Merck gifts support drug discovery at N.C. State
Dr. Mike Luther (seated) finalizes the agreement with Dean Johnny Wynne (left), Dr. Steve Lommel and Dr. Dennis Brown.
Photo by Daniel Kim
Gifts totaling $100,000 from the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research in Canada to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will support drug discovery efforts.
The Merck Frosst Centre, the largest private biomedical research facility in Canada and a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., an international pharmaceutical company, provided $50,000 to create an endowment to support students involved in drug discovery research and $50,000 for structural chemistry and structure-based drug design.
Dr. Dennis Brown, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry head, said proceeds from the endowment will fund graduate students, including stipends.
The remaining $50,000 gift will build on existing structural chemistry capabilities in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry.
Brown said both the endowment and the $50,000 gift will support structure-based biochemical and drug design. Proteins are often associated with disease, and one way to treat the disease is to inactivate the protein. This can often be accomplished by determining the structure of the protein, then developing a drug, or molecule, that acts like a key in a lock to turn the protein off.
Dr. Mike Luther, vice president and head of the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research, attended a February ceremony to finalize the gifts.
Luther said he hopes the funding will be a catalyst for developing an integrated life sciences curriculum both for the University and the College and that his vision is to see N.C. State take a leadership role in this area.
Luther, a 1978 N.C. State graduate, is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry and a founding member of the board of directors of the N.C. Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation.
“This is an excellent model for support, including investment in immediate needs and opportunities today as well as endowment funding to ensure support for the targeted work in perpetuity,” said Dean Johnny Wynne. “This generous investment will pay dividends to Merck Frosst, to the department [of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry] and to the scientific community for years to come.”
— Dave Caldwell
The Merck Frosst Centre, the largest private biomedical research facility in Canada and a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., an international pharmaceutical company, provided $50,000 to create an endowment to support students involved in drug discovery research and $50,000 for structural chemistry and structure-based drug design.
Dr. Dennis Brown, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry head, said proceeds from the endowment will fund graduate students, including stipends.
The remaining $50,000 gift will build on existing structural chemistry capabilities in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry.
Brown said both the endowment and the $50,000 gift will support structure-based biochemical and drug design. Proteins are often associated with disease, and one way to treat the disease is to inactivate the protein. This can often be accomplished by determining the structure of the protein, then developing a drug, or molecule, that acts like a key in a lock to turn the protein off.
Dr. Mike Luther, vice president and head of the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research, attended a February ceremony to finalize the gifts.
Luther said he hopes the funding will be a catalyst for developing an integrated life sciences curriculum both for the University and the College and that his vision is to see N.C. State take a leadership role in this area.
Luther, a 1978 N.C. State graduate, is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry and a founding member of the board of directors of the N.C. Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation.
“This is an excellent model for support, including investment in immediate needs and opportunities today as well as endowment funding to ensure support for the targeted work in perpetuity,” said Dean Johnny Wynne. “This generous investment will pay dividends to Merck Frosst, to the department [of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry] and to the scientific community for years to come.”
— Dave Caldwell