CRBS Projects Harness Computational Technologies to Drive Biomedical Research!
Researchers use high-powered electron microscopes that reveal three-dimensional cell structures to further their research.
The Center for Research in Biological Systems (CRBS) is an organized research unit (ORU) that exists to provide human resources, high technology equipment, and administrative services to researchers engaged in fundamental research on cell structure and function relationships, particularly those involved in central nervous system processes, cardiovascular networking, and muscular contraction. CRBS scientists investigate these processes through invention, refinement, and deployment of sophisticated technologies, especially:
- High-powered electron microscopes that reveal three-dimensional cell structures
- State-of-the-art X-ray crystallography and magnetic resonance analysis that provide detail on protein structures at high-resolution
- Laser-scanning and confocal light microscopes that reveal molecules tagged with fluorescent markers as they traffic within cells and pass transfer signals within and between cells
- High performance computing and grid-based integration of distributed data
Interdisciplinary Infrastructure
CRBS encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, and computer science.
CRBS facilitates an interdisciplinary infrastructure in which people from biology, medicine, chemistry, and physics can work with those from computer science and information technologies in collaborative research. Researchers share interests in the study of complex biological systems at many scales, from the structures of enzymes, proteins, and the body's chemical communications network at atomic and molecular levels, to an organism's physiology, strength, and support at cellular and tissue levels.
The CRBS infrastructure integrates resources for high-performance computing, visualization, and database technologies, and the grid-integration of large amounts of archival storage data. The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Cal-IT2) and the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) are collaborators in simulating the activity of biological systems, analyzing the results, and organizing the growing storehouse of biological information.
Resources
The aims of CRBS researchers are met in interdisciplinary research efforts of major federally funded research efforts that are presently the heart of CRBS:
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The National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR, http://www.ncmir.ucsd.edu) specializes in the development of technologies for improving the understanding of biological structure and function relationships spanning the dimensional range from 5nm3 to 50µm3. |
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The National Biomedical Computation Resource (NBCR, http://nbcr.net) conducts, catalyzes, and advances biomedical research by harnessing, developing, and deploying forefront computational, information, and grid technologies. |
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The Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG, http://www.jcsg.org) creates new technologies to drive high-throughput structure determination. The Bioinformatics Core at UCSD is responsible for target selection, sample tracking, information management, structure validation and deposition, and post-structural analysis. Through these functions, the group provides the integrated informatics backbone required for the successful operation of JCSG. |
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The Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN, http://www.nbirn.net) tests new modes of large-scale biomedical science. BIRN builds infrastructure and technologies to enable large scale biomedical data mining and refinement. |
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Pacific Rim Applications and Grid Middleware Assembly, (PRAGMA, http://www.pragma-grid.net) establishes sustained collaborations and advances the use of grid technologies in applications throughout the Pacific Region to allow data, computing, and other resource sharing. |
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OptIPuter (http://www.optiputer.net) involves the design and development of an infrastructure to integrate computational, storage, and visualization resources over parallel optical networks using lambda switching communication mechanisms. |
Toward a Distributed Information System for Marine Biology and Limnology supports the construction and refinement of a cyberinfrastructure for The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), a global network of more than 40 marine rwesearch programs, and the North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Project, which studies long-term, regional changes in lake ecosystems. |
CRBS is an entity evolving as research evolves. It was established in 1996 to involve researchers from disciplines across UCSD, the School of Medicine, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Cal-IT2, and SDSC, including bioengineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, neurosciences, pharmacology, psychiatry, and physics. CRBS forges interactions with biotechnology and biocomputing companies for technology transfer. Interaction, collaboration, and multiscale research produce new perspectives, reveal fruitful research topics, lead to the development of new technologies and drugs, and train a new generation of researchers in biological systems.
