Dear colleagues, community members, and friends,
It was exciting to hear Ambassador Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, compliment Virginia Tech earlier this month about how the university was among only a few in the nation to answer the call for increased COVID-19 testing in the United States. Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty and staff have continued to play a key role in that effort.
Since the fall semester began, our new Molecular Diagnostics Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute has processed more than 14,000 samples from Virginia Tech students and employees who were tested for COVID-19 through the university’s Schiffert Health Center. That’s in addition to testing we’ve done for regional health districts since April. All told, our COVID-19 lab has analyzed more than 32,000 samples.
The research institute’s top priorities – innovative biomedical and health science research to improve quality of life for all, while also training the next generation of biomedical research scientists –continue to advance. This month we celebrated National Postdoc Appreciation Week from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25. Postdoctoral researchers and graduate students are essential parts of our research operations, and they deserve our appreciation.
We were pleased to reintroduce our annual community-based event programming earlier this month, including our Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series. More that 220 people attended our first virtual public lecture featuring Bonnie Bassler, Ph.D., who talked about how bacteria communicate and why they are essential organisms in the human body.
We invite you to join us at our next public lecture on Oct. 15 featuring a leader in pediatric robotics research, Ayanna Howard, Ph.D. I hope to see you there!
In the spirit of Ut Prosim,
Michael Friedlander, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, partners pioneer nation’s first pediatric rehabilitation resource center
For patients enrolled in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s nationwide Phase three I-ACQUIRE clinical trial, occupational therapy looks like playtime. Using toys and familiar objects, pediatric stroke survivors learn to use their weakened arm, gaining motor skills and coordination while completing fun tasks. The new National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center, based at the institute and Virginia Tech, will expand and share the pioneering development of therapies at the clinic. Read More
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute biotech spin-off seeks potential breast cancer treatment
A cancer research startup company founded by Virginia Tech scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC recently received a boost in funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration to study a molecule that could prevent breast cancer recurrence and metastasis. Read More
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Grant to establish recovery research infrastructure for persons with opioid use disorder
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently awarded a $2.6 million grant to researchers at East Tennessee State University and Virginia Tech to develop studies on how best to provide peer support services for individuals being treated for opioid use disorder. Read More
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Scientists identify how a nonfunctioning CASK gene creates chaos in the brain
Virginia Tech scientists have revealed how a nonfunctioning version of an ordinary gene impairs brain structure and function. The findings help explain a genetic form of microcephaly — a condition where babies’ heads are small and grow more slowly than their peers. Read More
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Scientists, engineers to discuss COVID-19 response in virtual HokieTalk tomorrow
Four Virginia Tech researchers who had unparalleled views of the university’s early action in response to COVID-19 will provide the inside scoop about obstacles and triumphs during a virtual HokieTalk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. Read More
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Expert on the tiny conspiracies of bacteria kicked off 2020-21 Maury Strauss public lecture series
The 2020-21 Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series kicked off with a lecture, "Tiny Conspiracies: Cell-to-cell Communication in Bacteria," presented by Bonnie Bassler, Ph.D., on Sept. 3. This year's public lecture program features a Nobel laureate among the eminent group of invited speakers covering medical topics from how genes regulate sleep, to vaccines and the immune system, and societal issues, such as health surveillance and privacy, and the role of religious leaders in eliminating HIV/AIDS. Read More
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Virginia Tech explores history, race, and celebrates diversity with month of public events
Staff and students at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and the Roanoke Graduate Student Association organized two public events: a Roanoke Black History Panel on Sept. 14, and a month-long Self-Guided Gainsboro History Tour 5K. Read More
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Helping Virginia Tech build a healthier future.
Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are providing rapid COVID-19 sample analysis to help control the pandemic in support of our local community, the Commonwealth, and frontline responders. Private support is critical to continue these efforts. Here are some ways that you can support the research institute right now, in light of COVID-19:
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