Welcome to the W. Harry Feinstone Center
for Genomic Research. These are
exciting times at the University of Memphis. Under the new leadership of Dr. Shirley C. Raines,
President of the University of Memphis, we are
undergoing a metamorphoses into a strong urban research university. As the largest comprehensive university in
the city of Memphis, there is a great opportunity to develop and strengthen our
ongoing activities in science, mathematics and engineering in support of the
biotechnology industry and world class biomedical research institutions of this
city. The imagination and financial
support of one of community’s strongest scientific leaders,
Dr. W. Harry Feinstone
has provided a broad technological based umbrella under which to strengthen the research enterprise
of the university.
The purpose of the center is to foster research and graduate education in
the area of genomic research, particularly functional genomics, providing a
focal point for these activities within the University of Memphis and the
Memphis scientific community. Now that
the complete genome sequences of humans, mice and several additional model
organisms have been determined, a shift in emphasis is occurring from the
physical and chemical structure of the genome to the biological function of the
information encoded by the genome. Functional genomics involves the study
global genome-wide or “system-wide” function.
Currently, a major focues of this research is to define the influence of
both genetic and environmental factors on gene expression, towards the goal of
understanding the anatomy of the genome and the functions associated with sets
of genetic information. A number of
emerging technologies that include high density gene microarrays (genechips)
have the potential to revolutionize the way we define public health problems
and characterize basic biological processes by making it possible for the
simultaneous monitoring of thousands of parameters at the level of the gene and
its products. These new technologies are
helping scientists to redefine infectious and chronic diseases, aging and
responses to environmental pollutants and drugs, in terms of complex integrated
pathways. These same technologies are
providing rapid advances in the areas of agriculture and bioremediation.
The Center, conceived in October of 1999, is at the
mid-point of a five-year period focused on developing its mission, membership,
research and educational activities, outreach and infrastructure.
To date, the primary objectives of the
Center have been to identify potential members and to organize the first
biennial center symposium. The total activities of the Center have included:
1) Support of Research Infrastructure
2) Student Support
3) Grant Submissions
4) Publications
5) The Feinstone Symposium
6) Interdisciplinary and Inter-institutional Research and Education
7) Center Membership
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