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Arkansas State University
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Staff:
Tom Moore
Frances Hart
Virginia Adams
870-972-3056
fax 870-972-3069
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Biosciences Institute successfully
competes for research grant
March 23, 2005--The
Arkansas State University Biosciences Institute (ABI) and the Department
of Biology have successfully competed for a Beckman Coulter Genomics
Educational/Research Grant. The grant provides $49,500 in matching funds
to support the purchase of sophisticated genomics instrumentation to be
used in both teaching and research programs at ASU.
“The CEQ 8000 Genetic Analysis System is state-of-the-art. It will give
students hands-on experience in genomics and the latest DNA technologies
used in forensics and medical testing,” said Dr. Carole Cramer,
Executive Director of the ASU Biosciences Institute who led the group of
ASU faculty applying for the grant.
The equipment will also support research being done at the biosciences
building which opened in September of 2004. ASU’s Biosciences Institute
is part of the statewide Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI)
established by the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000. ABI is an
agricultural and medical research consortium dedicated to improving the
health of Arkansans.
Researchers within ASU’s Biosciences Institute will use this
instrumentation to aid in studies to enhance the production of
health-promoting chemicals and proteins in plants and to understand the
basis for tobacco-related diseases.
ASU’s Biosciences Institute provided the matching funds that enabled ASU
to compete for the Beckman Coulter Genomics grant. According to Cramer,
this grant “exemplifies how we are using the ABI to leverage
opportunities to enhance the educational and research opportunities here
at ASU.”
Genes and DNA are becoming an increasing part of everyday life whether
it is watching crime scene forensics on television or getting genetic
testing at the doctor’s office.
“The Beckman-Coulter system really provides a window into DNA-based
technologies that is user friendly and assessable to students. It is
very exciting technology that will impact both our teaching and research
programs,” said Dr. Maureen Dolan, the primary author of the grant to
Beckman Coulter.
Dr. Jeannette Loutsch and Dr. Ron Johnson of ASU’s Biology Department
were also involved in the grant and will be instrumental in integrating
the technology into biology courses at ASU.
The CEQ 8000 system will also be a valuable asset to two new programs
under development at ASU, an undergraduate major in forensics and a
graduate program in Molecular Biosciences.
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For more information, contact Dr. Carole L. Cramer, Executive Director,
Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University in
Jonesboro, (870) 972-2025 or via email at ccramer@state.edu.
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