COMMUNITY NEWS CSUN PROFESSOR WINS GRANT OPPENHEIMER TO GET $400,000.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has given a $400,000 grant to California State University, Northridge, biology professor Steven Oppenheimer, the university announced. The institute will issue the grant over the next four years.

Oppenheimer, director of CSUN's Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, earned the grant for his project ``Mechanisms of Adhesive Interactions,'' focusing on improper cell adhesion as a catalyst for cancer's spread. His use of sea urchins as a model system for human cells is of particular interest.

``The molecular basis of cell adhesion in sea urchins is very similar to that of humans,'' Oppenheimer said. ``At least 25 major discoveries have been made using sea urchins that have later been found to have critical importance to humans.''

Oppenheimer has been a professor in CSUN's biology department since 1971. Collaborating with more than 600 of his undergraduate and graduate students, Oppenheimer has helped publish 297 papers and abstracts.

The California Community Foundation has donated $41,750 to the CHIME Institute to help provide ``capacity building support'' to its charter elementary school in Woodland Hills. The grant will be paid over two years and will allow the school to hire a director of curriculum and instruction.

``What this grant basically means is that we're able to do more outreach, professional development and support for families,'' said Julie Fabrocini, CHIME's executive director of charter schools and elementary school principal. ``Good stuff that will help our kids.''

The CHIME Institute is headquartered on the campus of California State University, Northridge, and as well as the elementary school it operates a middle school in Chatsworth. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized the institute as a model for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country.

Pepperdine University has named Keith Hinkle, the university's associate vice chancellor for estate and gift planning, as new vice president for advancement and public affairs, Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton announced earlier this month. In his new role, Hinkle will assume overall responsibility for alumni affairs, annual fund, major and leadership gifts, donor services, planned giving and public affairs.

A licensed attorney and certified public accountant, Hinkle joined Pepperdine's Center for Estate and Gift Planning in 2000. He earned his law degree at Pepperdine in 1997. He, his wife and three children live in Thousand Oaks.