NSF Awards Northwestern $30 Million to Establish New Center
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Northwestern University $30 million over five years to establish a new center aimed at uncovering a hidden layer of information within the human genome.
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Northwestern University $30 million over five years to establish a new center aimed at uncovering a hidden layer of information within the human genome.
Called the Center for Genome Intelligence Engineering (GENIE), the multi-institutional Science and Technology Center (STC) will integrate experts in physics, biology, engineering, AI, and medicine to understand how the genome’s three-dimensional structure helps cells establish their identities, remember past experiences, and respond to their environments.
Led by Northwestern Engineering’s Vadim Backman, GENIE’s national network of researchers ultimately will aim to manipulate this architecture to improve human health. The approach could lead to new ways to help cells withstand injury, restore lost function, and regenerate tissues without changing their underlying DNA.