Mount Olive College gets $71,000 grant for biology lab
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on February 15, 2008 1:48 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, NCBC, has awarded Mount Olive College a grant worth over $71,000 to establish a lab to train students in traditional cell and molecular biology.
The laboratory will house technologically advanced equipment, including an inverted microscope with a digital camera for photomicroscopy and a system for studying cell signaling pathways, said Dr. Mickael Cariveau, assistant professor.
In addition to enhancing biotechnology education and providing training, Cariveau said, "This is science that is at the cutting edge of cancer research and our students will have a unique, intensive training experience that is difficult to find at larger institutions."
At least a portion of students' research projects will be done in collaboration with the department of radiation oncology at the Brody School of Medicine.
"The long term goal is to incorporate the technology available through our analytical chemistry and instrument lab to identify new therapeutic agents or combination therapies that can be used to enhance the sensitivity of human cancers to radiation or chemotherapy and increase the long-term survival of cancer patients," Cariveau said. "I also hope that it will open a door for our students to pursue careers in NC's growing biotechnology industry."
Plans are already under way for developing the curriculum for a course in cell physiology and establishing a minor in biotechnology to be offered as early as 2008 fall semester.
In addition to the money provided by NCBC, the College will provide $12,500 in additional funds, bringing the total allocated to the project to nearly $84,000.
Incorporated as a private, nonprofit corporation in 1984, the Biotechnology Center is funded by the North Carolina General Assembly and makes its grants from funds appropriated by the General Assembly.