Welcome to the W. Harry Feinstone Center for Genomic Research. These are exciting times at the University of Memphis. Under the new leadership of Dr. Shirley C. Raines, President of the University of Memphis, we are undergoing a metamorphoses into a strong urban research university. As the largest comprehensive university in the city of Memphis, there is a great opportunity to develop and strengthen our ongoing activities in science, mathematics and engineering in support of the biotechnology industry and world class biomedical research institutions of this city. The imagination and financial support of one of community’s strongest scientific leaders, Dr. W. Harry Feinstone has provided a broad technological based umbrella under which to strengthen the research enterprise of the university.

The purpose of the center is to foster research and graduate education in the area of genomic research, particularly functional genomics, providing a focal point for these activities within the University of Memphis and the Memphis scientific community. Now that the complete genome sequences of humans, mice and several additional model organisms have been determined, a shift in emphasis is occurring from the physical and chemical structure of the genome to the biological function of the information encoded by the genome. Functional genomics involves the study global genome-wide or “system-wide” function. Currently, a major focues of this research is to define the influence of both genetic and environmental factors on gene expression, towards the goal of understanding the anatomy of the genome and the functions associated with sets of genetic information. A number of emerging technologies that include high density gene microarrays (genechips) have the potential to revolutionize the way we define public health problems and characterize basic biological processes by making it possible for the simultaneous monitoring of thousands of parameters at the level of the gene and its products. These new technologies are helping scientists to redefine infectious and chronic diseases, aging and responses to environmental pollutants and drugs, in terms of complex integrated pathways. These same technologies are providing rapid advances in the areas of agriculture and bioremediation.