The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) is the recent recipient of a challenge grant of $100,000 from The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. This grant will be applied toward the purchase of an Affymetrix Facility for the new Stem Cell Center at the MMRL.

According to Ronald Kamp, Director of Development, "payment of the grant is contingent upon the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory raising the remaining $135,000 in new money needed to purchase the equipment by June 2, 2010. We are optimistic that our family of friends and community supporters will help us reach this goal by the deadline. What is important for every potential donor to know is that 100% of all money donated will stay local, but the research that emanates as a result of this state-of-the-art equipment will have international benefit."

The Affymetrix Facility is capable of analyzing gene expression. Nearly every cell in our body contains a full set of 46 chromosomes, which contain over 20,000 genes. MMRL scientists will be able to determine, in a single experiment, the expression level of hundreds or thousands of genes.

MMRL scientist will use this microarray technology to understand better the fundamental aspects of growth and development as well as to explore the underlying genetic causes of heart disease. The ability to compare changes in gene expression patterns between normal and diseased cells and/or tissues will help us discover what genes play a part in the development of heart disease, thus providing critical information that will facilitate new and improved treatment and perhaps cures.

Dr. Charles Antzelevitch, MMRL Executive Director said, "The MMRL's molecular genetic program works in collaboration with Brian Gaffney, MD and Michael Kelberman, MD of Central New York Cardiology by providing genetic screening services to local patients. This partnership has resulted in the discovery of a new gene for Brugada syndrome, a life-threatening inherited cardiac arrhythmia.

We are excited to inaugurate this technology as part of our new Stem Cell Center. The potential impact on the health of Mohawk Valley residents and people worldwide is unlimited. The Stem Cell Center will focus on regenerative medicine as well as the novel use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology to generate human models of disease. Investigators at the MMRL will be generating human iPS lines from the skin cells of patients diagnosed with a wide variety of inherited sudden death syndromes so as to facilitate the search for novel personalized treatments and cures."

Please visit www.mmrl.edu to learn more about MMRL research.