Stevens Institute of Technology Receives $251,000 Instrumentation Donation from Merck

The instruments will aide in the study of new drug discovery.

On Dec 18, 2014

The Center for Healthcare Innovation at Stevens Institute of Technology has received a donation of laboratory instruments, valued at more than $251,500, to establish a new Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory within the Biotechnology and Drug Discovery Laboratory aimed at exposing students to biotechnology and drug development.  Preclinical drug discovery is the first step toward the development of new medications for the treatment of a variety of diseases.

Merck, a global healthcare leader, donated both large and small pieces of equipment that were no longer being utilized.  The donated items include fluorescence plate readers, a spectropolarimeter, and isothermal titration calorimeter which will allow students to develop their biochemistry and biophysical chemistry expertise in enzyme kinetics and drug binding.  Had the instruments been purchased at their original retail price, the cost would be more than $600,000.

“This donation will give Stevens more competencies to train our students in more detailed aspects of drug discovery and development,” says Dr. Peter Tolias, Professor and Director of the Center for Healthcare Innovation.  “Furthermore, the gift provides new resources for the faculty, and affords an opportunity to move forward with our drug discovery projects.”

The instruments were delivered by Merck in late October and are currently in place to assist with the development of biological and chemically-based drugs.

“These instruments will be useful in our research to confirm the activity of newly discovered drugs and to understand how the drugs bind and inhibit the function of proteins involved in causing disease,” said Dr. William Windsor, Director of the Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory. “Ultimately, we would also like to develop a course that incorporates the new lab for students to conduct research and receive credit.”

The Biotechnology and Drug-Discovery Laboratory opened in January 2014 as a new biotechnology and drug discovery enterprise that partners with other Stevens faculty, students and external academic and industry collaborators.

Related Articles: