A&M System a Leader in Bioenergy

A&M System

For excellence in education, discovery and service

VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2007

INSIDE Foster, Huffines, Wilson Named A&M System Regents

A&M System building In July, Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointments of was in the U.S. Army and served during boom Morris Foster, J.L. Huffines and Jim Wilson to six-year World War II and the Korean War. Huffines terms on The Texas A&M University System Board of is a former board member of the Department The A&M System has nearly 60 Regents. of Mental Health and Mental Retardation construction projects underway. The new regents, all graduates of Texas A&M University, and is past chairman of the Texas State Pg. 2 are respected leaders in their professions and communi- Senior Colleges Board of Regents. Huffines ties. All have provided service leadership to Texas A&M in received the Texas A&M Distinguished San Antonio and Killeen various capacities. Alumnus Award and was inducted into the J.L. Huffines Campuses To date, the three new appointees have participated in Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. Also at Texas two full Board of Regents meetings. Pending confirmation A&M, he served as president of the 12th Man Foundation and The A&M System and Texas by the Texas Senate, they replace outgoing regents Phil is an honorary life member of the Lettermen’s Association. Legislature are on track to establish stand-alone campuses in Adams, Wendy Gramm and Lowry Mays. About the new Huffines serves as a trustee of the Medical School Foundation San Antonio and Killeen. regents: Board at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Pg. 3 Morris E. Foster of Houston is presi- and director of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. He also is a dent of ExxonMobil Production life member and board member of the State Fair of Texas and Company and vice president of Exxon a life member and past chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Hope for Patients With Mobil Corporation. He received a bach- Association. Macular Degeneration elor of science degree in mechanical Jim P. Wilson of Sugar Land is chairman of A&M Health Science Center engineering from Texas A&M University the board and CEO of JK Acquisition professor awarded $1.7 million for in 1965 and was inducted into the Corporation, a Houston-based investment company developing therapy for Academy of Distinguished Graduates in firm. He is founder and managing partner of patients with age-related macular 1993. Foster serves on the board of Texas Morris Foster RSTW Partners, a private debt and equity degeneration. A&M’s International Programs and is a member of the firm. He served as chairman of the board of Pg. 5 Chancellor’s 21st Century Council of Advisors for the A&M Supply ONE Holdings, Inc., a specialty pack- System. He is a member of the American Petroleum aging and distribution company, until July Institute, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and Texas Oil 2007. Wilson received a bachelor of business Jim Wilson Traffic Congestion and Gas Association. Foster serves on numerous boards, administration degree in accounting from Texas A&M Worsening in Cities including those of Scott & White Medical Institute, the University in 1981. He has served on numerous corporate and An annual study published by Greater Houston Partnership, and United Way of the Texas charitable boards, and currently serves on the boards of direc- Texas Transportation Institute Gulf Coast. tors of Alpha Circuits, Inc. and First Community Bank Fort details traffic congestion in cities J.L. Huffines of Dallas is chairman and owner of Huffines Bend. At Texas A&M, Wilson serves as a member of the Mays large and small. Auto Dealerships in Lewisville. He received a bachelor of Business School Development Council and as a member of the Pg. 6 science degree in economics and accounting from Texas 12th Man Foundation’s board of trustees. A&M University and is a member of the Class of 1944. He Texas Institute for Preclinical Studies

New institute at Texas A&M will From Field to Fuel Tank: help researchers move medical discoveries to the marketplace. A&M System a Leader in Bioenergy Pg. 7 The first year of the Texas A&M announced this spring that it will University System’s Agriculture and partner with the BioEnergy Alliance A&M-Kingsville Garners Engineering BioEnergy Alliance has to accelerate the development and $5 Million Grant been, well, a real barn burner. conversion of feedstocks for manu- A $5 million grant from the Since July 2006, when the A&M facturing ethanol and other biofuels National Science Foundation will System’s two premier research agen- from cellulose. help minority-serving A&M- cies—the Texas Agricultural The top U.S. Department of Kingsville enhance its research. Experiment Station and the Texas Agriculture official for research, Pg. 7 Engineering Experiment Station— Undersecretary Gale Buchanan, formed a strategic alliance to solve toured feedstock development and important problems in bioenergy chemical conversion bioenergy Tarleton’s Therapeutic Riding Program research, significant progress has research underway on the Texas been made to respond to the growing A&M campus. A program that gives people with global demands for clean, renewable The BioEnergy Alliance also show- special needs and varying ability alternative fuels. cased its capabilities to Jorge Lepra, levels the chance to challenge In May, the Texas Legislature appro- the Uruguayan minister of industry, Texas A&M chemical engineering themselves physically and priated $4 million to fund bioenergy energy and mining, who visited in professor Mark Holtzapple describes emotionally. his invention, the StarRotor engine, Pg. 8 research within the Texas June at the invitation of the U.S. Agricultural Experiment Station Department of Energy. The visit was which is three times more efficient (TAES) over the next two years. The in response to President Bush’s than today’s engines. research will support the creation of March visit to Uruguay, where he a bio-based economy involving the encouraged cooperation between Legislation Pg. 3 The grant will be used to promote production, harvest and conversion the two countries. bioenergy efforts by hiring new, AppointmentS Pg. 4 of Texas-grown feedstocks to ethanol, In July, Gov. Rick Perry awarded the commercially focused faculty to biodiesel and other liquid fuels. A&M System’s Bioenergy Alliance a accelerate the path to market for their CONTRACTS/GRANTS Pg. 6 Chevron Technology Ventures, $5 million grant from the state’s a division of Chevron USA, Inc., Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). see BIOENERGY pg. 4

