UNLV has received a donation of 11 high-end SUN computers from the Monsanto Co. valued at $1.25 million.
The SUN Enterprise computers will enable UNLV scientists to speed up their research in the area of "bioinformatics," a relatively new interdisciplinary field that integrates mathematical sciences, computer sciences, and biology. Research on genome analysis - the study of the genes of humans, plants, and animals - is considered part of the bioinformatics field.
The donation, which was made through the UNLV Foundation, will also enable UNLV researchers to build more competitive research programs in genome analysis.
"The donation of this type of computer equipment is a wonderful development for UNLV and the researchers in the College of Sciences," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "It illustrates the university's firm commitment to the pursuit of cutting-edge research and will enhance its ability to compete with other major research institutions for grant funding. We are grateful to the Monsanto Company for this generous donation."
"Any time we receive sophisticated equipment such as this, we improve our academic reputation," said Ray Alden, UNLV's provost. "It enables us to attract high- quality faculty and students because it facilitates their research. It also promotes collaboration and provides faculty with greater opportunities to train students in this emerging field."
"We are pleased to be able to offer these computers to UNLV in support of their genomics and bioinformatics research. This donation will further demonstrate the value of our relationship with UNLV," said Deborah J. Patterson, president of the Monsanto Fund and director of social responsibility.
Alden noted that the university is planning to initiate an interdisciplinary bioinformatics research/education program that will further enhance opportunities for study in this area.
Fred Bachhuber, interim dean of UNLV's College of Sciences, said, "This is an exciting development that will allow UNLV scientists to advance in their research in the field of bioinformatics."
Carl Reiber, chair of the biological sciences department, said the new computer equipment will be used by many UNLV faculty members in a number of departments, including biological sciences, mathematical sciences, and computer sciences, for a variety of projects. "It will also markedly enhance our competitive edge in obtaining federal funding for such research."
Jeff Shen, a UNLV biology professor who conducts extensive genome analysis in his research, said the new computers will cut the time it takes to perform a given project from months down to a single day.
"Our research has attracted the attention of scientists nationwide and is supported by major federal governmental agencies, including the USDA, the National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), and the National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network," Shen said. "Just a couple of weeks ago I was invited to give a presentation at Yale University, and this month I will make a presentation at UCLA. This equipment will enable us to work much more efficiently to produce genome analysis results."
He added that the new equipment will also allow him and his collaborators to post their results on the Web so that scientists and students worldwide can access them. Shen said the equipment could also be shared with other institutions to generate revenue.
An example of the research Shen is conducting with other UNLV professors is his search for the water-saving genes in the creosote bush found in the Mojave Desert. The goal of the research is to produce a water-saving, yet environmentally safe, turf grass and other landscaping plants with the genes from the creosote bush. The availability of drought-tolerant turf and landscaping could mean substantially less water usage in the community and state, Shen noted, particularly in home landscaping and golf course creation and maintenance.
