NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence

In the Fall of 2002, the Center for Environmental Health Sciences received an award of nearly $8.2 million in direct funds from the NCRR Institute of the National Institutes of Health under the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program. Research projects involved investigators from UM departments of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, as well as from the College of Nursing at Montana State University.

These successful collaborations have resulted in an extension of the original five-year COBRE grant, which continues to substantially enhance the multi-disciplinary biomedical research program at CEHS.

COBRE Research Subprojects

• Arsenic toxicity causes vascular dysplasia, placental insufficiency and spontaneous abortion. Principal Investigator D. Coffin, Collaborators H. Beall and J. Cross.
• Evaluation of amphibole contamination in tree bark within Libby, MT and transportation corridors throughout the Pacific NW. Principal Investigator T. Ward, Collaborators A. Holian, J. Webber.
• SPARC and extracellular matrix production after amphibole exposure. Principal Investigator E. Putnam, Collaborator H. Sage.
• Regulation of macrophage function by components of woodsmoke. Principal Investigator C. Migliaccio
• Effects of the herbicide Atrazine on CD4+ T Cell Activation and Differentiation. Principal Investigator S. Wetzel, Collaborator M. Minnick.

CEHS Core Facilities

Molecular biology, molecular histology, fluorescent imaging and flow cytometry provide essental technology and instrumentation meeting COBRE program needs and strengthening UM's biomedical research infrastructure.

• Molecular Histology & Fluorescence Imaging - Director Diana Lurie, Staff Scientist Lou Herritt
• Fluorescence Cytometry - Director Kevan Roberts, Staff Scientist Pam Shaw
• Molecular Biology - Director David Poulson, Staff Scientist Corbin Schwanke

Postdoctoral Scientists

• Melissa Schelvan, Holian Laboratory

Graduate Students

• Jenna Benson, Shepherd Laboratory
• Rupa Biswas, Holian Laboratory
• Teri Gertsman, Roberts Laboratory
• Monica Sanchez Contreras, Cardozo Laboratory
• Tom Simones, Shepherd Laboratory

Administrative Core

• Mary Buford, Pulmonary Functions Lab Research Specialist
• Ray Hamilton, Biostatistician
• Paulette Jones, Administrator
• Matthew Kuester, Administrative Associate
• Mike Leary, Computer Support Specialist
• Beverly Parker, Proteomics Staff Scientist
• Britten Postma, Animal Support Research Specialist