1 Texas A&M University System Welcome to Experiences Building Boom

by Amy Halbert A&M System Communications

New buildings are cropping up all across the Texas A&M University System, with nearly 60 construction projects totaling almost $1.4 billion underway. Half of those On behalf of The Texas A&M University System, projects belong to Texas A&M welcome to the first issue of our Quest newsletter. University, which has almost $700 million in construction for its We are launching this quarterly newsletter to keep campus alone. The new projects you posted on exciting news from the A&M System’s are being funded, in part, with nine universities, seven state tuition revenue bonds (TRBs) and agencies and comprehensive allocations from the Permanent health science center. University Fund (PUF). For the last fiscal year, the In this inaugural issue, System’s capital plan was $460 Construction is well underway on the new 220,000 you’ll learn more about million. In the span of a year, con- square foot, $95-million Interdisciplinary Life Sciences activities taking place at our struction projects have more than Building at Texas A&M University. campuses statewide, where tripled. Vergel Gay, managing we enroll more than 106,000 director of Facilities Planning and Construction (FP&C), has reorganized students. Perhaps you the department to better handle this new ings are in various stages of completion weren’t aware that one of challenge. throughout the System including: every five students in a The northern sector includes West • Texas A&M-Texarkana public senior institution in Texas A&M, Tarleton State University, · $20-million science and technology building on the new campus at Texas is enrolled at an A&M System university, and Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M- Texarkana and the campus in Killeen Bringle Lake every year we graduate more than 22,000 students. ($260 million in projects). The central • Texas A&M-Commerce Enrollment and programs at our centers in San area includes Texas A&M and the Bryan- · $25.4-million Sam Rayburn Memorial Antonio and Killeen are increasing, meaning these College Station area ($700 million in Student Center centers are well on their way to becoming full- projects). The south is comprised of Texas • Texas A&M University A&M International, Texas A&M-Corpus · $95-million interdisciplinary life fledged, four-year institutions of higher learning. Christi, Texas A&M-Kingsville and the sciences building As you may know, our state legislators made higher new San Antonio campus ($183 million · $66-million physics building education a top priority during the last legislative in projects). · $100-million emerging technologies session. We greatly appreciate the time and attention In 2006, the A&M System developed a and economic development inter disciplinary building lawmakers gave to ensuring fair and equitable master plan, which required that all System members submit plans. Gay has • Texas A&M Health Science Center resources for the A&M System. We thought you hired three program management firms · $130-million campus in west Bryan should know how critical these resources are to our to oversee construction in the northern • Texas A&M-Kingsville efforts to serve the citizens of our state, including our and southern regions of the state and the · $12-million recreation sports center students, faculty and staff. Texas A&M Health Science Center. The • Texas A&M at Galveston · $50-million science building Engaging in groundbreaking research continues FP&C staff will oversee many of the College Station projects. • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to be an area of key focus across the A&M System and “It is very difficult for one person to do a · $21-million wellness center one of my favorite things about being chancellor. project anymore. There are so many spe- Every day I learn about more research leading to cialists needed for the design and con- With all the new construction, Gay is breakthroughs in health, energy and related fields struction of a building, such as experts in quick to point out there is more to a university than bricks and mortar. “To that will create a better-educated workforce and more information technology, energy control, acoustical and environmental. More me, there is a spirit to a campus and its jobs for Texans. A&M System universities and agen- people are needed in addition to archi- buildings and all that goes on and has cies frequently collaborate, and are shepherding tects and engineers,” Gay said. gone on there for years. We are building many research projects that are shaping the future Many technically sophisticated build- a piece of history,” he said. of our state, nation and world. Read more in this issue about our leadership in the field of bioenergy. From the time Texas A&M University was established in 1876 as the state’s land-grant university, our mission has been to improve lives through teaching, To see photos or real-time video of research and service. We hope you enjoy reading construction projects around the System, visit Quest and share our enthusiasm for spreading the these web links: good news about how the A&M System is making Texas A&M Life Sciences Building our world a better place. http://ilsb.tamu.edu

West Texas A&M Construction http://www.wtamu.edu/administrative/ss/hous/ newhall.html

A preliminary draft of the new campus master Texas A&M-Commerce plan of Texas A&M University-Texarkana at www.tamu-commerce.edu/live Bringle Lake. Construction has begun on the site’s first building, the Science and Technology Texas A&M-Texarkana Building. http://www.tamut.edu/news/bringle/index.php

Editors: Tina Evans and Amy Halbert Graphic Design: Carolyn Miller and HSC Communications

Volume 1: Issue 1 Quest is a publication of The Texas A&M University System Office of Communications November 2007

