Letter from the Founding Chair
Rethink the Impossible
In a year where so much had happened around us, you may think that our efforts to reach even great heights in Biomechanics have also taken a step back. You may have thought that we had an off year. However, this is not how we approach our lives and our work in our team, the Biomechanics team. We do not let anything deter us. As Don Quixote, the hero of Miguel de Cervantes said: “I know who I am and who I may be if I choose.” In our team, we simply choose to be winners, to be leaders.
The opening of the expansion of our Biomechanics Research Building demonstrates the commitment of our “angels” to our efforts. Bill and Ruth Scott, their family, my American family, and all our other angel donors who came together to provide us with this incredible space, are really motivating us to give back. When you spend a dollar on us, you should know that we will work our hearts out to give you back much more than this. “The scariest dragons and the fiercest giants don’t look no more than windmills to us” because we have our angels by our side.
As a result, in September of 2019 we received an NIH P20 grant of $10.3 million — the largest single research grant in UNO’s history – surpassing our own previous record that lasted five years. However, this was only the beginning of the successful grants obtained by UNO Biomechanics faculty over the past year with 3 NIH R01’s, an additional NIH R15, and 2 VA grants awarded. This is a grant total of about $20M for UNO Biomechanics in a single year demonstrating the quality of research that is performed by our scientists. Research that changes lives and greatly benefits society.
In addition, we further strengthened our team by expanding in cardiovascular biomechanics completing the first UNO cluster hire. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and cardiovascular biomechanics research at UNO aims at the discovery, development, and translation of innovative technologies to treat it. Many more stories are waiting for you inside this report. Our Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, blessed with great university leadership, has established an environment of academic excellence. In such an environment, young faculty like Dr. Malcolm publishes almost annually in prestigious scientific journals like Science!
Nothing can stop the momentum of the “Biomechanics Field of Dreams”. Nothing is impossible for our team because we always rethink the impossible.
Thank you,
Dr. Nick Stergiou
November 2020