MdBioLab Forms Coalition With Other Mobile Bioscience Labs

TIGR-Supported MdBioLab On Display at BIO Convention

June 23, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mobile bioscience labs are on a roll. In an innovative effort to help high school bioscience education keep pace with fast-moving research advances, the nation's mobile bioscience labs are forming a coalition called MobileLabs USA to help coordinate lesson plans and to foster new teaching labs on wheels.

At a news conference on June 23 at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Convention in Washington, D.C., representatives from all four mobile labs - including the newest and biggest, the TIGR-supported MdBioLab in Maryland - announced the new coalition and showed off their labs, which now visit schools in four states.

Representatives of the mobile biolabs from Maryland (MdBioLab), Massachusetts (MobileLab), Connecticut (BioBus), and North Carolina (Destiny) said the new coalition will assist and advise developing mobile laboratory programs, develop and disseminate bioscience lesson plans and collaborate with national agencies to raise funds to support a national network of mobile lab programs.

The concept of the mobile bioscience laboratory was pioneered by Dr. Carl Franzblau, the Associate Dean of Graduate Biomedical Science at Boston University, who helped found Boston's MobileLab, the first mobile bioscience lab, in 1998. At the BIO news conference, Franzblau said that representatives of the MobileLabs USA coalition will propose that Congress consider establishing a new Science Corps that would staff mobile labs with young scientists and teachers. "The success of Boston's MobileLab is evidenced by the development of the other mobile science laboratories represented at this conference, the newest of which is the MdBioLab unit. All four mobile laboratory programs have formed a coalition to help introduce the joy, excitement and opportunity of science to every student in the nation."

Those labs on wheels offer state-of-the-art laboratory facilities as well as communications equipment that provides online access to video conferencing, bioinformatics databases, and other resources for students and teachers. MdBioLab, which can accommodate entire classes of up to 32 students at once, is the largest of the mobile labs so far. Designed to enhance bioscience curricula for students and teachers during its weeklong stays at high schools throughout Maryland, from rural areas to inner cities, the program is expected to reach as many as 15,000 students and hundreds of science teachers a year.

The new 18-wheel mobile laboratory was developed by a partnership of MdBio Inc., a private not-for-profit organization, with two cutting-edge research centers: TIGR, a not-for-profit research institute, and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI). Donations from Fisher Scientific International Inc. and The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health provided all of the laboratory equipment. Other sponsors include Bio-Rad, SAIC-Frederick, and Montgomery County, MD.

TIGR's President, genome biologist Claire M. Fraser, says the mobile lab will benefit both students and teachers "by sparking their interest in bioscience and by exposing them to cutting-edge technology." UMBI President Jennie C. Hunter-Cevera, a microbiologist, says: "Rapid advances in science and technology demand educational programs like MdBioLab that are responsive and accessible." C. Robert Eaton, the President of MdBio, Inc., says "we expect MdBioLab to yield great benefits across the board" by inspiring some students to choose a career in bioscience and giving others "a basic understanding of the promises and limitations of biotechnology."

MdBio is a private, not-for-profit corporation that supports commercial development of bioscience in Maryland. TIGR is a not-for-profit research institute in Rockville that conducts research involving the structural, functional, and comparative analysis of genomes and gene products. UMBI is an institute associated with the University of Maryland whose five research and education centers are dedicated to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology.

The initial MdBioLab curriculum, which aims to introduce students to important concepts in molecular biology, genomics and related fields, was developed by CityLab of the Boston University Medical School and UMBI's SciTech Education Program, and was adapted by TIGR's education department. The problem-solving lessons teach students about such issues as sickle cell anemia diagnosis and forensic DNA-fingerprinting.

MdBioLab is an initiative between MdBio, Inc., TIGR, and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI). The Mobile Lab provides a compelling learning environment centered on bioscience for high school students and their teachers throughout the state of Maryland. While the primary focus is on enhancing bioscience awareness at the high school level, including student and teacher training, MdBioLab also effectively illustrates various pathways for students to pursue successful bioscience careers. It therefore addresses a primary industry concern as well, i.e., the need for a pipeline of qualified workers at all levels that will allow the bioscience industry in Maryland to continue its growth. For more information go to http://www.mdbiofoundation.org/

MobileLab is a forty-foot traveling science laboratory whose mission is to increase community access to modern day biotechnology. It is specially designed for grade 7-12 teachers and their students to participate in hands-on laboratory investigations. MobileLab staff work closely with participants during the laboratory sessions. The MobileLab is completely self-contained, providing state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The MobileLab is wheelchair accessible. For more information go to http://www.bumc.bu.edu/citylab

BioBus program was initiated to enrich the scientific curriculum at middle and high schools with unique experimental experiences in the state of Connecticut. It is a custom-designed, mobile, state-of-the-art, fully equipped biotechnology laboratory. Twenty-six biotechnology, educational research, pharmaceutical, and supporting organizations contributed 3.6 million dollars over the next 5 years to help CURE and Connecticut Innovations bring the bus to schools free of charge. 

Destiny - The Traveling Science Laboratory, a 40-foot long, custom-equipped science and technology vehicle, delivers cutting-edge curriculum and Internet access to the people of North Carolina. The purpose of this program is to improve the quality of science education. DESTINY is a fully self-contained lab. The traveling lab accommodates 12 lab stations for a total of 24 students aboard. Twelve laptop computers, equipped with wireless Internet capabilities, were provided by IBM. 

Media Contacts:

TIGR:
Robert Koenig
TIGR Public Affairs Manager
301-838-5880
e-mail: rkoenig@tigr.org

MdBio:
Stacey Franklin (project leader)
301.228.2445

UMBI:
Steve Berberich
301.990.4804

MobileLabs USA:
Don DeRosa
617.638.5629