UNLV establishes cancer institute

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999 | 9:53 a.m.

UNLV scientists whose work involves cancer research have created a new cancer institute in Southern Nevada.

The institute is expected to encourage exchanges of ideas and information among UNLV scientists in the colleges of science, engineering and health sciences who do cancer research as well as those at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

"The creation of this institute is an important step forward for UNLV," University President Carol Harter said on Tuesday.

The new institute will serve as a think tank for the university researchers who will meet once a month while making them more visible to the Las Vegas community, Harter said.

The Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada approved the institute earlier this summer.

Chemistry professor Stephen Carper is founding director of the institute.

"Furthermore, we intend to reach out to colleagues who are on the faculty of the School of Medicine and ask them to join us," Carper said. His field of research is breast cancer.

By collaborating on and off campus, the working research scientists will benefit UNLV students, by offering them hands-on experience and increasing their research opportunities, Carper said.

The institute will also put UNLV in a better position to apply for grants.

Other founding members of the UNLV Cancer Institute are Lori Bruce, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, whose work is in the area of diagnostic imaging; Abiodum Elegbede, assistant professor of chemistry, working in the field of anticarcinogens; Bingmei Fu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, researching drug delivery; Steen Madsen, assistant professor of health physics, specializing in photodynamic therapy; Lydia McKinstry, assistant professor of chemistry, expert in drug synthesis; George Plopper, assistant professor of biology, exploring cell migration, and Bryan Spangelo, associate professor of chemistry, researching neuroendocrine tumors.

Ron Gary, new assistant professor of chemistry doing DNA repair research, will join the original eight later this month.