Hood Receives $510K From Maryland Department of Commerce

The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded Hood College $510,000 to fund the endowed director position of the College’s future Biomedical Research and Training Center. The endowment was made through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative (MEI), a state program created to spur basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields at colleges and universities.

This award coincides with $6M in funds received from the State of Maryland via the MICUA Capital Grant program to fund construction of the Center as well as $1M received via the MEI in the fall of 2021. The endowment is also supported by $1M in matching funds privately raised by the College.

“Hood College is grateful for the ongoing support of the Maryland Department of Commerce through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative,” said Hood President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. “The College’s Biomedical Research and Training Center is one of many examples reflecting what can happen when colleges and universities reach beyond the ivory walls to create academic offerings, research and internship opportunities, and innovative educational approaches to meet workforce needs in partnership with others. The Center will enable Hood to further fulfill its role as an anchor institution, providing graduates to serve the Frederick community and the State of Maryland.”

“These awards will support critical research in two of Maryland’s most important industry sectors,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “Since inception, the E-Nnovation program has endowed more than $70M to colleges and universities around the state. Commerce is proud to continue supporting the innovative work being done at two of our finest higher education institutions.”

In addition to providing STEM training opportunities for Hood College students across a variety of majors and disciplines, the Center will serve students from other regional schools as well as the employees of regional companies.

Programming at the Center will include on-campus and online workshops; bridge courses to prepare graduate students for advanced research; and programming focused on the development of specific high-demand skills defined by our industry partners. The Biomedical Research and Training Center will also foster apprenticeships and student internships with regional industry partners, while companies can have their scientists teach there.

The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative was created by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session and has provided $65.9M in funding to leverage $72.5M in private donations. The funding can be used to pay salaries of newly endowed department chairs, staff and support personnel in designated scientific and technical fields of study; fund related research fellowships for graduate and undergraduate students; and purchase lab equipment and other basic infrastructure and materials.

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