker for mitochondrial damage for a variety of diseases including Parkinson’s, heart disease, and diabetic kidney disease,” said Howard. “In addition, urinary biomarkers could offer a predictive tool to guide SCD therapy management and therapy effectiveness more holistically.”

Learn more about Research at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine - CAPMM

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

partnerships

Research

Honors College

George �鶹��Ƶ partners with the Fairfax County Health Department to support employees in earning public health certificates and degrees

Shayla Brown — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:34:51 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ partners with the Fairfax County Health Department to support employees in earning public health certificates and degrees  Shayla Brown Fri, 01/16/2026 - 10:34

In This Story

Marybeth Mitcham, PhD, MPH

Sarah Liu, MPH

�鶹��Ƶ has partnered with the Fairfax County Health Department to provide current FCHD employees with the opportunity to complete public health certificates. Some employees are going a step further and earning their master’s degrees in public health fields.

Photo by Getty Images.

“This partnership between George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health and the Fairfax County Health Department reflects a shared commitment to supporting the people who protect and promote our community’s health," said Melissa Perry, dean of the College of Public Health. "By investing in public health professionals with strong local roots and proven training, we are strengthening the workforce that serves Northern Virginia every day and building a healthier future for all who live here.”

This partnership with FCHD is another example of George �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to improving health and well-being, not just for community members, but for the workers who serve the community.

Since the partnership began in 2019, 46 students have enrolled to earn their certificates. Of the cohorts that have completed the certificate, 57% have gone on to earn their MPH from George �鶹��Ƶ.

Sarah Liu. Photo provided.

Sarah Liu, BS Community Health ‘17, is the Department of Global and Community Health MPH program coordinator as well as the program coordinator for the FCHD partnership.

Liu describes the partnership as an outgrowth of FCHD’s commitment to the continuing education of its medical professionals. The students’ tuition is covered by the county.

“We help the certificate students register for classes, and they're immersed with other students. A lot of our students are working professionals, so we offer classes that can more easily fit into their schedule,” said Liu.   

It was Gloria Addo-Ayensu, director of health for Fairfax County who reached out to Robert M. Weiler, senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Public Health, about the partnership. Weiler was chair of the Department of Global and Community Health at the time. 

“The certificate requires students to complete 18 core credits or six classes. They’re taking most of the same courses as the students in the classes in the Department of Global and Community Health master’s programs, so they have opportunities to get to know all the students,” Liu said.  

Salisa Sathityudhakarn works for FCHD as a school health aide assigned to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)  and has worked in the healthcare industry for 11 years. 

“I provide basic healthcare for sick and injured students includes emergency care, administering daily medication, or when necessary, giving EpiPen for allergic reactions and albuterol for asthma attacks,” said Sathityudhakarn, who started with the program in fall of 2024. “I also conduct vision and hearing screenings for the students as well as handle the admin responsibilities.” 

Salisa Sathityudhakarn. Photo provided.

Sathityudhakarn, who previously earned degrees in communication and mental health counseling, said her favorite course was GCH 609 Community Assessment and Partnerships with Marybeth Mitcham. “She created a very supportive learning environment. I see her as a role model and her lessons just made me want to learn more,” Sathityudhakarn said.   

“Through this certificate program, I have learned different aspects of public health. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge I have learned to my current role as a school health aide and to better serve FCHD, my school, my students and their families, as well as new endeavors in public health,” said Sathityudhakarn. 

Employees who have worked in the health department for at least one year are eligible to participate in the program. 

Liu and Addo-Ayensu are currently working together to expand the partnership and allow more FCHD workers to take advantage of educational opportunities such as this. 

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Community Engagement

Certificate Programs

Department of Global and Community Health

Students

partnerships

workforce

George �鶹��Ƶ and MetroStar launch partnership to fuel federal tech talent and innovation

Katarina Benson — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:02:54 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ and MetroStar launch partnership to fuel federal tech talent and innovation Katarina Benson Fri, 12/12/2025 - 11:02

More than two decades ago, three �鶹��Ƶ students launched a company from their dorm room with a belief that technology would drive change in the federal government.

