Dear colleagues and friends of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute,

Over the past academic year, we have experienced new challenges, but also opportunities to adapt and innovate. I am extremely proud of the manner in which the faculty, staff and students of the research institute have risen to the occasion through ongoing discovery, translation, and research productivity.
 
Our teams have published more than 100 articles, and have been awarded more than $30 million in new grants and $20 million in new contracts since the start of the academic year, bringing the total value of the institute’s active grant and contract portfolio to $160 million.
 
In addition to the primary research mission, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute has also continued its public outreach events engaging the greater community.  Since September, we have hosted more than 100 virtual academic seminars and events, engaging nearly 4,000 participants.

This year, we celebrated the graduation of 12 Virginia Tech graduate students who completed their doctoral training under the mentorship of our faculty. As these students go on to pursue careers in the academy, industry, or government each of them will carry with them their training and rich interdisciplinary experiences from the research institute, positioning them to contribute to the scientific enterprise and improving health. 
 
While some university operations may slow down over the summer months, our research, mentorship, and educational programs continue unabated, year-round. Over the next several months, four new faculty members will set up their research operations, including hiring staff and recruiting students. Our researchers will also mentor 20 undergraduate students through our summer undergraduate research programs. Now that operations are getting back to more typical levels, we expect even greater achievements from the entire Fralin Biomedical Research Institute team in the coming year in behavioral, brain, cancer, and heart research. With the new building, faculty and research team members, graduate students, and staff, the institute is poised to make major strides in biomedical research.

In the spirit of Ut Prosim,

Michael J. Friedlander, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech