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Funding Opportunities
in Structural Genomics
NCRR and the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS) are seeking grant applications to establish
research centers for determining the 3-D structures
of “challenging” proteins, including membrane
proteins, small protein complexes, and proteins from
humans and other higher organisms. The centers will
focus on developing methods and technologies in structural
genomics, a relatively new field that seeks to ascertain
3-D structures of most proteins from their corresponding
DNA sequences in the genome. The new centers will form
one component of the Protein Structure Initiative Research
Network, which aims to greatly reduce the expense and
time involved in determining 3-D protein structures.
The Protein Structure Initiative, launched by NIGMS
in 1999, seeks to develop fast, automated methods for
deciphering the structures of proteins that are characteristic
of major protein families and then use computer models
to identify the structures of remaining family members.
Knowledge of protein structure facilitates drug development
and allows researchers to compare proteins from normal
and diseased tissues.
The Request for Applications (RFA) for specialized centers
for the Protein Structure Initiative (RFA-GM-05-002)
was released on April 1, 2004; the expiration date is
October 16, 2004. For more information about NCRR funding for this RFA,
contact Dr. Amy L. Swain, Division for Biomedical Technology
Research and Research Resources, NCRR, telephone: 301-435-0755;
fax: 301-480-3659; e-mail: SwainA@mail.nih.gov.
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