Research opportunities for UA medical students and faculty may be enhanced this semester following the appointment of a new associate dean at the College of Medicine.

Promoting research is one of Dr. David Alberts' goals as the newly appointed associate dean for research at the college. He took office in August, replacing Dr. Douglas Stuart, regents professor of physiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

A search committee was responsible for Alberts' appoint-ment. The committees' selection was based on Alberts' years of experience and involvement in research throughout the state, Stuart said.

"Alberts is a real top-notch scientist. He's been here since the 1970s, and has had a very distinguishable career," he said.

In 1975, Alberts joined the UA College of Medicine as assistant professor of internal medicine for Hematology-Oncology. Throughout his years of experience in clinical and laboratory research, Alberts also served as a faculty mentor.

"He's highly eligible to run the program," said Dr. Kit Lam, associate professor of medicine.

Lam was mentored by Alberts from 1987-89, while a clinical fellow at the UA College of Medicine.

Alberts served as deputy director of the Arizona Cancer Center for six years before being appointed associate dean for research. He has practiced medicine for 30 years, and has served as a clinical associate in the pharmacology research program at the National Cancer Institute.

Alberts has participated in studies in the Phoenix and Tucson areas for the prevention of various types of cancer. His work has resulted in the development of anti-cancer drugs and new nutritional and chemical approaches to cancer research.

Alberts said he plans to implement a Small Grants Program for assistant professors involved in research throughout the College of Medicine. He also plans to establish a Research Career Development Award for physician researchers. Applications for both programs will be available this month, Alberts said.

"The small grants will be for $15,000 per year, and the Research Career Development Awards will be up to $50,000 per year for two years," he said.

According to Alberts the awards will be funded by the College of Medicine administration.

Alberts said funding availability for research has decreased, while increasing demands are being made on faculty to teach. As a consequence, less time is available for research, he said.

"Without research, the medical field stagnates and ultimately, the College of Medicine will suffer greatly," Alberts said.

Alberts is continuing to develop new anti-cancer drugs, and strategies for prevention of skin, colon, breast and prostate cancer.

He said despite the entire cancer research budget being a fraction of the military budget, tremendous advances have been made.

"The majority of children with acute leukemia are cured of their disease, whereas, when I started my career, less than 5 percent lived five years," he said.

Throughout his career, Alberts said he has seen tremendous changes and advances in the treatment for ovarian cancer.

"I have seen the survival for patients with far-advanced disease progress from 12 months in the 1970s to 48 to 60 months (in the 90s)," Alberts said.

In addition, the cure rate for ovarian cancer has risen to more than 25 percent, he said.

Despite advances in cancer research, Alberts said more funding is necessary.

"It would help if more national resources were used to find better treatments and better prevention approaches for cancers, which take more than 500,000 lives each year," he said.

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics Sohcahtoa