MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath

561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU and Scripps Florida Sign Joint Agreements to Facilitate Science Education Collaboration

            BOCA RATON, FL (March 14, 2006) - Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Florida has signed a “joint education agreement” to facilitate cooperative activities promoting education and research in areas involving biomedical science and related fields.  The agreement establishes a framework for potential collaborations in the areas of graduate and professional education, including post-doctoral training; undergraduate education and training, including laboratory and administrative internships and, community outreach activities, including continuing education for credit and service activities. 

            “The reality of the Scripps phenomenon becomes more and more evident everyday as FAU and Scripps scientists join together in their research efforts,” said FAU President Frank T. Brogan.  “This collaboration will not only serve the community and the state, but will certainly prove beneficial on a global scale.”

            As a result of the joint education agreement, opportunities for collaboration will be pursued, including joint faculty appointments, expansion of internship opportunities, and development of a new secondary school outreach program emphasizing degrees in the sciences and much more. 

            “A major mission of The Scripps Research Institute, and thus of Scripps Florida, is educating the scientists of the future," said William Roush, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, executive director of medicinal chemistry, and associate dean of the graduate programs at Scripps Florida. "This agreement provides a framework for planning and implementing a variety of programs at different levels with FAU and gives us a blueprint for partnerships with other educational institutions throughout the region and state."

            This agreement comes on the heels of a recently signed “joint cooperation agreement” between FAU and Scripps Florida to facilitate scientific collaborations between FAU and Scripps scientists.  This joint cooperation agreement created three templates to be used for scientific collaboration – a material transfer agreement for the exchange of scientific materials; an interinstitutional agreement to manage jointly owned intellectual property and its commercialization process and a collaborative research agreement outlining the collaborative work, the allocation of responsibilities and sources of funding, if it originates outside of Scripps or FAU.  To date, there are approximately seven collaborations occurring between FAU faculty and Scripps scientists, including research in the areas of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

            “FAU’s scientific collaborations with Scripps Florida provide a framework for additional opportunities for the discovery and development of lifesaving therapies and pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Larry F. Lemanski, vice president for FAU’s Division of Research. “This relationship further advances FAU’s position as a major research institution and our commitment to the betterment of health and human condition worldwide.”

            For more information on the scientific collaborations occurring between FAU and Scripps Florida, contact Jeanie McGuire at 561-297-0202.

- FAU -

FloridaAtlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the university serves 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts eight colleges - the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering & Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs.