University of Virginia Health System

U.VA RESEARCHER AWARDED HALF-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT

Thorner's research focuses on two different aspects of growth hormone regulation. First, he has a major interest in helping to define and understand the mechanism by which growth hormone declines with age. Secondly, his studies explore the possibilities of enhancing growth hormone secretion in the elderly.

The metabolic grant program through which unrestricted grants are given by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation offers the world's premier metabolic research institutions the opportunity to pursue new laboratory findings, support promising young scientists or acquire new laboratory technology.

This grant will allow us to leverage our research in a unique way, Thorner explained. We will be able to pursue more innovative and speculative projects. The traditional granting mechanisms require preliminary data and proof of concept before funds are approved and released. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity which we will use judiciously and effectively.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Unrestricted Metabolic Research Grants Program is one of seven grants programs funded by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. The others support research in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, infectious disease, neuroscience, nutrition and orthopaedics. Since the program was initiated in 1977, more than $87 million has been committed to these programs in 179 institutions worldwide.

Each of the seven Bristol-Myers Squibb Unrestricted Biomedical Research Grants Programs also consists of an annual award for distinguished achievement to an individual researcher. As the supervisor of an unrestricted metabolic research grant, Thorner is a member of an independent Selection Committee that selects the winner of the annual $50,000 Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Metabolic Research.

Dr. Thorner is a leading investigator of the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of the secretion of growth hormones, said Richard Gregg, M.D., vice president, metabolic and Cardiovascular Drug Discovery, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute. He is doing exciting work in understanding alterations in growth hormone secretion with aging, the neuropeptides and receptors involved in the regulation of growth hormone secretion and the modulation of this secretory pathway. We are very proud to have him as a participant in our unrestricted research grants program.

May 25, 2000