ABILENE,
Texas, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on
decades of thriving research, Abilene
Christian University has formally established the ACU
Bioanalytics Laboratory in the Department of Biology and will begin
seeking certification through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendment (CLIA).
Dr. Charla Miertschin, dean of
the Onstead College of Science and Engineering, appointed Dr.
John Xu as director of the ACU
Bioanalytics Laboratory. Xu is a professor of biology at ACU.
Since 1999, biology faculty and undergraduate students have been
engaged in cutting-edge research related to neurodegenerative
diseases, currently including Alzheimer's. The team recently
achieved significant milestones by successfully qualifying several
important protein biomarker assays using the innovative Ella
platform developed by Protein-Simple. In order to advance this
research and attract sponsors, the university is formally
establishing a laboratory presence and moving toward achieving CLIA
certification.
"This lab presents an opportunity for us to enhance our research
capabilities, foster innovative scientific inquiry and provide our
students with invaluable hands-on learning experiences," Xu said.
"In today's rapidly evolving biomedical research field, having a
state-of-the-art facility dedicated to bioanalytics will position
ACU as a leader in the field, attract research funding, and
strengthen collaborations with industry and academic partners."
CLIA is a federal quality assurance program that regulates
clinical laboratories in the United
States to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test
results. To qualify for certification, laboratories must
demonstrate that they meet high standards for personnel,
facilities, equipment and quality control.
"Pursuing CLIA certification for the lab will ensure high
standards of laboratory quality and reliability, further
solidifying our commitment to excellence in education and
research," Xu said.
In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, bioanalytics
researchers at ACU are also involved in studies related to COVID-19
antibodies and the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's Disease. ACU
has been working closely with a biopharmaceutical research sponsor
for five years, and the establishment of a lab and CLIA
certification will help the university attract additional sponsors
and research partners.
"The establishment of the ACU Bioanalytics lab is another
example of ACU's commitment to research that matters," said Dr.
Susan Lewis, provost and vice
president for academic affairs. "The biomedical research Dr. Xu and
other researchers are doing – including faculty-mentored
undergraduates – is improving healthcare protocols on a global
scale."
The ACU Bioanalytics Laboratory is located in the
Halbert-Walling Research Center on the campus of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
Abilene Christian University
serves a diverse student population of about 6,000 with world-class
teaching in a Christ-centered community. Founded in 1906, this
national research university offers online and residential
undergraduate and graduate programs. Students choose from 88
baccalaureate majors that include more than 175 areas of study, 77
areas of study in master's degree and specialist programs, and five
doctoral programs. ACU's mission is to educate students for
Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Learn more
at acu.edu.
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SOURCE Abilene Christian
University