UTSA President Ricardo Romo, State Rep. Roberto Puente and
UTHSCSA President
Francisco Cigarroa
UTSA, UTHSCSA presidents request funding for new institute
(March 13, 2003)--University of Texas at San Antonio President Ricardo Romo and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio President Francisco Cigarroa are joining forces to request $12 million from the Texas Legislature to fund the Life Sciences Institute. The institute was created through legislation passed during the last session, however no funds were provided to support the initiative.
The Institute would help link biological and biomedical resources between the two institutions to help develop and implement joint doctoral and master degree programs in appropriate life science areas. Once established, both institutions would be able to accelerate the process of creating and offering up to 10 new doctoral degree programs in life sciences.
The pilot project, the first of its kind in Texas, would also seek federal and private research funds to support the operation and management of the institute.
With a $10-billion-per-year economic impact, the biomedical field is the largest industry in San Antonio and doctoral degree programs would keep students in the area to continue their education. The programs would also provide a greater economic impact for the community by helping position San Antonio to secure major federal research projects such as the proposed $1.5 billion federal vaccine facility.
As the country builds a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, San Antonio's research accomplishments in bioterrorism and cyber security have much to contribute. The newly federally funded UTSA Brooks City Base Center of Excellence in Biotechnology/Bioprocessing helps ensure that the San Antonio community has a university/military lab to grow, produce and train future biochemists, fermentation technicians and molecular biologists.
The doctoral degree programs of the proposed Life Science Institute would complement the initiative and enhance the pipeline of students interested in the biomedical profession.
According to The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine, UTSA is ranked first in the number of undergraduate degrees in the biological sciences awarded to Hispanics and is second in the state in NIH grants for biology.
----------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES (Sunday, July 6 2008):
UTSA-Air Force biotechnology center to be dedicated Aug. 26Portions of Buena Vista Street Building closing this weekend
UTSA community invited to Week of Welcome activities
Unprotected personal computers put UTSA network at risk
New UTSA Web page: And now for something completely different
----------------------------------------------------------