Science and Technology Open House poster competition for the Experimental Program has been running for a decade now, bringing together teachers and students from all over the  United States of America.

The event provides an opportunity to highlight the research of post-secondary students in a poster competition and gives Alabama grade school teachers a chance to learn innovative hands-on activities to take back to their classrooms.

The Ghanaian, Andrew Asante centered his presentation on the Effects of Sodium Butyrate titled “Effects of Sodium Butyrate on MDR1 expression in prostate cancer cells.”

Sodium Butyrate is the sodium salt of butyrate with potential antineoplastic activity. Butyrate, a short chain fatty acid, competitively binds to the zinc sites of class I and II histone deacetylases (HDACs). This binding affects hyperacetylation of histones, resulting in a modified DNA conformation, which subsequently leads to the uncoiling or relaxing of chromatin.

Mr. Asante's research study is one of the many investigations around the world attempting to develop a cure for prostate cancer and other solid tumors.“It is really a great honor,” said Asante, who received $600 for his win. “I want to thank God and my research lab mentors, Dr. Sabita Saldanha (assistant professor of biology), Dr. Manoj Mishra (director for Cancer Biology Research and Training at ASU), and Dr. Sanjay Kumar (associate professor of biology). I am glad I got the opportunity to represent my HBCU and make Alabama State University proud. It’s always a great time to be a Hornet.”

Saldanha said the award clearly demonstrates the direction in which students are trained - to be the best in the field of cancer research and to compete with students from other universities.

In an interview with the Alabama State University website, Andrew Asante said,

“Our students have access to outstanding cancer research opportunities at the undergraduate level,” said Saldanha. The Cancer Biology Research and Training (CBRT) program at ASU provides students access to some of the most sophisticated facilities and technologies related to cancer research, enabling them to produce outstanding work. This has been made possible under the directorship of Dr. Manoj Mishra.”