UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

UMKC researchers were funded for more than $50 million in research grants and contracts in 2010. UMKC has seven different schools with ongoing research in Health and Life Sciences and is one of fewer than 30 universities in the nation to have Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy all centrally located on one campus

Founded as the Pharmaceutical Department at the University of Kansas City in 1885, the UMKC School of Pharmacy celebrated its 125-year anniversary in 2010. Today, the school ranks among the top quartile of pharmacy schools in the nation in extramural research funding. Founded in 1971, the UMKC School of Medicine celebrates its 40 th Anniversary in 2011. To date, the School s combined Bachelor s/md degree program and its docent mentoring system have expertly prepared nearly 3,000 physicians in unique and innovative ways.

The UMKC Vision Research Center is composed of basic and clinical investigators who study age-related eye disease. Led by Dr. Nelson Sabates and Dr. Peter Koulen, recently awarded research grants include: A National Institutes of Health grant for research focusing on the body s self-defense mechanisms against age-related diseases. An American Health Assistance Foundation grant for research on novel treatment strategies for glaucoma.

The UMKC Center for the Study of Dental and Musculoskeletal Tissues consists of an interdisciplinary group of basic and clinical investigators studying the basic mechanisms of bone, tooth and muscle physiology.. Recently funded research projects include: A grant from the American Heart Association to Michael Wacker, MD, at the UMKC School of Medicine A grant from the National Science Foundation to Walter Leon-Salas, PhD, at the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering.

As part of the university s urban mission, UMKC is working to establish a Center of Excellence in Translational/Clinical Research in Urban Health. The Center that will focus on the health disparities that exist among underserved populations and the diseases that affect our community, such as diabetes, asthma, obesity, heart disease, AIDS, musculoskeletal disease and others.

Kevin McCluskey, PhD, researcher and curator of the Fungal Genetics Stock Center at the UMKC School of Biological Sciences was elected to the World Federation for Culture Collections Executive Board. Kathy Goggin, PhD, professor and researcher in the Department of Psychology at the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences, is working on multiple NIH-funded grants looking at health disparities in underserved populations. Maithe Enriquez, PhD, is conducting ongoing research examining the feasibility and impact of peer-led adherence intervention among adults failing HIV treatment

UMKC research on crosstalk between muscles and bones was featured at the 2010 International Experimental Biology Conference. A presentation by Marco Brotto, PhD, of the UMKC Schools of Nursing and Medicine and director of the UMKC Muscle Biology Group, was selected as one of the Top 30 of more than 6,000 papers submitted to the conference. The UMKC School of Pharmacy graduated the first 28 Doctor of Pharmacy students from the school s satellite program at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The school is currently working to develop a new satellite program on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield.

The UMKC School of Medicine: DID YOU KNOW? Announced the establishment of an Endowed Chair in Patient Safety. The Endowed Chair in Patient Safety will be established through the UMKC School of Medicine and Saint Luke's Hospital. Received two five-year grants from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to expand the school s Internal Medicine and Community & Family Care residency programs. Was awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for the school s Shock Trauma Research Center to conduct a research program to develop a battlefield treatment strategy for hemorrhagic shock.

University of Missouri-Kansas City New Appointments The UMKC School of Pharmacy welcomed Russell Melchert, PhD, as the School s new Dean in July 2010. Dr. Melchert comes to UMKC from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock where he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

University of Missouri-Kansas City New Appointments UMKC: Ted R. Knous, PhD, was appointed UMKC Associate Vice Chancellor for Research. Dr. Knous directs the operations of the UMKC Office of Research Services and provides technical leadership to support enhancement of research and economic development. UMKC School of Nursing: Eduardo Abreu, MD, joined the Brotto Lab, the UMKC Muscle Biology Group (MUBIG) and the School of Nursing faculty. UMKC School of Biological Sciences: Theodore C. White, PhD, was appointed Marion Merrell Dow Professor of Biological Sciences and Division Head of Cell Biology and Biophysics.

University of Missouri-Kansas City New Appointments School of Medicine: Michael Artman, MD, was appointed Professor and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics. John Spertus, MD, was appointed Daniel Lauer, MD/Missouri Endowed Chair in Metabolism and Vascular Disease Research. Shui Qing Ye, MD, PhD, was appointed Professor and William R. Brown/Missouri Endowed Chair in Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine. Michael O Dell, MD, was appointed Professor and Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine. Karen Williams, PhD, was appointed Department Chair for Biomedical and Health Informatics. Nicole Fearing, MD, was named the medical director of the Youngblood Medical Skills Laboratory.