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$25,000-plus in for Bio Lab

Biology department will benefit from foundation grant

By Ginger Shepherd

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Click Photo to Enlarge Dr. Reed foresees an increase in molecular biology research for both students and faculty, once the new lab is fully equipped.

For the last seven years, the ORU biology department has needed a well-equipped biotechnology lab. The Tulsa-based Helmerich Foundation has issued a challenge grant to help make that lab a reality. The foundation's challenge grant is for $60,000; the university must match that grant dollar for dollar in order to raise the $120,000 needed to purchase the lab equipment.

To date, ORU has raised more than $25,000 of the $60,000 needed to meet the challenge and qualify for the $60,000 grant, and has another $4,500 in pledges promised. The deadline to raise the matching funds is September 30, 2006.

Dr. Hal Reed, chair of the biology department, emphasized that the Helmerich Foundation has a record of funding biomedical research. In 2003, the foundation gave ORU's Anna Vaughn School of Nursing $100,000 to add four Sim Lab Units. Reed explained that he decided to apply to the foundation on the advice of Dr. Kenda Jezek, dean of ORU's School of Nursing.

Through the grant, Reed said the department will provide better research and training opportunities for ORU biology and pre-medical students. Examples of the new equipment the department will buy include cell and bacterial culture hoods, specialized centrifuges, and a real time PCR machine.

"(The grant) will provide research and training opportunities for our students in the latest techniques of molecular biology that support the growing industry of biotechnology," Reed said, adding that the lab will also provide more experience with techniques needed for research internships and employment in the biomedical research field.

He projects the new lab will increase the department's molecular biology research for both students and faculty. Reed said that the department has four faculty members specifically trained in this area, and this equipment will allow faculty to better mentor students.

"We have the lab space, the trained faculty, so we just need potential donors to meet this challenge to provide the equipment," Reed said. The deadline to raise the matching funds is September 2006.

This is an opportunity for science alumni to give to a project that will significantly improve the ability of the university to train students in the area of biotechnology. Donors will help ORU produce outstanding professionals in this field which will, of course, benefit current alumni in the field. Although the donation drive is targeted toward science alumni, donations are welcome from anyone.

(To make a gift, click here or mail to: ORU Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 702333, Tulsa, OK 74170; write "Biology Lab Grant" on the memo line of your check.)