Mission

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0e8005a0erkqpg.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biotechnology Resource Group"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Biotechnology Resource Group</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Mission</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partner List"><U><B>Partner List</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Student Resources"><U><B>Student Resources</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Teacher Resources"><U><B>Teacher Resources</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Employer Resources"><U><B>Employer Resources</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Workshops and Seminars"><U><B>Workshops and Seminars</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U><B>Related Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Mission</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Biotechnology will have a greater impact on the world in the next 20 years than computers have had over the last 20 years.  It is, therefore, crucial that we create a workforce that understands biotechnology and its potential.  Furthermore, we must continue to develop new biotechnologies.  To this end, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), the second largest university and the fastest growing university in Tennessee, will serve as the lead institution in implementing Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) in middle Tennessee.  The goals of the BRG are: </div> <bR> <div> Goal 1) provide a <B>variety of educational services</B> to yield a <B>highly skilled workforce,</B> and</div> <div> Goal 2) develop <B>new technologies</B> that will strengthen and attract <B>economic growth and prosperity</B> to the region. </div> <bR> <div> To accomplish these goals PFI support will be used to create an infrastructure, the Biotechnology Resource Group (BRG), to promote the sharing of knowledge and skills by generating collaborative partnerships within various disciplines of the academic community, higher education institutions, private biotechnology companies, state agencies, and public education entities.  MTSU has many characteristics that will aid in the success of these initiatives including, but not limited to, employment of<B> </B>dedicated science teachers who are also research scientists, location in a region rich in biotechnology possibilities, service to a diverse student population, and administrative support for increasing scientific activities, investigative education, and collaborations.  </div> <bR> <div> Students, teachers, researchers, and community participants will benefit greatly from the proposed activities (<B>Goal 1</B>) and will serve as the technologically-trained workforce so desperately needed, whether as future teachers, researchers or entrepreneurs.  Further, research efforts will be  expanded as other applications of biotechnology are realized  (<B>Goal 2</B>).  Interdisciplinary investigations among partners and institutions will lead to greater collaborative activity, as well as increased funding potential and entrepreneurial activities.  Specific BRG activities are noted below.</div> <bR> <div> Goal 1 activities include:</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Establish <B>training programs</B>, provide <B>equipment and materials</B>, and <B>develop laboratories</B> for teachers to encourage the use of investigative, hands-on biotechnology exercises in their science curricula (Oakland and Riverdale high schools to begin).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Coordinate and financially support <B>research opportunities/internships</B> for public school teachers, undergraduate students, and graduate students (BioVentures, Inc., Esoterix Center for Innovation, Orchid Cellmark, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Establish a<B> seminar course</B> available to students and other interested individuals involving private sector leaders and faculty from the College of Business (which currently offers a program in Entrepreneurship) to provide insight into the business of biotechnology.</div> <bR> <div> Goal 2 activities include:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Enhance biotechnological growth by developing and applying novel sensors in microarray technology.  Through collaboration among faculty and students in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, and Physics, a detector will be constructed using photonic band gaps in sensing.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Organize regional collaborative scientific activities through application of biotechnology with <B>three partner academic institutions,</B> Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Technological University, as well as <B>two state agencies</B>: Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.  Additional partners will and are being recruited.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>