OhioHealth names lab at medical school’s new research facility

November 19, 2010 

(Athens, OH) Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) is pleased to announce a $100,000 gift from OhioHealth that will support a medical research lab and shared equipment necessary to further diabetes and cancer research.

The gift, the first corporate gift for OU-COM in the 2010-2011 academic year, names a lab located in the newly opened Osteopathic Heritage Foundations and Charles R. and Marilyn Y. Stuckey Academic & Research Center. OhioHealth named the lab the “OhioHealth Medical Research Laboratory in honor of John A. Brose, D.O., for his outstanding commitment to medical education, research, and community service.” 

“We see the Academic & Research Center as one of many opportunities to grow our long-term relationship with the college and support the many good things they do,” said Michael S. Bernstein, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for OhioHealth. “We share a commitment to medical training and research, and with this gift, we are building our future together in new and exciting ways.”

Jack Brose, D.O., dean of OU-COM, said that he was very appreciative of the gift, and was “… even more thankful for our very special partnership. OhioHealth plays a crucial role in our college’s ability to provide excellent medical education experiences for our students and to further medical research.

“Our longstanding relationship has made a meaningful difference in the university’s national leadership role in osteopathic medical education, and this gift significantly enhances our course in biomedical research efforts, especially in areas of diabetes research.”

In the newly named lab, Karen Coshigano, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular and cellular biology, conducts research into kidney disease and damage caused by diabetes that is funded by a National Institutes of Health grant. She explained that the research “will aid in the design of specific, targeted, therapeutic approaches for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of kidney damage.”
 
“Diabetic nephropathy can be one of the more serious complications of diabetes,” said Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy and chair of the biomedical sciences department at OU-COM. “Dr. Coshigano’s work is establishing the relationship of growth hormone signaling in renal inflammation and, ultimately, diabetic nephropathy. It’s important work.” 

The OhioHealth gift will also purchase essential research equipment that will be shared by those faculty members with labs in the Academic & Research Center. Spaces for shared equipment and interconnected labs were intentional elements in the design of the building. Throughout the center, spaces encourage collaboration among researchers and with medical students on projects that will ultimately improve health care, community health, and the quality of life through the development of new diagnostics, therapeutics and treatments.  

OhioHealth, a family of not-for-profit, faith-based hospitals and health care organizations in central Ohio, is a longtime partner with OU-COM. OhioHealth is one of the original members of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE), a statewide consortium of teaching hospitals that partner with OU-COM, which is the academic hub. In 2009, the organizations collaborated to create the Physician Diversity Scholars Program. This program provides first-year minority medical students at OU-COM with mentorship opportunities with OhioHealth physicians.

“This generous gift reflects a partnership that has been solidified in a shared and mutual mission that includes medical education, research and service to our communities,” said Sharon B. Zimmerman, director of medical development for OU-COM.” It also reflects OhioHealth’s commitment to advancing and educating the next generation of physician scientists, all the while enhancing the student experience in biomedical research.”