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Genomic Research
Grants |
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ASU Research Into
Mysteries Of Fatal Diseases To Receive $18 Million Grant
Other Topics: Hospital
Enterprise Software,
Informatics Trademarks
Microscale Life Sciences Center (MLSC)
September 4, 2006
The Microscale Life Sciences Center (MLSC) led by Deirdre
Meldrum, new dean of Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton
School of Engineering, has been awarded a five-year $18 million
grant - one of the highest individual grant amounts in the
university's history - to continue its role as one of the
national Centers for Excellence in Genomic Science (CEGS).
The grant is from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI),
a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). |
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The Microscale
Life Sciences Center's focus is on use of microscale technology
innovation to solve mysteries about cell growth and death,
answers that will reveal crucial knowledge about cancer, heart
disease and strokes - the leading fatal diseases in the United
States.
It is developing miniature automated systems designed to rapidly
detect and analyze the differences between healthy and diseased
body cells to better understand the nature of disease processes.
"Our vision is to examine the genesis of diseases directly at
the individual cell level, at increasing levels of complexity
that progressively move toward an understanding of disease in
living organisms," Meldrum says.
"Cancer, heart disease and stroke all involve an imbalance in
this process of cellular proliferation and cell death. Real-time
analysis of individual cells is essential for tracing the link
between genomics, cell function and disease," she explains.
The MLSC was established in 2001 as one of the first members of
the CEGS and funded with an initial five-year $15 million grant.
Meldrum is bringing the research program from the University of
Washington to ASU when she steps into the dean's post in
January. She will oversee the program as director of the new
Center for EcoGenomics at ASU's Biodesign Institute.
The program will continue its collaboration with researchers at
the University of Washington, Brandeis University in
Massachusetts and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
Seattle.
The new funding comes from one of three grants totaling $54
million awarded by the NHGRI. In addition to the grant to the
Microscale Life Sciences Center, $18 million each will go to the
Yale Center for Excellence in Genomic Science at Yale University
and to establish the Center for In Toto Genomic Analysis of
Vertebrate Development at the California Institute of
Technology, Pasadena.
"Deirdre Medrum is both a visionary and a scientific and
technological leader," said ASU President Michael Crow. "The
participation of Dean Meldrum's team in this collaboration of
leading research institutions gives ASU the opportunity to make
significant contributions to some of the most promising advances
in modern medicine. This research is a prime example of her
ability to move science and scientists to the cutting edge of
discovery."
"The large range of disciplines represented by the MLSC team
typifies the kinds of cross-cutting collaborations found in many
of ASU's most distinctive research programs," said Jonathan
Fink, ASU Vice President of Research and Economic Affairs. "Dean
Meldrum's program will take advantage of the Biodesign
Institute's state-of-the-art facilities, and strengthen the ties
among the Fulton School of Engineering, the Biodesign Institute,
the School of Life Sciences, and the new School of Computing and
Informatics".
"Dean Meldrum is a world-leader in engineering, science and
medicine. This firmly places ASU's nanoscience program among the
nation's leaders in this emerging discipline," says Jeffrey
Trent, president and scientific director of the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix.
New technology will be developed and integrated into the
existing MLSC Living Cell Analysis cassette system in pursuit of
ambitious biomedical goals.
MLSC researchers are aiming to develop micromodules with a
variety of optical and electronic sensors to measure multiple
parameters within single cells. The modules enable live-cell
measurements of physiological parameters in concert with genomic
parameters. They also enable measurement of DNA, RNA and
proteins inside cells.
The micromodules will be fully automated, allowing precise
placement of single cells and controlled experiments on
thousands of cells per module that can last hours to days at a
time.
Data obtained from the experiments will be used to map out
biochemical pathways in cells and correlate it with information
on the behavior of mechanisms that determine the progression of
disease.
"The Microscale Life Sciences Center and other institutions in
the CEGS program are vital to our efforts to apply innovative
genomic tools and technologies to the study of human biology,"
said Jeffery Schloss, NHGRI Technology Development Program
director. "By fostering collaboration among researchers from
many different disciplines, NHGRI wants to encourage innovation
and build a powerful new framework for exploring human health
and disease."
The Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State
University serves more than 4,500 undergraduates and 1,500
graduate students, providing skills and knowledge for science
and technology-oriented careers. Ranked nationally in the top 50
among more than 185 engineering schools rated by US News & World
Report magazine, the school engages in use-inspired research in
a multidisciplinary setting for the benefit of individuals,
society and the environment. Its 200-plus faculty members pursue
research in electrical, chemical, mechanical, aerospace, civil
and environmental engineering, bioengineering and computer
science. The Fulton School of Engineering also includes the
School of Computing and Informatics, the Del E. Web School of
Construction and the School of Materials. Many faculty members
work collaboratively with ASU's Biodesign Institute, the School
of Earth and Space Exploration and the Global Institute of
Sustainability. For more information, visit the web site http://www.fulton.asu.edu/fulton
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