Unlocking Breakthroughs in Disease Treatment, student affairs leaders recognized nationally and more

September 8, 2025
Categories: Niner Insider
danillo augusto

Charlotte Research Aims to Unlock Breakthroughs in Autoimmune Disease Treatment with $3.7M Grant

UNC Charlotte researcher Danillo Augusto was recently awarded a $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for an immunomics project that is using a new approach to study human immune response and autoimmune diseases.

  • Why it Matters: Understanding the host-pathogen interaction could unlock more discoveries for mitigating autoimmune diseases.

what you need to know: faculty and Staff

  • Academic Affairs Weekly News Digest: urbanCORE is hosting an info session about internal funding opportunities for community-engaged research and teaching. Learn more about the session, along with other important updates, in this week’s news digest.
  • Golden Nugget Award: Do you know a staff member that has gone above and beyond? Nominate them for a Staff Council Golden Nugget Award.
  • Concur Updates: Starting today, Monday, Sept. 8, Concur updates have been implemented, including changes to the default payment type, travel requests and the business officer report.
  • National Preparedness Month: Emergency preparedness starts individually — are you NinerReady? This three-tiered program will help you know how and where to get emergency information, ensure you’re connected to receive timely alerts via multiple methods and understand the necessary actions to take for different types of emergencies.
  • LiveSafe Maintenance: The LiveSafe system will undergo scheduled maintenance to improve performance, security and long-term reliability at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10. The downtime is expected to last 10 to 15 minutes.
  • International Festival: UNC Charlotte’s longest-running cultural event, International Festival, is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, in and around the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.

what you need to know: students

  • LiveSafe Maintenance: The LiveSafe system will undergo scheduled maintenance to improve performance, security and long-term reliability at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10. The downtime is expected to last 10 to 15 minutes.
  • National Preparedness Month: Emergency preparedness starts individually — are you NinerReady? This three-tiered program will help you know how and where to get emergency information, ensure you’re connected to receive timely alerts via multiple methods and understand the necessary actions to take for different types of emergencies.
  • Suicide Prevention Week: This week, Sept. 8-12, is Suicide Prevention Week. Throughout the week, the Center for Wellness Promotion will highlight different resources to support someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • Nursing Program Tours: Interested in learning more about UNC Charlotte’s nursing program? Sign up for a guided tour to learn more about the program.
  • Jostens on Campus: Jostens, UNC Charlotte’s official ring provider, will be at Barnes & Noble Charlotte from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 16-18, to get students professionally sized, help with ring orders and answer questions.

the difference is charlotte

Kevin Bailey and Michelle Guobadia Award

The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors recognized Kevin Bailey, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Michelle Guobadia, director for fraternity and sorority life, with two of its annual awards.

London dance performance

Associate Professor of Dance Kim Jones recently curated a dance festival for the National Maritime Museum in London to celebrate the reopening of the Ocean Court, the museum’s largest indoor space.

upcoming events: students

Hech Lake Day

Hech Lake Days, hosted by the Student Involvement Office and Venture Outdoor Leadership, continue throughout the month of September! Enjoy food, games, music and boating on the lake Thursday, Sept. 11.

  • Goat Yoga and Petting Zoo: Join the Center for Wellness Promotion for a fun self-care event featuring games, goat yoga and a petting zoo from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11 at Star Quad. Yoga sessions start hourly, bring your own mat and enjoy the open petting zoo after each session. On-site registration with a University ID required.
  • International Festival: UNC Charlotte’s longest-running cultural event, International Festival, is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, in and around the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.

professional development: faculty and staff

to-do list: faculty and staff

to-do list: students