Science Café speaker to discuss COVID-19 research

Post Published On:

Thomas University’s popular Science Café lecture series will move to an online format this fall with the first event scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, via Zoom. Dr. Thomas Manning, a Professor of Chemistry at Valdosta State University, will discuss the work he and his group of undergraduate researchers are conducting on a COVID-19 treatment in the presentation “COVID-19 and other Infectious Diseases: Where do we stand?”

Manning’s group has already developed new cancer drugs and an antibiotic that have entered pre-clinical trials. The researchers also developed a synthesis of an Alzheimer’s drug. Because VSU is primarily an undergraduate institution, the group developed novel methods that emphasize the economics of production.

In this presentation, Dr. Manning will talk about infectious diseases in general and more specifically about COVID-19. For example, did you know that right now there are approximately 2.3 billion people on the planet who have tuberculosis? Approximately 2 million people will die this year from the bacterial infection. That one sneeze from a TB patient can infect up to 40 people. Did you know that many of the antibiotics that have been used for decades are losing their strength due to antibiotic resistance? New forms of TB that are drug resistant, multidrug resistant, extensively drug resistant and totally drug resistant are becoming bigger problems globally. Did you know that coinfections with HIV, malaria and cervical cancer caused by HPV are also becoming more prominent?

Dr. Manning holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston along with a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Florida.

To request a Zoom link or for more information, please email April Penton, Science Café coordinator, at apenton@thomasu.edu.

Dr. Thomas Manning

Thomas University

Education that Engages
...Empowers...
Transforms

1501 Millpond Road
Thomasville, GA 31792
229.226.1621
Contact Us