UNLV recently received a grant of more than $2.6 million from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration for the university's Cancer Institute and new Biotechnology Center to develop state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, offices, and classrooms and to purchase new research equipment.
UNLV biology professor Penny Amy, principal investigator on the grant proposal, said that the Biotechnology Center will serve as a state-of-the-art facility for forensic DNA and other biotechnology training programs, including an environmental testing lab, which can be used to provide water quality testing for microbial contaminants.
"We have formed a partnership with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's (Metro) Crime and Forensic DNA labs to create a laboratory that will be specially equipped to train people nationwide in forensic science and human DNA profiling," Amy said. "In addition, researchers from the UNLV Cancer Institute will have new and modern facilities, both in the form of research laboratories and in specialty analyses such as tissue culture and flow cytometry, as well as in DNA sequencing capabilities. Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate students and workshop participants all will benefit from the research and training climate of the new facilities."
UNLV President Carol C. Harter acknowledged Nevada's U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons for their assistance in acquiring the federal funding and for their support of the university's research programs.
"We are delighted that this grant will enable experts from UNLV and Metro to play a major role in providing cutting-edge, forensic science and DNA-technology training," Harter said. "It is yet another indication of the level of sophistication of our research here at UNLV, as well as our interest in partnering with government agencies and private industry to serve the community. It also provides a very valuable opportunity for UNLV's Biotechnology Center and Cancer Institute to collaborate on important biomedical and biotechnology research and development."
Stephen Carper, director of the UNLV Cancer Institute, said that linking the Cancer Institute researchers to the Biotechnology Center and its teaching/training function has great potential for future basic and applied research developments.
"The UNLV Cancer Institute is interested in partnering with the Biotechnology Program as well as with our friends at the University of Nevada School of Medicine," Carper said. "These crucial resources will provide the cornerstone for these long-term interactions."
Berch Henry, manager of the Metropolitan Police Department Forensic DNA Laboratory and a molecular biologist and expert in human DNA profiling, said that he and Linda Errichetto, director of the lab, are very excited that the Biotechnology Center will have a DNA profiling facility that simulates a forensic DNA laboratory for training purposes.
"The Biotechnology Center will enable us to offer training programs on the methods and foundations of human DNA technology," Henry said. "Workshops will be held for those attending UNLV's cell and molecular biology/biotechnology programs, for employees in current state or private DNA profiling labs across the nation who need academic refresher training, and for people with science backgrounds who want post-graduate, hands-on training in DNA techniques for employment potential."
Errichetto said that Metro is pleased to be able to form this partnership with UNLV to offer training in a field in which there are many employment opportunities for specially trained individuals.
"Since there is a shortage of individuals with lab experience in forensic DNA analysis, this program will provide a service to the forensic community as a whole," Errichetto said. "It will also serve to stimulate professional growth of our employees."
The proposed site for the new Biotechnology Center is the recently acquired property located at 1700 W. Charleston Blvd. Previously owned by the Employer's Insurance Company of Nevada, the site is located at the center of the city's medical district.
