New MSU institute uses digital biology to improve human health
March 16, 2006
A new institute at Mississippi State will merge traditional strengths in engineering and biology to help solve global problems related to human health, nutrition, food safety, bio-security, and agricultural production.
The state College Board recently approved establishment of the Institute for Digital Biology, a unique, multidisciplinary research unit that could launch the 128-year-old land-grant university as a world leader in functional genomics and systems biology.
“Today, this means applying the twin powers of genomic biology with high-performance computing to provide innovative solutions to important problems in this ‘biotech century,'” said Shane Burgess, an associate professor of basic science in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Mixing biotechnology and computation drives advances in both fields.
“The IDB is a wonderful opportunity to expand and formalize our existing collaborations between the A [agricultural] and M [mechanical] sides of MSU,” added Burgess, who will serve as one of two IDB co-directors until a permanent director is named after the first year of operation.
Start-up funding for the institute was provided by MSU’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Bagley College of Engineering and Office of Research. External funding sources also will be tapped.
“These sort of research initiatives are possible because of faculty working together in two areas of traditional strength at land-grant institutions–agriculture and engineering,” said engineering dean Kirk Schulz.
Susan Bridges, a professor of computer science and engineering and the institute’s other co-director, predicted the IDB “will provide a vehicle for computer scientists and engineers to collaborate with life scientists.”
Researchers from the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, a part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, also helped develop the IDB concept.
Genes, made from DNA, are the blueprints for life. Together, an organism’s gene complement is called its genome. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to sequence agriculturally important animal, plant and agricultural pathogen genomes.
By themselves, scientists say, genome sequences reveal very little about how organisms function or how their functions can be altered to benefit mankind. Genome sequences are just one of many tools needed to understand life and to develop targeted approaches for improving agricultural products. The next stage is functional genomics.
Systems biology uses state-of-the-art biotechnology, computing, engineering, and mathematics for high-throughput generation and analysis of extremely large datasets. In biomedicine, it is central to solving today’s most important human health problems.
IDB researchers will analyze the function and expression of economically important genes, with an initial emphasis on agricultural animals and plants. They will examine the pathogens that affect them and the human food-borne pathogens that contaminate agricultural products. Over time, the research will expand to include species in areas such as bio-fuels, bio-security and bioremediation.
“The IDB’s initial goal is to improve the human condition by improving agriculture and food safety,” said Vance Watson, vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. “MSU is uniquely situated to take the lead in agricultural functional genomics and systems biology.”
The institute will provide services to researchers across the state, nation and world in the use of its data resources and computational methods. It also will facilitate economic development by building partnerships with industry and government agencies.
“Mississippi’s economy is based on agriculture and forestry,” said Colin Scanes, vice president for research and graduate studies. “The institute will establish MSU as the recognized worldwide repository for functional genomics and systems biology resources related to agricultural and other economically important species.”
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more comments, contact Dr. Bridges or Dr. Burgess.