National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska

NSRI facilitated at today’s University of Nebraska (NU) Collaboration Initiative to provide insights and priorities to NU faculty for current national security challenges, specifically the strategic deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction missions.  Adam Carlstrom answered questions from his perspective as NSRI director for USSTRACOM programs ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gZDZQCs.   Dillon Cunningham discussed biological and chemical defense ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gg7AMpHg.   Meghan Jackson shared an overview of food, agriculture and environment security focus area that she recently took leadership of ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gUbvBKSZ   TERRY THIEM highlighted key needs for medical countermeasures and therapeutics ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gxERc6qR.   Since the NU Collaboration Initiative began featuring NSRI’s mission priorities in 2021, the program has awarded $1.2 million in seed funding for projects in NSRI’s mission space. Get details on the most recently funded projects at https://lnkd.in/g8fuUYUU.   During the Q&A portion of his remarks, NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., emphasized national security as one of the areas the University of Nebraska System is well-positioned to support with breadth and depth of existing expertise, talent, facilities, capabilities, funding and future potential. #nationalsecurity #strategicdeterrence #CWMD #WMD #CBRNE #homelandsecurity #highered #highereducation #defenseresearch

Congratulations and #GoBigRed! The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is home to 180 Huskers featured in the 2024 list of the world's most influential researchers. The Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List is a comprehensive analysis of all peer-reviewed papers across scientific disciplines. It measures the significance of the research, including how often each study is cited in the work of other scientists. The publication is the definitive list of research that has made the most significant impact across each field of study. “This list highlights the exceptional strength of UNL faculty and the transformative impact of their groundbreaking research, both in Nebraska and globally,” said Dr. Sherri Jones, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation. “It is a recognition that underscores the significance of our university’s research efforts and serves as a cornerstone for advancing our ambitious vision for the future.” #NSRIFellows on the list include: 🔹 Craig Allen, Natural Resources 🔹 Rick Bevins, Psychology 🔹 Edgar Cahoon, Biochemistry 🔹 Patrick Dussault, Chemistry 🔹 Jerry Hudgins, Electrical & Computer Engineering 🔹 Qing Hui, Electrical & Computer Engineering 🔹 Rebecca Lai, Chemistry 🔹 Yongfeng Lu, Electrical & Computer Engineering 🔹 Eric Markvicka, Mechanical & Materials Engineering 🔹 Massimiliano Pierobon, Computing 🔹 Robert Powers, Chemistry 🔹 Yi Qian, Electrical & Computer Engineering 🔹 Byrav Ramamurthy, Computer Science & Engineering 🔹 Daniel Schachtman, Agronomy & Horticulture 🔹 Donald Umstadter, Physics & Astronomy 🔹 Harkamal Walia, Agronomy & Horticulture 🔹 Richard Wilson, Plant Pathology 🔹 Mehmet Can Vuran, Computer Science & Engineering --- Get details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gEjhBn9U --- UNL is classified within the Carnegie R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity category and is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. It is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). UNL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. #highereducation #highered #research #strategicdeterrence #deterrence #CWMD #CBRNE #defenseresearch #nationalsecurity #NSRIFellow #UNL #UNLresearch #Nebraska

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the West African Ebola epidemic that took the lives of 11,000 people. In this episode of the Infection Diseases Society of America's podcast, #NSRIFellow Dr. Angela Hewlett, professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and colleagues discuss their experiences. Listen ➡️ 🎧 https://lnkd.in/gZQ8etDe Dr. Hewlett says: Within a couple of days, they were on our campus and surveyed our facility, and our team asked a lot of questions and things like that. And so we knew at that point that things were heating up and that we probably would be called on to care for patients. And then shortly thereafter, the first two patients were medically evacuated to Emory from West Africa. And so at that point, we knew we were probably next. And we were. And that our first patient I remember this vividly, too. Nebraska Biocontainment Unit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gXFqCtim #ebola #infectiousdiseases #infectiousdiseaseresearch #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity #response #biocontainment #preparedness #response #medicalresponse #highered #highereducation

NSRI's cadre of chemists, biologists, engineers and mission support specialists, with researchers across the University of Nebraska System, works to improve the U.S. capability to deter, detect, mitigate and defeat chemical and biological threats. As a University Affiliated Research Center designated by the Department of Defense, NSRI delivers mission-essential solutions and capabilities that are developed in collaboration with DOD end users to counter complex and emerging chemical and biological threats. NSRI works with colleagues across federal agencies to modernize chemical and biological defense assets through: 🔹 Rapid prototyping of novel sample collection, detection and transportation material solutions 🔹 RDT&E of next generation chemical and biological threat sensors and decontamination systems 🔹 Sensor integration of chemical and biological detection systems on robotic platforms 🔹 Assessment and analysis of emerging threats, risks, capabilities and vulnerabilities Get details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ge_25RP2 #CWMD #WMD #CBRNE #sensors #strategicdeterrence #deterrence #military #defenseinnovation #defensetech #defenseresearch #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity

Meet Dan Polanski, director of training at the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, the DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Center sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command 🤝 Polanski brings more than 25 years of government service, with more than 18 years dedicated to the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) field. His experience includes supporting agencies such as the FBI, DEA, CIA and U.S. State Department during these deployments, and in his current role he remains actively involved with both government and private sectors, providing instruction on biological threat response, radiological response and various CBRNE-related topics across the country. --- Read his bio ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gbc8agAu NSRI field operations & training ➡️ https://lnkd.in/grw-HFQ --- #CWMD #WMD #CBRNE #lawenforcement #militarytraining #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity #strategicdeterrence #deterrence #highered #firstresponders

