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DURHAM, N.C. –- Duke University has named a major genome sciences research building in honor of Ralph Snyderman, M.D.

Peter M. Nicholas, chairman of the university board of trustees, announced the naming at a dinner May 6 honoring Snyderman. The board also elected Snyderman chancellor emeritus.

Snyderman, who has served as the university's senior medical officer for the past 15 years, announced in March 2003 his intention to step down from his leadership post on June 30, 2004.

The 120,000-square-foot, $41-million Genome Sciences Research Building I, located off Research Drive on Duke's West Campus, was dedicated in April 2003. It is the home of scientific teams from the Center for Human Genetics and other Duke research units. The building contains a DNA banking facility, an advanced genotyping facility and high-speed computers, as well as other research facilities.

"Dr. Snyderman has been a superb leader over the past 15 years, always keeping Duke at the forefront of research, health education and clinical care," Nicholas said. "Among many innovations during his tenure is the creation of our Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, which is taking the lead at Duke in advancing the genome sciences not only in areas of biology and health, but across a broad spectrum of ethical, legal and policy issues.

"Since Dr. Snyderman is a distinguished researcher himself, we could think of no better way to honor him than with a building devoted to advancing scientific frontiers."

Victor J. Dzau, M.D., the Hersey Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and chairman of the Department of Medicine, physician-in-chief and director of research at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, was named to succeed Snyderman last month.

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