During a visit to his alma mater in 2017, John A. White Jr. ’69 heard College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams talk about Professor Bill Marras’ research and his leadership of The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute (SRI).
Officially established in 2012, the Spine Research Institute is a unique group of multidisciplinary experts and facilities dedicated to the prevention, evaluation and treatment of spine and other musculoskeletal disorders. They partner with industry to reduce workplace injuries, lead critical research for federal agencies like the National Science Foundation and work directly with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help improve patient outcomes.
When White returned to Arkansas, he talked to his wife, Mary Lib White, about the work taking place at the institute and the couple decided to give back in honor of Marras, who serves as the SRI executive director.
The White’s $300,000 gift enabled SRI to enhance and add specialized research functionality to its 10,000-square-foot laboratory on the fifth floor of Baker Systems Engineering Building.
The state-of-the-art facility now includes a dedicated lab area for clinical biomechanics studies of the spine, a second high-end data collection space that will enable researchers to run several complex research studies simultaneously, training space for the institute’s short courses and additional office space for ergonomics and clinical efforts.
“This generous gift from John and Mary Lib made it possible for us to complete a world-class spine data acquisition and processing infrastructure,” said Marras, who holds the Honda Chair in the Department of Integrated Systems Engineering (ISE). “We are extremely grateful.”
He noted that added privacy features allow SRI staff and Ohio State clinicians to evaluate more patients from a biomechanical perspective. Their clinical partners include physicians and researchers from the Comprehensive Spine Center, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesia and physical therapy, among other specialties.
The enhanced space and equipment facilitated by the White’s generosity also has positioned SRI as a critical component of the College of Engineering’s emerging research partnership with Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“It is estimated that that at least 30% and as high as 70% of people with metastatic cancer will experience spread of cancer to their spine, because the blood supply to vertebral bodies is so good,” said Marras. “That unfortunate fact and our advanced features and capabilities have attracted new partners from The James. And those partnerships already have led to new research grants.”
The Whites’ relationship with Ohio State dates back seven decades when John was attracted by the reputation of its industrial engineering program and decided to pursue his PhD in Columbus.
“Being an Ohio State graduate opened many doors for me,” said the University of Arkansas chancellor emeritus and distinguished professor of industrial engineering. “I was most fortunate to have been in the ISE department during the 1960s—to be mentored by David Baker, Al Bishop, Dick Francis, Walt Giffin, “Doc” Lehosky, Bill Morris, Tom Rockwell and George Smith, among others. The foundation they provided has served me well throughout my career.”
Mary Lib White has fond memories of their time in Columbus and appreciates the college’s current research focus on the spine.
“Supporting the Spine Research Institute was a perfect match, given my spine-related physical challenges,” she said. “Ohio State’s industrial systems engineering department was very supportive of me, especially during the weeks surrounding the birth of our son. It will always hold a special place in my heart.”
