CONTACTS:
Richard Sheehe: sheehe@gwu.edu; (202) 994-8110
Cathy Loranger: clorange@su.edu; (540) 665-4510

GW UNIVERSITY AND SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY TO
LAUNCH PHARMACOGENOMICS PROGRAM

ASHBURN, Va.— Taking the pulse of the rapidly evolving field of genetics, The George Washington University (GW) and Shenandoah University (SU) are collaborating on a unique undergraduate program in Pharmacogenomics to debut in the fall semester of 2005. This will be the only undergraduate program of its kind in the country. The program will begin accepting student applications this spring.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a person's genetics affect the body's response to drugs. Genetic testing to predict drug response and then tailoring drug therapies to individual patients is the cornerstone of this field. This fast-growing field is expected to generate a market of $2 billion by the year 2006.

GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg said the two institutions saw a clear need in the marketplace and responded with an academic solution. "This new program involves the unique contributions of two dynamic educational institutions and is designed to create a solution to an existing and growing challenge of creating highly skilled workers in the emerging field of pharmacogenomics."

Shenandoah President James A. Davis added, "The mission of the program is to offer a world-class education to students interested in the interface of the sciences of genetics and pharmacy. In addition, the pharmacogenomics track will develop a clear career pathway so students may enter this fast-growing field at multiple levels and with varying degrees of sophistication."

This endeavor will combine the expertise of both universities, linking Shenandoah University, a community-based institution with the highly regarded Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, and GW University, an urban institution with an academic health center strong in the basic sciences to mold a strong and creative program. Students who choose this new discipline will earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (B.S. in HS) and will be admitted as juniors and seniors after completing at least 60 credits of coursework from a community college, college or university. The junior year of study in this program will focus on basic sciences and the core courses for the B.S. in HS and will be taught by GW faculty.  In the senior year, students will be taught by Shenandoah University faculty with the curriculum that doubles for the first year of SU's Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program.

Dr. Alan McKay, dean of the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University, observed that "pharmacogenomics will change everything about the delivery of healthcare. Every major health professionals program recognizes the need to prepare students for the rapidly changing healthcare environment. No where is this challenge greater than in the area of pharmacogenomics."

GW's Senior Associate Dean of Health Sciences Jean Johnson, Ph.D., FAAN said, "Our program will prepare students for a variety of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to positioning them for advanced education in the field."

With the biotech industry growing rapidly, students who stop at the BS level in this program will be recruited for jobs in laboratories and other positions in the pharmaceutical industry. The program also creates a dynamic approach to helping students who want to earn both a B.S. in HS and a Pharm.D., giving them the opportunity to complete both degree requirements in seven instead of eight years.

The program will be located primarily at The George Washington University Virginia Campus in Loudoun County. The GW Virginia Campus was created in 1991 as the university's research and technology campus.

For information, or to apply for the new pharmacogenomics program, call (202) 994-0844 or apply online at www.gwumc.edu/healthsci.

Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation'[s capital. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 120 countries.

Shenandoah University is a comprehensive Level VI private university with an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, the School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care) and the School of Continuing Education. The university offers more than 80 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.  For more information, contact the Public Relations Office at (540) 665-4510 or visit www.su.edu.

For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

-GW-

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