'U' places emphasis on life science exploration

By Anna Clark

Daily Staff Reporter

The University's College of Pharmacy is ranked third in the nation. The department of biomedical engineering has climbed to number 11. The Medical School is 12th.

According to the 2001 U.S. News and World Report rankings, the University is already doing quite well in many of the life science departments. In fact, it's the top public university in many of the categories.

So what has motivated the University Board of Regents to pledge hundreds of millions of dollars to develop the Life Sciences Initiative?

To broaden and deepen life science study on campus as well as attract top research scientists to Ann Arbor, the regents have committed more than $200 million toward major additions, most notably the Life Sciences Institute. The institute will feature high-tech research facilities and will soon be built across the street from Palmer Field.

In addition, new interdisciplinary programs and concentrations in the life sciences are being created, including the Program in the Life Sciences, Values and Society, which was launched this year.

So although the University's individual life science departments are successful, associate biomedical Prof. Ray Young said they harbor a narrow focus.

"The Life Sciences Initiative will get us thinking about what we can do beyond what we're already doing," Young said.

"Normally, we work in our own small worlds of research, and we don't go beyond that," he said. "There'll be more collaborative research that we couldn't do without it."

Biology department Chair Julian Adams agreed that LSI isn't a testament to poor life science departments but rather an opportunity to make good departments better.

"We're doing very well. Biology is certainly doing very well," Adams said.

But Adams also said the added resources, funding and national attention that comes along with developing LSI will take the University's life science research further.

"Any time there's a big investment of funds in something like the LSI, you can expect the quality of (the study of life sciences) to improve," Adams said.

Associated biomedical engineering Prof. Thomas Armstrong said LSI is beneficial but not essential to the University's life science programs.

"Is the LSI absolutely necessary?" Armstrong asked. "No, I suppose not. But I think it's obvious in the life sciences that there's a lot of growth demand. It's about putting people together and solving problems."

Especially prominent in the development of LSI is the hunt for a director of the research institute. A search committee was established almost a year ago and has since been scouring the best scientists in the world.

The highly-anticipated announcement of the director will be coming soon, said Medical Prof. Jack Dixon, who heads of the search committee.

"We are getting close and I think the president will have some word on this within a couple of weeks," Dixon said in a written statement.

Young said they harbor a narrow focus.

"The Life Sciences Initiative will get us thinking about what we can do beyond what we're already doing," Young said.

"Normally, we work in our own small worlds of research, and we don't go beyond that," he said. "There'll be more collaborative research that we couldn't do without it."

Biology department Chair Julian Adams agreed that LSI isn't a testament to poor life science departments but rather an opportunity to make good departments better.

"We're doing very well. Biology is certainly doing very well," Adams said.

But Adams also said the added resources, funding and national attention that comes along with developing LSI will take the University's life science research further.

"Any time there's a big investment of funds in something like the LSI, you can expect the quality of (the study of life sciences) to improve," Adams said.

Associated biomedical engineering Prof. Thomas Armstrong said LSI is beneficial but not essential to the University's life science programs.

"Is the LSI absolutely necessary?" Armstrong asked. "No, I suppose not. But I think it's obvious in the life sciences that there's a lot of growth demand. It's about putting people together and solving problems."

Especially prominant in the development of LSI is the hunt for a director of the research institute. A search committee was established almost a year ago and has since been scouring the best scientists in the world.

The highly-anticipated announcement of the director will be coming soon, said Medical Prof. Jack Dixon, who heads of the search committee.

"We are getting close and I think the president will have some word on this within a couple of weeks," Dixon said in a written statement.