University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-06

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) Program in the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Zhibo Yang and his group at the University of Oklahoma are investigated methods for the possible detection and quantification of nitric oxide (NO) in single cells. NO is a small molecule important for human health and diseases. The production and concentration of NO is tightly regulated as this is an important signaling molecule in healthy biology; deviations in NO concentration can also potentially lead to biological dysfunction; hence methods to accurately detect NO levels, particularly in living systems are in high demand. Because the concentrations of NO in cells are very different from cell to cell, meaningful studies need to be performed at the single-cell level. However, detecting and quantifying NO in single cells is very challenging, primarily because of its instability and low abundance (e.g., a cell diameter is ~1/10 of that of human hair). Dr. Yang and his group will design a microscale device that can be coupled to a sensitive analytical tool, mass spectrometry (MS). This device can directly extract NO from single cells, and then use online chemical reactions to convert it into a stable molecule for sensitive detection and accurate quantification using MS. This new technique can potentially offer a new analytical tool for the measurement of oxidants such as NO at the single level. The summer outreach program is expected to provide lesson development for science teachers at Oklahoma high schools through school-university-community collaborations. The products (e.g., lecture materials, lessons, and survey results) from the outreach program will be accessible by other high schools and general public. In addition, conducting the research will provide professional development for undergraduate and graduate students. NO is a small bioactive molecule playing important roles in numerous cell functions that are relevant to neuronal signaling, immune response, and human disease. The functions of NO are related to its abundance in cells. Due to cell heterogeneity, which has been reported in nearly all biological systems, the abundance of NO significantly varies from cell to cell. Quantification of NO in individual cells could substantially improve our understanding of the functions and mechanisms of NO in biological systems. However, these studies are very challenging, primarily because of the extremely small size of single cells and the reactive, diffusive nature of NO. This proposal combines chemical reactions with single cell mass spectrometry (SCMS) to detect and quantify NO in single cells. Cell lines will be used as model systems to produce endogenous and exogenous NO. An established single-probe SCMS experimental setup will be combined with off-line chemical reactions for NO measurement. The key diagnostic reaction involves the two-electron oxidation of amlodipine (AML) to dehydroamlodipine (DAM ). Since this reaction involves the simple removal of the elements of "H-H" from AML, the observation of DAM is an indirect measure of NO, and it will be important to control for other two-electron oxidation reactions that could, in principle, produce DAM from AML. Perhaps most notably, as part of these studies, a new device, the elongated single-probe (eSingle-probe), is being developed and will be used for real-time reactive (rrSCMS) analysis for NO in single cells. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Power outages during severe weather or infrastructure failures can disrupt schools, emergency response, and daily life in many parts of the United States. This project investigates how electric school buses (ESBs), when equipped with bidirectional charging technology, can serve as distributed energy assets to improve local grid stability. While ESBs are primarily used for student transport, their stationary periods and onboard battery capacity present a novel opportunity as an on-grid portable energy hub. Recharge-OK is co-led by a team of academic researchers and civic partners including Shawnee Public Schools, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, and regional planning entities, etc. The project will be implemented in Shawnee, Oklahoma, through coordinated efforts among engineers, utility professionals, and school officials. It seeks to demonstrate how existing public-sector assets can enhance infrastructure resilience without requiring large-scale capital investments. The anticipated outcomes include improved preparedness for grid disruptions and new operational models for school transportation fleets. This work supports the National Science Foundation’s mission by advancing applied research in energy systems and demonstrating innovative use of public infrastructure to address nationally relevant challenges. The results may inform future deployments across other municipalities and contribute to broader efforts in infrastructure resilience and evidence-based energy planning. This project will deploy a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system using electric school buses and bidirectional chargers at Shawnee Public Schools. The technical objectives are to: (1) develop a predictive energy management system (EMS) that optimizes charging and discharging based on grid demand, weather forecasts, and transportation schedules; (2) evaluate system performance using metrics such as peak load reduction, dispatch latency, and backup energy duration; (3) assess battery degradation under real-world V2G cycling conditions; and (4) develop a decision-support platform that integrates operational data and simulation outputs. Civic partnership is central to the project. A Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprising school representatives, utility professionals, city officials, and other civic partners will co-guide implementation, ensuring alignment with local needs and operational realities. Engagement activities will include school-based demonstrations, workshops with transportation staff and utility operators, and ongoing input from civic stakeholders. These efforts will support practical deployment and help develop a scalable model that balances technical feasibility with community priorities. This research will generate new insights into the technical feasibility, reliability, and operational value of ESBs as mobile energy storage assets. Findings will inform future scaling, policy design, and investment strategies related to distributed energy integration in public-sector applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-10

Oklahoma faces frequent extreme weather events like tornadoes and storms, disrupting the state's energy grid. This project seeks to enhance community resilience against climate and environmental instabilities by integrating the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology equipped with electric school buses (ESBs) into Oklahoma energy grids. V2G technology allows these ESBs to supply power back to the grid, offering a sustainable energy solution. This initiative aims to flip the community-university dynamic and empower civic partners to co-design a research-to-innovation solution to improving grid stability during emergencies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health. By showcasing the benefits of V2G in a real-world setting, the project could serve as a model for other regions. This work aligns with NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by investing in research to expand knowledge in science, engineering and education. This work is not only critical for addressing immediate climate-related challenges but also for building a resilient and sustainable future for communities. The project will integrate V2G-equipped electric school buses (ESBs) into Oklahoma’s energy grid to enhance community resilience to climate disasters such as tornados and storms. In Stage 1, a Community Advisory Board (CAB) with stakeholders from Public Schools, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Indian Nations Council of Governments, City of Oklahoma City, ESB Manufacturers and other community partners will co-design the research plan, set goals, and refine research questions. Preliminary testing and data collection will be conducted to understand community needs and technical requirements. In Stage 2, field tests and simulations will assess the effectiveness of V2G technology during power outages and peak demand. The project will analyze economic and environmental benefits, including cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and develop a decision-making support platform for policymakers. By leveraging civic partners’ expertise, the project aims to create a scalable model for community resilience through innovative energy solutions. This project is in response to the Civic Innovation Challenge program’s Track A. Climate and Environmental Instability - Building Resilient Communities through Co-Design, Adaption, and Mitigation and is a collaboration between NSF, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-05

The next step toward understanding the brain is to reveal how the different regions of the brain interact. This proposal creates an interdisciplinary set of protein and microscopy tools that optically captures and then interprets movies of the entire zebrafish brain. These large-scale recordings will help understand the relationship between different brain regions, especially during fast neural activity patterns associated with specific neural disorders. The technological and scientific products of this proposal will result in training materials that educate and inspire the next generation of neural engineers. Neuroscience requires a mesoscopic study of the brain to define the functional relationships between different brain regions. This proposal creates a series of fluorescent genetically encoded voltage sensors, optical microscopes, and signal processing tools to optically extract the millisecond waveforms of targeted neural populations simultaneously over the entire zebrafish brain. These recordings will help characterize the cascade of fast, millisecond timescale bursts of neural activity expanding through multiple brain regions that underlie neural disorders. The broader impact goals of this proposal will fold these technological tools into educational and research training materials targeted to a diverse array of students in the STEM pipeline. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.