University of Texas at El Paso
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Leveraging our Strengths Minimize    
Bioscience research portfolio expanding

Stories by Cindy Ramirez
NOVA Spring 2008

University of Texas at El Paso researchers just may hold the key to improving or solving a major national health issue, from preventing smoking addiction among adolescents to developing vaccines against HIV, cancer or Chagas’ disease, to lowering children’s exposure to lead.

“There has been a tremendous increase in our efforts and our success in attracting bioscience and biomedical

  Building our Portfolio

  • Infrastructure that supports research is an important part of building the bioscience studies portfolio, recruiting and retaining faculty, and securing grants to conduct cutting-edge research.

  • The Bioscience Research Building is a five-story, 100,000-square-foot building now in its third phase of construction. The $45.1 million building will to provide more laboratory, classroom and office space.

  • The Engineering Annex houses the new Engineering Student Development Center and a Materials/Structures Laboratory, as well as office space. The $7 million, 47,000-square-foot project opened in spring 2005, with final construction this spring.

  • The Health Sciences Complex will replace the existing College of Health Sciences building located campus. The new $60 million, 130,000-square-foot building will be located across the Hertzog Building, replacing the tennis courts. It will house the College of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing.

  • The Physical Sciences/Engineering Facility will include space for chemistry, computer science, environmental engineering and a clean room. The $70.2 million, 140,000-square-foot project is scheduled to begin in November 2008, with completion in fall 2010. 
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grants,” says Roberto Osegueda, vice president for research. “We continue to bring in new researchers who are doing great things in this very important field.”

By conducting research that focuses on the region’s health problems, the university is also addressing issues that have particular significance across the country. Demographic shifts reflect an increasing Hispanic population across the nation, and our region and university serve as models for the nation’s future, Osegueda says.

Border health and biotechnology are among the areas that represent UTEP’s greatest opportunities to significantly increase funded research.

In border health, our recent studies include emerging infectious diseases and vaccine development; chronic diseases; Hispanic health disparities; environmental health; drug and alcohol abuse; and health care policy.

The National Institutes of Health funds RO1 grants—among the most prestigious awards for the most competitive research laboratories in the nation. UTEP currently boasts a handful of these awards totaling more than $9 million—a significant step in boosting our research portfolio.

Bio-technology combines UTEP’s strengths in infrastructure technologies and in biomedical and health research. Our recent research includes advanced manufacturing and rapid prototyping; device and sensor development and testing for biotechnical applications; new materials processing technologies; nanotechnology; and computer science and engineering—software development, such as high performance computing and cyber infrastructure.

Overall, UTEP continues to make significant investment toward becoming the next top-tier research institution in Texas: Research expenditures for fiscal year 2007 were $46.41 million.

“We’ve come far, but we recognize there is a lot more work to be done,” Osegueda says. “Progress is key, and we’re definitely making progress." N
   
Key Centers and Programs Minimize    

To better promote research discoveries in the field of bioscience, UTEP has made significant investments in numerous centers and programs.

  • The Border Biomedical Research Center focuses on infectious diseases, toxicology, neurological and metabolic disorders and DNA sequencing and analysis.

  • The Border Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program is designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research and to encourage their development as leaders of their fields.

  • The Center for Environmental Resource Management addresses energy, hazardous waste, air quality, water, ecosystems and policy issues.

  • The Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center focuses on metabolic process and disorders, psychosocial and behavioral research, and mental health and mental health care among Hispanics.

  • MBRS SCORE is designed to enhance and cultivate research in biomedical sciences while increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who conduct research in biomedical science or health professions.

  • The Minority Access to Research Careers links underrepresented minority undergraduate students with faculty mentors and provides research experience and summer internships.

  • UTEP is one of the NIH’s Research Centers in Minority Institutions, a program that enhances the research capacity and infrastructure at minority colleges and universities that offer doctorates in health sciences.

  • The Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancements works to enhance the research experience for students at minority-serving institutions and aims to increase the interest, skills, and competitiveness of students in pursuit of biomedical research careers.

  • The W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation uses rapid prototyping technology for biomedical modeling,  tissue engineering research, and fabricating functional prototypes for manufacturers and others.