(HOUSTON)— The Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) Institute of Biosciences and Technology in Houston hosted a 25th anniversary celebration Nov. 30 at La Colombe d’Or.
From left, Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) and vice chancellor for health affairs for The Texas A&M University System; Margaret Alkek Williams, chair of the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation; Charlie A. Williams, president of the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation; and Cheryl Lyn Walker, Ph.D., TAMHSC-Institute of Biosciences and Technology director and holder of the endowed Welch Chair in Chemistry.
The Albert B. Alkek Institute of Biosciences and Technology provides a bridge between TAMHSC investigators and scientists across the Texas Medical Center, as well as to the growing biotechnology sector in Houston. It encourages its scientists to transfer discoveries made in their laboratories to the marketplace so the institute’s research results can help people. Faculty members work with biotech companies. Many licensing agreements are based on the institute’s research, and several new companies have been established.
Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health affairs for The Texas A&M University System, said the TAMHSC-Institute of Biosciences and Technology is proud to be a significant part of the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest and most prestigious medical center. She also is honored to be president of such a world-class translational research institute, whose scientists work fervently toward cures for cancer, heart failure, stroke, birth defects, hereditary diseases and more.
The institution’s importance as an A&M presence in Houston was emphasized by John White, A&M System regent. He applauded the “visionary” regents of 25 years ago who established a footprint in the Texas Medical Center.
The evening included an opening welcome by David Carlson, Ph.D., vice president for research and dean of the TAMHSC-School of Graduate Studies, and a video presentation of the TAMHSC-Institute of Biosciences and Technology introduced by Russ Gibbs, D.Min., CFRE, vice president for institutional advancement and communications. Cheryl Lyn Walker, Ph.D., new institute director and holder of the endowed Welch Chair in Chemistry, addressed the future of the institute and introduced Mavis P. Kelsey lecturer Bert W. O’Malley, M.D., professor and chair of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine.
The Mavis P. Kelsey lecture series began in 1996 and was established to honor Dr. Kelsey, a 1932 biology graduate of Texas A&M University.
Former institute directors and Texas Medical Center dignitaries also were recognized, along with special recognition of the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, The Welch Foundation, John S. Dunn Research Foundation, The Hamill Foundation, The Mary A. and Walter M. Mischer Sr. Family, The Fondren Foundation, Mavis P. Kelsey, M.D., the Houston A&M Club and the Ray C. Fish Foundation.
