UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Earns Prestigious Kresge Challenge Grant for Instrument Core

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has met the challenge, raising $1.6 million to earn a $500,000 Challenge Grant from the prestigious Kresge Foundation, a first for the university.

The grant and the challenge funds, which total $2.1 million, will benefit the pharmaceutical sciences instrumentation facilities that support the school's strategic research in areas such as pharmacogenomics, pharmaceutical protein biotechnology and the chemical sciences, including computationally aided drug discovery and molecular visualization. It is research that goes from "molecule to bedside" as it attempts, among other things, to measure and manage patient responses to anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs and to assist with developing new drugs to treat multiple sclerosis.

"It's terrific news. I congratulate and thank all of our alumni and friends who helped UB meet this challenge," said Bruce Moden, BS '57, a pharmacist and chair of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Campaign Committee. "They clearly understand that this is the future of pharmaceutical sciences in the 21st century."

UB President William R. Greiner noted, "We're extremely pleased and proud that UB has met our first Kresge Foundation's challenge grant -- and very grateful to The Kresge Foundation for the opportunity and for its outstanding generosity in support of our Campaign for UB.

"This grant will foster interdisciplinary research in drug discovery and development, and help us continue to advance the future of pharmaceutical sciences," Greiner added.

The first phase of the grant was earned in November 2000, with both the grant and its corresponding challenge funds designated for the purchase of equipment. Purchases have included a gas purification system that enables liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy instrumentation to determine drug concentrations in blood or tissues with an increased degree of sensitivity, a circular dichroism spectropolarimeter and fourier transform infrared spectrometer that together enable scientists to study the structure of fragile molecules such as proteins, and a dynamic laser-light scattering instrument for detecting the aggregation of proteins or measuring the size of particles created as protein carriers.

With the first phase complete, Wayne Anderson, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said it was Amgen Inc.'s $50,000 gift that took the second phase of the fund-raising drive over its goal, just days before the May 1 deadline.

Two hundred thirty-four first-time donors responded to the effort, as did donors making gifts of $25,000 or more, including Kwen-Jen K. Chang Ph.D., '72; Editha and John Kapoor, Ph.D. '72; Margaret McGlynn, MBA '83, BS '82; Organon, Inc., and Pfizer, Inc. Previous contributors included The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation and the National Institutes of Health.

"What made the second phase of the grant more challenging," said Anderson, "was that we were raising money for an endowment fund to keep the instrument core operational in perpetuity.

"In fact, it's this endowment fund with all of its guarantees that we will maintain and utilize state-of-the-art equipment that has been a major factor in encouraging new gifts, as well as winning federal equipment grants."

Anderson noted that the instrument core, with its cutting-edge research capabilities, will help attract highly talented students and stellar new faculty members, as well as providing opportunities for advancing human health through innovative research, multidisciplinary education programs and collaborative projects involving the university's investigators and regional research institutions.

John E. Marshall, III, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, noted in awarding the grant that UB is one of a diverse group of organizations "responding to the new challenges presented by their communities or sustaining activities that have demonstrated their effectiveness."

The Kresge Foundation, based in Troy, Mich., is an independent, private foundation created by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not affiliated with any corporation or organization. The foundation offers grants for projects involving construction or renovation of facilities or the purchase of major capital equipment or real estate, focusing in the areas of higher education, health, arts and humanities, human services, science and the environment, and public affairs.

The Kresge Foundation Challenge grant contributes to UB's $250 million campaign, one of the largest ever conducted by a public university in New York and New England. Although it's the fifth major fund-raising campaign conducted by UB, it's the first national/international, university-wide and alumni-driven campaign with volunteer leaders from all over the country. Funds raised will be used to enrich academic programs, support students ranging from undergraduates to post-doctoral students and to enhance university life.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.