Today, that company—MetroStar, a venture-backed leader in AI enabled services—has come full circle. The company is proud to announce a multi-year strategic partnership with George �鶹��Ƶ, solidifying a shared mission to empower the next generation of tech leaders and public servants.

Through the agreement, MetroStar will support students and programming across George �鶹��Ƶ. It will become a Costello Corporate Partner in the Donald G. Costello College of Business and an Industry Partner in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC).

Through these partnerships, MetroStar will launch a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students with preference for those minoring in government contracting or management information systems, and a Clearance Ready Scholarship for students interested in obtaining a national security clearance.

“MetroStar’s investment in the Costello Corporate Partners program aligns closely with our strategic priorities, particularly in fostering innovative business collaboration and advancing career readiness,” said Ajay Vinzé, interim provost and Costello College of Business dean. “Their support will expand access to education in government contracting for our students and strengthen the academic offerings of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, the first university-based center in the nation focused on the business, policy, and regulatory dimensions of this vital sector.”

MetroStar will also support academic initiatives through the Dean’s Excellence Funds in CEC and Costello, in furtherance of strategic academic initiatives. “This gift from MetroStar, which will support the education and training of our students who are interested in serving our nation as federal employees or as employees of our government contractors,” said CEC Dean Ken Ball. “The partnership will also enhance our clearance ready programs by developing additional experiential learning opportunities, including internships and applied research projects involving classified technologies that protect our nation.”

MetroStar’s CEO and co-founder Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy '99.

The philanthropic commitment deepens MetroStar’s long-standing relationship with its co-founders’ alma mater while advancing workforce readiness and innovation aligned to national priorities.

MetroStar’s CEO and co-founder Ali Reza Manouchehri, who earned a BA in philosophy from George �鶹��Ƶ in 1999, is the 2025 Winter Commencement Speaker, a privilege that shows his enduring connection to the university and his passion for inspiring the next generation of innovators.

“This is more than a corporate partnership. It’s a personal return,” said Manouchehri. “George �鶹��Ƶ is where we built the foundation for MetroStar. We’re investing in students who will one day shape the digital future of government just like we dreamed about doing back then.”

Manouchehri started MetroStar with fellow Patriots Robert Santos, BA International Relations ’99, who became the company’s president, and Pirooz Javan, BS Systems Engineering ’02, who served as its chief operating officer from 1999 to 2006.

A Vision for the Future Federal Workforce

The three-year partnership, running through 2028, creates a new model of agile collaboration between academia and the public sector, bridging the fast-paced world of government innovation with the grounded mission of education. It reflects the growing need under the new federal administration to build talent pipelines that are not only technically skilled but clearance ready and public service minded.

Earlier this year, George �鶹��Ƶ released its plan for advancing a responsible approach to harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and driving societal impact. Through AI²Nexus, the university is building a nexus of collaboration and resources on campus, in partnerships like the one with MetroStar, and across the state.

As federal agencies embrace AI, digital transformation, and faster acquisition models, companies like MetroStar are reinforcing the importance of the human side of innovation, ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is built on a foundation of collaboration, education, and civic commitment.

From College Campus to National Service

The partnership extends into the university’s forward-leaning spaces, places where creativity, entrepreneurship, and service intersect.

MetroStar’s partnership will fuel the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), a hands-on incubator for student-driven ideas, and power events like PatriotHacks, the university’s high-energy hackathon that challenges students to solve real-world problems with code and courage.

“Our partnership isn’t about one-off contributions but investing in people and the future of civil servants who will protect and guide the nation,” said Manouchehri. “We’re creating deliberate pathways from campus to cleared service, from idea to implementation, and from classroom projects to real-world impact.”

