Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC             September 11, 1995
(Phone:  202/358-1979)


RELEASE:  95-151

NASA SELECTS UNIVERSITIES FOR LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH

     NASA has selected three universities to serve as NASA 
Specialized Centers of Research and Training (NSCORTs) to 
increase scientists' understanding of the role that Earth's 
gravity plays in living things. 

      North Carolina State University, Rice University and 
Rutgers University were selected to serve as NSCORTs for 
the next five years.  The selections were made on the basis 
of merit as judged by peer review panels assembled by the 
American Institute of Biological Sciences.  NASA plans to 
award each of the universities approximately $1 million a 
year for five years.

     North Carolina State University in Raleigh was 
designated a NSCORT in gravitational biology.  Eric Davies, 
Ph.D., head of the botany department, is the director of 
the new center.  Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem is 
a collaborating partner.

     Rice University in Houston, TX, also was designated a 
NSCORT in gravitational biology.  The center director is 
Larry V. McIntire, Ph.D., the chair of the university's 
Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering.  NASA's 
Johnson Space Center in Houston is a partner with Rice.

     Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, was 
designated a NSCORT in bioregenerative life support.  Harry 
W. Janes, Ph.D., professor of horticulture and forestry, is 
the director.  Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, 
NJ, is a collaborating partner.

     The NSCORT program is an integral part of NASA's 
research and analysis activities to advance basic knowledge 
of the role of gravity in living systems and create 
effective methods for solving specific problems in the 
space life sciences.  This program is established 
exclusively to support ground research and analysis in 
various research specialties.




                    -more-

                     -2-

     The addition of these universities brings the total 
number of NASA-funded NSCORTs to eight.  The previously 
selected institutions and their specialties include:

     Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, CA - Radiation Health
     Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 
(funded jointly 
          by National Institutes of Health)- Vestibular 
Research
     Ohio State University (funded jointly by National 
Science 
          Foundation) - Plant Biology
     University of California, San Diego - Exobiology
     University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center - 
Integrated
          Physiology

     In addition, Germany is funding a NSCORT in radiation 
health at the University of Giessen.

                    - end - 

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