2 3 San Antonio and Killeen Campuses Well on Track

The center was established in 1999 to provide by Tina Evans A&M System Communications higher education opportunities for a growing population in the Killeen/Fort Hood area. Currently managed by Tarleton State University The A&M System centers currently oper- in Stephenville, the center is called Tarleton ating in Killeen and San Antonio are well State University-Central Texas, and has a full- on their way to becoming stand-alone time student enrollment equivalent of 876 as of campuses. This year, the Texas spring 2007. Its nearly 2,000 part- and full-time Legislature authorized additional students include community college graduates, funding to help the centers increase the transfer students, working adults, active number of course offerings, students and military service members and their family faculty, and begin creating master plans members, and students returning to higher for the campus layouts. education to pursue degrees, fulfill career educational requirements or for personal San Antonio Students at the growing A&M System center in San Antonio enrichment. The Legislature authorized an addi- recently transitioned from classes held on the Palo Alto Tarleton-Central Texas currently offers under- tional $6.7 million in funding for the San College campus to buildings the A&M System has leased graduate degrees in 38 areas of study, with Antonio center, which is currently oper- from the South San Antonio ISD (pictured). graduate degrees available in 26. The center is ated by Texas A&M University-Kingsville. working to increase full-time student enroll- Most of the new funding will be used for faculty permanent campus. A 694-acre site owned by ment to 1,000 to become Texas A&M University- and staff salaries to expand academic pro- Triple L has been identified for the campus that Central Texas, and to 1,500 by January 2010 to grams. The funding brings the total operational is located south of Loop 410 between Zarzamora become eligible to tap into $25 million in support to $10 million from the Legislature for and Pleasanton roads. Most of the acreage will tuition revenue bonds for campus the eventual creation of Texas A&M be used for the university’s main campus, with infrastructure. University-San Antonio. additional acreage allocated for the A&M Federal legislation in 2004 authorized the Since opening in 2000, enrollment at the System’s Irrigation and Technology Center. Secretary of the Army to convey a 662-acre site center has grown to the full-time equivalent of Triple L Management also has committed on Fort Hood to the A&M System on which a 547 students (spring 2007). “We are going to $1 million toward an endowment supporting permanent campus can be built for the stand- build a campus that is planned from the very student scholarships through the recently alone Texas A&M University-Central Texas. beginning to one day serve 25,000 students,” established Texas A&M University-San Antonio A&M System Chancellor Michael D. McKinney Foundation. said. “By the time we have 1,500 students, we’ll The Texas Legislature authorized the be ready to break ground.” creation of Texas A&M University-San The center in San Antonio currently offers Antonio in 2003, and if enrollment reaches students 15 degree programs and one certifica- 1,500 full-time equivalent students by tion, with plans to add 10 more in 2008. Jan. 1, 2010, the Legislature has authorized Until this fall, classes have been held on the $40 million in tuition revenue bonds for its Palo Alto College campus. A ribbon-cutting development. ceremony was held Nov. 7 at the new site for center classes, the former Olivares Elementary. Killeen In Dec. 2006, the A&M System entered an agree- The Texas Legislature authorized an ment with South San Antonio ISD for this space additional $8.2 million for Tarleton-Central that more than doubles the center’s classroom Texas, bringing total operational support capacity and provides infrastructure for con- from the Legislature up to $10 million. The The main administration building in Killeen of Tarleton- tinued growth. funding will be used to create a master Central Texas. Most classes are held at Fort Hood, A&M System officials are working with plan for a permanent, stand-alone univer- Central Texas College, Temple College and Shoemaker developer Triple L Management and the City sity, and to expand existing courses and High School in Killeen. of San Antonio to finalize site details for the create new courses.

Legislative Highlights

Nearly six months after the close of the 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Stanton Calvert, the A&M System’s vice chancellor for governmental relations, provides a look back at some highlights of the session affecting the System and higher education in general.

The Texas Legislature added approximately A new Texas Competitive Knowledge Fund continuation of $25 $1.4 billion in new funding for higher educa- (CKF) was developed to support faculty for the million to support tion for the 2008-09 biennium. This funding purpose of instructional excellence and certain programs encompasses universities, health related research. Institutions with at least $50 million started under the institutions, Texas A&M University System in total research expenditures are eligible to now completed agencies and public community colleges, the participate. The Legislature added $27 million Office of Civil Rights Texas Higher Education Fund (HEF), the in new funding and redirected $66 million in Priority Plan. In Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board existing funds to the CKF. This funding addition, the Stanton Calvert and benefit increases. includes the continuation of $40 million for Legislature added $4 The following provides a snapshot of some Texas A&M University that was previously million so that Prairie View A&M University of the major outcomes of the 80th Regular appropriated for faculty reinvestment. will now qualify for federal matching funds Session for the A&M System and its members. for its agricultural research and extension All data below refer to increases for 2008-09 Universities programs. over the current biennium. Texas A&M International University was With respect to general funding, the provided $2 million in new funding for faculty Legislature added approximately $117 million enhancement. Also, the funding methodology Gov. Perry’s Higher Education to the formulas that support the basic programs was changed for Texas A&M at Galveston to Initiative and operations of all public universities. account for the higher costs of its special Together, A&M System universities received a The Legislature approved and funded a purpose marine sciences programs, resulting biennial increase of $53.4 million in formula major element of Gov. Rick Perry’s Higher in an increase in formula funding of approxi- funding; $34 million of that was earned by Education Initiative, a Performance Incentive mately $900,000. Fund. This initiative combined several Texas A&M. Also, $175 million was added to the HEF; the six A&M System members not funding items into the Incentive Funding System Centers Program; most importantly, $100 million in eligible to participate in the Permanent new incentive funding to be administered by University Fund share in the HEF. In addition, The Legislature added $6.7 million to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating $241 million was included to service the debt for support programs, faculty and operation of Board, in conjunction with the governor’s new tuition revenue bonds that were approved the Texas A&M-Kingsville System Center-San office, was appropriated to improve teaching, in spring 2006. Antonio and $8.2 million for the Tarleton educational excellence and student gradua- Key institution-specific items include one of State University A&M System Center-Central the System’s top priorities of the session: tion numbers among public universities. see LEGISLATIVE pg. 5

