University Of Florida Brain Institute Building Dedication

What: Building Dedication of a new $60 million facility housing the technological heart of the University of Florida Brain Institute, an international resource for multi-disciplinary studies of injuries, disease and many other aspects of the brain, central nervous system and spine. Already garnering close to $25 million annually in external grants and private gifts, the Brain Institute encompasses faculty from more than 50 UF academic departments and from more than 75 research institutes and universities throughout the world.

When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998

Time: News media preview tours and interviews 2-3:15 p.m. Dedication ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

Where: University of Florida Brain Institute building, southeast corner of UF Health Science Center behind Shands at UF. Turn north off Archer Road onto Newell Drive.

How: Senior scientists will be on hand for interviews and to explain their use of highly advanced research technologies in studies of brain and spine diseases and injuries. Tour sites include the neurosurgery training laboratories; the hub of the institute's complex computer network; the imaging suite built to house powerful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems for animal and human research; the UF-invented Human Patient Simulator used in teaching anesthesiologists and emergency medical specialists, and the radiosurgery biology lab where a team of physicians and basic scientists will investigate better ways to locate and treat obscure brain and spinal lesions.

Who: Top national officials from Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs have been invited to join UF President John Lombardi, UF Brain Institute Director William Luttge and state and local officials.

FOR INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND PACKETS, CONTACT:

Arline Phillips-Han, Director, UF Health Science Center Office of Public Information
Phone (352) 392-9542 FAX (352) 392-9220 e-mail: [email protected]

John Lester, Associate Director, UF News and Public Affairs, University of Florida
Phone (352) 392-0186 FAX (352) 392-3358 e-mail: [email protected]

UF Brain Institute web site: http://www.ufbi.ufl.edu