Last year, the Board committed $4 million in Estate Tax revenue to fund expanded research initiatives at the System's three research campuses during the 1997-1999 biennium. Known as the Applied Research Initiative, this program encouraged faculty to enhance their research capability by seeking new partners who would then match, dollar for dollar, applied research funds.

Within the initiative's first year, these combined funds have successfully been used to work on private industry, federal and state projects that have expanded the capability of Nevada's three research institutions.

"This report shows that a small investment in higher education can reap fantastic returns for Nevada," said Regent Dorothy Gallagher, chair of the Academic, Research & Student Affairs Committee. "Not only do our faculty and students have the opportunity to contribute to top-caliber science on a national level, they also have a positive impact on the prestige and financial health of their institution."

An allocation of $2 million was available to the three campuses for 1997-1998 as follows: Desert Research Institute, $650,000; University of Nevada, Las Vegas, $675,000; University of Nevada, Reno, $675,000. The remaining $2 million will be expended in 1998-1999.

Fifty-three projects are currently funded under the initiative and 25 are still pending. Seventy-eight companies and agencies will support 80 UCCSN faculty and researchers in collaborative efforts to conduct applied research.

Research projects underway include: research on an alternative fuel consisting of mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas; studying customer loyalty; use of meal replacements in obesity treatment; testing and monitoring a device to destroy waste organic chemicals; and an investigation of low pH topical treatment for skin cancer.

For a complete list of the ongoing projects, please contact the UCCSN's External Relations office in Las Vegas at (702) 889-8426.

Comprised of two doctoral-granting universities, four comprehensive community colleges and one environmental research institution, the University and Community College System of Nevada serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, the UCCSN provides educational opportunities to more than 78,000 students.