A $4.5 million research grant was given to Fresno State by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institute of Health, to build a state-of-the-art laboratory for biomedical research over the next five years.

This 2,000 square foot structure will be built in the first room of the basement in the Science I building. The laboratory will continue to expand with the arrival of new equipment. Students, as well as faculty, will have the opportunity to study there.

Krish Krishnan, associate professor of chemistry and a research director at Fresno State, said the grant allows Fresno State to develop biomedical research facilities “on par with any other world-class research institution.”

Fresno State, along with California State University, San Bernardino, were winners of this grant, given to 19 universities in the country.

“The facilities developed here will allow us to educate and train not only students in the College of Science and Math, but also anyone interested in biomedical research,” Krishnan said. “It will allow the students to compete more effectively in their professional careers.”

One of the reasons that Fresno State was chosen was because of the excellent credentials of the Fresno State Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) team.

Biomedical engineering is a relatively new discipline that combines traditional engineering with biology. Its goal is to improve patient health care, especially improving the designs of devices such as pacemakers, implants and artificial limbs.

“It gives us a whole suite of tools to really allow us to move forward with the cutting-edge technologies,” said Alejandro Calderon-Urrea, a Fresno State biology professor helping to develop the biomedical center.

Some of the members of the RIMI team include Dr. Jason Bush, who is studying air quality and immunoproteomics, along with Krishnan and Dr. Alam Hasson. Dr. Amanda Mortimer is researching marital caregiving interactions in Alzheimer’s disease.

Krishnan is the project director for the biomedical research, while Dr. Lynnette Zelezny is the director of the behavioral research as well as training.

The RIMI team at Fresno State says they understand the importance of investing in biomedical structure in the Central Valley.

Potential focuses include Alzheimer’s disease for the psychology department, and cortisol applications, for the science department. Cortisol is a stress hormone in the saliva. It is also used in hydrocortisone, the chemical form of cortisol used as a treatment for severe allergic reactions.

“[The grant] directly supports President Welty’s mission to engage in high-quality research by enhancing research activity through technology,” Krishnan said.