Life Sciences Institute
Encyclopedia
The Life Sciences Institute (LSI) is a collaborative, independent research institution located on the campus of the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor. It encompasses 25 faculty-led teams from 13 departments of various schools and colleges within the U-M . The LSI is intended as a "bridge" between the basic sciences, with areas as diverse as engineering and medicine, and it acts to promote, "economic development through the development, licensing and spin out of new technologies and discoveries" .
Of the University’s $823 million in research expenditures, more than half is allocated for research in the life sciences, and the LSI is a “cornerstone” of this effort .
The Life Sciences Institute is a 235,000 gross square feet building with six floors, designed to house 325 to 375 people in total . This space includes housing for wet lab and laboratory support spaces, administration offices, PI offices, interaction spaces, core laboratory areas, a combined gallery/lobby space, and a small library .
The exterior design of the building is intended to mesh well with other campus loft-style structures, while also meeting the needs of a more modern research institute.
in his place .
The Center for Stem Cell Biology is a collaborative division of the Life Sciences Institute where stem cells are studied in a cross-disciplinary manner. Its director, Sean J. Morrison
, an associate professor at the Life Sciences Institute, has been a vocal proponent of stem cell research in the State of Michigan .
At the Center for Stem Cell Biology, questions addressed include fundamental inquiries into tissue development and cell communication . Morrison himself investigates the mechanisms underlying the functioning of stem cells in the nervous
and hematopoietic systems. Morrison's lab has disproven the immortal strand hypothesis for blood-forming stem cells.
, including $3.54 million to study the obesity-diabetes connection . The Research Corridor invested heavily in 5 majors areas of life sciences research in Michigan: genomics
, proteomics
, bioinformatics
, animal models, and structural biology
. Funding for the Life Sciences Corridor comes from a tobacco industry settlement, from 15% of the Tobacco Settlement Fund.. Within the University of Michigan, the Life Sciences Corridor provides part of LSI's funding, with additional funding provided by the UM Life Sciences Initiative .
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor. It encompasses 25 faculty-led teams from 13 departments of various schools and colleges within the U-M . The LSI is intended as a "bridge" between the basic sciences, with areas as diverse as engineering and medicine, and it acts to promote, "economic development through the development, licensing and spin out of new technologies and discoveries" .
Of the University’s $823 million in research expenditures, more than half is allocated for research in the life sciences, and the LSI is a “cornerstone” of this effort .
History
The Life Sciences Institute’s construction was approved by the Board of Regents in May 1999. $100 million dollars in initial up-front funding was provided for the creation of wet lab space, in addition to the $130 million for the endowment and startup costs .Construction
Construction was completed in 2003 on the site near [Palmer Field] as part of the three project Palmer Drive development, consisting of the Life Sciences Institute Building, Palmer Drive Parking Structure, Commons Building, and the Undergraduate Science Building .The Life Sciences Institute is a 235,000 gross square feet building with six floors, designed to house 325 to 375 people in total . This space includes housing for wet lab and laboratory support spaces, administration offices, PI offices, interaction spaces, core laboratory areas, a combined gallery/lobby space, and a small library .
The exterior design of the building is intended to mesh well with other campus loft-style structures, while also meeting the needs of a more modern research institute.
First director
The institute’s first director was Jack E. Dixon, until January 2002, at which point Mary Sue Coleman, the University’s new president in 2002, appointed cell biologist, and expert on insulin signaling, Alan R. SaltielAlan R. Saltiel
Alan R. Saltiel is the Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan; a professor at the Division of Molecular Genetics at the University of Michigan Medical School; a faculty member at the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center; a member of the Steering Committee...
in his place .
The Center for Stem Cell Biology
The Center for Stem Cell Biology is a collaborative division of the Life Sciences Institute where stem cells are studied in a cross-disciplinary manner. Its director, Sean J. Morrison
Sean J. Morrison
Sean J. Morrison is the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics and professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where he directs the Children's Research Institute...
, an associate professor at the Life Sciences Institute, has been a vocal proponent of stem cell research in the State of Michigan .
At the Center for Stem Cell Biology, questions addressed include fundamental inquiries into tissue development and cell communication . Morrison himself investigates the mechanisms underlying the functioning of stem cells in the nervous
Nervous
Nervous may refer to:* The nervous system* "Nervous" , a rockabilly/doo-wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958* Nervous Records, a UK record label* Nervous Records , a US record label-See also:...
and hematopoietic systems. Morrison's lab has disproven the immortal strand hypothesis for blood-forming stem cells.
Innovation Partnership
The Innovation Partnership’s goal is to bridge the gap, known as the 'Valley of Death', between laboratory research discoveries from biomedical researchers and venture capitalists who can potentially make the discoveries viable in the marketplace. The goal of the project is to raise $10 million over the next 5 years for discoveries related to: “neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancer” .Michigan Life Sciences Corridor
In 2002, the LSI was granted $8.9 million in its initial round of funding from the Michigan Life Sciences CorridorMichigan Life Sciences Corridor
The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor is a $1 billion biotechnology initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan. It started in 1999 with money from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry...
, including $3.54 million to study the obesity-diabetes connection . The Research Corridor invested heavily in 5 majors areas of life sciences research in Michigan: genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
, proteomics
Proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with...
, bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
, animal models, and structural biology
Structural biology
Structural biology is a branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics concerned with the molecular structure of biological macromolecules, especially proteins and nucleic acids, how they acquire the structures they have, and how alterations in their structures affect their function...
. Funding for the Life Sciences Corridor comes from a tobacco industry settlement, from 15% of the Tobacco Settlement Fund.. Within the University of Michigan, the Life Sciences Corridor provides part of LSI's funding, with additional funding provided by the UM Life Sciences Initiative .