This award to Meharry Medical College, is for support for renovations in the West Basic Sciences Building. This building houses the basic sciences departments which are involved in conducting research including the departments of Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and the Division of Biomedical Sciences. These departments are responsible for 85% of the research grants that are awarded to Meharry Medical College as well as 90% of the publications. Together, these departments train 56 Ph.D. graduates, 46 of which are African- Americans. This award will be used to renovate current space in the West Basic Science Building. Funds will also be used to modernize the Recombinant DNA Laboratory. In addition, funds will be used for addressing the heating and cooling problems within the building that make it difficult at various times during the year to conduct laboratory research. These renovations will result in 6-10 new laboratories which will be available for faculty. The expansion of this facility will increase the opportunity to train talented minority graduate students in areas where a national need exists and for which Meharry Medical College has an outstanding record.