BSC Biomedical Research Laboratory Receives New Equipment Grant

(BLUEFIELD)--The continuing support of the West Virginia Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (WV-BRIN) will underwrite the purchase of an autoclave for the new Biomedical Research Laboratory at Bluefield State College. Dr. Ethel Gordon, who joined the BSC faculty in August after conducting research for the Diabetes Division of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, wrote the grant, as well as four earlier WV-BRIN grants that have provided the support to create and enhance the laboratory.

"Our research will study animal models of diabetes, using tissue and organ transplantation in normal and diabetes-prone rodents," Dr. Gordon explained. "We have built an animal facility to house both mice and rats." The rate of disease induction for diabetes-prone mice housed in a clean facility can be predicted. To maintain the cleanliness of these animals and to observe the onset of the disease, animals must be placed in sterile cages with sterilized food and bedding, she said.

"These conditions meet the criteria of excellence expected for peer-review journal articles and for local and federal grants," she noted. "These conditions will be maintained only if an autoclave is available for this purpose. With this grant wi well purchase an autoclave sufficiently large to sterilize cages containing bedding and to sterilize large containers of food." Additionally, the autoclave will sterilize media, solutions, and instruments for the Microbiology and Immunology laboratory courses, and it can be used in conjunction with student research projects.

During the past seven months, a WV-BRIN grant has permitted Biomedical Research at BSC, underwritten the search for a principal investigator, and provided start-up funds. Other WV-BRIN grants have permitted the purchase of laboratory supplies and equipment, as well as the establishment of a summer fellowship. A WV-BRIN Pilot grant has provided $30,000 for biomedical research at Bluefield State. The grants written by Dr. Gordon and funded by WV- BRIN total more than $119,000. A portion of her Diabetes Action Research and Education Grant has also been transferred to BSC, lifting the total amount of grant funding for biomedical research at the College to $126,624.

"I am extremely grateful for the support of the West Virginia-Biomedical Research Information Network grant program and for Bluefield State College's commitment to the establishment of the research lab," she said.

March 30, 2004