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

生物签名和传感中心科学和技术卓越研究中心(CREST)计划通过建立有效整合教育和研究的中心，支持增强少数群体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效率，并扩大了在科学、技术、工程和数学学科中历来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签名和传感中心(BIOSS)。该中心开发传感器技术，增加生物、化学和核传感器的知识和发展，用于生物应用。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调整新工具来解决备受瞩目的生物学问题。该中心加强了菲斯克大学的课程，将生物传感器和材料科学的新兴主题纳入其中。该项目为传感器技术新兴领域的不同和新一代学生提供研究经验、专业发展、指导和职业指导。该中心阐述了三个研究子项目，涉及生物传感模式，这是服务于多种应用的下一代传感器的基础。分项目1侧重于活跃增殖的哺乳动物细胞中的多巴胺神经元的遗传特征和细胞身份和功能的感觉。该团队使用基因编码传感器、转录图谱和微流控技术的各种组合来确定基因表达的表观遗传修饰物，从而确定细胞功能和行为的表观遗传修饰物。子项目2开发了从蛋白质的结构-功能关系到细胞内稳态的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，以揭示蛋白质-金属相互作用的分子基础及其在调节基本生物过程中的作用，将之前专注于锰的工作扩展到包括铁、铜和锌。分项目3开发和实施用于生物应用的新型辐射传感器。该团队继续材料发现部分，并进一步开发双能X射线吸收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能谱应用的分析。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.