K-College center wins contract for research

The Center for Complex Systems Studies at Kalamazoo College is one of two entities to win exploratory funding contracts to advance their ideas as partners with Pfizer Inc.

The awards, which may include funding of up to $30,000 apiece, were announced Thursday at the conclusion of the MichBio Expo in Detroit.

Peter Erdi, the Henry R. Luce professor of complex system studies at Kalamazoo College, will soon begin negotiating an amount for the contract with Pfizer.

Advertisement

Erdi and the 4-year-old center are developing mathematical computational models to help researchers understand diseases of the central nervous system. Its methodology tries to bridge the gap between natural and biological sciences to determine whether precursors (early warnings) can be found for such things as epileptic seizures. The methodology, which marries math to science, also may be applicable to such seemingly difference phenomena as earthquakes and stock-market crashes, Erdi said Friday.

``The big question is whether we are able to predict and understand these very difference phenomena,'' Erdi said.

His was one of five final projects presented in the Pfizer Research Contract Competition, held during the two-day MichBio Expo 2005 at Cobo Hall. The competition is an annual effort by Pfizer Research and Development ``to promote partnerships and accelerate development in the life sciences in Michigan,'' according to information it provided.

Erdi said funding will allow him to adapt his methodology to see if it works with scientific data compiled by Pfizer.

The other winner of the competition was NeuroNexus Technologies of Ann Arbor, which presented a project for an implantable microscale-drug-delivery device for the brain and spinal cord.

Hosted by a phalanx of science, government and business entities, MichBio Expo included an exposition with 51 research, business, finance and government exhibitors. It also featured a conference to review the latest developments in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and government.

Erdi said he is pleased to be in a position to contract with Pfizer. He said his concept for mathematical computational models is one of the very good ideas he comes up with every 15 years or so. The award offers the opportunity to validate the idea, he said.