Learn More

Q&A with Ali Reza Manouchehri

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Alumni

Costello College of Business

College of Engineering and Computing

partnerships

A new era of global growth: George �鶹��Ƶ and Naugen launch international innovation accelerator

ckearney — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:54:56 +0000

A new era of global growth: George �鶹��Ƶ and Naugen launch international innovation accelerator ckearney Tue, 11/18/2025 - 10:54

This month, a new Northern Virginia International Soft-Landing Accelerator (NISA) program, designed to help start-ups from around the globe find guidance, connections, and lab or office spaces at no cost, was launched to help develop new technologies in life sciences.

Participants in the six-month program will have access to George �鶹��Ƶ’s cutting-edge labs. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Applications are now open for the first NISA cohort. Participants in the six-month program will have access to �鶹��Ƶ’s cutting-edge labs, research, and strong business and government network across the region, propelling ideas from lab to market quickly. Selected companies can work from lab or office space at Endeavor234 and Centerfuse while drawing on support from local legal, financial, real estate, and accounting partners to ease their move into the community.

The program is led by George �鶹��Ƶ in partnership with Naugen, a global innovation accelerator recognized for helping ventures enter and grow in untapped markets, at its Science and Technology Campus, located in the heart of the new Innovation District, founded by Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and George �鶹��Ƶ. Naugen and George �鶹��Ƶ are collaborating with regional economic development groups and private-sector partners on the initiative.

“Many international start-ups bring outstanding technologies, but they often face challenges with the U.S. investment landscape and limited networks. NISA exists to bridge that gap,” said Jaehan Park, founder and CEO of Naugen. “By combining Naugen’s global expertise with Northern Virginia’s thriving ecosystem, we are building a launchpad where international innovators can put down U.S. roots and scale into true worldwide enterprises.”

NISA is also partnering with �鶹��Ƶ Korea to help South Korean founders explore opportunities in the United States. At �鶹��Ƶ Korea, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), led by the Costello College of Business, introduces early-stage start-ups to the fundamentals of building and testing their ideas through workshops, pitch events, applied projects, and one-on-one guidance. CIE also works with teams that are beginning to look abroad, helping them understand what it takes to reach the U.S. market and linking them with NISA and contacts in Northern Virginia’s start-up ecosystem.

“We meet talented founders every day in South Korea who are eager to take the next step,” said Joshua Park, campus dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea. “CIE pushes them to think more deliberately about their idea, their timing, and the direction they want to take.”

From left, Amy Adams, executive director of the Institute for Biohealth Innovation at �鶹��Ƶ; Jaehan Park, founder and CEO of Naugen; and Joshua Park, campus dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea, at the NISA launch. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“NISA, along with investments in expanding the life science ecosystem and establishing the Innovation District, is helping build a destination for next-generation companies from around the world in Northern Virginia with benefits across the state,” said Christina Winn, executive director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism. “Propelling this sector and bolstering the local entrepreneurial network is creating a vibrant place where industries and communities succeed together.”

Part of NISA’s funding comes from the George �鶹��Ƶ-managed Innovation District grant, a $3.9 million investment from GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of high-wage jobs in strategic industries. Virginia plays a key leadership role as part of the Biohealth Capital Region and is home to the nation’s third-largest biopharma cluster.

“Our goal is not just to attract businesses. We want them to see Manassas as home,” said Patrick Small, economic development director for the City of Manassas. “That means matching founders with the right resources and making sure their employees have access to excellent schools, welcoming neighborhoods, and the amenities that make people want to stay and build their future.”

“NISA participants can take advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s world-class core facilities, including our biocontainment facility and CAP/CLIA-accredited laboratory,” said Amy Adams, executive director of the Innovation District and George �鶹��Ƶ’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation. “George �鶹��Ƶ helps innovators shorten the journey from concept to commercialization through pairing these resources with top-tier expertise.”

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Research

Innovation District

Science and Technology Campus

Institute for Biohealth Innovation

entrepreneurship

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�鶹��Ƶ Korea

partnerships

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