The collaboration between the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and Shimadzu Scientific Instruments grew more comprehensive Thursday when the global leader of analytical instruments donated $7.5 million to support the university 's technology research.

The Shimadzu commitment is the largest philanthropic gift in the school 's history and follows last April 's in-kind gift of equipment valued at nearly $3 million that established the Shimadzu Center for Advanced Analytical Chemistry.

The Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies is expected to provide opportunities for scientific discovery in environmental testing, pharmaceutical development and other research areas for students, faculty members and private sector partners, and not merely at UT Arlington. UT Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center will also benefit.

"Our mission from the first day our students step on campus is to prepare them with the knowledge of critical thinking skills they will need to succeed in the classroom and in their careers,' UTA Dean of the College of Science Pamela Jansma said during a presentation Thursday in front of UTA 's Chemistry & Physics Building. UTA President James D. Spaniolo and executives from Shimadzu joined Jansma. "This generous gift will help us enormously in that endeavor, said Spaniolo.'

The Institute which also house centers for Imaging, Environmental, Forensic and Material Analysis, will now be home to $25.5 million in Shimadzu state-of-the-art analytical equipment and software. New labs will aid research in a number of fields, from environmental testing and analysis of human disease to the development of more effective pharmaceuticals and efficient oil and gas exploration.

Jansma said the Center for Imaging will complement UT Arlington 's existing Genomic Core Facility by adding neurobiological and high-speed imaging systems and tomography platforms.

It will also contain a cutting-edge brain-imaging device that is currently only used in Japan. Researchers expect The Center for Environmental, Forensic and Material Analysis to give researchers the ability to analyze particles from the Nano-scale to the macro-scale. Such work could aid in the detection of environmental contaminants, said Shuzo Maruyama, president of Shimadzu Scientific Instruments.

"We have been pleased to find in UT Arlington kindred spirits who are committed to providing students the highest-quality education possible through access to the most advanced scientific equipment,' saidMaruyama. "Our technologies enable research that improves people 's lives, and we have a great passion for preparing students to be the next generation of great scientists.'

UTA President Spaniolo was near giddy about the relationship with Shimadzu, whose Shimadzu Corp. is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, and its American Subsidiary in Maryland. Spaniolo said the partnership enhances the school 's pursuit of becoming a nationally competitive research university with Tier One status.

"It will certainly give us access to a worldwide network of researchers and undoubtedly fuel the kind of collaboration needed to attract federal and private support to solve real world problems,' he said. "The Institute will be a magnet for world class students and a resource for discovery across Texas and beyond.'