For more information contact: Boonshoft
School of Medicine, Judi Engle,
Office of Public Relations, (937) 775-2951
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9 , 2004
Legacy for Scientific Discovery
DAYTON, Ohio--When Emily Webb died at the age of 79 late in 2002, she,
and her husband Henry who preceded her in death, left a legacy devoted
to scientific discovery at Wright State University.
Of modest means, this couple wanted to “make a mark” for
their community and willed the majority of their estate, more than $850,000,
to the research programs of Lawrence J. Prochaska, Ph.D., professor of
biochemistry and molecular biology in both the School of Medicine and
the College of Science and Mathematics.
Prochaska’s research focuses upon the energy and oxygen requirements
of the heart and brain. A subcellular structure, the mitochondrion, uses
oxygen to transform foodstuffs into metabolic energy. This energy is
critical for vital processes, such as the beating of the heart and transmission
of information from the brain to the peripheral nervous system.
During a heart attack or stroke in the brain, oxygen transport by blood
is physically blocked. These tissues die in about 15 minutes due to exhaustion
of the metabolic energy reserves. Prochaska’s work examines how
oxygen is utilized to conserve energy at the molecular level in mitochondria
and how programmed cell death may be triggered by the loss of energy.
Understanding these processes at the molecular level may lead to interventions
that increase the survival time of tissue during a heart attack or stroke.
“The money from the Webb’s generous gift will enable us
to expand our research efforts and to try innovative approaches in our
experiments,” says Prochaska. “I am most grateful for the
trust and confidence the Webbs placed in me.” Dan Organisciak,
Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry, adds, “Mrs.
Webb was a gracious lady who visited Wright State several times and it
was a pleasure to know her. I am delighted that she chose the department
and the work of Dr. Prochaska in her bequest.”
Prochaska received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from The Ohio State University
and completed postdoctoral work at both Purdue University and the University
of Oregon. He has been at Wright State University since 1980. He has
served in several key positions of the Ohio Affiliate, American Heart
Association (AHA), including President Elect, Chair of the Research Committee,
and received the Distinguished Service Award from that organization in
2000. He currently serves as chair of the Molecular Biology Study Section
for AHA. Prochaska has received several awards from the School of Medicine
for his teaching and research, and he received the Faculty Excellence
Award from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education in 2002.
“This couple understood that scientific research is the key to
better clinical treatments and will ultimately benefit everyone,” says
Howard M. Part, Dean of the School of Medicine.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb were long time residents of Dayton, and both retired
from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after 34 years of service.
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