PITTSBURGH, Nov. 4 -- The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University today announced that they have received a $10 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a Center for the Study of Mind-Body Interactions and Health.

The focus of the center, one of only five being funded nationwide, is to understand how the mind influences the development of and recovery from diverse diseases, including infectious diseases, osteoarthritis, early cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.

The grant further reinforces the strong ties between the universities that have helped to produce breakthroughs enhancing their reputations as world leaders in scientific and medical research.

"The fact that Pittsburgh will become the home to one of only five such centers to be established nationally is a tribute to its scientific leaders, provides further evidence of the strength of the city's two great research universities, and is a victory for the entire community," said University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. "The selection decision underscores two very significant facts. The first is that this region's international reputation for pioneering medical research continues to grow. The second is that Pitt and Carnegie Mellon have a record of effective partnering that is virtually unique in American higher education. This very large and well-targeted grant gives us a special opportunity to build on that record in ways that should benefit people around the world."

"The new Mind-Body Center is built on the strengths of two outstanding research universities," said Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon. "Like other research collaborations between Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, it brings together world-class scientists to address the complex problems of our day. This latest collaboration will foster research breakthroughs that will broaden medical knowledge and improve mental and physical
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Contact: Craig Dunhoff
dunhoffcc@msx.upmc.edu
412-624-2607
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
3-Nov-1999