September 2000: Vol. 79, No. 4September 2000: Vol. 79, No. 4UGA at forefront of biomedical research
 Michael F. Adams |
he next great frontier of knowledge is the field of biomedical research. There is no doubt that the progress we will see in fighting—and conquering—a range of worldwide illnesses will dwarf the remarkable medical advances of the 20th century.
I am confident that much of the progress in biomedical research will take place at the University of Georgia. Dr. Karen Holbrook, our provost, took the charge from my 1999 State of the University address and has begun the process of establishing a Biomedical Sciences and Health Initiative here. One of the things we have confirmed in this process is that we are already deeply involved in biomedical research on this campus.
Furthermore, our involvement in such research is not limited to the areas of direct biomedical research, such as pharmacy and veterinary medicine, although faculty in those disciplines are actively engaged in biomedical projects in those areas. Across the campus, UGA faculty are addressing the full spectrum of health-related issues: health communications, social work, law, journalism, business, and education all have a role to play.
This initiative is grounded in the principle that the speed and results of biomedical research will be greatly enhanced by interdisciplinary interactions among our faculty. When great minds from different disciplines come together to focus on common problems, the world will benefit.
One tangible outcome of this biomedical initiative could be an increased level of cooperation and collaboration with the Medical College of Georgia, and one particular benefit of a closer relationship is an increase in federal funding for research at both institutions. Congress clearly supports biomedical research; in the 1999-2000 federal budget, the increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health was 14.7 percent, more than double that of the National Science Foundation and triple that of the Department of Energy. I have no doubt that the potent interaction of our College of Pharmacy and College of Veterinary Medicine with the Medical College of Georgia will bring a dramatic increase in research funding at both institutions.
The list of current and ongoing biomedical research at UGA is quite a long one, but I would like to point out a few of the areas where I think we are especially successful:
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH CENTER
A report by the U.S. Department of Energy called research into these compounds "the next great frontier in the advancement of molecular biology." Complex carbohydrates play a role in cellular communication, gene expression, immunology and other vital areas of human physiology. UGA has been at the forefront of this research, establishing the CCRC in 1985 and expanding its facilities in 1990 and again in 1997.
CENTER FOR TROPICAL AND EMERGING GLOBAL DISEASES
Scientists at UGA are studying the parasites that cause malaria, sleeping sickness, and other diseases that kill millions of people and animals throughout the world. With access to improved global transportation, the very real possibility exists of an outbreak of tropical diseases on American soil. This center brings together specialists in immunology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and molecular biology to attack these diseases from all angles.
CENTER FOR METALLOENZYME STUDIES
Metalloenzymes play a role in vital processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and processes involving the metabolism of oxygen, carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. This center involves faculty members from the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, microbiology, and genetics, all working on aspects of metalloenzyme function.
INSTITUTE FOR BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH
This multidisciplinary organization brings together a variety of social and behavioral scientists to study families, behavioral health, cognition, and learning. With ongoing research into spousal abuse, depression, cognitive learning, child and adolescent mental health, and the role of workplace support systems in helping employees with problems in their personal lives, the IBR clearly has a role to play in our effort to understand the full range of factors that impact human health and happiness.
The next decade will revolutionize health care. As you can tell from this brief glimpse into our ongoing biomedical research, we are well-positioned to take a leading role in changing the way human health issues are addressed.
