Dear friends and colleagues,
Another year has come to a close and much progress has been made here at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. That progress is all about the people – the quality and talent of the faculty, staff and students as well as their work ethic and dedication for advancing the boundaries of our understanding of health and disease.
The year has included numerous forms of recognition of our teams including multiple new grants awarded, an increasing number of high impact publications with a concomitant meteoric rise in the citations of our team’s publications, and individual awards including nationally competitive fellowships to our graduate students. Of course, these outward measures of impact and recognition are just that – the real substance of the research institute’s accomplishments is in the work itself. These contributions have been foundational and in many cases truly transformational for brain, heart, and cancer research, as well as for children’s health. The impact of these discoveries and insights will continue to improve health for generations to come.
The opening of our new research building, the doubling of our cardiovascular research teams, the new faculty recruitments in neuroscience and pediatric cancer, the launching of several new pioneering technology research facilities and the realization of our partnership with Children’s National Hospital have all been milestones on which our journey to improve health through discovery and the scientific enterprise will continue.
We all had hoped that by now, the pandemic would be beginning to fade in the rear view mirror but it was not to be. Nonetheless, the FBRI’s molecular diagnostics team has not only continued to persevere by providing ongoing daily molecular testing to the university and region, but they have also added new contributions including genetic sequencing of variants and rapid analysis of such changes to better inform our public health workers. We are prepared to continue to provide these service (and more) to our community as long as is necessary.
And finally, the contributions of our advisory board over the last year has continued to be instrumental in our success, including returning to in-person meetings. Thanks to all of them for the generous support, time, and collective wisdom!
I wish health, peace, and friendship for you and your loved ones in 2022 – the best if definitely yet to come!
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
Senior Dean for Research, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
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Researchers aim to improve diabetes management in rural and urban communities with low-cost intervention
Jeff Stein, Ph.D., has received a $990,000 National Institutes of Health grant to study the effects of applying a psychological treatment for addiction to help patients manage Type 2 diabetes. Read More
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute biotech spin-out raises additional $305,000 in investments
Acomhal Research Inc., a cancer research start-up led by Samy Lamouille, Ph.D., recently secured $305,000 in funding from the Virginia Tech Carilion Seed Fund, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and angel investors. Read More
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Virginia Tech science graduate students trade traditional communication for a blank canvas
In partnership with the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke, the Virginia Tech Communicating Science Club hosted Science on Canvas, an event for science graduate students to develop creative techniques focused on communicating scientific discovery through non-traditional mediums. Read More
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Leader in prenatal DNA screening presented Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture
Diana Bianchi, M.D., director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, presented a virtual talk on Dec. 16 about new advances in prenatal testing, as well as downstream impacts on health care and society. Tune into Dr. Bianchi's archived lecture. Read More
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Biomedical innovations take center stage during 'Shark Tank'-style pitch competition on HS&T campus
Virginia Tech students pitched commercialization ideas for biomedical innovations to a "Shark Tank"-style panel of judges during the annual Health Sciences and Technology Hokie Pitch at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute earlier this month. Read More
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Making transformative discoveries to build a healthier future for all
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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