Jason W. Chin, a graduate student in the chemistry department, has won the first Sigma Xi-Consortium for Plasma Science Grant-in-Aid of Research in support of his efforts to develop a novel method to detect and remove viruses in human blood plasma.

Chin received the $5,000 award for his proposal "Specific Binding of the Parvovirus B19 by Small Structured Peptides," which describes the bioengineering of molecules that can bind a common protein constituent present in parvoviruses.

"Jason Chin's approach could be useful for inactivating viruses in blood plasma, which would enhance the safety of plasma-derived therapies," says Frederick Dombrose, executive director of the Consortium for Plasma Science. "Blood safety in the U.S. is state-of-the-art and the risk for infection by transmission through transfusion has never been lower. However, vigilance and continuous improvement is required to ensure the continued safety of the world's blood supply."

Chin, who is a third-year Ph.D. student at Yale, says, "The detection or removal of viruses from plasma is contingent on the ability to specifically recognize the virus particle. My strategy, if successful, might be used to generate molecules able to bind to specific viruses or other pathogenic organisms with high affinity and specificity."

An independent panel of scientists selected Chin's project for the Sigma Xi award. The Yale graduate student earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Oxford University in England.

The Sigma Xi-Consortium for Plasma Science Research Fund supports research to develop a universal method for the inactivation of viruses and other pathogens in human blood plasma. It awards, on a competitive basis, as many as five annual research grants of up to $5,000.

Sigma Xi, the honor society of science and engineering, has about 80,000 members in more than 500 chapters worldwide.

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