New fellows showcase emerging systems biology research at Center for the Study of Biological Complexity's first Research Review

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Using math to understand and model what goes on in cells; applying new statistical approaches to mine vast, new genomic data sets; developing novel computational strategies to find potential vaccines for agents of biological terrorism; and applying neural nets to define genetic pathways. These were some of the emerging research efforts shared by Virginia Commonwealth University scientists at the 2003 Annual Research Review of the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity (CSBC) at VCU. The common theme stressed the inevitable linkage of mathematics, computer science and information technology in 21st century biological and biomedical research.

Ten newly recruited CSBC fellows presented their work to an audience of biologists, chemists, mathematicians, and engineers from VCU's Medical and Academic campuses and the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.

"The event was designed to bring CSBC fellows together to share ideas, energy and enthusiasm, and to foster and encourage new interdisciplinary collaborations," said Gregory A. Buck, Ph.D., director of the CSBC. "Because the CSBC strongly advocates interdisciplinary approaches for studying biological systems - systems biology in contemporary terms - we have people from all over the map working with us." The ten speakers included fellows from four schools and nine departments, with representation of both the academic and medical campuses and the research park.

"This was an opportunity for new fellows and the more established faculty of the Center to meet each other and forge new relationships that will lead to new research endeavors", according to Monty Kier, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry and nurse anesthesiology, and director of programs and fellows for the new Center.

Thomas F. Huff, Ph.D., vice provost for Life Sciences at VCU, agreed, stating that Systems Biology and Biological Complexity represent the wave of the future. "Harvard has just announced a new department of systems biology, MIT and several other institutions are creating similar programs. Our Center for the Study of Biological Complexity has already attained a critical mass and is significantly ahead of the curve in the field." The CSBC has been developing for almost three years and was formally approved as a university center at VCU by the State Council for Higher Education on July 16, 2003.

To view abstracts of presentations given at the Research Review, go to www.vcu.edu/csbc/workshops.html.