Congressman Tim Ryan presented Kent State faculty researchers with a $3.7 million check for research that includes stormwater flooding and effects of child injury trauma.

Kent State received six research grants, each from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation.

“Kent State is solving problems,” Ryan told KentWired. “Big, international problems, whether it’s dealing with some of the issues with trauma, some of the issues with health, some of the issues with materials and research for the next generation. … Kent State’s in the middle of it, and it’s so exciting, and I actually think we need more grants going to more universities solving these problems.”

President Beverly Warren lauded Ryan at the press conference for being a champion for research funding and Kent State in both Washington and Columbus.

“I think what we need to realize nationally,” Warren said, “is that the funding that comes to public research universities is truly the kind of funding that helps sustain the great quality and expectation that we see for the United States to be the leader in new ideas, new discoveries, new ways of looking at things, new things that will make life better for all of us.”

Some of the areas of research will include how proteins interact with lipids, dense phases in neutron stars and sex differences in the developing oxytocin system. The process for receiving funding was peer-reviewed.

Ryan pressed the importance of leading in research, particularly with China, and said he wants increased funding for research.

“America has to play a major role in the world in solving major problems, whether it’s climate change, issues around health and wellness and trauma,” Ryan said. “We have to solve these problems, and we solve them by getting the best and the brightest and the smartest people in this country doing research around how to solve these problems, and that’s what we’re doing here. And I think you have to communicate that to the average citizen.”

The Ohio congressman announced the grants on Sept. 6. The largest award went to liquid crystals research.

Laina Yost is the enterprise editor. Contact her at [email protected].