University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumnus and former Husker football player Dane Todd, M.D., of Lincoln, Nebraska, has always been grateful to his former genetics professor, Alan Christensen, for his guidance and helpful advice. He also never lost sight of the importance of his undergraduate education in preparing him for medical school and now, his practice as a Lincoln orthopedic surgeon.
Todd decided to give back after learning of the need to update the equipment in the Genetics Cellular and Molecular Biology Lab in the School of Biological Sciences. He made a $17,000 gift to purchase new lab equipment through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
“Dr. Christensen’s love for teaching and energy is infectious,” he said. “Giving back to the university that gave so much to me is great, but giving back to my mentor and friend is even better.”
The lab now features a GelDoc Go, used for imaging protein and DNA separation gels, and a Bio-Rad TransBlot Turbo, which transfers proteins from a gel to a membrane in just seven minutes—eliminating the need for an overnight process. Both instruments also reduce hazardous chemical waste, enhancing lab safety and sustainability.
In the course, students use gels to separate proteins from plant cells, then transfer them onto a paper membrane. By applying specific markers, they stain the proteins to determine their cellular location—whether in the mitochondria, nucleus, or chloroplast. This method, known as Western blotting, is widely used in medical diagnostics for its high sensitivity in detecting viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis C, and Lyme disease.
“The new equipment has changed the course’s reputation among students, making it feel like ‘real science,’” said Assistant Professor Rebecca Varney. “I’ve seen a noticeable increase in their excitement and sense of ownership over their experiments. I know they will leave with a stronger understanding of genetics and how science forms the foundation of medicine.”
Christensen added, “We are deeply grateful to Dr. Todd, whose own undergraduate experience inspired him to support the next generation. This modernized equipment enhances the course and improves experimental outcomes, giving students a deeper grasp of scientific techniques and their real-world applications.”
In 2006, Todd, a Lincoln native, earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences after studying biological sciences, where he played fullback for the Huskers as a decorated student athlete. He earned a medical degree from Emory University and now practices at the Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, specializing in the treatment of sports injuries of the knee, hip and shoulder, as well as shoulder replacements and general fracture care. He also serves as a team physician for Nebraska Athletics.
The friendship began nearly two decades ago when Todd took a general genetics course from Christensen as an undergraduate and then served as his teaching assistant for two years. They get together regularly to talk about Nebraska sports, education and life. It was during one of those conversations that he learned of Christensen’s desire to update the genetics lab.
“I left that conversation thinking about the decades that Dr. Christensen has put into education, the thousands of hours he has worked to understand his field and pass on that knowledge and the time he has spent helping me accomplish my goals over the years,” Todd said. “The next time we met, I told Dr. Christensen that I would donate the money he needs for the genetics lab, so that he can leave a lasting impact on the department long after he retires.”
Todd’s gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, an effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state.
