NEWS Release

DR. HENRICH TO RESEARCH INSECT HORMONES
IN EFFORT TO DEVELOP SAFER INSECTICIDES

GREENSBORO — Dr. Vincent C. Henrich, associate professor of molecular genetics at The University of North Carolina

Dr. Vincent C. Henrich

at Greensboro, has received a $201,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research insect hormone receptors.

The project is the first step toward developing new, ecologically safe insecticides, Henrich said. By understanding how hormone receptors work and how to disrupt them, it might be possible to develop insecticides that specifically target pests and remain harmless to other organisms, he said. Other applications in industry or medicine could be developed once more is known about how the systems work, he added.

The two-year project will involve working with insect tissue cultures and genetically engineered fruit flies to test compounds that affect insect hormone receptors.

Henrich's research specialty is the genetics and molecular biology of insects. He has published numerous journal articles on insect development, three of which were published in the past year. Henrich joined the faculty of UNCG in 1990, and received a UNCG Research Excellence Award in 1995. He received his Ph.D. in genetics from Ohio State University.

Back to the Latest News Releases
Return to the University News Service Home Page