College of Medicine Research Highlights
Research Centers and Institutes
Cardiovascular Research Institute
The Cardiovascular Research Institute was established in 1998 when the A&M System Board of Regents approved changing the name from the Microcirculation Research Institute, which was established in 1981. The purpose of the institute is to foster communication and collaboration among faculty involved in cardiovascular research, education and training. As part of the A&M System Health Science Center College of Medicine, the institute is made up of the Division of Vascular Biology, the Division of Molecular Cardiology and the Division of Molecular Medicine.
Center for Health Systems and Design
The Center for Health Systems and Design was established to transfer technology developed by disciplines outside medicine into health care. In collaboration with the Texas A&M University College of Architecture, the Center coordinates educational programs and interdisciplinary research into problems in health care facility design and development.
Center for the Study of Cell Surfaces
The Center for the Study of Cell Surfaces studies the molecular nature of cell surfaces and interactions between cells, especially involving pathogenic bacteria.
Center for Microencapsulation and Drug Delivery
The Center for Microencapsulation and Drug Delivery (CMDD) is a multidisciplinary faculty group from five colleges with the capability to design and test delivery of pharmaceuticals. Ongoing research includes basic and applied microencapsulation technologies for biomedical use, controlled release drug delivery systems, non-biomedical applications in nanotechnology, molecular biology assay systems, and microcapsule products for petrochemical, agricultural and environmental control industries. Associate members of the CMDD include researchers from other universities, the Institute for Research, Inc., Houston, Texas; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapeutics
The Institute conducts research and sponsors seminars on the origins and causes of disease at the molecular level. The institute is an interdisciplinary organization with members from the College of Medicine and numerous other colleges and institutes. It provides a formal mechanism for the interdisciplinary interactions necessary to approach, at the molecular level, contemporary problems such as cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiency states, alcoholism, malnutrition, aging, mental illness and inherited genetic disorders.
Institute of Ocular Pharmacology
The Institute of Ocular Pharmacology researches age-related and other conditions of the eye. Its studies include the delivery of drugs to the eye through the eyeball as well as through the blood stream. It is the first institute of its kind in the world to develop collaboration between ophthalmologists and pharmacologists to advance eye drug research.
Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance
The Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance serves as a central administrative structure to facilitate an active interchange among scientists and practitioners such as strength and sport conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, health and wellness coordinators, clinicians and rehabilitation specialists. It serves as a coordination and integration center for research and teaching in exercise science, sports science, sports medicine and human performance, and as a first-class research and teaching facility. The center uses distance education, the Internet, seminars, workshops and symposia to educate parents, coaches, athletes, physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, health educators and the general public throughout the state.
