 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 June 27, 2003
Dear Friends,
The squid are running just offshore, the clams are ripe, and the horseshoe crabs are gathering on local beaches. Summer has arrived, finally, in Woods Hole! As I write, more than 100 principal investigators from around the country and the world are moving their labs into the Whitman building, preparing for what promises to be another productive summer of intensive research. Many will use classic marine organisms like squid, clams, and horseshoe crabs as models to study basic biological processes common to all living things. Others will be exploring the basic biology of learning and memory, for example, using non-traditional (at least for the MBL) models like songbirds and zebrafish.
This summer we have been able to provide fellowship support to 18 investigators from around the world. We are especially pleased to offer seven additional fellowships this year: three in learning and memory sponsored by the Dart Foundation (Michael Fee, Bell Laboratories; David Glanzman, UCLA; and Richard Mooney, Duke University Medical Center) and four faculty grants in neuroscience sponsored by the Grass Foundation (Joseph Buxbaum, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Vincent Pieribone, Yale University School of Medicine; William Green, University of Chicago; and John Marshall, Brown University).
We’ve also welcomed another summer research "cluster" to the Whitman building. Larry Cohen, Yale University, Dan Johnston, Baylor College of Medicine, and their colleagues have established a cluster in Neuroimaging. They are using optical methods to tell them more about mechanisms of synaptic transmission, the basic form of communication between neurons. Using fluorescent dyes, cameras, and a recently purchased and dedicated two-photon microscope, these imaging studies will help scientists gain a better understanding of a variety of neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s Disease, depression and schizophrenia.
Efforts are also underway this summer to sequence part of the genome of the surf clam, thanks to a recent grant from The Gruss Lipper Foundation. Led by Avram Hershko (Technion-Israel Institute of Technology), who was just elected a foreign member of the National Academy of Science, and including Bob Goldman (Northwestern University), Bob Palazzo (RPI), and Yosef Gruenbaum (Hebrew University), this project will produce an EST (Expressed Sequence Tags) database that represents the sequencing of genes that are expressed as RNA in different tissues of the organism. Because most essential genes are evolutionarily conserved, we expect that EST databases of marine organisms like the clam will reveal vital information about genes that influence or control basic cellular functions, tumorigenesis, and human disease.
The MBL’s Educational Program is flourishing this summer as well. Our six summer courses in Physiology, Embryology, Parasitism, Neurobiology, Microbial Diversity, and Neural Systems & Behavior held opening meetings about a week ago. So far in 2003, 433 students have already or are currently participating in MBL courses. They come from 273 institutions and represent 40 countries. The faculty and staff participating to date totals 371. They and another 113 lecturers come from 158 institutions and represent 27 countries. I’m pleased to report that student enrollment was unaffected by the recent SARS outbreak or by delays in Visa processing.
This year we are especially grateful to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for renewing their support of our courses with a three-year, $2.2 million grant. Without their generosity, and that of a number of other valued donors, foundations, and Federal granting agencies, we wouldn’t be able to offer the unique and intensive intellectual opportunity that these courses provide. We are also thankful for the millions of dollars worth of equipment that is loaned to the education program each year by scores of companies throughout the world. Again, we couldn’t provide such top quality courses without this vital support.
The MBL’s Educational Program was expanded recently with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Brown University and the MBL to establish a joint graduate program in biological and environmental sciences. Starting in September 2004, up to six students enrolling in Brown’s graduate program will have an opportunity to do their thesis research projects in the laboratories of resident MBL investigators. During the first year we expect that students will reside and take courses at Brown before taking on teaching assistantships and moving to the MBL to conduct their research.
The agreement also encourages faculty exchanges and research collaborations between the two institutions. MBL scientists who wish to teach undergraduate or graduate courses at Brown or enter into research collaborations with current Brown faculty will be encouraged to do so and will be considered for faculty appointments at Brown. The leadership at Brown and the MBL are extremely excited about this new agreement and believe it will provide important opportunities for faculty from both institutions as well as students.
The summer season is off to a terrific start at the MBL. As always, I welcome your comments and look forward to seeing you at Friday Evening Lectures and other events throughout the summer.
Best wishes,
Bill Speck
William T. Speck, Director and CEO
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
