The University of Massachusetts Amherst

The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) translates fundamental research into innovative product candidates, technologies, and services that deliver benefits to human health and well-being. Our specific objectives are to: (1) Become a catalyst and resource for ‘applied’ and ‘translational’ R&D activities; (2) Establish industry engagement models and industry collaborations; (3) Contribute to workforce development; and (4) Participate in the innovation & entrepreneurship culture on campus.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, June 6
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Join us for an information Q&A with our core facilities directors and staff.
IALS Conference Center
Sunday, June 11
12:00 pm
ISB 135
Thursday, June 15
TBA
4:00 pm
Nokwanda Makunga, Stellenbosch U...

Recent News

Open to all faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students. Engage in 1:1 speed networking sessions with the core directors for a chance to win Core Credits or Dining Dollars.

An illustration showing a nanopore harvesting electricity from humidity

A team of engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has recently shown that nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air.

For his Senior Design Team project Benjamin Arms, senior in biomedical engineering (BME ’23) and core summer intern in the Center for Human Health & Performance (CSI ’22) worked on creating a sustainable leg brace to be used in torn ACL rehabi

Translational Research

The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) will transform life science discoveries into candidate products and services in collaboration with industry to improve human health and well being. IALS extends specific identified research strengths at UMass through its three centers:

Models for Optimized Drug Delivery

Center for Bioactive Delivery

CBD creates new ways to deliver “The right drug to the right place: by creating novel delivery platforms for small and large molecules.”  Developing a wide range of delivery platforms matched to bioactive molecular delivery needs based on fundamental design principles, including nanoemulsions, nanoparticles, hybrid particles, bacteria, and hydrogels.

Wearable Sensors for Precision Healthcare Delivery & Biometric Monitoring

Center for Personalized Health Monitoring

CPHM seeks to tackle real-world problems in the emerging field of digital healthcare, wearable sensor technologies, and personalized, precision healthcare delivery, interfacing closely with provider networks, hospitals, and industry across the Massachusetts Commonwealth, and the world.

Translating Fundamental Biology into New Targets, Leads & Disease Models

Models to Medicine Center

M2M leverages mechanistic insights into molecular pathways implicated in cell health and in disease pathology to identify novel drug targets and therapeutic candidates.

IALS Virtual Tour

In this tour you will discover all of the great resources that are available at the Institute for Applied Life Sciences.

Poster for the IALS virtual tour

Shared Resources

UMass Amherst Core Facilities

We work together with researchers toward a singular goal: advancing applied science and technology to address the world’s most pressing challenges. We offer expertise and resources that create new opportunities, not only for scientific achievement, but also for establishing new models of collaboration.

Nutriceutical Formulation facility

Nutriceutical Formulation

Isolates and concentrates bioactives, thermally treats them by ultrahigh pasteurization and agitating retort, produces emulsion systems by homogenization, and encapsulates by freeze or spray drying.

IALS Clinical Testing Center (ICTC)

Utilizing the ‘gold standard’ SARS-C0V-2 assay – involving RNA extraction/qPCR, to ensure the lowest possible false positive/false negative results.

pipetting into 6 well plate

Cell Culture

Two cell culture facilities for both biological and bio-engineering approaches. Biosafety cabinets, incubators and general wet lab supplies.

Advance your idea from concept to commercialization

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

IALS Venture Development programs are here to help you! Our programs support development of startups and industry partnerships by UMass researchers based upon their technologies and product concepts.

 

Training the next generation workforce

Student Engagement

Providing students from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) hands-on training and experience in the use and operation of a state-of-the art research equipment, experience gathering data and data analysis, and the development of team science.