Models to Medicine Center


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Translating Fundamental Biology into New Targets, Leads and Disease Models

The Models to Medicine Center harnesses campus research strengths in life sciences to foster translational applications, create synergistic ties with industry, and improve the training of future life scientists, especially those who will join the workforce in the commonwealth.

Established in 2013, the center advances translational research at UMass and supports life sciences driven economic development. The Models to Medicine Center is one of three centers supported with more than $150 million in capital investments to date by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and UMass Amherst as part of the university’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS).

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Cellular Dynamics
  • M2M Research Theme 

Cellular Dynamics

The Cellular Dynamics research theme seeks to understand fundamental cellular processes and gain insight into the dysfunctions that result from defects in these processes. Areas of expertise include cell division and chromosome segregation, molecular motor proteins, cytoskeleton regulation and dynamics, cell growth and renewal, and cancer cell biology.

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Visconti Spermiogenesis 2021
  • M2M Research Theme 

Contraception, Reproduction Assistance Technologies and Embryology (CReATE)

The CReATE research theme comprises a group of reproductive and developmental biologists whose individual research is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying reproduction and embryonic development and the effect of the environment in those processes. In addition, environmental factors that disrupt developmental processes either in the embryo or later in life can result in a range of reproductive disorders. Our group is also interested in studying how environmental toxicants affect later life health and reproduction.

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Mechanisms in Cancer (EM²C)
  • M2M Research Theme 

Engineered Models and Mechanisms in Cancer (EM²C)

Members of the Engineering Models and Mechanisms in Cancer (EM²C) research theme have broad expertise with engineering in vitro models to mimic the complexity of tumors and identification of novel therapeutic targets using primary human tissues. Epidemiology is also a strength among the researchers in EM²C providing insights into risk factors and potential targets.

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Annatto plan with seeds
  • M2M Research Theme 

Infection & Immunity

The infection and immunity research cluster carries out research aimed at improving the health of people and domestic animals, and welcomes interest from potential industry partners.

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Mechanisms of Neural Function & Dysfunction
  • M2M Research Theme 

Mechanisms of Neural Function & Dysfunction

Genetic and environmental factors that disrupt developmental processes either in the embryo or later in life can result in a range of disorders including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases that arise throughout the lifespan.

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Membranes in Biology & Medicine
  • M2M Research Theme 

Membranes in Biology & Medicine

Membranes are nature's architecture, enclosing reactive molecules, storing energy, and modulating signals. Their components, membrane proteins and lipids, orchestrate all of life's key processes. Given their importance, it is not surprising that 60 percent of drug targets are membrane proteins.

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Microbiome, Microbes & Infectious Diseases
  • M2M Research Theme 

Microbiome, Microbes & Infectious Diseases (MMID)

The Microbiome, Microbes & Infectious Diseases (MMID) theme consists of an interdisciplinary group of 20 investigators from nine Departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Food Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Microbiology and Veterinary and Animal Science. The overarching goal of MMID is to understand, manipulate and design microbial systems at the molecular, cellular and community levels for translational applications in human health and disease. 

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Edward Debold - Muscle motor
  • M2M Research Theme 

mUscleMASS

We are a highly collaborative cluster of researchers who study the biology of skeletal and cardiac muscle during development, aging, and pathogenesis. We have expertise in all aspects of muscle biology, including: molecular, cellular and structural biology, energetics and muscle physiology, from the interactions of myosin and actin to single biophysics to human MRI studies. Our primary interests center on atrophy and contractile alterations with exercise and aging, and we are well positioned to engage in a range of projects with the appropriate partners.

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Plant and Microbial Innovation Research Theme
  • M2M Research Theme 

Plant and Microbial Innovation

The Plant and Microbial Innovation research theme consists of an interdisciplinary group of investigators from the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemical Engineering, and Microbiology. 

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  • M2M Research Theme 

Protein Homeostasis

Protein Homeostasis comprises all the cellular networks that maintain the proper structure and assembly of the cellular proteome, and it is essential to normal cell function. In the last decade an explosion of discoveries has indicated that imbalances in protein homeostasis are associated with many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, as well as many forms of cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, lysosomal storage diseases, and more.

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