EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Plan

俄克拉荷马州EPSCoR研究基础设施改善奖将建立两个新的全州范围的研究项目，俄克拉荷马州功能基因组学联盟和俄克拉荷马州纳米结构材料网络（NanoNet）。这两个项目都是基于州立研究型大学的现有优势，每个项目都针对当前国家优先考虑的领域。功能基因组学随着大规模基因组计划的完成，使生物学家能够探索复杂生物系统中基因如何相互作用以及环境如何相互作用。这一领域的研究不仅对加强对遗传学的基本理解至关重要，而且对改善人类健康和农业产业也至关重要，这对俄克拉何马州和全国的经济都至关重要。纳米技术的基础是观察到纳米结构材料具有不同于分子和块状材料的电学、光学和化学性质。利用这些新特性的未来技术将对国家、民族和世界的经济产生重大影响。纳米技术研究基础设施的发展将使俄克拉荷马州既能竞争主要的研究资金，又能发展依赖高技能工人的工业。俄克拉何马州在其研究密集型校园中发展了跨学科和机构间合作的强烈精神。俄克拉荷马州纳米结构材料网络（NanoNet）和俄克拉荷马州功能基因组学联盟将由俄克拉荷马州立大学、俄克拉荷马州诺曼分校、俄克拉荷马州健康科学中心大学、塔尔萨大学和非营利性俄克拉荷马州医学研究基金会的研究人员组成，与私营部门合作，通过纳米技术和基因组学实现可持续研究基础设施的目标。

The Oklahoma EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Award will build two new statewide research programs, the Oklahoma Functional Genomics Consortium and the Oklahoma Network for Nanostructured Materials (NanoNet). Both programs are based on existing strengths at State research universities and each addresses a field of current national priority. Functional genomics follows the completion of large-scale genome projects and enables biologists to explore how genes interact with each other and the environment in complex biological systems. Research in this field is vital not only for enhancing fundamental understanding of genetics, but also for improving both human health and the agricultural industry, which is critically important to the economy of both Oklahoma and the nation. Nanotechnology is based on the observation that nanostructured materials have electrical, optical, and chemical properties that are different from those of molecules and different from those of bulk materials. Future technology that exploits these new properties will have major impact on the economy of the State, the nation and the world. Development of nanotechnology research infrastructure will enable Oklahoma both to compete for major research funding and to grow industries that depend upon highly skilled workers. Oklahoma has developed a strong spirit of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration among its research-intensive campuses. The Oklahoma Network for Nanostructured Materials (NanoNet) and the Oklahoma Functional Genomics Consortium will be formed by investigators at Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma at Norman, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the University of Tulsa, and the nonprofit Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in partnership with the private sector to implement the goal of attaining sustainable research infrastructure through nanotechnolgy and genomics.