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The newspaper of The Johns Hopkins University January 5, 2004 | Vol. 33 No. 16
 
New Offering: Molecular Targets and Drug Discovery Technologies

By Greg Rienzi
Homewood

To help meet the growing demand for scientists trained in drug discovery technologies, the Krieger School's Advanced Academic Programs and the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute have partnered to develop a fellowship and concentration to be offered through AAP's Biotechnology program.

Starting in fall 2004, five students will be selected for the two-year fellowship program that combines classwork toward a master of science in biotechnology degree and a paid internship at CCR/NCI laboratories in Bethesda, Md.

Students will receive hands-on training from professional scientists engaged in important cancer research, learning, among other things, how to effectively access genome and protein databases, use high throughput robotic equipment and screen chemical and natural compound libraries that could inhibit cancer cell growth.

The fellows will receive two years of paid tuition and a stipend in the low-$20s, contingent on acceptance to JHU's Biotechnology program and NCI's fellowship program.

"The idea is to attract a student who doesn't necessarily want to go to medical school or a doctoral program but wants to have a career in the biopharmaceutical industry," said Patrick Cummings, senior associate program chair for the Master of Science in Biotechnology program. "There is a real need for training in this field. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are crying out for people with knowledge and hands-on experience in drug discovery technologies."

In addition to the fellowship program, the new concentration, Molecular Targets and Drug Discovery Technologies, will be available to qualified students enrolled in the Biotechnology program. To earn their degree, students must complete 10 courses: four core courses, four in their concentration and two electives. The new concentration courses are Molecular Targets and Cancer, Bioassay Development, Chemical Libraries and Diversity, and High Throughput Screening and Automation Laboratory.

Fellowship applications will be available in January and are due April 1.

For more information, contact Patrick Cummings at 410-516-4724 or cupat@jhu.edu.

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