Center for
Computational and Structural Biology (CCSB) (Pilot Developmental University-Wide Interdisciplinary
Director: Jere P. Segrest, MD, PhD
Established:
2004
The mission of the Center
for Computational and Structural Biology (CCSB) is the development of a
comprehensive center of excellence for computational and structural biology of
membrane proteins and other supramolecular assemblies at UAB. The CCSB faculty includes scientists from multiple
schools and departments across the UAB campus.
Center
Research
The CCSB creates an interactive network of research
collaborations and resources between scientists with five areas of expertise: i) computational biology, ii) protein
folding, iii) X-ray crystallography, iv) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy, and v) cryo-electron microscopy (EM). The major interface between these
methodologies will be high performance computation and analysis. In
particular, high performance computers will be used to create an integrative bridge between the biology, physics and chemistry of
large molecular assemblies. Theory, simulation and experimentation are integrated
to create detailed maps of the structure/function of protein molecules.
The Center’s research yields a greater understanding of the
workings of cell membrane protein with eventual translation to clinical
application. Structural biology uses three powerful experimental methods, X-ray
crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and cryo-electron
microscopy (EM), to produce images of the molecular organization of proteins
and other supramolecular assemblies. Computational
biology develops methods to harness the power of the modern high-performance
computer to determine the precise organization of the molecules and atoms of
genes directly from the human genome, to determine from their atomic
organization what these products do, and to allow the design of drugs to treat
diseases associated with each individual or interacting gene.
Organizational
Structure
The organizational structure of the
CCSB achieves optimal utilization of resources and provides for quality control
and oversight for all activities within the Center. Dr. Segrest is responsible for all Center
activities, with the following three committees
providing oversight and guidance.
The Transinstitutional
Advisory Committee (TIAC) guides strategic planning, disseminates ideas
transinstitutionally, reviews resource allocations, and sets recruitment
priorities. The Executive Committee
provides day-to-day scientific and administrative oversight for the
research, cores, and enrichment activities; acts to ensure communication,
linkages, and integration across the core areas; evaluates the progress of the
cores; identifies opportunities for funding; and provides reports to the
TIAC. The External Advisory Committee (EAC) is
charged with providing guidance for the ongoing development of the center and
contributing a national perspective.
For
additional information:
Director: Jere P. Segrest, MD, PhD
Email: segrest@uab.edu
Phone: 205-934-4420
Program Manager: Michael G. Perez
Email: mgperez@uab.edu
Phone: 205-934-4019
Web site: www.uab.edu/ccsb
Approved by: Jere P.
Segrest, MD, PhD, Director
Date: April 21, 2008
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