Local researchers help design Alzheimer's inhibitor

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Aug 10, 2001

Researchers from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the University of Illinois at Chicago announced Thursday they have designed inhibitor compounds that could lead to an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers' work was published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the publication for the American Chemical Society.

The researchers said the inhibitor blocks the action of one of two protein-cutting enzymes thought to be responsible for Alzheimer's disease.

The protein targeted by the inhibitor cuts a longer brain protein called amyloid precursor protein, creating the byproduct, beta- amyloid. The beta-amyloid accumulates in the brain to form plaques, leading to Alzheimer's disease.

Oklahoma researchers who worked on the project were Jordan Tang, head of the protein studies department at OMRF, as well as Lin Hong, Jeffrey Loy, Gerald Koelsch, Jacques Ermolieff and Chan Ngyuen. Arun Ghosh, professor of chemistry at UI-Chicago, and Tang led the team.

"We have taken a significant step forward," Tang said. "We are closer to having an inhibitor that can be used in drug therapy to treat Alzheimer's disease."

Race resigns

David S. Race has resigned as vice president and chief operating officer of CD Warehouse.

Race has been with the Oklahoma City-based retail music store operator since March 1999 and has been chief operating officer for the last 12 months.

"I believe that with the point-of-sale system virtually completed, this is an appropriate time for me to pursue other opportunities," Race said.

Sales up for Kohl's

Kohl's Corp., which will open four stores in the Oklahoma City market in October, reported a 31 percent increase in sales to $466.3 million for the four-week period ended Aug. 4 from a year earlier. Comparable-store sales increased 14.3 percent.

For the quarter ended Aug. 4, total sales increased 20.7 percent $1.5 billion from $1.25 billion a year earlier. Comparable-store sales increased 5.4 percent for the quarter. For the 26 weeks ended Aug. 4, total sales were up 20.9 percent from a year earlier while comparable-store sales increased 5.6 percent.

The Menomonee Fall, Wis.-based company plans to open 24 stores in October. The four Oklahoma City area stores will be in northwest Oklahoma City, Yukon, Edmond and Moore. Kohl's has three stores in the Tulsa area.

At August 4, Kohl's operated 354 stores compared with 298 stores at the same time last year.

Summer job fair

Workforce Oklahoma's 2001 Summer Job Fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Event Center, 429 E. California.

More than 60 employers will receive resumes, applications and interview employment seekers for assembly, clerical, construction, computer, banking, insurance, technical, government, warehouse, health care, hospitality, recreation, food service, truck driving, security, customer service and retail jobs.

Corporate sponsors include Express Personnel, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Johnson Controls.

Reid gets Capitol Chamber post

Wayne C. Reid has been named Eastside Capitol Gateway program manager for the Capitol Chamber of Commerce's NE 23th Street Corridor Main Street Replication Project.

He is owner and CEO of Reid and Reid Electric and a graduate of Langston University.

"Our project was designed to replicate the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Oklahoma Main Street program and we will utilize their concepts to develop our program," Reid said.

A board of merchants and local business owners will provide input into the revitalization project, he said.

Reid said the project will apply for an Urban Main Street designation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Using Census data

"Marketing to Diversity" is the topic for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce's Business 30 a.m. Aug. 22 at the Oklahoma City Marriott Northwest, 3233 Northwest Expressway.

The session is designed to show how to make use of 2000 Census data through targeted marketing.

The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Call Raquel Renfro at 297-8922 for reservations.

Spears joins Busey

Michael Spears has joined Busey Resource Group as vice president of human resources.

Spears is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University. He taught high school honors English in Statesville, N.C., and worked for the U.S. Department of Defense at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Nonprofit workshops

The Center for Nonprofit Management will present a two-day workshop from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 21 and 28 at the center's offices at 525 NW 13th St..

"Grant Writing II: Skill Building and Critique" will be presented by Alan Proctor, director of development with the University of Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha. Proctor, formerly the director of client services for the Center for Nonprofit Management, is a certified fund raising executive and past president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.

The Center for Nonprofit Management also will present "Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management Certificate Program." The eight-part workshop will begin Aug. 30 and end Dec. 13 at the Norman Community Services Building, 1183 E. Main St., Norman.