Four triangle institutions are getting money from the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

The funding is part of nearly $423,000 in Educational Enhancement Grants the center is distributing across the state for biotech initiatives. The local institutions to benefit are Wake Technical Community College, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and the N.C. Association for Biomedical Research.

The grant program supports the design and implementation of biotech education programs in schools and school systems, community colleges, private colleges, universities and museums. It does not intended for construction, though some funding is used for equipment purchase.

The details:

•  Wake Tech's Scott Johnson receives  $66,926 for a biotechnology lab enhancement project.
• NCSU's Paul Hamilton receives $55,200 to develop a new, industry-style lab course in microbial biotechnology.

• The biomedical research association's Suzanne Wilkison receives $38,000 to develop a video on biotech careers targeting students in grades 6 to 12.

• Roger Narayan receives $20,000 to develop a nanobiotechnology graduate certificate program in a program operated jointly by NCSU and UNC-CH.

With these grants, the biotech center has distributed 191 awards totaling $6 million since the program began in 1991.