CREST Center for Biological Signatures and Sensing (BioSS) Phase II

生物签名和传感中心卓越科学技术研究中心（CREST）计划通过建立有效整合教育和研究的中心，支持提高少数民族服务机构的研究能力。CREST促进了新知识的发展，提高了个别教师的研究生产力，扩大了在科学、技术、工程和数学学科中历史上代表性不足的学生的存在。在国家科学基金会的支持下，菲斯克大学加强了生物特征和传感中心（BioSS）。该中心开发传感器技术，增加生物应用的生物、化学和核传感器的知识和发展。三个研究领域中的每一个都有一个由自然科学家组成的多学科团队与数学家和计算机科学家合作，开发或采用新的工具来解决引人注目的生物学问题。该中心加强了菲斯克大学的课程，包括生物传感器和材料科学的新兴主题。该项目为新兴传感器技术领域的新一代学生提供研究经验、专业发展、指导和职业指导。该中心阐明了三个研究子项目，研究生物传感模式，这些模式是下一代传感器服务于多种应用的基础。子项目1主要研究活跃增殖的哺乳动物细胞中多巴胺神经元的遗传特征和细胞身份感知和功能。该团队使用基因编码传感器、转录谱和微流体的各种组合来确定基因表达的表观遗传修饰因子，从而确定细胞功能和行为。子项目2从蛋白质的结构-功能关系到细胞稳态发展金属传感的生化机制。该团队整合了生物物理、生化和计算方法，揭示了蛋白质-金属相互作用的分子基础及其在基本生物过程调节中的作用，将先前的工作重点扩展到锰，包括铁、铜和锌。子项目3开发和实现用于生物应用的新型辐射传感器。该团队继续进行材料发现部分，并进一步开发双能x射线吸收率手持传感器和微型相机，提供化学特异性，生物遗传分子检测以及其他涉及伽马和中子光谱应用的分析。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Center for Biological Signatures and SensingThe Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program supports the enhancement of research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. CREST promotes the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. With National Science Foundation support, Fisk University strengthens the Center for Biological Signatures and Sensing (BioSS). The Center develops sensor technology that increases the knowledge and development of biological, chemical, and nuclear sensors for biological applications. Each of three research areas engages a multidisciplinary team of natural scientists partnering with mathematicians and computer scientists to develop or adapt new tools to solve high profile biological problems. The Center enhances Fisk University curricula to include emerging topics in biological sensors and materials science. The project provides research experience, professional development, mentoring and career guidance for a diverse and new generation of students in the emerging areas of sensor technology. The Center articulates three research subprojects addressing biological sensing modalities that are the basis of the next generation of sensors serving a multitude of applications. Subproject 1 focuses on genetic signatures and sensing of cellular identity and function in dopamine neurons in actively proliferating mammalian cells. This team uses various combinations of genetically encoded sensors, transcriptional profiling, and microfluidics to determine epigenetic modifiers of gene expression, and therefore of cellular function and behavior. Subproject 2 develops biochemical mechanisms of metal sensing from structure-function relationships of proteins to cellular homeostasis. This team integrates biophysical, biochemical, and computational approaches to reveal the molecular basis for protein-metal interactions and their role in the regulation of fundamental biological processes, extending previous work focused on manganese to include iron, copper, and zinc. Subproject 3 develops and implements novel radiation sensors for biological applications. This team continues the material discovery component and further develops dual-energy x-ray absorptivity handheld sensors and micro-cameras providing chemical specificity, detection of biogenetic molecules, and other assays involving gamma and neutron spectroscopy applications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.