Glendale-based Baxter Hyland Immuno awarded the unrestricted grant to Dr. David Tirrell, the Ross McCollum - William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Tirrell is also division chair for the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division at Caltech.
Tirrell's research addresses the design and synthesis of novel proteins and protein-like materials for applications in biology, biotechnology and medicine. He and his coworkers use biological cells to make proteins, just as nature does, but the cells are reprogrammed to produce specific materials that are targeted toward important biomedical technologies.
"I am delighted by this award, which will allow us to move our research forward much more rapidly," said Tirrell. "The link to Baxter will also help us connect our programs more directly to important clinical problems."
Said Norbert Riedel, PhD, president of Hyland Immuno's recombinant business, "One of our keys to growth is the collaboration with world-class academic research centers like Caltech. We are pleased to provide this grant to Dr. Tirrell to further his important work in protein design."
Founded in 1891, Caltech has an enrollment of some 2,000 students, and an academic staff of about 275 professorial faculty and 130 research faculty. The Institute has more than 19,000 alumni. Caltech employs a staff of more than 2,100 on campus and 4,800 at JPL. Over the years, 28 Nobel Prizes and four Crafoord Prizes have been awarded to faculty members and alumni. Forty-seven Caltech faculty members and alumni have received the National Medal of Science; and eight alumni (two of whom are also trustees), two additional trustees, and one faculty member have won the National Medal of Technology. Since 1958, 13 faculty members have received the annual California Scientist of the Year award. On the Caltech faculty there are 78 fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and on the faculty and Board of Trustees, 70 members of the National Academy of Sciences and 48 members of the National Academy of Engineering.
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a global medical products and services company that focuses on critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter's medical products and services include blood therapies, medication delivery and renal therapy, and are used by healthcare providers and their patients in more than 100 countries. The Hyland Immuno business of Baxter Healthcare Corporation develops and produces therapeutic proteins from plasma and through recombinant methods to treat hemophilia, immune deficiencies, and other blood-related disorders. Hyland Immuno's portfolio of therapies includes coagulation factors, immune globulins, albumin, wound management products and vaccines.
Contact: Deborah Williams-Hedges (626) 395-3227 debwms@caltech.edu
Visit the Caltech Media Relations Web site at: http://www.caltech.edu/~media
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Written by Deborah Williams-Hedges