Dear Friends of Purdue Biochemistry,
Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a happy and successful New Year from all of us at
Purdue.    It seems I am always apologizing for neglecting you in these letters; several years ago it was
for missing a year or two in sending out a year—end newsletter.    This year the negligence is much
worse.    It occurred to me the other day that for some time I haven't been receiving the "blue sheets"
which inform Department Heads of gifts to the department.    Consequently. I havenyt thanked any of
you for contributions to our programs during that time.    That is inexcusable.    I am trying to find
where the system is broken and will do my best to thank those who haven't been acknowledged, no
matter how* tardy.    But first I have to determine who to thank.    I know that many of you nave
supported us generously.    That kind of support, whether designated for things like the Axelrod Lectures
or the Purdue University Biochemistry Program annual retreat or simply for the Biochemistry Depart¬
ment, is crucial for our success.    There are many strings attached to State and Federal money; gifts
can be used without such restrictions.    They are especially helpful in paying recruiting costs, something
which makes or breaks a graduate program.    I again remind Indiana residues that 50% of your gift
{$200 maximum for singles, $400 for couples) is returned directly to you in your state income tax re—
fund.    Also be sure to check to see if your company will match your gift.    Again, accept my apologies
for not sending a thank-*you letter.
We haVe a number of 1988 success stories to tell.    The best news is the arrival of two new
faculty members, Steven Broyles and James Forney.    Steve is working on transcriptional regulation in
vaccinia virus and Jim, on surface antigen switching and macronuclear development in protozoa.    It is
great to have enthusiastic "young blood11 in the department with an infusion of new ideas and exper¬
tise.    We had a party to welcome them this fall to which families were invited, and the more senior
faculty remarked now nice it was to see a bunch of young children at faculty gatherings again — Jim
and Nanci have a daughter and Steve and Jan have two daughters and twin boys joining Sarah and
Jesse Dixon in the grade—school and pre—school crowd.
The ramshackle old Biochemistry building you all remember and love continues to undergo
major renovation.    The labs in the north—south wing on second floor were stripped to the walls and
converted into modern wet labs for Drs. Regnier, Kent, and Krogmann in 1986 and 1987,    This year
the space Dr. Carlson occupied on first floor was converted to a teaching lab to replace the teaching
labs on second floor.    Included in that project is the creation of a small microcomputer lab to house
the computers that are used more and more in our lab and undergrad lecture courses.    Third floor will
get the next rounds of the renovation project.    More lab space is currently being finished for
Dr. Dixon's growing group in the Life Science Research Building.    After several years of no movement
toward finishing the $0% or so of unfinished space in that building, there may be some progress on it
in the next year.    The situation is getting desperate, since Purdue life scientists have recently gotten
an AIDS Center grant (Dr. Weith in Biochem. is a major participant) and a Markey Foundation grant
(virus structure) both in the million dollar per year range.    That means space is needed to house the
researchers.
The Biochemistry faculty continues to be very successful in a highly competitive funding climate.
Our extramural funds are in the $S million per year range for 15 research groups (now 17 since the
new arrivals).    I love to see the graphs of the steady climb in grants over the years.
The Purdue campus would be practically unrecognizable to those of you who haven't been back
for ten years or more.    The central part is almost hermetically sealed to automobiles, or will be
shortly, so huge parking garages have been erected on the periphery,on all sides.    The open end of the
mail from Northwestern toward Hovde Hall now has a large Electrical Engineering building in it, and
the mall is being re—done, complete with a "water sculpture" to replace the fountain. The Physical
Plant has planted thousands of trees and shrubs on campus in the past six or eight years.    Most &re
less than 20 feet tall yet, but soon the red brick desert will be a forest (provided we don't have more
summers like 1988).
The Purdue University Eiochemistrjf Program continues to have around 110 grad students en¬
rolled.    There has been continual growth in the participating faculty, which now number 58.    A new
Administrative Assistant for PUB, Elizabeth (Liz) Chandler, came on board last summer.
Biochemistry continues to be blessed with dedicated and highly competent support staff.    The
turnover has fortunately been low, so those of you who were here as recently as ten years ago would
recognize a lot of folks in the building.    A top—notch support staff makes life a lot easier for the
faculty, especially for the Head.
We enjoy seeing former members of the Department,
your children to major in Biochemistry at Purdue!
Please stop when you get a chance.    Send
Happy New Year!
Mark Hermodson, Head