Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence Set High Standards Within College
Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence
Fifteen years ago, Colorado State University established the Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence to recognize programs that achieve great distinction and set high standards for excellence. These programs, which are selected after an extensive nomination and review process, serve as models for research and academic programs throughout the University. Today, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-medical Sciences houses four PRSEs and provides the majority of the faculty affiliates to a fifth, the Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences.
“The Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence reflect the high quality of our College’s faculty and staff, and the diverse nature of our research, academic and outreach programs,” said Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College. “Designation as a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence is truly an honor, and we are very proud at how well the College is represented within this elite group of University programs.”
Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence at the College are:
1. Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory (ARBL)
2. Infectious Diseases Program
3. Musculoskeletal Research Program
4. Radiological Health Sciences and Cancer Research
5. Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (The director of this program, Dr. Jim Bamburg, is in the College of Natural Sciences, though many affiliate faculty members are in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Department of Biomedical Sciences.)
Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory (ARBL)
The Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory brings together scientists with a common interest in the reproductive physiology of cattle and horses. Research programs include hypothalamic and pituitary function, ovarian function, gamete biology and andrology, placental and fetal physiology, reproductive technology, and diseases and toxicology. Outreach and service programs include the Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory, Transgenic Core Facility, Equine Reproductive Services and Equine Continuing Education. ARBL facilities are located mainly on the Foothills Research Campus.
Infectious Diseases Program
The Infectious Diseases Program is home to many of the College’s biomedical researchers, mainly within the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology. The Infectious Diseases Program concentrates on better means to diagnose, treat and prevent through vaccination four categories of infections caused by retroviruses (AIDS and other diseases), mycobacterial infections (including tuberculosis and leprosy), vector-borne diseases (including West Nile fever and encephalitis) and blood parasites (the major cause of disease in the world, including malaria). The Infectious Diseases Program recently was selected by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to establish a Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Musculoskeletal Research Program
The interdisciplinary Musculoskeletal Research Program is comprised of three units: the Orthopaedic Research Center focuses on articular cartilage healing, microdamage in subchondral bone, development of fluid markers, and development of molecular biology techniques to evaluate early changes in cartilage healing and to document early molecular events in arthritis; the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Laboratory advances treatment and prevention of muscular, neuromuscular and skeletal injury and disease; and the Comparative Ruminant Orthopaedic Laboratory which has developed during the last 15 years and involves collaboration with a number of researchers who use sheep as a model for researching important orthopaedic problems, including osteoporosis. Most facilities are located at the South Campus.
Radiological Health Sciences and Cancer Research
The Radiological Health Sciences and Cancer Research PRSE provides education, research and service related to carcinogenesis, radioecology, radiation protection, cancer diagnosis and experimental therapeutics. This multi-departmental and multi-college program collaborates on many projects with researchers at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, using animal models with naturally-occurring tumors to advance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in humans and animals.
Researchers at Colorado State have pioneered radiation protocols for animal cancer treatment that have been developed during the last 30 years at the most proven radiation therapy program for animals in the world. This PRSE not only examines the benefits of radiation in cancer therapy, but looks at the risks radiation poses to healthy cells. Some current studies include: radiation-induced genomic instability, genetic control of radiosensitivity, tumor cell kinetics and the effects of radiation and heat on the survival and cell cycle of mammalian cells in culture.
Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences
This interdisciplinary graduate research and education program was established in 1986 and has an inter-national reputation that garners strong extramural support. Faculty research interests are focused on neuronal differentiation, degeneration and regeneration, ion channels and membrane physiology, synaptic mechanisms, neuronal circuitry and chronobiology, sensory biology, artificial neural networks, cognitive neuroscience and neurovirology.
The Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences has 25 neuroscience faculty affiliates in four colleges and eight departments including Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Computer Science, and the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, as well as the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. The diversity of its faculty members allows for research not only into the neuron, but also cognitive function. |
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