Director Describes Bright Future for HBC

The next five years will be crucial for the future of the Higuchi Bioscience Center. The pharmaceutical industry and the research enterprise in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences are undergoing major changes. The focus is going to be almost exclusively on reaping the benefits of the advances in the science of genomics. Therefore, the HBC has to position itself to be competitive in these scientific domains by merging the know-how of its scientists in areas of pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology with the emerging areas of pharmacogenomics, transgenics, and proteomics.

Continued increases in research

Five years ago, HBC directors promised to increase the research productivity and funding of the scientists affiliated with this Center from $2.5 to $10 million per year. This was accomplished. The productivity of our scientists is at the base of the successes of the Center in technology development and transfer. Therefore, our goal is to increase the total research budget of the HBC from $10 million to $20 million per year over the next five years.

Collaboration

To accomplish the rapid expansion of the HBC's research base, we have increased efforts to form strong alliances with KU Medical Center, the Stowers Institute, the Midwest Research Institute (MRI) and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI). The Center directors participated in discussions and establishment of interactions between KU and MRI, and in the involvement of KU in the KCALSI. We also serve on advisory committees for collaborations between KU-Lawrence, KU Medical Center and the Stowers Institute.

New thrusts

Approximately three years ago, we decided to bring the new fields of pharmacogenomics and trans-genics to KU, and especially to the HBC. With funds received from a private foundation and additional funds from the Center, the HBC is now creating a new facility in pharmacogenomics. We plan to acquire a new genomic array and scanning instrumentation, new equipment for handling the purification of many DNA samples, and the computational power to analyze complex information from genomic analyses. We also plan to hire a scientist with expertise in computational technologies and bioinformatics. We have submited a proposal to the Chancellor and the Kansas University Endowment Association for raising private funds for such a program. In addition to the emphasis in pharmacogenomics, we are making a concerted effort to obtain funding for a transgenic/gene knockout facility at KU-Lawrence.

Enhancement of efforts

Another specialty developing at the HBC is gene therapeutics. The research addresses issues related to the design and delivery of gene-based "drugs" and their analysis in the complex medium of tissues and body fluids. During the past year, we have worked with colleagues at KU Medical Center to develop a joint research and technology development effort in the area of tissue imaging and gene therapeutics.

Proteomics will provide the sequel to genomics in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research aimed at discovering new drug targets. This scientific emphasis was recently identified as one of the critical technologies Kansas should focus on (Senator Roberts' committee) and one that could bring the strengths of KU- Lawrence, KU Medical Center and Kansas State University into collaboration. A collection of scientists involved in proteomics research has been assembled at the HBC, and they form a nucleus of highly active researchers with many technological skills.

I see exciting new directions for the search and technology development components of the HBC for the next five years. I am confident that with the combination of federal and private funds and the support of KU and KTEC, the HBC will remain a true center of excellence in the biomedical sciences.