UMBI receives funding for Life Technologies Inc. professorship

December 12, 1997 --- Life Technologies Inc. (LTI) has established a $160,000 fund for a professorship at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute's Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB) . Located in Rockville, CARB is one of four research centers of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Its programs are developed in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Dr. Rita Colwell, UMBI president, said the fund will be used to maintain the salary and fringe compensation for a resident scientist in a field of mutual interest to LTI and CARB, such as molecular biology, structural biology or neurochemistry.

"Our close ties with industry influence the direction of research at CARB," said Dr. Roberto Poljak, CARB director. "The LTI Professorship is the kind of educational collaboration that enhances our ability to transfer technology from the research lab to the practical needs of industry. That, in turn, will strengthen Maryland's and the nation's industries in protein structure, function and design."

Dr. Stark Thompson, president and chief executive officer of LTI, said, "Life Technologies is committed to investing in Maryland's infrastructure in the life sciences. Our partnership with UMBI means that jointly we can recruit the highest quality educational specialists to train Maryland's future scientists."

Headquartered in Gaithersburg near CARB's laboratories, Life Technologies develops, manufactures and supplies more than 3,000 products used principally in life science research and commercial manufacture of genetically engineered products. One of Maryland's largest biotechnology employers, the company is a leading supplier of sera and other cell growth media, as well as enzymes and other biological products necessary for recombinant DNA procedures.

The LTI Professor will be funded for a renewable two-year period beginning in January 1998 or as soon thereafter as the appointed faculty member is able to start work at CARB.