The Institute for Biomolecular Targeting

About This Grant

The Institute for Biomolecular Targeting (bioMT) infuses mechanistic investigations with a sophisticated awareness of therapeutic potential and engages translational approaches to complex diseases such as cancer and infection. In Phases I and II, our first three cohorts of research project leaders (RPL) have all received R01- equivalent funding or major venture investments, and our newest cohort is on track for similar success. Our cores provide unique protein biochemistry resources and ‘navigators’ to access microscopes campus-wide. Our core training sessions and our research seminars create a dynamic community. In Phase II, we have developed comprehensive charge-back structures and advanced educational programs. Phase III COBRE and institutional programmatic funds will enable us to deploy these new funding sources effectively over the coming five years. Phase III funding will also allow us to continue to expand the bioMT research community and launch new and collaborative research initiatives. Aim 1 is to maintain our commitment to research excellence and to refresh our intellectual community and ensure a strong foundation of investigator-initiated awards through targeted faculty development funds and new pilot projects aligned with the bioMT mission. Dartmouth recently identified our domain as a strategic priority for institutional investment, and we expect to once again exceed our target of one co-recruitment per year in Phase III. Pilot funds enable faculty to parlay emerging high-risk/high-reward research directions into long-term extramurally funded programs, and we will maintain career mentoring for our graduated RPLs and for newly hired junior faculty through promotion. Our Administrative Core will also continue to nurture a vibrant, curious, and interconnected research community. Aim 2 proposes to enhance our state-of-the-art core facilities, which will continue to serve a large group of bioMT investigators. All member laboratories will continue to benefit from our high-quality, responsive research cores. New equipment grants and additional training of core staff will continue in areas of critical need identified by our advisory councils. Core staff will continue to provide expert training. Aim 3 will focus on implementation of a multi-pronged, resilient strategy for the continued availability of core resources after the end of COBRE funding. Having developed comprehensive cost-recovery mechanisms, we will implement them step wise to enable faculty to budget accordingly, while covering a growing share of costs. We will also launch learner-centered workforce development programs that have been extensively prepared during Phase II. These programs will leverage core resources and hire dedicated staff to equip trainees for industry or PhD placements. bioMT-coordinated internships will lead them to high-value jobs, while building lasting partnerships with local and regional biotechnology partners and offsetting core costs. Taken together, these aims will expand and elevate our scholarly impact and provide financial resources to establish bioMT as a nationally visible academic enterprise central to the intellectual landscape at Dartmouth.