Untitled Document

-more-

Ohio
State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

Experts

Mad Cow Disease experts
Ohio State University veterinarians and food-animal health experts are available to speak with the media about the first case of mad cow disease found in the United States and its potential impact on the beef industry.
“I don't have any doubts about the safety of our food supply,” said Mo Saif, chair of the Food Animal Health Research Program at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster. “I'm very confident that the testing that's been taking place will reveal any case of the disease that may be out there.”
Contacts include:
*Brian Roe, associate professor of agricultural economics, can discuss the impact on beef prices; 614-688-5777 or roe.30@osu.edu
*Mo Saif, chair of the Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, (419) 846-3011 or saif.1@osu.edu"
*Bill Shulaw, Ohio State University Extension beef/sheep veterinarian, (614) 292-7570 or shulaw.1@osu.edu
*Srinand Sreevatsan, scientist with the Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, (330) 263-3745 or sreevatsan.1@osu.edu

Research

Ohio State creates first-ever horse “gene chip” – Researchers at Ohio State University have created the first DNA gene chip that contains thousands of the genes for a horse and one of the first gene chips for a domestic animal. The new chip houses more than 3,200 expressed horse genes on a sliver of glass about the size of a postage stamp. This new chip will allow researchers to scan an individual horses genes at once to see which ones are active in a certain situation. For example, drug companies might use a gene chip to predict how a particular drug will affect an animal. “Although we rely on animal models to study human diseases, we really aren't sure what some of the genetic differences are between those animal models and humans,” said Alicia Bertone, the professor of veterinary clinical sciences who led Ohio State's efforts in developing the equine gene chip. Contact: Alicia Bertone, 614-292-6661; Bertone.1@osu.edu see http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/genechip.htm

News

$6 million gift to study smoking-induced disease – A multifaceted center to study how cigarette and other types of smoke-induced lung, heart and other diseases will be developed at The Ohio State University as the result of a $6 million gift from the Lorillard Tobacco Company. The center will be led by Dr. Jay Zweier, director of the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, and Dr. Frederick Villamena, a research scientist in the institute. Zweier and Villamena will be joined by scientists from several fields to form the Center of Biomedical Technology for the Study of Environmental and Smoking Induced Disease. Designation of the center is pending the approval of the OSU Board of Trustees. Work of the researchers will help move scientists closer to being able to determine how smoking and exposure to other inhaled environmental and occupational contaminants influence the disease process, particularly heart and lung conditions. Terms of the gift stipulate the research will not be influenced by anyone associated with Lorillard and the findings will be made available without restrictions to other researchers, companies and individuals.Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737, or crawford.1@osu.edu

Events

Fiesta Bowl week features many Ohio State events – through Jan. 2.
Community Service, parades, and a rousing rehearsal by The Ohio State University Marching Band are among the Fiesta Bowl activities that media are invited to cover. Events this week include:
*In Columbus
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29 and 30
Before leaving Columbus, the marching band will rehearse the pre-game and halftime shows from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29, and from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, 2491 Olentangy River Road.

*In Arizona
Wednesday, Dec. 31
10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Community Service at the Fiesta Bowl
St. Vincent de Paul Memorial Dining Room
119 S. 9th Ave. - Phoenix
For the fifth consecutive year, Ohio State will repay the city hosting its bowl game by organizing and performing community service projects to benefit the area. Members of the Ohio State and Kansas State University communities will help prepare and serve food to between 800 and 1,000 homeless people. President Karen Holbrook, OSU Board of Trustees Chairman Zuheir Sofia and eight members of the Buckeye football team are among those taking part in the initiative.
Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. President Holbrook will be available to speak with media at 10 a.m. Other members of Ohio State are volunteering at St. Mary's Food Bank, 2831 N. 31st Ave. Volunteers will be there from 10 a.m. to noon working to assemble emergency food kits for local families in need of assistance.

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade
Central Avenue - Phoenix
President Holbrook, the Marching Band and Ohio State cheerleaders will take part in the parade.

7 p.m. - Marching Band - Short Parade and Pep Rally
Tempe Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party
North on Mill Avenue ending in Tempe Beach Park

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004

9 to 11:30 a.m. Band - Marching and Playing Rehearsal
Tempe High School Stadium
1730 South Mill Ave. - Tempe
More than 1,000 people attended last year's rehearsal.

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Buckeye Bash
Tempe Diablo Stadium
2200 Alameda Drive - Tempe
3:30 p.m. Marching Band performance
Annual bowl gathering of Buckeye faithful with Coach Tressel, players, cheerleaders and the band.

9:30 p.m. - Marching Band performance - Fiesta Bowl National (H.S.) Band Championship
Bank One Ballpark - Phoenix

Friday, Jan. 2
3 to 4 p.m. - Marching Band performance - Pre-game Party
Arizona State University Festival Grounds, North Stadium Lot

5:45 p.m. - Marching Band - Pre-game Performance - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Band Halftime with the Kansas State Band

6 p.m. Fiesta Bowl kickoff

Contacts:
Ohio State Marching Band
The Band will be staying at the Fiesta Inn, 2100 S. Priest Drive in Tempe, Ariz.: (480) 967-1441
Columbus - Steinbrenner Band Center in Columbus, (614) 292-2598
Tempe - Band director Jon Woods at the Fiesta Inn, (480) 967-1441
Contact - David Carwile, (614) 323-4046 (cell)

Community Service at the Fiesta Bowl
St. Vincent DePaul Society, 119 S. 9th Ave. in Phoenix, Ariz., (602) 495-3065
http://www.stvincentdepaul.net
Contact - Shannon Wingard, (614) 620-1621 (cell)

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.