Company/Organization profile
We at the Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (CBSD) apply the methods and concepts of biophysics, structural biology and mathematics to understand the mechanistic basis of biological processes in health and disease. Our faculty is drawn from the basic and biomedical sciences in the Colleges of Humanities and Sciences and the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences. Disciplines represented by Center faculty range from cellular biology, pharmacology, neurobiology, biochemistry and synthetic chemistry to computational research in chemistry and biology. The mission of the Center is to foster biophysically informed research throughout the University of Montana (UM) research community. We do so by supporting core research facilities for macromolecular X-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, BioSpectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Computation that provide the instruments and expertise in these biophysical methods to UM faculty. As part of this mission, the CBSD sponsors seminars showcasing the research of nationally recognized scientists as well as our own talented faculty, fellows and students. CBSD also hosts an Annual CBSD Research Symposium.
The work of the CBSD is supported by the National Institutes of General Medical Science IdeA program, as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE). Together with institutional funds and indirect cost returns generated by faculty who submit research grants through the Center, the CoBRE award supports the research of Project Investigators and provides startup funds for new faculty in UM basic and biomedical sciences departments who join the CBSD. CoBRE funds also support Pilot Projects to jump-start innovative research programs to help investigators realize future extramural funding. CBSD institutional funds provide support for students in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate program. A future CBSD initiative will provide Teaching and Research Assistantships to promote inter-program collaboration at UM.