2 3 BIOENERGY continued from pg. 1 innovative research on the next generation said Dr. Elsa Murano, vice chancellor for Texas of biofuels. A&M Agriculture. “These giant sorghums “We have the scientific expertise in agricul- being grown on experimental plots today are ture and engineering to become a national drought-tolerant and can be grown across leader in the development of clean, renewable much of the state.” energy through biofuels,” said Dr. Mike She added that Texas is blessed with a wide McKinney, chancellor of the A&M System. variety of biomass choices beyond corn and “On top of that, we have a vibrant agriculture sorghum grain. These include such diverse industry in Texas that can become a top sup- commodities as forest products, soybeans, plier of biomass feedstocks for the nation. We sunflowers, sugarcane and such wastes as also have a long legacy of partnering with crop residues, livestock manure and other energy companies to develop innovative forms of cellulosic “trash.” technologies.” “Cellulosic ethanol, as opposed to sugar- or Drought-tolerant tall sorghum has great potential as a Nationally, biofuels are expected to play an starch-based ethanol, broadens the choice of source of biomass. Leading A&M System bioenergy increasing role in reducing U.S. dependence on feedstock without impacting food supplies,” initiatives are (left to right): Bill McCutchen, deputy foreign oil. The U.S. Department of Energy has said Rick Zalesky, vice president of biofuels associate director, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station; set a goal for biofuels to supply 30 percent of the and hydrogen for Chevron Technology Kem Bennett, vice chancellor for engineering, Texas A&M nation’s transportation needs by the year Ventures, which is making a four-year com- System; John Mullet, professor of biochemistry & bio- 2030—a significant increase from an estimated mitment to support research initiatives physics, Texas A&M University; Elsa Murano, vice 5 percent currently. through the A&M System’s BioEnergy chancellor for agriculture and life sciences, Texas A&M Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel found Alliance. System; and Mark Holtzapple, professor of chemical in gasoline, and it is commonly derived from “Making it commercially viable poses a engineering, Texas A&M University. corn. However, even if the entire U.S. corn number of scientific and technical challenges crop—accounting for millions of acres — were — challenges we know that the faculty, staff converted to biofuels, it would replace only 15 and students at one of the world’s premier percent to 20 percent of universities in agricultural organisms found in soil to create mixed alcohol current U.S. gasoline con- sciences and engineering are fuels from practically anything biodegradable, sumption. well-equipped to overcome.” from garbage to grass, from sewage sludge to Clearly, other biomass What Is Bioenergy? “Forming an alliance with animal byproducts. sources must be tapped, and Chevron fits well with our For Texas to become a national leader in bio- this is where Texas has an edge. Bioenergy is derived from research initiatives,” said Dr. fuels production, a sustainable Texas-based The next generation of bio- biomass—organic matter that G. Kemble Bennett, vice chan- source of energy feedstocks must be developed fuels will likely come from includes crops, trees and other cellor and dean of Texas A&M as well as technologies that economically cellulosic conversion tech forms of plants, and such waste Engineering. “It allows us to convert biomass to biofuels and “green” nologies; that is, they will products as cattle manure, leverage our strengths in electricity. come not just from the grain a sewage sludge and household biomass and biofuels to “The U.S. has entered the ‘era of the bio- plant produces, but from the garbage. Biomass is converted transfer new technologies economy,’” declared Dr. Gale Buchanan, the cellulose fibers in its stalk, into systems that produce from lab to the public, pro- USDA undersecretary, during his tour of bio stem and leaves. Converting an electricity, heat or liquid fuels viding real solutions that are energy research on the Texas A&M campus in entire plant into biofuel, while such as ethanol and biodiesel. economical, sustainable and May. “This could have the most important still technologically chal- environmentally friendly.” impact on agriculture in 150 years,” he said. lenging, is considered a much In one sense, bioenergy is not that For example, Texas A&M “To fully meet the nation’s needs for sustainable more efficient use of biomass. far removed from energy derived engineers are working on resources, we’ve got to look at all types of feed- And Texas has an outstanding from petroleum. As Texas innovative conversion pro- stock.” candidate for the production Agricultural Experiment Station cesses for a range of biofuels, Buchanan was accompanied by Texas Com of cellulosic biomass with new scientist Dr. Michael Gould of developing processing safety missioner of Agriculture Todd Staples, who was varieties of 15-foot tall Weslaco put it: “Plants are oil, just and risk mitigation tech- also impressed with the scope and vision of the sorghum, the product of a million years younger.” Texas, niques, and designing Texas A&M effort. decades of research by the long a leader in the petroleum advanced high-efficiency “I’m excited about what I’ve seen (here),” Texas Agricultural Experiment industry, stands poised to jump to engines that are three times Staples said. “We (Texas) can really capitalize Station. the forefront of bioenergy more efficient than today’s. and take advantage of this. For decades we have “The development of biofuels research and production, moving In one highly promising used what’s underground, and now it’s a reality from agricultural feedstocks from black gold to green gold. approach, called the MixAlco to use what’s above the ground.” requires a regional approach,” process, engineers are using

