Aid Comes to UTMB Researchers to Boost Research after Hurricane Ike.

HOUSTON -- Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine (TIGM) - a research institute of the Texas A&M Health Science Center - has created a grant-in-aid program specifically to assist University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) scientists obtain access to research materials in an effort to help speed the recovery of UTMB's research programs from some of the injuries caused by Hurricane Ike.

The UTMB campus in Galveston, Texas, suffered significant damage from Hurricane Ike in September 2008, causing major delays in ongoing studies and deferral of future experiments. While UTMB's animal research facility was only a small part of the campus that was affected, it was critical to researchers throughout UTMB.

To help UTMB scientists accelerate future studies and restore their competitiveness, TIGM has created a grant-in-aid program specifically for UTMB faculty. This program will allow UTMB investigators access to TIGM's resource. The UTMB primary investigator will need to submit a simple application that will be reviewed by TIGM prior to approval. Once accepted, TIGM will create and ship the materials from its resource of genetic models of human disease.

"UTMB is our neighbor, and in times of crisis, we should always do our best to help our neighbors," stated Dr. Richard Finnell, Executive Director of TIGM. "The research and innovation generated by UTMB faculty are all part of the greater effort by Texas scientists to produce medical discoveries that will benefit the world. We must do our part as a Texas research resource to help them get back on their feet."

Dr. Maki Wakamiya, director of UTMB's Transgenic Mouse Facility, expressed gratitude for TIGM's assistance. "TIGM is giving UTMB investigators a boost into new projects at a time when we're still working to make up for lost time, data and resources," Wakamiya said. "We really appreciate the help, and believe it will make a big difference in maintaining our competitive edge."

About the Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine (TIGM)

Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine is a research institution within the Texas A&M Health Science Center. TIGM's mission is to accelerate the pace of medical discoveries and pioneer scientific breakthroughs through internal research and effective collaborations. TIGM maintains the world's largest gene trap library. This resource is used for internal research and research conducted through strategic alliances. TIGM also provides its resource to academic and commercial institutions around the world. The institute headquarters and laboratory facilities are based in the Texas Medical Center in Houston with additional facilities currently under way in College Station, Texas. For more information, visit www.tigm.org or call 888-377-TIGM (toll free in North America).

About the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Opened in 1891, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has advanced medical science for more than a century with forward-thinking programs of excellence in health science education, patient care, and research. UTMB's ultimate goal is to bring the future of health care into the present by creating and transferring knowledge to improve health nationally and internationally.