Eagles give research wings

In a world of multimillion dollar grants for cancer research, the $75,000 that Assistant Professor John Wyrick received from the Fraternal Order of Eagles seems small. However, the impact on his career, and the careers of his students, could be substantial.

“This grant will jumpstart my research into a more applied area of cancer biology,” he explained. “I have been working on yeast genetics as a model to study cancer. Now we can extrapolate the insights and methods we’ve developed working with yeast into research about breast cancer.

“We hope this grant will give us the proof of concept that will enable us to apply for the big national grants. This could be pivotal for my future and, I hope, important for cancer research.”

Wyrick will use gene-chip technology to measure changes to gene-associated proteins in normal and cancerous breast tissue. He will collaborate with Raymond Reeves, professor of molecular biology, who has expertise in working with breast cancer cells.
Wyrick said the grant also will be valuable for his students: “First, more students will be able to work in my lab. Second, this project will serve as an excellent example to students in my bioinformatics class.”

Diane Clark of Colfax, state Eagles president and a former WSU employee, contacted Gary Meadows, director of the WSU Cancer Prevention and Research Center, with a plan to raise money for cancer research at the center.

Meadows established an internal competition emphasizing innovation and collaboration. Of the half-dozen submitted proposals, he selected Wyrick’s based upon the recommendations of a peer review panel.

“It’s seed money,” Meadows said of the grant. “Leverage to be more competitive for the large national grants in the future.”

“Knowledge advances faster through the funding of new ideas, but there is little money for that in the traditional funding sources. That is why this grant from the Fraternal Order of Eagles is so important.”