Head of state research center stepping down

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City says he's planning to step down on May 1st. <br/><br/>Dr. J- Donald Capra announced his retirement yesterday,

Saturday, April 8th 2006, 12:17 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City says he's planning to step down on May 1st.

Dr. J- Donald Capra announced his retirement yesterday, and the board of directors is expected to name his successor within a week.

A spokesman for the foundation says Capra plans to continue as a laboratory researcher overseeing a 13.8 million-dollar grant to study the bacteria that cause anthrax.

Capra has been the foundation's president for nine years.

Started in 1946, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and its scientists focus on finding treatments and cures for Alzheimer's disease, cancer, heart disease and lupus. The foundation has 49 research scientists and a staff of 500 people.