ALS research
Wilfredo “Freddie” Colón research has recently earned a $1 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The NIH grant will support Colon’s study of the hereditary version of the disease, called familial ALS or FALS. He is attempting to understand why mutants of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) fail and misfunction in FALS.
On average, FALS strikes people who are around 47 years of age, says Colon. Most patients die within two to five years.
According to Colón, ALS starts “when good proteins go bad.” Understanding just why they go bad is a necessary first step toward developing medicines that will help ALS patients live with a manageable disease instead of a death sentence.
Daylights Saving
RPI nets $9M program
The Institute won a Center for Advanced Interconnect Systems Technologies (CAIST) by the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) grant to support research in microelectronic interconnect technologies.
“This important designation will enable RPI to continue playing a leading role in the development of new technologies for the critically important microelectronics industry,” Governor Pataki said. “Our partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will further strengthen our efforts to ensure that New York remains a national leader in fostering the growth of technology-based economic development and job creation.”
The three-year award, worth more than $9 million, includes $500,000 per year from New York state, $ 1.5 from the SRC, and $1 million per year in cash, scholarships, and equipment from IBM.
Professor Toh-Ming Lu,, will direct the CAIST. David Duquette, and Paul Ho will serve as associate directors.
“The challenges facing the semiconductor industry in the interconnect area requires the depth of experience and great expertise that Rensselaer and its partners in CAIST have built over the years,” said John Kelly, senior vice president and group executive of the IBM Technology Group.
Chief builder named
RPI has named, Amr Abdel-Azim, senior executive for capital projects. RPIwill spend $17 million next year to improve campus facilities, install new information technology infrastructure, and support research, and $19 million .
Abdel-Azim will be responsible for all aspects of major construction projects including implementation, day-to-day project management, and the coordination and administration of consultant and construction contracts.
“Amr will be a great asset to Rensselaer as we move ahead with capital projects intrinsic to improving not just the academic atmosphere for our faculty, staff, and students, but the whole Rensselaer experience,” said Claude Rounds, vice president for administration.