Recent Appointments

Dr. Frank B. Ashley III joined Mike Huddleston was named Jay T. Kimbrough was named the A&M System May 15 as vice associate vice chancellor in the A&M deputy chancellor of the A&M chancellor for academic affairs. System’s Office of Academic Affairs System on May 25. Previously His duties include overseeing the and Office of Technology deputy general counsel, academic program development Commercialization on Oct. 1. His Kimbrough also serves as the process for System universities responsibilities include research, System’s general counsel. His lead- from inception to approval by the commercialization and graduate ership and strategic direction on Texas Higher Education affairs. Huddleston previously was multiple levels includes working to Coordinating Board. Ashley was Frank Ashley the assistant vice president for busi- Mike establish and implement system- Jay Kimbrough ness development at Texas A&M wide initiatives and oversight of previously interim provost and Huddleston vice president for academic and student affairs at University, where he helped establish policy implementation and compliance, general Texas A&M University-Commerce. For 18 years, he the university’s branch campus in Doha, Qatar. counsel, human resources (including equal oppor- served in various positions at Texas A&M University During his 20-year tenure, he has held positions tunity), real estate, aircraft, training and special in College Station, including interim assistant within the A&M System and the Texas A&M Research projects. Kimbrough’s experience includes serving provost for enrollment (2002-04), director of admis- Foundation. Huddleston earned his master’s and both the public and private sectors in managing a sions (2000-03), and associate dean for under Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. variety of administrative and legal issues and in graduate studies and teacher education in the counseling agencies and public officials. College of Education (1996-00). Dr. Mark Hussey was named director of the Texas Agricultural Dr. Lee Peddicord was named Dr. M. Gayne Fearneyhough Experiment Station (TAES) on director on July 27 of the Texas was named interim director on July 27. The 1,600-employee A&M Engineering Experiment Station July 27 of the Texas Veterinary System state agency is dedicated to (TEES). The A&M System state Medical Diagnostic Laboratory research and technology develop- agency is a partnership of institu- (TVMDL), an A&M System state ment in food, agriculture and tions, industries and communities agency. The lab is one of the natural resources. Hussey was previ- working to strengthen engineering world’s largest and busiest, with ously the agency’s associate director Mark Hussey research and development across some 192,000 requests per year of programs with oversight of devel- the state. Peddicord also is leading Lee Peddicord resulting in 1.9 million individual Gayne oping agency objectives, progress and unit- and the development and implementa- tests. Since 2002, Fearneyhough commodity-specific strategic plans. He is a professor tion of a new Nuclear Power Institute. He most has headed the lab’s diagnostic Fearneyhough and former head of the Department of Soil and Crop recently served as the vice chancellor for research services, informatics and testing for BSE (bovine Sciences at Texas A&M University. and federal relations for the A&M System. He for- spongiform encephalopathy). He is a longtime vet- merly headed the Department of Nuclear erinarian, and from 1993-00 served as program Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he is a director of the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program for longtime professor. the Texas Department of Health.

4 5 Dr. George Chiou of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine has been awarded $1.7 million to support MacuClear, a company he founded last year as part of his extensive research into therapeutic drugs for age-related macular degeneration.

Chiou, MacuClear Receive $1.7 Million in Funding

By Summer Morgan Texas A&M Health Science Center in people over age 65. This progressive disease College of Medicine prevents seeing objects clearly and for routine tasks like reading and driving. Dr. George C.Y. Chiou of the Texas A&M Health “Patients with AMD lose their central vision, Science Center College of Medicine, was and only the peripheral vision remains,” Chiou recently awarded $1.7 million to support said. “This is terrible because they cannot read MacuClear, a company he founded last year. or drive with central vision loss. Currently, MacuClear, born from Dr. Chiou’s extensive approximately 7.5 million people in the United What is Macular Degeneration? research into therapeutic drugs for age-related States alone have AMD, and as the Baby macular degeneration (AMD), is the first Boomers get older, there will be many more.” Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) company to receive a joint investment from the AMD has two forms—wet and dry. Currently, has two forms—wet and dry. Dry AMD College of Medicine and The Texas A&M there is no cure or treatment for dry AMD. A occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula fraction of cases of wet AMD can be treated University System. slowly deteriorate, blurring central vision in As founding editor of the Journal of Ocular with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy and/ Pharmacology and director of the Institute of or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) the affected eye. The most common symptom Ocular Pharmacology, Chiou, professor of inhibitors. These treatments are expensive, is slightly blurred vision, and while it usually neuroscience and experimental therapeutics, invasive and, unfortunately, only slow vision affects both eyes, vision can be lost in one worked with the Texas A&M System Office of loss but do not restore central vision. while the other seems unaffected. Technology Commercialization to create However, Chiou’s research has resulted in a MacuClear in August 2006. After six months breakthrough for those with AMD. The eye Dry AMD has three stages—early, of fundraising, MacuClear secured $1.7 million drops he has formulated will increase choroidal intermediate and advanced. It is much more from private investors. blood flow in the eye, effectively preventing common than the wet form, and all people The funds will finance formulation of his and reversing damage associated with AMD AMD eye drops, which will be tested and sub- progression. who have the wet form experience the dry mitted as an Investigative New Drug Application “Right now, just one treatment for wet AMD form first. to the Food and Drug Administration. Once the costs around $3,000 per session, and patients drugs pass FDA regulations, MacuClear can have to get treated three to four times a year,” In wet, or “advanced,” AMD, abnormal blood proceed with clinical trials. Chiou said. “With our eye drops, we are pre- vessels behind the retina grow under the “Our next step is to find a partner who can dicting the cost will be somewhere around $100 macula, often leaking blood and fluid.T his help us bring our product to the market,” Chiou a month. Not only will the treatments be much raises and rapidly damages the macula, said. “This is a very expensive process, so we’ll cheaper but they also will stop the progression be working with the pharmaceutical industry to of the disease so patients can still read, drive causing loss of central vision. An early make it happen.” and live normal lives.” symptom is when straight lines begin AMD, which gradually destroys sharp, central appearing wavy. vision, is the most common cause of vision loss

