A leading scientist at Texas A&M University, Richard Finnell, Ph.D.,
has been named director of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s
new Center for Molecular Genetics and professor of cell biology and anatomy.
Dr. Finnell, 44, has been with the Texas College of Veterinary Medicine
at Texas A&M University in College Station since 1991, serving as acting
associate dean for research since 1997. He also held the post of professor
of genetics, toxicology and neuroscience.
Prior to joining Texas A&M, Dr. Finnell spent nine years on the
faculty of Washington State University in Pullman. His background also
includes a stint as a visiting professor in pharmacology at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia and at the Freie Universitat
Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
Dr. Finnell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon
in Eugene, his master’s degree from the University of British Columbia
in Vancouver, and his doctorate from the University of Oregon Health Sciences
Center in Portland.
In 1997, he received the Texas A&M University Distinguished Achievement
Award in Research. He serves as chairman of the Scientific Advisory Commission
overseeing functions of the Texas Birth Defects Monitoring Division, a
collaborating investigator participating in the National Birth Defects
Centers of Excellence Program. Dr. Finnell has written 15 textbook chapters
and more than 70 journal articles and holds several grants through the
National Institutes of Health.
While at Texas A&M, Dr. Finnell focused on problems related to the
high incidence of spina bifida in the Hispanic population living on the
Texas-Mexico border. Specifically, he worked on the genes that transport
B vitamin folic acid into cells. Folic acid supplementation in the early
stages of pregnancy is effective in reducing the risk of neural tube defects
such as spina bifida, as well as certain heart and craniofacial defects
by as much as 50 to 70 percent.
Unfortunately, the Hispanic population does not appear to obtain the
same benefit from folic acid in early pregnancy as do other populations,
prompting Dr. Finnell’s interest in finding the genetic basis for this
problem in order to develop alternative means of providing protection against
these serious birth defects.
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said Dr. Finnell’s appointment
is significant. “This is a totally new position that will bring together
existing strengths in genetics and build new programs that will not only
enhance services to the region, but also enhance our research activities
as a world-class medical center. We also look forward to Dr. Finnell building
research strengths in the area of cancer genetics.”
“Molecular genetics is an important new part of prevention and treatment
of disease,” said Bruce Buehler, M.D., director of the Munroe Meyer Institute
for Rehabilitation and Genetics at UNMC. “There are outstanding researchers
throughout the UNMC community who work in human genetics. We hope to bring
these people together and see if we can merge our interests and create
an exciting research environment.”
The molecular genetics program will be housed in 30,000 square feet
of research space on one and a half floors of the recently opened addition
to the Munroe Meyer Institute.
One of Dr. Finnell’s researchers at Texas A&M, Janée VanWaes,
Ph.D., D.V.M., also will join the UNMC faculty as assistant professor of
cell biology and anatomy. Four additional genetic researchers will be recruited
to the program, Dr. Buehler said.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than $34 million in
research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually.
In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.