New Texas Tech center focuses on commercializing biomedical research

DATELINE: LUBBOCK, Texas

During the next five years, the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center will spend approximately $4.5 million to develop its new Center for Immunotherapeutic Research.

The center, which will operate out of Tech's School of Pharmacy in Abilene, will conduct research related to the detection, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cancer.

"We study the immune system and then try to find ways to control it," said Jon Weidanz, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the director of the Center for Immunotherapeutic Research. "We're trying to affect the immune system, because it relates to almost every disease that affects humans."

In addition to Tech's funding, the center will be paid for by a $3 million donation from the Development Corporation of Abilene and by grants the center's leaders are applying for.

"I commend the city of Abilene," said F. Scott Dueser, Tech Board of Regents chairman and president and chief executive officer of First Financial Bankshares in Abilene. "The DCOA worked very hard to get Jon (Weidanz) and his team to Abilene. He had been in Amarillo with his researchers there. He had opportunities to go to other universities, and Abilene worked out a deal with him."

In November, Gov. Rick Perry met with the chairmen and chancellors of Texas's major universities to discuss ways to bring research efforts into the commercial market. Following the governor's lead, the Tech Board of Regents approved the plan for the new research center Dec. 14.

"It's extremely important to focus on getting research commercialized," Dueser said. "You research, design a product and take it to market. That way, the University has some ownership in the product and gets some money back from it. The more money that comes in, the higher level of education we can give to students. I think Gov. Perry is right on board with that."

Increased research brings in more money, but it also brings in more people to do research, Dueser said.

"Anytime you get additional dollars in research, that adds value," he said. "It brings people to Tech that want to teach and do research. It brings the upper echelon of people to the university."

Kim Powell, regional dean of the Abilene School of Pharmacy, said she believes having new researchers will benefit the Health Sciences Center.

"We have key scientists bringing a new piece to the pie," Powell said. "We're really moving toward our goal of having internationally recognized research." Having multiple researchers in the same field often allows for faster developments, Weidanz said.

"It's important to bring investigators together that share common interests but look at the problem very differently," he said. "With a center like this, you can do that. By bringing in different pieces to the puzzle, you can accelerate that growth of knowledge."

Dueser said he believes the new center will strengthen the relationship between Tech and cities around the state.

"We have a presence in Abilene, El Paso, Midland, Odessa and Dallas," Dueser said. "That presence makes us that better known."

Tech and Abilene both will win through the collaboration involved in the new center, Powell said.

"(Abilene) is a place where biotech research can just grow," she said. "It doesn't need water, and dirt doesn't bother it, you might say. The symbiosis is great. We're an important player in their economic model, and this is the first major step for the Health Sciences Center moving into this area. Tech is benefiting by the investors wanting to move this forward."

(C) 2008 Daily Toreador via U-WIRE