The Vermont Genetics Network (VGN) is funded by a five year award from the National Center for Research Resources, and is part of the NIH initiative called IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research (INBRE). VGN is a collaboration among the University of Vermont, and five baccalaureate colleges throughout the state of Vermont to build critical mass and infrastructure in the broad area of genetics; to increase competitiveness of the new genetics faculty at UVM and the baccalaureate schools; to increase the number of undergraduates, who go on to biomedical careers from the baccalaureate colleges; to create a human network, support it through electronic communications, and make it sustainable; to provide and support bioinformatics capability in the state; and to increase the diversity of biomedical scientists.

           To accomplish all of this, under the direction of Dr. Judith Van Houten, the VGN has developed a plan for supporting recruitment of faculty into UVM, and we have created a Bioinformatics Core (Dr. Jeffrey Bond, Director), an Outreach Core (Dr. Christopher Allen, Director), and a Microarray Facility (Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, Director; Tim Hunter, Manager; Scott Tighe, Senior Research Technician).

Teri Hart is the VGN Project Coordinator and can be reached at (802) 656-4087 or Vermont.GeneticsNetwork@uvm.edu. Julie Paris is the VGN Program Assistant and can be reached from 8:00 am 2:30 pm at (802)656-9119 or Julie.Paris@uvm.edu. Nathan Besio is the VGN Business Manager and can be reached at (802) 656-4993 or Nathan.Besio@uvm.edu

           The baccalaureate colleges participating in VGN are Castleton State College, Johnson State College, Middlebury College, Norwich University, and St. Michael's College. Their undergraduates have the opportunity to respond to annual calls for applications for summer internships to work at their home college or UVM. In addition, the faculties of these institutions have the opportunity to respond to an annual call for applications for summer support. Other means of support include Mini-grants for use of UVM facilities and Small Equipment awards.

           Our over-arching goals are to continue be a resource to genetics researchers and clinicians throughout Vermont and to be as inclusive as possible.