Ann Arbor, MI — April 11, 2006 — A biomedical engineering doctoral student who is conducting research in the laboratory of a School of Dentistry department chair is one of only 12 persons nationwide to receive a prestigious award from the United Negro College Fund and Merck, a global research-driven pharmaceutical company.

Glenda Pettway was recently selected for the UNCF/Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship based on her academic and scientific achievements and letters of recommendation. UNCF and Merck established the award to help increase the number of African Americans in biomedical science education and research.

Pettway will receive a $25,000 award from the chief executive officer of Merck during a June program in Pennsylvania. "I plan to use the award to help finance the final year of my graduate studies," she said. In addition to the stipend, Pettway will be mentored by a scientist at Merck and will also have an opportunity to visit the company's research laboratories.

Pettway, who works in the laboratory of Dr. Laurie McCauley, chair of the School's Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, is engaged in novel tissue engineering research to study the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on bone. "PTH has great therapeutic potential for treating osteoporosis. Although studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of PTH on bone," she said, "much is still unclear about the mechanisms of its anabolic actions. The goal of our research is to determine how these mechanisms work and why."

Strong Interest in Math and Science

A chemical engineering major as an undergraduate, Pettway said she has always had a strong interest in math and science. In college, she was an intern with companies in the chemical and biomedical device industries, working in both manufacturing and research, and development environments. "I really enjoyed research and determined that I wanted to conduct research in an area that would improve the quality of life for people," she said.

Using those experiences as a springboard, Pettway attended graduate school and gravitated to biomedical engineering, combining engineering principles and biology to help solve biological problems. "When I started graduate school, I knew I wanted to do research in biotechnology/tissue engineering, but didn't know in what area specifically," she said. After meeting with several professors to discuss their research interests, she decided to work with McCauley. "I really enjoyed working in her laboratory while pursuing my master's degree and decided to continue working there as a doctoral student," Pettway added.

The company will also award $10,000 to the School's Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine to purchase research supplies.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.

###