2015 Norman R. Alpert Research Prize Winners Announced

Dr. Nicholas H. Heintz, CMB Program Director at the University of Vermont, recently announced the winners of the 2015 Norman R. Alpert Research Award. Brian Cunnif and Kheng Newick won as co-first authors for their publication, "Disabling Mitochondrial Peroxide Metabolism via Combinatorial Targeting of Peroxiredoxin 3 as an Effective Therapeutic Approach for Malignant Mesothelioma".

In recognition of the winners, Dr. Heintz states "These two graduate students at the University of Vermont worked collaboratively on a promising new approach to cancer therapy – killing highly aggressive tumors by accentuating endogenous oxidative stress – and proved that inactivating a key antioxidant enzyme causes tumors to choke on their own metabolic exhaust. In the early phases of this work Dr. Paul Held of BioTek was instrumental is the development of assays that allowed rapid assessment of candidate compounds, allowing us to narrow our search and focus on promising leads. The entire group of investigators deserves credit for a job well done."

Norman R. Alpert was Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Vermont from 1966 to 1995. Dr. Alpert was an outstanding teacher, internationally renowned investigator of cardiac hypertrophy and founder of BioTek Instruments, Inc. One of Dr. Alpert’s many strengths was the mentoring young scientists. The Norman R. Alpert Research Prize was established to honor his commitment to training emerging talent in the biosciences. The prize is awarded annually for the best peer-reviewed research article by a graduate student in the Cellular, Molecular and Biosciences (CMB) Program at the University of Vermont.

CMB students and their publications are nominated by their thesis advisor or member of their thesis studies committee. Published manuscripts nominated for the prize are then evaluated for originality, technical merit, impact and creative contributions of the student by a committee consisting of five faculty members that represent the entire expanse of research investigation in the CMB Program. The prize consists of a certificate and a cash award sponsored by BioTek Instruments.

BioTek Instruments, Inc., headquartered in Winooski, VT, USA, is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of microplate instrumentation and software. These technologies are used to aid life science research, facilitate drug discovery, provide rapid and cost-effective analysis, and enable sensitive, accurate quantification of molecules across diverse applications. BioTek espouses a "Think Possible" approach that sets the tone for fresh ideas, unsurpassed customer service and original innovations. The company is frequently honored for local accomplishments and technological innovations, including Best Places to Work in Vermont, Frost & Sullivan North American New Product Innovation Award for Workflow Solutions in Life Sciences, SelectScience’s Drug Discovery Product of the Year – Scientists' Choice Award, and a Silver Edison Award for the Cytation Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader.