Federal Grants Accelerate Leadership in Biomedical Sciences and EducationA $2.5 million federal grant will put Kent State University cellular researchers at the forefront of the fight against such diseases as cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. This support has made it possible for Kent State to establish unique educational and world-class research facilities for integrated biomedical and cell systems research, including a 3-D Immersive Classroom and core research facilities in imaging, computation, proteomics and genomics. On Monday, April 19, Kent State hosted a Biomedical Science Research Conference and celebrated the grand
Roderic I. Pettigrew, Ph.D., M.D., the first Through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre), chair of the subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services and Education, the university received two special congressionally directed allocations from the U.S. Department of Education to create a 3-D Immersive Classroom and related projects. These programs and facilities are directed toward an understanding of the cellular basis of diseases. Since many diseases begin at the cellular level, understanding the complex interplay of processes at the cellular level is central to both the cause and cure for devastating diseases. Congressman Regula was on hand on April 19 to see – firsthand – how these facilities are accelerating Kent State’s leadership in biomedical research and education. The Biomedical Science Research Conference and the grand opening celebration began with a keynote address by Roderic I. Pettigrew, Ph.D., M.D., director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). Pettigrew is the first director of the NIBIB and is nationally known for his pioneering work on dynamic, three-dimensional imaging of the heart using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He co-developed the first computer software package specifically designed for cardiac imaging using MRI. Following Pettigrew’s address, Dr. Roger B. Gregory, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. James L. Blank, director of the School of Biomedical Sciences, demonstrated how the 3-D Immersive Classroom in Room 107 Williams Hall is – quite literally – taking biomedical research to new dimensions. The
“This outstanding new facility will change the ways in which important research about cells and their structures is conducted. It will also change – in significant and far-reaching ways – how we teach the biosciences at all levels,” said President Carol A. Cartwright in her welcoming remarks. “Until now, the division between those who pursued a scientific career and those who did not was often based on whether or not one could visualize three-dimensional images of cells, proteins or a wide variety of other materials. This classroom removes that divide. Confocal microscopes and other state-of-the art visualization and imaging equipment allow the rendering of three-dimensional images of cells. These advances in technology make the study of cellular systems accessible to new generations of researchers and students in unprecedented detail,” said Dr. John West, interim vice president for research and dean of graduate students. “Studying cellular behavior is extremely complex. Each tiny cell is made up of integrated, inter-related systems of genes, proteins and metabolic pathways. Literally thousands of chemical reactions occur within each cell simultaneously,” said Blank. “Researchers use fluorescent tags to label proteins and other structures within cells so that they can observe how they behave in different environments – and to understand better the conditions necessary for continued health,” said Gregory. Because the laws of chemistry and physics apply within cells, multidisciplinary
The technologies that allow researchers to observe and record complex, simultaneous cellular functions produce massive data sets. Extraordinary computing resources and mathematical algorithms are necessary to draw coherent conclusions from these sets of data. Kent State has earned a national reputation for its expertise in computational science, most notably cluster computing. Cluster computing resources are necessary to analyze large data sets, such as those generated from confocal microscopes and other biomedical technologies. These computational tools help researchers to develop models that help to predict how cells will behave under certain conditions. Dr. Paul Farrell and Dr. Arden Ruttan, both professors of computer science, have been working directly with the computational aspects of cell systems research.
Additional funding from the Ohio Board of Regents helped Kent State to link the 3-D classroom to another important part of its mission: public service and outreach. An allocation from the Ohio Technology Action Fund was used to connect the classroom to Ohio’s Third Frontier Network. The network allows Kent State faculty to bring sophisticated scientific research to educational institutions throughout Ohio using live feeds and videoconferencing connections. “We can bring laboratory science into K-12 classrooms, and share the excitement of scientific discovery with young people at a time when they are particularly excited about science,” said Dr. Douglas Kline, professor of biological sciences. Kline is heading up Kent State’s K-12 outreach in biological sciences. The 3-D classroom includes a computer-imaging laboratory where students can form and manipulate biological structures to understand better their functions. The laboratory provides free access to a comprehensive digital library of cellular and other images to Ohio’s students and teachers, and to business and industry for workforce development and training.  |
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