For more information contact: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Judi Engle, Office of Public Relations, (937) 775-2951

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 1999

Kettering Gift invests in new Biomedical Research at Wright State

DAYTON, OHIO -- The Kettering Fund has donated $500,000 to Wright State University School of Medicine to launch innovative new projects in biomedical research. The Kettering gift will be used for seed grants to develop new lines of research through the Medical Innovations grant program at Wright State. Six research projects were selected for funding in a competitive, peer-review selection process.

"This generous gift will be used to encourage Wright State scientists to develop new and promising research ideas," says Dr. Howard Part, acting dean of medicine at Wright State. "Our goal is turning the best ideas into research initiatives that lead to the next generation of medical treatments and cures."

Medical Innovations grants were awarded to six principal investigators for the following research projects:
Michael Baumann, M.D., professor of medicine and associate chief of staff for research and development at the Dayton VA Medical Center, for the development of a new human cell line that can be reproduced for research and drug development purposes;
Jay Dean, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology & biophysics, for a study of high-pressure oxygen toxicity on cells in the central nervous system; n Robert Fyffe, Ph.D., professor of anatomy, for a study of chloride transport in the brain;
Michael Leffak, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, for a study of DNA elements in human chromosome replication;
Marianna Morris, Ph.D., professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology, for a study of neural functions involved in blood pressure regulation; and
Roger Siervogel, Ph.D., Fels professor of community health and pediatrics, for a study of the genetic epidemiology of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In 1974 the Kettering family contributed $1 million to help found Wright State University School of Medicine. In 1996 the Kettering family donated another $1 million to endow a scholarship fund for Wright State medical students who make a commitment to treat geriatric patients in the Miami Valley region. "The Kettering family is pleased to continue its support of Wright State University School of Medicine. As the School celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, we hope this gift will open up new horizons for biomedical research at Wright State which will benefit the Miami Valley region for many more years to come," says Al Leland, executive vice president of Bank One Trust Company in Dayton, who represents the Kettering Fund.