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Kentucky State University is proud to announce that it has been awarded a prestigious biomedical research grant. Mr. Jamal Hayes, a dedicated pre-dental biology major student, and Dr. Alexander Lai, an esteemed associate professor of biology, have been granted a $10,000 Student Diversity Research Award from Kentucky Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY-INBRE).

Their research project focuses on tackling the challenge of influenza vaccine mismatch, a critical issue in public health. Annual flu shots are essential to combat the rapid evolution of the influenza virus, but when there is a mismatch between the vaccine and circulating strains, the disease burden increases. Mr. Hayes, under Dr. Lai's expert guidance, will investigate the epidemiology and viral sequences of influenza virus during vaccine mismatch.

Their research aims to improve the algorithms used in formulating future flu vaccines by identifying critical characteristics of the influenza virus. This groundbreaking study has the potential to enhance our understanding of influenza virus evolution and significantly contribute to the development of more effective vaccines.

Kentucky State University congratulates Mr. Jamal Hayes and Dr. Alexander Lai on this remarkable achievement. Their dedication to advancing biomedical research and improving public health is a testament to the university's commitment to excellence in scientific inquiry. We eagerly anticipate the outcomes of their research and the positive impact it will have on global health.