By KRWG News
Las Cruces – A New Mexico State University-based biomedical research program is expanding thanks to a major federal grant.
The research program is moving into its second phase with the help of a $17.5 million federal grant.
The National Institutes of Health funding will be allocated over five years.
The program's pilot phase which started in 2001 .was created to strengthen biomedical research in New Mexico and to prepare faculty and students to participate in NIH research programs.
The second phase allows NMSU to expand its network of partner institutions to include San Juan College in Farmington and The Dialysis Clinic of Albuquerque. The Clinic is currently working on a community-based research project called the Zuni Health Initiative.
It's designed to identify possible genetic, environmental and cultural interactions that negatively affect health conditions in Native Americans.
A major program objective is to help the current 15 pilot projects develop into competitive NIH proposals, while providing access to core facilities and encouraging research partnerships.
About 100 students have participated annually in the projects and partnerships.