LEGISLATIVE continued from pg. 3

Texas, bringing total operational support Special Provisions, including $4 million for Student Financial Aid funding for each system center to $10 million. the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Another of the governor’s major proposals was Subject to meeting enrollment requirements, Biological Energy Alliance and $850,000 for its to increase funding for student financial aid. the Legislature also added $5.6 million in FY Feedyard Beef Cattle Production, as well as $2 The Legislature added $140 million in new 2009 only to service debt for tuition revenue million for the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic funds including $93 million for TEXAS grants, bonds that will allow campus construction to Lab’s Biosafety Lab in Amarillo. begin. Subject to meeting full-time student $37 million for B-on-Time, $5 million for Texas enrollment requirements by January 2010, the Health Related Institutions Educational Opportunity Grants and $5 million centers will be eligible to become Texas A&M for Texas College Work Study. The $211.7 million The Legislature provided a total increase of University-San Antonio and Texas A&M Tuition Equalization Grant Program for finan- $87.2 million for the formulas that support the University-Central Texas. cially needy students in independent universi- basic programs and operations of all health ties was merged into the Student Aid Strategy. related institutions. Research and Service Agencies Although not every institution received all it The Texas A&M Health Science Center requested, the Legislature and governor treated The agencies received an $8.9 million increase received $12.5 million to fund the Irma Rangel the A&M System and its members fairly and in base funding. Included in this increase is School of Pharmacy. In fulfillment of one of the well. Now it is our challenge to use this funding $6.6 million in General Revenue Funds to adopt major objectives of the session, the Texas A&M to achieve improved efficiency and excellence formula funding for operation and mainte- Health Science Center was appropriated $33 in teaching, research and service for our nance of the agencies’ facilities inside Brazos million to expand its medical college class size students and the citizens and economy of County. at its anchor Scott & White Temple campus, Texas. The Legislature funded $6.85 million in new now to include campuses in College Station special items for the agencies in the Article III and Round Rock/Williamson County.

4 5 Texas Transportation Institute’s Annual Study Shows Traffic Congestion Worsening

By Richard Cole $710 per traveler. Along with expanding Texas Transportation Institute the estimates of the effect of congestion to all 437 U.S. urban areas, the study pro- Traffic congestion continues to worsen in vides detailed information for 85 specific American cities of all sizes, creating a $78 urban areas. The report also focuses on billion annual drain on the U.S. economy the problems presented by “irregular in the form of 4.2 billion lost hours and events” — crashes, stalled vehicles, work 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel — that’s zones, weather problems and special 105 million weeks of vacation and 58 events — that cause unreliable travel fully-loaded supertankers. times and contribute significantly to the These are among the key findings of the overall congestion problem. Worsening Texas Transportation Institute’s 2007 congestion, the study notes, is reflected in Urban Mobility Report. Improvements several ways: trips take longer; congestion to the methodology used to measure con- affects more of the day, weekend travel gestion nationwide have produced the and rural areas, and more personal trips most detailed picture yet of a problem and freight shipments; and trip travel that is growing worse in all 437 of the times increasingly are unreliable. nation’s urban areas. The current report Researchers spent two years revising is based on 2005 figures, the most recent the methodology using additional year for which complete data was sources of traffic information, providing a v a i l a b l e . more — and higher quality — data on “There is no ‘magic’ technology or solu- which to base the current study. tion on the horizon because there is no The report identifies multiple solutions single cause of congestion,” noted study to the congestion problem that, co-author Tim Lomax, a research engi- researchers say, must be used together to neer at TTI. “The good news is that there be effective. These range from adding are multiple strategies involving traffic road and transit system capacity in crit- operations and public transit available ical corridors to changing usage patterns. right now that, if applied together, can “Congestion is a far more complex lessen this problem.” problem than is apparent at first glance,” The 2007 mobility report notes that con- Lomax said. “The better the data we Congestion in 2005, such as on this Houston freeway, caused gestion causes the average peak-period use to define the problem, the more the average peak-period traveler to spend an extra 38 hours traveler to spend an extra 38 hours of successful we will be in addressing its of travel time and consume an additional 26 gallons of fuel, travel time and consume an additional root causes.” amounting to a cost of $710 per traveler. 26 gallons of fuel, amounting to a cost of

