Portland State Magazine Winter 2011

PSU and OHSU join forces A NEW RESEARCH andeducationalpowerhousespanningthedi ranee from the Park Blocks to Marquam Hill is ready to make an impact for Oregonians. Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University recently announced a formal alliance following a yearlong study. A 24-member task force, appointed by the presidents of both schoo ls, investigated the best ways the two w1iversities could work together to achieve excellence in education and research while leveragi ng limited state resources. A merger was considered, but the task force determined that the high up-front costs would divert focus and funds from the universitie ' core educational and public service missions. An alliance, on the other hand, will result not only in better programs, but also in cost savings and increased revenue, the task force found. A highlight of its recommendations was a proposal for a joint Scl10ol of Public Health that will bring P U's community health program together with OHSU's health practitioners and disease researchers. Other proposals include producing a combined research portfolio of more than $450 million per year, and coo rdinating K-12 science education outreach to grow interest in health care and science careers. Continued collaboration in health-related science and engineering fields , as well as the up-and– coming bioinformation field, are al o planned. The two univer ities, together with Oregon rate University, are already collaborating on a new life cience building in Portland's South Waterfront disrrict that wi ll house OHSU's chool of Medicine, OSU's School of Pharmacy, and PSU's Departments of Biology and Chemistry among other programs. 4 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 2011 A new alliance between PSU and OHSU is more than just a tram connection. Together, the two universities contribute about $5 billion and 41,000 jobs to the region. Photo by Ron Cooper '64. DROP INTO SPACE Experiments that require a near weightless environment-like those performed in space-are now possible in the University's new 102- foot tall drop tower in the engineering building. The new tower supports collaborative research with NASA.