Contact: Pat Grauer, College of Osteopathic Medicine, (517) 353-0616, grauer@msu.edu; or Tom Oswald, University Relations, (517) 355-2281, oswald@msu.edu

11/30/2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) will use a $1.5 million grant from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations to fund a professorship dedicated to furthering biomedical research in the area of the neuromusculoskeletal system.

The grant from the Columbus, Ohio-based foundations will help create an endowed chair – the Osteopathic Heritage Professor.

“This major gift from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations will have a significant positive impact on our college, on the osteopathic profession and on the health of literally millions of people,” said William D. Strampel, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Because this research will help us to better understand the way in which nerves, muscles and bones function and relate, it will be applicable to a wide variety of health conditions, ranging from osteoarthritis to sports injuries.”

The first Osteopathic Heritage Professor will be recruited for his or her expertise in the neuromusculoskeletal system, which is not well understood even though more than 80 percent of Americans suffer pain of musculoskeletal origin.

The faculty member, who will be working in the new Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Research at MSUCOM, will provide the leadership necessary to coordinate the efforts of scientists in many disciplines, including biochemistry, neurology, physiology and radiology.

“We are proud to be associated with Michigan State,” said Rick Vincent, president of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. “The university and the college have solid reputations. We look forward to the research that is expected to advance the science of osteopathic medicine and health care, as well as advancing the science of medicine in general.”

The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations’ roots were first established in the 1960s with the incorporation of the Doctors Hospital Foundation in Columbus, Ohio. Today, two private, nonprofit foundations comprise the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations.

They share a common mission and vision, while maintaining separate boards and funding concentration, primarily in center and southeastern Ohio. The Columbus based foundation supports community health and quality of life issues, as well as osteopathic medical education and research throughout the nation.

For additional information on the foundations, visit the Web at www.osteopathicheritage.org