


- Rozovsky wins prestigious NSF Early Career Award
- UD students meet alumni, experience 'closing bell' at NYSE
- Newark Police seek assistance in identifying suspects in robbery
- Rivlin says bipartisan budget action, stronger budget rules key to reversing debt
- Stink bugs shouldn't pose problem until late summer
- Gao to honor Placido Domingo in Washington performance
- Adopt-A-Highway project keeps Lewes road clean
- WVUD's Radiothon fundraiser runs April 1-10
- W.D. Snodgrass Symposium to honor Pulitzer winner
- New guide helps cancer patients manage symptoms
- UD in the News, March 25, 2011
- For the Record, March 25, 2011
- Public opinion expert discusses world views of U.S. in Global Agenda series
- Congressional delegation, dean laud Center for Community Research and Service program
- Center for Political Communication sets symposium on politics, entertainment
- Students work to raise funds, awareness of domestic violence
- Equestrian team wins regional championship in Western riding
- Markell, Harker stress importance of agriculture to Delaware's economy
- Carol A. Ammon MBA Case Competition winners announced
- Prof presents blood-clotting studies at Gordon Research Conference
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, programs announced
- Stay connected with Sea Grant, CEOE e-newsletter
- A message to UD regarding the tragedy in Japan
- More News >>
- March 31-May 14: REP stages Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor'
- April 2: Newark plans annual 'wine and dine'
- April 5: Expert perspective on U.S. health care
- April 5: Comedian Ace Guillen to visit Scrounge
- April 6, May 4: School of Nursing sponsors research lecture series
- April 6-May 4: Confucius Institute presents Chinese Film Series on Wednesdays
- April 6: IPCC's Pachauri to discuss sustainable development in DENIN Dialogue Series
- April 7: 'WVUDstock' radiothon concert announced
- April 8: English Language Institute presents 'Arts in Translation'
- April 9: Green and Healthy Living Expo planned at The Bob
- April 9: Center for Political Communication to host Onion editor
- April 10: Alumni Easter Egg-stravaganza planned
- April 11: CDS session to focus on visual assistive technologies
- April 12: T.J. Stiles to speak at UDLA annual dinner
- April 15, 16: Annual UD push lawnmower tune-up scheduled
- April 15, 16: Master Players series presents iMusic 4, China Magpie
- April 15, 16: Delaware Symphony, UD chorus to perform Mahler work
- April 18: Former NFL Coach Bill Cowher featured in UD Speaks
- April 21-24: Sesame Street Live brings Elmo and friends to The Bob
- April 30: Save the date for Ag Day 2011 at UD
- April 30: Symposium to consider 'Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface'
- April 30-May 1: Relay for Life set at Delaware Field House
- May 4: Delaware Membrane Protein Symposium announced
- May 5: Northwestern University's Leon Keer to deliver Kerr lecture
- May 7: Women's volleyball team to host second annual Spring Fling
- Through May 3: SPPA announces speakers for 10th annual lecture series
- Through May 4: Global Agenda sees U.S. through others' eyes; World Bank president to speak
- Through May 4: 'Research on Race, Ethnicity, Culture' topic of series
- Through May 9: Black American Studies announces lecture series
- Through May 11: 'Challenges in Jewish Culture' lecture series announced
- Through May 11: Area Studies research featured in speaker series
- Through June 5: 'Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera' on view in Old College Gallery
- Through July 15: 'Bodyscapes' on view at Mechanical Hall Gallery
- More What's Happening >>
- UD calendar >>
- Middle States evaluation team on campus April 5
- Phipps named HR Liaison of the Quarter
- Senior wins iPad for participating in assessment study
- April 19: Procurement Services schedules information sessions
- UD Bookstore announces spring break hours
- HealthyU Wellness Program encourages employees to 'Step into Spring'
- April 8-29: Faculty roundtable series considers student engagement
- GRE is changing; learn more at April 15 info session
- April 30: UD Evening with Blue Rocks set for employees
- Morris Library to be open 24/7 during final exams
- More Campus FYI >>
9:56 a.m., April 28, 2009----Delaware took another major step toward expanding human health research with the official announcement April 27 of a new five-year, $17.4-million grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The announcement was attended by more than 50 representatives of the six institutions -- Christiana Care Health System, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical & Community College, Nemours/A. I. duPont Hospital for Children, the University of Delaware, and Wesley College -- that partnered to win the grant.
“Congratulations to all of the members of this collaboration,” said Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. “I always say that we're at our best in Delaware when we form partnerships like this one, where a large number of institutions have joined forces to obtain this federal grant. It's what I believe will be critical to Delaware's long-term success.”
“This announcement caps years of work among all of us here to put Delaware on the biomedical map and create an integrated research infrastructure joining the state's academic and medical institutions,” said UD president Patrick Harker. “Delaware just keeps growing in the sectors that breed 21st century prominence and prosperity.”
The partnership program, the Delaware IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) is led by the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) at the University of Delaware. The new INBRE funding is aimed at developing the state's biomedical research capacity in the target areas of cancer, cardiovascular and neuroscience research. The award begins May 1.
DBI, a major research center for the life sciences at the University of Delaware, drove the development of the successful proposal. The institute also managed the first INBRE program grant, awarded by NIH in 2002, which, among its accomplishments, catalyzed formation of the Delaware Center for Translational Cancer Research and the hiring of 50 new life sciences faculty across the state's academic and medical institutions.
“Our new INBRE grant will help build a new generation of health researchers for the 21st century workforce, to improve the health of the citizens of Delaware and expand health-based economic development in the state,” said David Weir, founding director of DBI and leader of the INBRE effort. Weir was appointed director of UD's Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships last year.
The new effort will encompass cancer, cardiovascular and neuroscience research programs; four new research centers--in bioinformatics, clinical outcomes research, cardiovascular research and neurosciences; and four new Ph.D. programs--in neurosciences, biomolecular science and engineering, bioinformatics and computational systems biology, and cardiovascular research. The program will provide funding for 80 graduate students and 150 undergraduate researchers throughout the state.
It follows on the heels of the announcement of the new Delaware Health Sciences Alliance, a coalition to provide leadership in health and health services, including Christiana Care Health System, Nemours, Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Delaware. The alliance was announced during the “Stronger Health-Based Partnerships” conference at UD on March 24.
The cancer research program will focus on cancer cell mobility and the role of specific proteins in metastasis, DNA repair, computer-based tools for simulation and early diagnosis of cancer, and biomaterials for use in cancer treatments.
Dr. Nicholas Petrelli, Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care Health System and professor of surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, will serve as program director for the cancer program. Petrelli is a national leader in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and chairs the state's Science & Technology Council's Human Health Subcommittee.
Additionally, the Delaware Center for Translational Cancer Research will play a central role. A collaboration of UD, Christiana Care's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research, the center is directed by Mary C. Farach-Carson and Robert Sikes in the Department of Biological Sciences at UD, and Petrelli and Bruce Boman at the Graham Center.
The cardiovascular research program will focus on the effect of kidney function on cardiovascular events, extra-cellular matrix remodeling in heart failure and biomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering.
Ulhas Naik, professor of biological sciences at the University of Delaware, will serve as program director of the cardiovascular program and direct a new cardiovascular research center to be developed at UD. Partnering in the effort will be Christiana Care Health System's Center for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, led by Dr. William Weintraub, chief of cardiology.
The neuroscience research program will address molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, spinal muscular atrophy, and cardiovascular autonomic nerve function in diabetes. A major goal will be to establish a new center for brain disease and translational neurosciences.
The neuroscience program will be directed by Melissa Harrington, associate professor of biology and director of biomedical research at Delaware State University. Harrington serves on the Delaware Science & Technology Council's Human Health Subcommittee and has been a leader in establishing the Delaware Neuroscience Consortium.
“In addition to the three research programs, core administrative, bioinformatics and research instrumentation programs will be enhanced to support them, and 150 undergraduate research stipends will be established, providing opportunities for future scientists from across the state,” said Karl Steiner, associate provost for interdisciplinary research initiatives and co-principal investigator on the INBRE grant.
“The award launches another phase in our growing statewide partnership to build a biomedical research capability,” Weir noted. “Our thanks go to everyone associated with the program. Without their skill, dedication, and hard work, this renewal would not have been possible.”
U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, who was unable to attend the event, sent his congratulations. “The receipt of this $17 million grant serves as another important milestone in Delaware's growth as a center of excellence for healthcare and biomedical research,” he said. “This effort is especially important as it combines the strengths of many institutions throughout our state as they work together to solve some our nation's most pressing health problems.”
Barbara M. Alving, director of the NIH National Center for Research Resources referred to Delaware's INBRE program as being “at the forefront in developing a cyberinfrastructure network to address bioinformatics needs and applications to advance biomedical sciences.”
“This award will help advance research to combat diseases including cancer, heart and neurological disease -- research that may lead to improved health within the state and far beyond its borders,” she said. “Through the power of shared resources, INBRE awards expand research opportunities and create a pipeline of competitive investigators crucial for the 21st century workforce.”
Fifteen developmental research projects will be supported in the first year of Delaware’s INBRE renewal program. To access the list, click here.
Article by Tracey Bryant and Diane Kukich
Photos by Duane Perry