Raising GVSU's research bar test
By Karen Gentry | LabWork; MiBiz
GRAND RAPIDS — Research using carboxylic amides as antimicrobial agents, biochemical research on enzymes, the study of benthic invertebrate populations in Muskegon Lake, and an analysis of mutants and antibiotic resistance — many would guess these are graduate research projects at esteemed research institutions such as the University of Michigan or the University of Wisconsin. But in reality, they are actually examples of research done by faculty and undergraduate students at Grand Valley State University.
GVSU is attracting national caliber faculty, taking part in cutting-edge research and graduating students who go on to well-known research institutions around the country, according to Linda Chamberlain, executive director of the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative, the technology commercialization arm of the university. She noted that GVSU is not at the same level as the University of Michigan, which conducts $800 million worth of research, or Wayne State University, which does $165 million in research.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near those numbers, (but) we’re also a very, very young university, and the progress that’s been made shouldn’t be understated,” Chamberlain told LabWork.
Dave Leonard, associate professor in the GVSU chemistry department, said GVSU made a strategic decision in the mid 1990s to focus more on research while maintaining the university’s reputation for undergraduate education. He said the number of grants to GVSU has increased dramatically. GVSU aims to conduct research on par with the best research labs in the world while maintaining excellent undergraduate programs and a focus on teaching.
He said about 20 of the 30 faculty in chemistry at GVSU are active in research. Leonard received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Leonard said bacteria become resistant to penicillin by obtaining enzymes that destroy the penicillin.
“We study those enzymes, learn how they work and how to overcome them or inhibit them,” Leonard said.
Brad Wallar, GVSU associate professor in chemistry, said many of the research grants come from the state, foundations, National Science Foundation, NIH and private research companies such as Tucson, Ariz.-based Research Corporation. Wallar received a $459,342 grant from NSF for research involving proteins and cellular architecture using an integrated approach to undergraduate research and education.
Chamberlain said WMSTI helps decide whether new science and technology discoveries have commercial value. One current research project involving the use of caboxylic amides as antimicrobial agents received a $115,000 grant for the first stage of commercial activity through the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a collaboration of 15 universities to fund the early stage of commercialization.
Chamberlain said more research grants are good for the university and the community and provide students with opportunities.
Research scientists enjoy being downtown at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on Michigan Street as part of the Medical Mile, which includes the Van Andel Institute, the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Spectrum Health. Wallar said the close proximity of the Van Andel Institute provides opportunities for students including presentations from “an amazing group of speakers.”
“You get a bunch of great scientists in the same area in different fields and good things happen. I’m really happy Grand Valley is in the midst of it,” Wallar said.
Those good things include positive, productive collaborations. Wallar is conducting research in cell signaling in collaboration with Art Alberts, VAI scientific investigator in the laboratory of cell structure and signal integration.
GVSU science programs are part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and include biology, chemistry, physics, biological medical studies, cellular molecular biology, math, statistics, natural resource management and some majors that include science components such as geography and health sciences. Monica Johnstone, director of communications and advancement for GVSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said the number of students in many of the science fields are growing very quickly, particularly biomedical sciences. LW
GVSU projects and research
For FY 2009 there were 99 research projects at GVSU totaling $17 million and researchers engaged in 87 research projects worth $15.7 million in grant funding in FY 2008. Projects in the science areas include:
• NIH grant to the chemistry department to support investigations of the role of key active site residues of two class D lactamases
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to the Annis Water Resources Institute to support an observatory for submerged sinkhole ecosystems in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron.
• The Research Corporation for Science Advancement grant to the chemistry department for research on structural analysis of mutants of an antibiotic resistance enzyme
• NSF grant to the Annis Water Resource Institute to acquire and maintain an automated genetic analyzer and spectrophotometer for the use of DNA sequencing and genotyping.
• GVSU’s biology department subcontract from the NOAA University of Michigan Sea Grant to perform a wind energy facility assessment in West Michigan’s coastal communities.
