Research Focus Area
RI EPSCoR enhances the state's existing research strengths in the life sciences and promotes synergies between life science research and complementary fields.
Based on a comprehensive inventory of the state's life sciences research infrastructure, the RI State EPSCoR Committee selected the following areas as growth targets:
- Molecular Biosciences — including but not limited to molecular genetics, genomics, proteomics, biotechnology and bioinformatics
- Marine Biosciences — including but not limited to marine ecology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and marine genomics
- Environmental Biosciences — including but not limited to global change biology, population biology and organismal biology.
RI Research Infrastructure Improvement Grant (RII): Catalyzing a Life Sciences Research, Education and Innovation Network
Funding Type: National Science Foundation
Awarded: May 2006
RII outlines a suite of strategic investments that will catalyze the creation of a strong research, education and innovation network in Rhode Island. The two primary goals of the RI NSF EPSCoR project are:
- Attain national prominence and competitive research excellence in the life sciences
- Foster and support the integration of research, education, innovation and communication to build a strong statewide network of RI EPSCoR partners.
These goals will be accomplished by establishing centralized core facilities in proteomics, genomics and marine life sciences, by establishing the EPSCoR Academy to develop the human capacity necessary to build and sustain growth in life sciences research and education, and developing the NSF EPSCoR communication network.
This grant has funded three core facilities, one in each of our focus areas:
- RI Research Center for Genomics
- RI Research Center for Proteomics
- RI Center for Excellence in Marine Life Sciences
