Progenics initiates Phase II trials for HIV drug

By promoting the development, coordination and sharing of research resources and expertise, these awards expand research opportunities and increase the number of competitive investigators in 23 eligible states and Puerto Rico.

The lead institutions for statewide networks receiving this second phase of five-year funding are the New Mexico State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Delaware, University of Idaho, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. INBRE grants aim to enhance biomedical research capacity, expand and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical faculty, and provide access to biomedical resources for promising undergraduate students throughout the eligible states.

IDeA Networks of Biomedical Excellence create opportunities for students in all regions of the country to pursue careers in biomedical research that range from bench science to community engagement, said NCRR director Barbara M. Alving.

Through the IDeA program, NCRR supports institutions and communities in 23 states and Puerto Rico with grants that fund multiple areas of biomedical research and reach out to diverse populations. INBRE funding enables academic health centers to:

build and strengthen the lead and partner institutions’ biomedical research expertise and infrastructure;

support faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students through career development and training in research at the participating institutions;

provide research opportunities for undergraduate students and serve as a pipeline for undergraduate students to continue in health research careers within IDeA states;

provide outreach activities to students at undergraduate institutions, community colleges and tribal colleges participating in the state’s network; and

enhance science and technology knowledge of the state’s workforce.

INBRE has been a catalyst for transformations in research competitiveness. The Idaho and Delaware networks are two examples of where these changes are already being realized. Over the past five years, the Idaho INBRE program has developed an unprecedented network of research and educational collaborations which has led to a doubling in the number of Idaho undergraduates pursing science and health-related careers. In Delaware, catalyzed by INBRE grants, the state has seen its NIH funding nearly double between 2000 and 2007, showcasing the improvement in the competitiveness of Delaware investigators.