Penn's efforts to strengthen its position in the field of bioengineering research recently got a boost through generous outside funding.
The School of Engineering and Applied Science received a $14 million, five-year grant last week from the Whitaker Foundation to build a new bioengineering building, and it will be matched by $42.8 million of Penn support.
"Mainly, the funds will be used to build a building on the engineering campus that will house teaching and additional research labs," Bioengineering chairman Daniel Hammer said.
In addition to a new building, the $57 million initiative will also fund graduate student programs and will allow the bioengineering department to hire seven new faculty members. The department currently has 14 faculty members.
"[Bioengineering] could recruit superstars in education and research but it had become woefully space limited," Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt said in an e-mail, adding that the new building will solve the space crunch.
The proposed building, pending approval from the appropriate committees, is currently planned to be built on the current site of Pender Laboratories, near 33rd and Walnut streets.
If all plans are accepted, the building is scheduled to be completed by 2005.
Bioengineering aims to translate research in biology into clinical applications for medicine, and to use engineering to facilitate the development of clinical applications.
"The grant will improve immensely discovery-based learning in bioengineering, meaning that students will see how engineering is practiced in clinical settings," Hammer said.
The grant allows for research to prevent and treat diseases through such biological technologies as genomics, proteomics and cell and tissue engineering.
As an integral part of Penn's Agenda For Excellence -- initiated by University President Judith Rodin in 1995 -- the grant and Penn's matching funds are part of Penn's investments in the area of bioengineering.
"Penn's commitment is proof that it shares the [Engineering] School's strategic view: that bioengineering is an area where the University has tremendous advantages, which should be pursued," Glandt said.
In February, University Provost Robert Barchi announced the establishment of the $75 million Genomics Institute, headed by Biology professor David Roos.
"These new investments will train a new generation of engineers to think along the lines of developing a molecular focus," Hammer said.
In addition, the planned building is part of Penn's goal of improving Engineering facilities as well.
Penn is currently in the process of constructing Levine Hall, a $15 million building that, when completed, will house the expanded Computer Science department. Wharton alumnus Melvin Levine donated $5 million to the building.
However, this latest grant came from a different source.
The Whitaker Foundation, based in Virginia, seeks to promote health through research in medicine and health education.
This grant is another in the line of awards by the foundation to the Bioengineering Department. The department had also received two Whitaker Foundation Special Opportunity Awards in the past.
The Whitaker Foundation has given large grants to departments at other institutions, and "we needed one to stay ahead," Hammer said.