A Closer Look at Contracts and Grants

Focus: College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University The following contracts and grants were funded by external sources entire A&M System. The projects are listed by name of principal investi- during fiscal year 2006 for projects in Texas A&M University’s College of gator, department, project name, funding source (if external), amount and Education and Human Development. These are just a few highlights of duration. the many research projects taking place in the college and across the Michael Benz B. Lee Green, Jeffrey Guidry and Ranjita Misra Patricia Lynch, Linda Parrish and Laura Stough Department of Educational Psychology Department of Health and Kinesiology Department of Educational Psychology Texas A&M University Center on Excellence in Texas A&M University/Prairie View A&M Master’s Training Program for Special Educators Developmental Disabilities University Collaboration: Reducing Health and Transition Specialists of Students with Department of Health and Human Services – Disparities Low-Incidence Disabilities Administration for Children & Families National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Education $2.2 million over five years $1.2 million over three years $1.5 million over five years Susan Bloomfield (and co-PI Harry Hogan, Jan Hughes James McNamara and Carol Stuessy Department of Mechanical Engineering) Department of Educational Psychology Departments of Educational Psychology and Department of Health and Kinesiology Project Achieve-The Impact of Grade Retention: Teaching, Learning and Culture, respectively Increasing the Efficiency of Exercise A Developmental Approach Policy Research Initiative in Science Education Countermeasures for Bone Loss National Institutes of Health to Improve Teaching and Learning in High Baylor College of Medicine $2.7 million over five years School Science $1.8 million over four years National Science Foundation James Kracht (and co-PI Larry Johnson, $2.5 million over five years Linda Castillo Department of Veterinary Anatomy) Department of Educational Psychology College of Education and Human Development Doug Palmer Gulf Coast Gear Up Partnership Project Dean’s Office and Department of Teaching, Learning College of Education and Human Development U.S. Department of Education and Culture Dean’s Office $1.3 million over five years Integrating Environmental Health Science in School Training and Support in Qatar Rural Schools Supreme Education Council Dominique Chlup National Institutes of Health $8.8 million over four years Department of Educational Administration and $1.5 million over seven years Human Resource Development Susan Pedersen and Carol Stuessy (and co-PI Eric Texas Adult Literacy Clearinghouse Rafael Lara-Alecio Simanek, Department of Chemistry) Texas Education Agency Department of Educational Psychology Departments of Educational Psychology and of $1 million in 2006 Project ELLA (English Language/Literacy Teaching, Learning and Culture, respectively Acquisition) Track 1, GK 12: Building Understanding through Jon Denton U.S. Department of Education Research Partnerships and IT Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture $6.8 million over five years National Science Foundation An Online Alternative Certification Program at $1.9 million over three years Texas A&M University John Lawler (and co-PI Markus Horning, Texas U.S. Department of Education A&M University at Galveston) William Rupley and Deborah Simmons $1.8 million over five years Department of Health and Kinesiology Departments of Teaching, Learning and Culture and Collaborative Research: Aging in Weddell Seals: of Educational Psychology, respectively Cathy Ezrailson and Dennie Smith Proximate Mechanisms of Age-Related Changes Enhancing the Quality of Expository Text Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture in Adaptations to Breath Hold Hunting in an Instruction and Comprehension through Math TEKS Awareness Professional Extreme Environment Content and Case-Situated Professional Development Project National Science Foundation Development Texas A&M University System $449,358 over four years U.S. Department of Education $4.7 million in 2006 $1.5 million over three years

6 7 the first $5 million grant in 2002. The CREST Texas A&M University-Kingsville program helps minority-serving institutions enhance their research abilities. The program Awarded $5 Million addresses the significant underrepresentation of minorities in science, technology, engi- National Science neering and mathematics. A&M-Kingsville is classified as a Hispanic-serving institution, which is defined as a college or university Foundation Grant with Hispanic enrollment of at least 25 percent; A&M-Kingsville’s Hispanic enrollment is more than 60 percent. A&M-Kingsville’s CREST is the only one in the nation that focuses on maintaining natural resources in semi-arid coastal areas. Its work is carried out by a group of A&M- Kingsville faculty from the environmental engineering department, other engineering departments and faculty from other disci- plines, such as physics and geosciences. Dr. Kuruvilla John, associate dean of the College of Engineering, is the director of the center. “I was very excited when we got the news,” John said. “In particular, I was excited for the students, the faculty and the staff who have been an integral part of CREST-RESSACA Dr. Jianhong “Jennifer” Ren, assistant professor of environmental engineering, studies the movement of success. The continued funding acknowl- contaminants down rivers and streams in Texas A&M-Kingsville’s water lab. edges that the NSF recognizes our success at meeting our development goals.” by Jason Marton The new grant furthers the center’s efforts Texas A&M University-Kingsville A&M-Kingsville’s Center of Research to be self-sustaining, John added. “We will Excellence in Science and Technology-Research build on the success we’ve had in the first five An environmental research center based on Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid years to become a world-class entity that can in the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Coastal Areas (CREST-RESSACA) was one of sustain itself beyond the grant funding,” he Engineering at Texas A&M University- only two established CREST programs in the said. “In the next five years, we want CREST- Kingsville has garnered its second five-year, nation to receive a $5 million renewal grant this RESSACA to be the first name people think of $5 million grant from the National Science year. The other is based at the University of when it comes to research on environmental Foundation’s Centers of Research Excellence Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras. sustainability of semi-arid coastal areas.” in Science and Technology (CREST) program. The A&M-Kingsville center was founded with

