by Amber Dilley
Daily Lobo
UNM's Biology department was recently awarded a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health Center's Biomedical Excellence program in "Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology."
Eric Loker, chairman of the department, said the grant is designed to enhance the level of funding for states that have traditionally been underrepresented by the institutes.
Funds from the grant will be dispersed to several organizations working collaboratively on research projects in the state.
"The money is going to lots of different things," Loker said. "Some will be going to the Biology department, some to computer sciences and some to the Los Alamos Labs, but it is a welcome reward for the work we are doing."
Robert Miller, associate biology professor and associate department chairman, said the department was already well known across the nation for its developments in evolutionary immunology. He said the department was picked to receive the annual grant so it can advance that research.
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"I think this grant is fantastic," Miller said. "The department of biology needs the good resources provided by this grant. We are making advances all the time in the field and it is nice to be recognized for our hard work and dedication."
Miller said the primary goal of the collaboration between the University and the Los Alamos National Labs is to establish a research center at UNM with a thematic focus in the disciplines of theoretical and evolutionary immunobiology.
Evolutionary immunobiology is a scientific subdivision that focuses on basic studies of the immune system in the context of evolution.
The center aims to strengthen ties among senior investigators hoping to create a nurturing and vibrant environment where junior scholars with interests in these disciplines can prosper intellectually and become independently funded to pursue interests in these areas, according to the department's Web site.
Miller said UNM's portion of the grant will be used for hiring new faculty in the Biology department.
The money will also go toward renovating the research labs in Castetter Hall and purchasing new equipment relevant to the project, he said.
