Biotech/Materials:
Biomodular Systems
(Partner: Louisiana State University)
November 10, 2005
Faculty Club
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
Agenda
(Word file)
CDI's first RRPA workshop provided a first-hand look at major NSF (and NIH) centers planning, organization, and strategy -- a focused exploration of the Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems (CBM2), led by Dr. Steve Soper at LSU.
The Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems was funded by a three-year NSF EPSCoR RII grant and is a collaboration between researchers at Louisiana State University (Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), Chemistry, Biology, and Mechanical Engineering), the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, Tulane Health Science Center, and Xavier University. External partners include researchers at Cornell Medical College, Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Research Center, and Baylor College of Medicine. Additional partners will be added as the Center grows.
CBM2 is targeting major NSF (e.g., ERC or STC) and NIH center funding in the future, and regional research partnerships represent a core strategy being employed to build the necessary critical mass and competitiveness.
Dr. Soper recently presented as part of a Panel on Successful Formation of Biotechnology Centers or Institutes in EPSCoR States at the 2005 NSF EPSCoR National Conference (September 26, 2005; Rio Grande, PR).
Workshop participants:
CMB2:
-- Dr. Steven Soper (Director, CBM2; William L. and Patricia Stenn, Jr. Professor, Department of Chemistry; Louisiana State University)
-- CBM2 researchers from LSU and partner institutions
LSU and Louisiana EPSCoR:
-- Dr. Harold Silverman (Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies; Louisiana State University)
-- Dr. Michael Khonsari (Louisiana EPSCoR Director; Louisiana Board of Regents)
-- Mr. Jim Gershey (Louisiana EPSCoR, Louisiana Board of Regents)
CDI consultants:
-- Dr. Ed Abbott (Senior Associate, EPSCoR Centers Development Initiative (CDI); Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Montana State University)
-- Dr. Dan Edie (Dow Chemical Professor of Chemical Engineering; Former NSF ERC Director; Clemson University)
-- Dr. Michael Simpson (Distinguished Researcher; Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Molecular-Scale Engineering and Nanoscale Technologies (MENT) Research Group; Oak Ridge National Laboratory & The University of Tennessee)
-- Dr. Joseph Heppert (Professor and Chair of Chemistry; NSF ERC Education Program Director; University of Kansas)
-- Mr. Rand Haley (Director, EPSCoR Centers Development Initiative (CDI); EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation)
EPSCoR research community:
EPSCoR researchers interested in this research partnership/center strategy meeting participated, including EPSCoR researchers in related discipline areas interested in exploring potential collaborations and EPSCoR research groups planning centers in other disciplines (for whom the workshop should be very educational).
-- Dr. Dan Engebretson (Director, Center for Research and Development of Light Activated Materials; Department of Chemistry; University of South Dakota)
-- Dr. Yuris Dzenis (Robert C. McBroom Professor, Department of Engineering Mechanics; University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
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