The institute will train veterinarians, physi- Joan Read Chair in Texas Institute for cians, scientists, technicians and engineers to Veterinary Surgery at Texas meet the needs of Texas’ biomedical industry, A&M University’s College of Preclinical Studies and it will serve as a key resource for training Veterinary Medicine and undergraduate and graduate students, and Biomedical Sciences. An academic and industry personnel in regulatory internationally recognized (TIPS) Established issues. veterinary surgeon and “This institute is uniquely positioned to prominent leader in the at Texas A&M perform preclinical development and testing of field of heart research, drugs and devices leading to human clinical Fossum also is the director by Tina Evans trials,” said A&M System Chancellor Michael D. for cardiothoracic surgery Theresa Fossum A&M System Communications McKinney. “Faculty and students in the Texas and biomedical devices in The new Texas Institute for Preclinical Studies A&M Health Science Center and Texas A&M’s the Michael E. DeBakey Institute at Texas A&M. (TIPS) at Texas A&M University was formally College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical TIPS is supported with funding from a variety established May 25 by the A&M System Board Sciences, Dwight Look College of Engineering of sources, including $40 million in Permanent of Regents. and Mays Business School will develop partner- University Fund (PUF) bonding authority for its The institute will help set the stage for Texas ships with major medical centers throughout construction. In July, Gov. Rick Perry awarded a to expand its leadership role in biotech innova- the world to provide research and support ser- $6 million grant from the state’s Emerging tion. Along with companion activities at Texas vices complementing institute activity.” Technology Fund to support TIPS. Another $2.5 A&M, including the Texas Institute for Genomic By developing and creating new intellectual million has been committed for TIPS by the Medicine, currently under construction, TIPS is property, the institute will help new discoveries, Research Valley Partnership. The poised to elevate the A&M System’s position as a particularly medical devices and therapies, 112,000-square-foot TIPS facility will be located major player in research and discovery leading move more quickly from concept to the market- in Texas A&M’s Research Park. Construction is to the commercialization of new technologies, place to treat and prevent disease. slated for completion in spring 2009. products and start-up companies. TIPS director is Theresa W. Fossum, D.V.M., a professor of surgery and holder of the Tom and

News Briefs

Texas A&M University-Commerce scientists and a fatal crash than are young drivers taught by grades 4-8 at the NASA Means Business student students are developing a device that would detect commercial or public school driving instructors. competition at the Kennedy Space Center. The bacteria and fungus under light emitting diode The study, conducted for the National Highway program provides teachers with lesson plans, lights using fluorescence, in research funded by Traffic Safety Administration, analyzed 1.4 million lesson agenda downloads and videos on science a grant from NASA and Texas A&M Engineering’s driver records, a mail survey of young drivers and and technology for use in the classroom. Space Engineering Institute. The instrument nine focus groups of teen drivers, their parents would enable astronauts to obtain more accurate and driver education instructors. Guy Loneragan, assistant professor of animal and complete information while in orbit, resulting science and epidemiologist at West Texas A&M in fewer contaminated stocks and reducing the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) University, has been named co-investigator of a need for ground-based analysis of microbiological has completed its annual summer fire schools, project being funded by the USDA-Cooperative samples. training more than 3,000 American and inter State Research, Education, and Extension national firefighters. The three fire schools took Service that will focus on training feedlot per- Researchers with the Texas Transportation place at Brayton Fire Training Field near Texas sonnel in methods to further reduce the likeli- Institute have found that Texas teenagers taught A&M University, which is the world’s largest, live- hood that cattle carry bacterial pathogens. to drive by someone other than professional fire fueled training facility. Funding for the two-year, multi-university driver education instructors are more likely to project is almost $600,000, with West Texas be involved in serious traffic crashes. In fact, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s “Students A&M’s share approximately $130,000. the study found that parent-taught drivers are Today … NASA Tomorrow” team presented inter- nearly three times more likely to be involved in active lesson plans developed for students in

6 7 Saddling Up With Tarleton’s Therapeutic Riding Program

TREAT gives people with special needs the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and emotionally.

Photo by Chandra L. Orr

by Chandra L. Orr Tarleton State University Tarleton’s program is premier such as bipolar disorder, autism, cerebral palsy, The young boy ran toward the door with a wide The North American Riding for the Handi head injuries, stroke, emotional disturbances, grin and excitement shining from his eyes. capped Association (NARHA) was formed in the developmental delay, spina bifida, muscular Aaron O’Neill was on a mission—he wanted to 1970s to provide oversight for therapeutic riding dystrophy, visual impairment, Down syndrome, be the first in line. Aaron was racing through programs. Of the 43 therapeutic riding pro- multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, amputa- the doors of the equine barn at Tarleton State grams in Texas, TREAT is one of 16 considered tions, attention deficit disorders and deafness. University for his turn to ride a horse. by NARHA to be a Premier Accredited Center. Sixteen horses have been donated for use in Aaron is a participant in the Tarleton Equine TREAT coordinator David Snyder is a Tarleton the TREAT program. “The average age of our Assisted Therapy (TREAT), a therapeutic riding professor of animal science. horses is 20,” Snyder said. “Older horses tend to program that gives people with special needs The primary objective of the related classes at be calmer and more suited to our program. But and varying ability levels the chance to set goals Tarleton is to train college students to work with even after we accept a horse donation, it can to improve their quality of life via the horse. people who have special needs and do it using take up to a year of training before we place a “This program has been such a blessing to horses. Each semester, approximately 15 stu- rider on the horse.” our family,” said Glenda Bragg, Aaron’s grand- dents are enrolled in the basic course and an TREAT also organizes a children’s rodeo and mother. “Aaron has bipolar disorder, ADHD additional 50 students gain field experience in participates in the Month of Military Childhood (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and special education, adaptive physical education Festival at Fort Hood. TREAT is funded by also has panic disorder. Riding a horse teaches and nursing courses. Between 35 and 40 riders Tarleton and Stephenville individuals, organi- him how to stay focused and to learn what he participate each semester. zations and businesses, including Dr Pepper, can and can’t control.” Equine-assisted activities are an effective HEB, Wal-Mart and Dodge trucks. treatment for many people with special needs,

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