Planning IUCRC at Harvard University: Center for Biological Applications of Solid-State Systems (CBASS)

半导体技术的摩尔定律通过其对通信和计算的革命性影响，一直是全球经济增长的最大驱动力。与此同时，生命科学领域的发现和技术活动也出现了爆炸性增长。然而，除了计算基础设施的戏剧性改进和用于显微镜的更高性能的相机之外，生命科学的努力几乎没有从半导体技术的进步中受益。固态系统生物应用中心(C-BASS)试图通过在这两个基本上互不相连的生态系统之间建立新的联系，并通过培训精通这两个领域的一代科学家和工程师，来改变生物技术和半导体部门。该中心提出了一项全面的研究计划，旨在扩大和培训实现这一愿景所需的劳动力，同时创造新技术。在哈佛大学，该中心将得到半导体、生物技术和其他相关行业的公司和研究机构的综合活动的支持。C-BASS努力的结果将通过开发一系列利用纳米电子的小规模和高性能的新型传感系统来改变包括生物、生物医学工程、半导体技术和医学在内的一系列领域。这一奖项反映了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。

Moore's Law scaling of semiconductor technology has been the single biggest driver of economic growth worldwide through its revolutionary impact on communications and computation. At the same time, discovery and technological activity in the life sciences has exploded. Life sciences efforts have, however, benefited little from advances in semiconductor technologies beyond the dramatic improvements in computation infrastructure and higher performance cameras for microscopy. The Center on Biological Applications of Solid-State Systems (C-BASS) seeks to transform both the biotechnology and semiconductor sectors by forging new connections between these two largely disjoint ecosystems and by training a generation of scientists and engineers well versed in both fields. The center proposes a comprehensive research program designed to expand and train the workforce required to implement this vision, while creating new technologies. At Harvard University, the Center will be supported by the integrated activities of companies and research institutions across semiconductor, biotechnology, and other related industries. The results of the C-BASS effort will transform a range of fields including biology, biomedical engineering, semiconductor technology, and medicine by developing a range of new sensing systems that take advantage of the small scale and high performance of nanoelectronics.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.