Nicholls was recently awarded a $150,000 grant for genetics education outreach by the Southeastern Louisiana Health Education Center Foundation. John Doucet, associate professor of biological sciences, will head the genetics education outreach program.

“The grant was awarded to help the people of Louisiana by providing genetics education outreach to communities and institutions around the state and to improve ways to provide that education,” Doucet said.

A large portion of money from the grant will be used to hire a coordinator to manage speaking engagements and travel, Doucet said. Another portion will be used in the purchase of equipment and supplies necessary for delivering effective lectures and interactions with people.

A portion of the funds will also be used for research and discovery.

Genetics education refers to learning about DNA, genes and biological inheritance.

Because the human body is controlled by genes, the physical as well as the behavioral traits, on rare occasions, incur mistakes (mutations) in the structure of the genes and in turn lead to health problems.

Doucet, since his postdoctoral training in 1992, has been studying genetics.

After extensive research with a group of European scientists in 2000, information about the mutations that cause Acadian Usher Syndrome was published.

The DNA had been collected before the technology was available to rapidly discover the gene mutation that caused the disease. The technology arrived to LSU Medical Center at the same time Doucet did, making the research possible.

Doucet said mutations and how they relate to disease are two of his main areas of interest.

“Uncovering the cause of a disease in the DNA is thrilling,” Doucet said.