07/21/1999

Researchers at Auburn and Tuskeegee Share Expertise

AUBURN, Ala.—A phone call from Alabama to Texas in 1994 has led to a long and productive collaborative research effort between Frank F. "Skip" Bartol, professor of reproductive biology in the Auburn University Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Hari O. Goyal, professor and head of the Tuskegee University Department of Biomedical Sciences. Goyal called Bartol after seeing his work at a meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. At that time, Bartol was on sabbatical at Texas A&M University in the Center for Animal Biotechnology.

"I called Skip because we were doing similar work and I needed someone with his specialty," said Goyal.

"When I answered his call at Texas A&M," Bartol said, "I told him I was very interested in participating in this research." Bartol suggested that they wait until he returned to Auburn. They could work together more easily, Bartol observed, since Auburn and Tuskegee Universities are only 20 miles apart.

"There was silence for a moment on the phone when I suggested that we wait, and then I realized Goyal didn't know I was at Texas A&M on sabbatical. He thought I had moved there permanently," said Bartol. Then he added, "We would probably be collaborating on our research even if our universities were not as close as they are."

Both of these scientists are dedicated to research in reproductive biology, specifically the role of hormone receptors in the regulation of tissue development in male and female reproductive tracts. While Goyal's work focuses on reproduction in the male and Bartol's work focuses on the female, their research shares many common elements.

"The hormone receptor systems in both males and females are similar," commented Bartol. "And the tools and techniques we use to conduct research on the receptor systems are similar. What we really share is expertise."

This expertise is also shared by the support staff in their labs. Working in Bartols' lab at the present is Mahmoud Mansour, one of Goyal's post doctoral students. Mansour joined Goyal at Tuskegee in 1996 and has been part of the collaborative effort with Auburn since 1998. Nicholas Chambers, a student in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee, is also working in Bartol's lab this summer. Chambers is funded through a grant from the Center of Excellence, provided by NIH.

Since 1994, Bartol and Goyal have collaborated on several grants. From 1995-1998, the two cooperated on a grant from the National Institute of Health for Minority Biomedical Research Support. "We have received another NIH grant for the years 1998-2002," said Goyal.

To date, their work has produced three publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Biology of Reproduction and Anatomical Record, as well as three published abstracts. More publications are soon to come.

"I am not aware of another more successful collaboration between scientists at these two universities," commented Jim Floyd, chair of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Auburn University.

In addition to sharing facilities, personnel and grant monies, Goyal and Bartol also participate in the AU ‘Repro' Forum. The forum is coordinated by Bartol and Tim Braden, associate professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology at Auburn University's School of Veterinary Medicine. The AU ‘Repro' Forum brings together reproductive biologists in the Auburn and Tuskegee University communities. At weekly forum meetings, faculty and graduate students review and discuss current research in reproductive biology and related topics in any area of the life sciences.

"One great thing about the AU ‘Repro' Forum is that we share speakers. Goyal has often talked about our research at forum meetings and we always invite visiting scientists to speak," said Bartol. In addition, Goyal regularly lectures in Bartol's graduate level advanced reproductive physiology class.

Goyal attended Punjab University where he received the B.V.Sc. (DVM) and M.S. degrees. He earned the Ph.D. degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Goyal has been a faculty member at Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine since 1979.

Bartol received a B.S. from Virginia Tech and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Florida. He has been a faculty member of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences since 1983. Alfonza Atkinson, dean of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, commented:

"Universities are not designed to be cookie cutter molds of each other. Rather they are designed to identify and build on individual strengths. Alabama is fortunate to have three universities with colleges of agriculture and to be the only state in the United States with two schools of veterinary medicine. It is imperative that we exploit these strengths through cooperative and collaborative research, education and outreach. This is necessary if we are to maximize the use of continuously limited resources and advance the development of the agriculture industry and commodity groups for the state of Alabama, the nation and the world."

Luther Waters, dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture also noted: "As agricultural resources and support dwindle, it becomes increasingly more critical that we maximize our efforts through closer cooperation with our sister universities at Tuskegee and Alabama A&M. Our future as a research, education and outreach center and of Alabama agriculture is directly linked to our ability to work cooperatively among ourselves as well as with commodity groups, farmers and legislators in this state."

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Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Leigh Hinton, 334-844-5887 or hintola@auburn.edu

07/21/99