CREST: Center for Research Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，新墨西哥州立大学（NMSU）将建立一个生物信息学和计算生物学（BCB）研究中心。该中心的使命是促进BCB跨学科合作努力的发展。该中心结合了来自计算机科学、生物学、化学和农业的研究人员团队的互补专业知识。该中心的研究任务是开发计算模型，整合使用多种复杂的数据来源，以增强对生物系统的理解。该中心将有三个研究重点：(1)开发计算模型和工具，从复杂的生物数据源中提取知识；(2)开发新的计算方法以改进蛋白质结构预测；(3)建立计算工具，以提高对基因组功能重要部分的确定，并了解这些部分如何协调以使各种生物机制发挥作用。新墨西哥州立大学CREST中心将开展广泛的研究和教育活动，并创建跨学科和机构间的合作，显著推进生物信息学和计算生物学的知识。研究重点将促进对生物现象的理解。拟议活动的更广泛影响该中心处于一个独特的位置，可以受益于并服务于大量美国原住民和西班牙裔学生群体。它将建立在现有的NMSU基础设施的基础上，以提高少数民族对STEM的参与，并通过提供BCB学术卓越的机会来扩大他们的影响。该中心的教育基础设施将形成一个全面的项目，包括通往高中和部落学院的延伸途径、研究培训和BCB硕士学位。新密歇根州立大学的项目，如MII印第安人之路、NIH生物医学科学桥、新密歇根州立大学NIGMS MARC项目以及NM-AMP、NM-ADVANCE和NM-AGEP项目，将与该中心协调工作。

Title: CREST Center for Research Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology New Mexico State UniversityHRD - 0420407PI - Desh RanjanWith NSF support, New Mexico State University (NMSU) will establish a Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB). The mission of the Center is to foster development of inter-disciplinary collaborative efforts in BCB. The Center combines the complementary expertise of a team of researchers from Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Agriculture. The research mission of the Center is the development of computational models that integrate the use of multiple, complex sources of data to enhance understanding of biological systems. The Center will pursue three research thrusts: (1) development of computational models and tools to extract knowledge from complex biological data sources; (2) development of novel computational methods to improve protein structure prediction; and (3) building computational tools to improve determination of the functionally important parts of the genomes and understand how these coordinate to make the various biological mechanisms function.Intellectual Merit of the Proposed ActivityThe New Mexico State University CREST Center will enable a wide range of research and educational activities, and create inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations significantly advancing knowledge of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The research thrusts will advance understanding of biological phenomena. Broader Impact of the Proposed ActivityThe Center is in a unique position to benefit from and serve a diverse student population with a large presence of Native Americans and Hispanics. It will build on existing NMSU infrastructures to enhance minority participation in STEM, and extend their impact by providing access to academic excellence in BCB. The Center's educational infrastructure will lead to a comprehensive program, composed of outreach pathways towards high-schools and tribal colleges, research training, and a BCB Master 's degree.NMSU programs such as the MII Native American Pathways, the NIH Bridge in biomedical sciences, the NMSU NIGMS MARC program, and the NM-AMP, NM-ADVANCE, and NM-AGEP programs, will coordinate efforts with the Center.