HIGH POINT, N.C., April 29, 2016 – High Point University senior Gabby Hayes harnessed the power of crowdfunding to support her research of a promising treatment option for antibiotic resistant bacteria.
By recruiting supporters through a fundraising website, she got her research project off the ground and made significant headway on an important biological concern – how to control outbreaks of deadly bacteria such as MRSA.
Hayes, a biology major from Asheville, tested a compound from Manuka honey, long known in New Zealand for its bacteria-fighting properties, to find out if it could boost the effectiveness of antibiotics. She started this project with classmate Nicole Wright during HPU’s Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS) in 2015 and continued her work this year with her faculty mentor, Dr. Patrick Vigueira, assistant professor of biology.
Her research shows that methylglyoxal, the compound isolated from the honey, made the bacteria more sensitive to treatment from antibiotics. Now she is preparing her findings for publication in a scientific journal. She also gave a presentation at the Association for Southeastern Biologists annual meeting in April.
“Gabby’s research relates to a growing public health crisis, one that has directly impacted the lives of millions of people around the world,” says Vigueira. “Crowdfunding allows the public to contribute directly to projects that excite them. It’s a fairly new strategy for securing funding for research, and it’s uncommon for undergraduates to pursue it. This funding strategy highlights Gabby’s initiative and creativity.”
Hayes became interested in the potential of Manuka honey during a microbiology course with Vigueira. She has also developed an interest in communication and is pursuing job opportunities in technical writing and communication for science-driven companies following graduation. Creating the crowdfunding page for her research allowed her to combine both interests.
“HPU has been the perfect place for me to find my niche because there are so many resources available,” Hayes says. “The small, family-like nature of the school has allowed me to branch out into different departments and foster all of these interests that culminate into who I am and what I will do in my career.”