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The Laboratories: Exploring
Frontiers
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story
Dr. Sawkat Anwer has a true appreciation
for the role of research at Tufts Veterinary
School.
When he first came to Tufts 20 years ago, he was one of a handful of investigators
in the school working on the study of liver physiology and pharmacology. Today,
he proudly points out that the biomedical sciences department has grown to include
some 25 faculty and four divisions, including the Division of Infectious Diseases,
the largest single research entity at the university.
In that department alone,
Distinguished Professor of Infectious Diseases Dr. Saul Tzipori recently received
a $25 million contract from the National Institutes
of Health as part of funding awarded to institutions across the country to
fight bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. His
proposal, a collaboration
among Tufts, the University of Massachusetts, the FDA, and other organizations
here and abroad, seeks to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
to preventing and treating different pathogens found in
our water and food. The
award will also establish a center for botulinum therapies research and development.
“There is a common misconception that animals are very different from
humans;
they’re not,” said Anwer, Distinguished Professor and chair of
the Department of Biomedical Sciences. “The basic biology is the same
across the mammalian species so it doesn’t matter whether the research
is conducted at a veterinary school or medical school.”
Indeed, Tufts
is well positioned to take its long-standing research focus to new heights.
It is now putting finishing touches on plans for an adjoining
106-acre Tufts Science Park, slated for research and development, manufacturing,
and other
activities related to the biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical
industries.
“Tufts is an important part of the biomedical infrastructure of Massachusetts,” said
Provost and Senior Vice President Jamshed Bharucha. “We’re looking
forward to biotech partnerships that encompass genetic research that will
train new generations of veterinary students. We see enormous possibilities
for forging
stronger ties to the other schools throughout the university.”
In laboratories
elsewhere, faculty are investigating a wide range of questions. Dr. Robert
Bridges, professor in the reproductive biology section of the
Department of Biomedical Sciences, for instance, is exploring neurobiological
processes
underlying mammalian brain function—specifically, the mechanisms
of the maternal response. Dr. Acacia Alcivar-Warren of the environmental
and
comparative
genomics section, Department of Environmental and Population Health, conducts
research on the comparative genetics of shrimp—what genes control
disease resistance, how certain shrimp fight off viral diseases while others
perish.
Diverse projects such as these enrich
the school’s mission
to educate and train highly skilled veterinarians, said Dr. Eric Overström,
associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
“Discoveries are often catalysts for keeping faculty colleagues and our
students
informed and inspired,” said Overström. “Much of what
we do on a day-to-day basis is predicated on advancing our understanding
of science
and medicine. Nationally recognized clinical and basic research are consistent
on the Boston campus with similar activities at the Medical and Dental
schools, and if you look at the big picture, together this triad of expertise
is a powerful
and prestigious element of the university.” |
