Grand Opening of Bioscience Research Building Furthers College’s Momentum, Draws Hundreds of Supporters
“One, two, three, PULL!” At Dean Norma Allewell’s command, the College of Chemical and Life Sciences’ new Bioscience Research Building was officially dedicated on September 18, 2007 with a crowd-pleasing optical illusion, instead of a traditional ribbon cutting. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, UM President C.D. Mote, Jr., Maryland Senate President Thomas “Mike” Miller, and speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Michael Busch, all pulled strings at Dean Allewell’s cue that were attached to a banner emblazoned with a photomicrograph image of a single plant cell. The banner unfolded to yield two identical plant cells, creating the illusion that the cell underwent a rapid mitosis. [watch the video] “The cell doubling represents for us the growth and development of the life sciences that this magnificent new building will generate,” Dean Allewell said. “Thanks to all of you for your tremendous support.”
The dedication ceremony included speeches by Governor O’Malley; Senate President Miller; House Speaker Busch; UM President Mote; Norma Allewell, Dean of College of Chemical and Life Sciences; Jack Johnson, Prince George’s County Executive; Evan Jones, former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Digene Corporation; and Vincent Lee, assistant professor, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and CLFS alumnus (B.S., biochemistry ’95).
Key to the Future of the University and the State
Hundreds of supporters, including many state and local officials, members of the Maryland Board of Regents, donors, faculty members, alumni, students, staff, and friends turned out for the Grand Opening Ceremony, an event designed to communicate the critical role this $69 million state-of-the-art facility will play in making the university and the state a global leader in bioscience research. “In this century, there will be no major university in the world that is not strong in the biosciences," said UM President C.D. Mote, Jr.
In her opening remarks, Dean Norma Allewell acknowledged the pivotal role that President Mote, as well as Mike Miller and Mike Busch played in seeing this Bioscience Research Building to fruition. Mote recalled how his quest to accelerate bioscience research at UM was a top priority from day one of his administration in 1998. He persuaded Senate President and UM alumnus Mike Miller of the need for the building on that day. Miller was, in turn, instrumental in securing state funds for the building and keeping the project on track through the Glendenning and Ehrlich administrations.
Facilities Designed for 21st Century Research
The university broke ground for the Bioscience Research Building in 2004. The centrally located facility [see map] provides 68,000 square feet of flexible laboratory space, which allows for unique and changing configurations to meet researchers’ needs. The 33 faculty-led research groups housed in the building are working on the forefront of research in three critical areas: neuroscience, genomics/proteomics and pathogenesis. The building is equipped with two Biosafety Level-3 labs, which enable researchers to safely work with pathogens, the microorganisms that cause disease. Other resources include a 475-seat lecture hall and eight conference rooms for teaching and professional meetings. Each of the four levels in the building is dedicated to a different area of research: plant molecular and cell biology on the ground floor; neuroscience on the first floor; genomics on the second floor; and host-pathogen interactions on the third floor.
Leading the Way in Bioscience Research and Industry
Governor O’Malley, who has made investment in Maryland’s biotechnology industry a top priority, emphasized the impact of the research on human health and the economy. "The Bioscience Research Building affirms Maryland's commitment to bioscience and cutting-edge, life-saving research," said O'Malley. "The University System of Maryland and all of our research institutions play a critical role in driving our State's economy and securing Maryland's place as a leader in bioscience research."
Collaborating Across Disciplines and Institutions
One of the recently recruited faculty members, Dr. Vincent Lee, highlighted the interdisciplinary, multi-institution collaborations inherent in the work of The Maryland Pathogen Research Institute (MPRI), which occupies the entire top floor of the new building. “Together, the current and incoming faculty, including immunologists, microbiologists, biochemists, and chemists, create the Maryland Pathogen Research Institute,” he explained. “Led by a terrific director, Dr. David Mosser, and an enthusiastic Associate Director, Dr. Debra Weinstein, MPRI now has 50 affiliated faculty members. We have developed links to a number of area research institutions, including Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland Medical School, and the National Institutes of Health, and have just brought in our first major shared instrumentation grant from the NIH.” Such collaborations will be essential for scientists to make important discoveries that will help prevent and cure global infectious diseases and to develop new ways to detect pathogens in our environment. To meet the research challenges ahead, the college recruited 46 faculty members in the past 7 years and has dramatically increased research funding 30% in each of the past two years.
Honoring Our Past and Envisioning the Future:
Circle of Discovery Honors Research Leaders, Symposium Confronts Challenges in Bioscience
In the afternoon of the grand opening day, the College reflected on its legacy of rigorous research in the biosciences and chemistry by inaugurating the Circle of Discovery. Dean Allewell hosted a ceremony to induct the first three members, including two alumni, Gary D. Christian (Chemistry, ’64), Professor emeritus of chemistry, University of Washington; and Walter R. Dowdle (Microbiology, ’60), Senior Consultant to World Health Organization, and Theodor O. Diener, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus. Plaques honoring these scientists will eventually be on display in the colonnade of the Bioscience Research Building.
A special symposium on “Grand Challenges in 21st Century Bioscience” concluded the day’s festivities, and brought together a panel of distinguished scientists including James F. Battey, Jr. (moderator), Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health; Alan I. Leshner, CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science and Executive Publisher, Science; Elliot M. Meyerowitz, George W. Beadle Professor of Biology and Chair, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology; and Alison D. O’Brien, Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and Incoming President of the American Society for Microbiology.
Leshner discussed issues at the intersection of science and personal values, including the teaching of evolution and stem cell research, and challenged scientists to engage the public in dialogue about scientific issues. Meyerowitz, one of the pioneers of Arabidopsis research, urged biologists to incorporate mathematical models into their research and showed examples of how he has used such models to understand patterns of cell division and leaf growth. O’Brien discussed the challenges of combating the spread of pathogens given our increasingly globalized food system and urged the need for more support for truly interdisciplinary research. Media Coverage: Washington Examiner: Dean Hopes New Digs Will Draw Top Teachers
