Tuesday, November 30, 2010

University of Iowa News Release

A $1 million gift from University of Iowa alumnus Roger L. Koch of North Miami, Fla., will spark pioneering interdisciplinary research into bipolar disorders at the UI College of Engineering. In addition, Koch made a second $1 million gift to provide unrestricted support for the college's Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

Both gifts, establishing the Roger L. Koch Mental Illness Research Fund and the Roger L. Koch Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Advancement Fund, were made through the University of Iowa Foundation.

The new research fund will promote interdisciplinary research in bipolar disorders to discover the relationships of brain morphology, function, external stimuli, physiologic status of the body and other influences on the onset, treatment and prediction of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia events.

"This generous gift from Mr. Koch exemplifies the strong belief he has in keeping the University of Iowa a leader in higher education," said Alec Scranton, interim dean of the college.

"First, the support provided to the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering will continue to raise the level of educational excellence that will benefit our students. Second, the UI is unique in that all of its engineering programs have close teaching and research ties to the health sciences on campus. The Roger L. Koch Mental Illness Research Fund becomes a catalyst to again bring together engineering and medical faculty expertise to help solve critical issues associated with bipolar disorders."

Koch earned bachelor's degrees from the UI in 1973 and 1977 in general science and chemical engineering, respectively.

The UI acknowledges the UI Foundation as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the foundation, visit its website at http://www.uifoundation.org.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550

MEDIA CONTACT: Forrest Meyer, UI Foundation, 319-467-3661, forrest-meyer@uiowa.edu