#NSRIFellow Dr. Steven Yeh, Stanley M. Truhlsen Jr. Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, recently spoke with Healthcare Innovation Editor-in-Chief Mark Hagland. Dr. Yeh said: "I think it’s a really exciting time for AI. The eye is a window to your systemic health. And we should keep in mind that AI could help us in a number of areas, such as macular degeneration and glaucoma; people are doing research around uveitis as well. AI will give us additional information about disease states, and will help with macular degeneration and other important public health issues. And as we learn to implement these technologies responsibly, it can help us to look at resources, and help us to address some health disparities globally." Read the full interview ➡️ https://lnkd.in/er2fX_A9 #AI #artificalintelligence #defenseinnovation #militaryhealth #MilitaryMedicine #MedicalAI #MilHealth #HealthTech #defensetech

Some 1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent nearly split in two, leaving behind a 1,200-mile swath of volcanic rocks known as the Midcontinent Rift that may be able to produce enough natural hydrogen to yield vast amounts of clean energy. University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers, including #NSRFellow Dr. Karrie Weber, are studying the rift — which runs from beneath Lake Superior through parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas — to determine how best to access that hydrogen. Hydrogen is potentially a key player in the effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It produces no carbon emissions and, unlike oil and gas that can take millions of years to generate from organic deposits, it is constantly renewing underground when water interacts with the volcanic rock. But there is much to learn. --- Get details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gAPuRkzB --- #Nebraska #hydrogen #fossilfuel #energy #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity #renewableenergy #UNL #UNLresearch

The University of Nebraska System (NU) continues to invest in innovative research solutions for national security challenges, recently awarding nearly $577,000 to projects in support of the National Strategic Research Institute's (NSRI) mission. 🔹 Advanced Analytics Laboratory at the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration. Led by NSRI Fellow Dr. Dusty White, associate professor of economics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). 🔹 Examining the autoimmune potential of HISP, a broad-spectrum anti-infective immunostimulating peptide. Led by NSRI Fellow Dr. Paul Davis, UNO professor of biology. 🔹 Remote nanoparticle heating for enhanced continuous monitoring of aptamer-based protein detection. Led by NSRI Fellow Ryan Riskowski, PhD, UNO assistant professor of physics. 🔹 Antibacterial elastic materials for infection-resistant prosthetics. Led by NSRI Fellow Dr. Denis Svechkarev, assistant professor of chemistry at UNO. 🔹 Deciphering the contribution of environmental bacterium to agriculture and medicine. Led by Dr. Martin Conda-Sheridan, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 🔹 High-flux micro-pleated filter for waterborne pathogen removal. Led by Dr. Yury Salkovskiy, UNO assistant professor of biomechanics. Get more details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g8fuUYUU #strategicdeterrence #deterrence #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity #military #defenseresearch #innovation #highereducation #highered #Nebraska

During game days in Lincoln, as the Sea of Red arrives, two University of Nebraska-Lincoln students make their way to the roof of Memorial Stadium, where they will direct the incoming aircraft for the pregame flyover. Mason Beck, a sophomore pre-health student and ROTC cadet, uses his radio antenna to point at the estimated time for the band to begin on the pregame time sheet. The military flyovers are a vaunted tradition, and they are largely made possible through the behind-the-scenes work of the university’s Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Each home game, the students, who have applied and trained for the positions, are stationed atop the stadium, radios and time sheets in hand, communicating with pilots as the countdown to kickoff begins. Monitoring the minutes ticking down becomes calculating seconds, and radio chatter is frequent. Keep reading ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gB8SpHg3 #AirForce #military #gameday #flyovers #nationalanthem #ROTC #UNL #GoBigRed #Cornhuskers #Nebraska

#NSRIFellow Dr. Denis Svechkarev recently co-authored the article, "Fast and accurate identification of pathogenic bacteria using excitation–emission spectroscopy and machine learning." ABSTRACT: Fast and reliable identification of pathogenic bacteria is of upmost importance to human health and safety. Methods that are currently used in clinical practice are often time consuming, require expensive equipment, trained personnel, and therefore have limited applications in low resource environments. Molecular identification methods address some of these shortcomings. At the same time, they often use antibodies, their fragments, or other biomolecules as recognition units, which makes such tests specific to a particular target. In contrast, array-based methods use a combination of reporters that are not specific to a single pathogen. These methods provide a more data-rich and universal response that can be used for identification of a variety of bacteria of interest. In this report, we demonstrate the application of the excitation–emission spectroscopy of an environmentally sensitive fluorescent dye for identification of pathogenic bacterial species. 2-(4′-Dimethylamino)-3-hydroxyflavone (DMAF) interacts with the bacterial cell envelope resulting in a distinct spectral response that is unique to each bacterial species. The dynamics of dye–bacteria interaction were thoroughly investigated, and the limits of detection and identification were determined. Neural network classification algorithm was used for pattern recognition analysis and classification of spectral data. The sensor successfully discriminated between eight representative pathogenic bacteria, achieving a classification accuracy of 85.8% at the species level and 98.3% at the Gram status level. The proposed method based on excitation–emission spectroscopy of an environmentally sensitive fluorescent dye is a powerful and versatile diagnostic tool with high accuracy in identification of bacterial pathogens. Access the article ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gD5xJdQr Explore the NSRI publication database ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gGfjrA9e #bacteria #pathogens #pathogenicbacteria #health #healthresearch #militaryhealth #military #homelandsecurity #machinelearning #highered #highereducation