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Photo by Rocky Rothrock, Office of Visual
Media, IUSM
Debbie Taylor, a research technician in the
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the IU School
of Medicine in Indianapolis |
Space may be the final frontier to some, but at the IU School of Medicine
(IUSM), it also is a highly sought after commodity. Space that can
house top-flight researchers and modern laboratory equipment is tantamount
to being the final frontier at an institution seeking top 10 status
among U.S. medical schools.
The Wednesday (April 9) opening and dedication of the Biotechnology
Research and Training Center allows 43 researchers to go where they
haven’t gone before—into sizeable, advanced laboratories in close
proximity to other biotech scientists.
The $26.9 million facility, located at 1345 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis,
includes more than 26,000-square-feet of proteomic and genomic laboratories.
An additional 17,600 square feet houses the Biotechnology Training
Program developed to advance the technical skills of lab technicians
in high demand by Indiana’s growing life sciences industry and research
labs.
The three-story building was designed by BSA LifeStructures and the IU Office of the University Architect. F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. served as the general contractor and the property is owned by the IU Foundation, which has a lease-purchase agreement with the School of Medicine for the property.
Six IU programs, known as cores, are the key occupants of the building.
Center for Medical Genomics
Researchers in this center provide the infrastructure and consulting services to help those using genomic technology in studies of human disease and in other biomedical research. Microarray technology and high-throughput genotyping are two of the services available to researchers.
Proteomics Core
Genes are to genomics what proteins are to proteomics, one of the newest fields of scientific endeavor. Although the human genome has been mapped, it still needs additional explanation, such as how proteins interact in cells, before the information is totally relevant. IU researchers are actively trying to unlock the chemical mysteries of disease through the Proteomics Core.
Medical Cyclotron
The cyclotron is an invaluable component of the In Vivo Imaging Core. The cyclotron is necessary to produce radiopharmaceuticals for advanced imaging of biological processes such as those used in PET scanners. In addition to its research use, the facility is home to a joint venture between IUSM and PETNet Indiana, which produces radiopharmaceuticals (See story) for hospitals and radiology centers in Indiana.
In Vivo Imaging Core
This program serves as a resource for advanced biomedical imaging technologies for academic and private-sector research initiatives. The core is involved with development of novel biomedical imaging modalities, ideal for technology transfer to the private sector. Another mission is the development of novel in vitro and in vivo imaging methodologies for the study of the cellular and molecular levels, which opens doors into the world of scientific discovery.
Biotechnology Training Program
The first students entering the two-year graduate certification program began in the fall of 2002. This unique training program addresses workforce challenges created by rapid advances in the field of science created by the explosion of research after the mapping of the human genome (See related story). To keep pace with the field, IU offers the advanced training to laboratory technicians who work in academia or in the private sector. Students will train with top university research scientists and the latest biotechnology tools.
Animal Cores
Specially bred mice, known as transgenic mice, are studied by researchers to determine the molecular mechanisms for cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Other mice have been developed to study the more human side of diseases such as alcoholism. These mice allow researchers to look at the behavioral, physiological and biochemical aspects and long-term effects of alcoholism. Researchers also have developed a colony of zebra fish to study the possible role of stem cells in developing new antibodies.
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