SEATTLE, Aug. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Professor John Aitchison (of Seattle BioMed and Institute for Systems Biology) is a co-recipient of a $10.9 million grant from the NIH's Institute of General Medical Sciences to establish a new Biotechnology Resource for studying the interactions that proteins make as they control cell behaviors.
The National Center for Dynamic Interactome Research (NCDIR) is home to the Resource and is a collaboration between The Rockefeller University, Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle BioMed, University of California at San Francisco, New York University, and the New York Structural Biology Center. Dr. Aitchison is a co-investigator on the project, while Professor Michael Rout, of The Rockefeller University, is the Program Director and Principal Investigator.
The NCDIR utilizes groundbreaking new technologies that bridge the gap between structural biology and systems biology. The project addresses the urgent need for technologies that can "rapidly, reliably, and routinely" uncover and interpret the dynamic cellular interactome. This enables national and international collaborators to further develop and apply these technologies to biological systems, ranging from cancer to infectious diseases caused by viruses (e.g. HIV), bacteria (e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and protozoan pathogens (e.g. trypanosomes).
This research will profoundly impact the medical research field through the rapid evaluation of potential therapeutic interventions and the advancement of new opportunities for drug targets. "Asking why it's important is like asking why it's important to breathe," Professor Aitchison stated. "These approaches will help us understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie fundamental biology and disease, foundations that will help us to combat disease and save lives."
About Seattle BioMed
Seattle BioMed is an integrated, multi-disciplinary research community comprised of collaborative teams of scientists focused solely on infectious disease research. Seattle BioMed takes a systems biology approach to achieve transformative advances in infectious disease prevention and treatment for diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Founded in 1976, Seattle BioMed strives to improve lives by accelerating the pace of progress toward new therapies and vaccines to treat, prevent and cure infectious diseases. For more information, visit www.seattlebiomed.org.
CONTACT: Media Contact Edward Jenkins edward.jenkins@seattlebiomed.org
