Biomedical Science Tower 3
The University of Pittsburgh’s Biomedical Science Tower 3 (BST3) houses some 50 laboratories occupied by more than 500 scientists, graduate students, technicians and support staff. The following are descriptions of the major research programs that are housed in one of the most advanced research facilities of its kind.
Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC)
One of the fundamental mysteries neuroscience seeks to resolve is how capacity for coordinated, purposeful behavior arises from the distributed activity of many billions of neurons in the brain. Indeed, despite several decades of research, there still is not a good understanding of how these systems give rise to cognitive control. The CNBC, a joint venture of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, is dedicated to the study of the neural basis of cognitive processes, including learning and memory, language and thought, perception and attention, and planning and action. It builds on the established strengths of the University of Pittsburgh in basic and clinical neuroscience and those of Carnegie Mellon University in the cognitive and computer sciences to produce a coordinated research and educational program of international stature.
BST3 is home to Pitt-based CNBC researchers who are examining the neural basis of voluntary movement, motor learning and the neural circuitry underlying a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Their research is likely to have broad practical impact on the development of new strategies that enable recovery from brain damage or disease and “smart” prosthetic devices that can be controlled by one’s own brain signals.
Center for Vaccine Research
Headed by Donald S. Burke, M.D., dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, the Center for Vaccine Research is a major initiative that draws on the talents of numerous faculty members of the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Public Health. It focuses on the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for viruses and other infectious agents of global importance, including H1N1 and other influenza strains, and HIV. The center’s research encompasses both basic immunology and the development of candidate vaccines for human use.
Department of Bioengineering
Bioengineering is a multidisciplinary field with roots in engineering, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology and medicine. Thus, bioengineering research applies principles, methods and technologies from all of these fields to study fundamental biological phenomena and to develop instruments, materials, devices and systems that can be applied to biomedical research and ultimately used in clinical care.
The faculty scientists who are engaged in bioengineering studies in the BST3 have primary academic appointments in the School of Engineering’s Department of Bioengineering and secondary academic appointments in various School of Medicine departments. Their research includes studies looking at applications of microtechnologies to explore cell polarity during vertebrate cell differentiation, cell and tissue mechanics during vertebrate development and biomaterials for neural prostheses and neural tissue regeneration. The Department of Bioengineering is chaired by Harvey S. Borovetz, Ph.D., whose current research interests are focused on the design and clinical utilization of cardiovascular organ replacements for both adult and pediatric patients. Since 1985, he has served as the academic advisor for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s clinical bioengineering program in mechanical circulatory support.
Department of Computational Biology
Computational biology integrates basic biological sciences with engineering, mathematics, statistics and computer science. Although the importance of computational biology has been known for decades, its prominence in modern life sciences has leapfrogged in the post-genomic era because of the enormous quantity of biological data now available. Computational biology blends theory and advanced computational methodologies with experimental data. Applications range from DNA sequence analysis and the development of models of molecular structure and movement to the modeling of cellular processes at a level of detail not previously possible.
The University’s Department of Computational Biology is one of the only formal departments devoted to this discipline at a U.S. medical school. It is chaired by Ivet Bahar, Ph.D., whose research focuses on understanding the molecular dynamics of biological molecules using computers to develop models that incorporate fundamental principles of physical sciences, advanced computational algorithms and database search and analysis tools. The department occupies an entire floor of the BST3 and makes use of state-of-the-art computer technology.
Department of Neurobiology
Neurobiologists focus on understanding the biological basis of brain function and the genetic and non-genetic influences that cause neurological and psychiatric diseases. At a basic biological level, they explore neural development and computation, circuit function and cellular communication through the receptors, channels and synapses of neurons.
The BST3 houses several laboratories for the School of Medicine’s Department of Neurobiology, which actively integrates its research efforts with other departments and programs on campus. Its research emphasizes experimental manipulations that perturb genetic and environmental signals, particularly those that affect the development of different parts of the brain and the spinal cord. The department is chaired by Susan G. Amara, Ph.D., Thomas Detre Professor of Neurobiology. Pioneering studies in her group have focused on the structure and function of neurotransmitter transporters, the primary molecular targets for therapeutic antidepressants and psycho-stimulant drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines.
Department of Structural Biology
Biological function is generated by biological structure, so structure is key to understanding both normal and abnormal cellular processes. For example, knowing the structure of proteins or other macromolecules and how their structures change when activated or interacting with other structures is critical for successful drug discovery. Therapeutic compounds must fit into the configuration of the target site on the protein if they are to work effectively. Structural biologists use powerful and highly sophisticated technology such as X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the molecular structure of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and membranes and to establish the dynamic changes within their three-dimensional structures.
The Department of Structural Biology occupies three floors and 32,000 square feet of the BST3. It is chaired by Angela M. Gronenborn, Ph.D., one of the nation’s leading structural biologists and a consultant on the design of the building. Her laboratory combines NMR spectroscopy with biophysics, biochemistry and chemistry to investigate cellular processes at the molecular and atomic levels. One particular area of focus is how the three-dimensional architecture of HIV affects its activity and function.
Developmental Biology
Learning about how embryos form and grow is the mission of researchers in the Developmental Biology Program, including Nathan Bahary, M.D., Ph.D., Neil Hukreide, Ph.D., and Michael Tsang, Ph.D., from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry; and Xiangyun Wei, Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology. Their work aims to identify the genes involved in the development of gastrointestinal tumors and leukemia, and to understand such phenomena as pattern recognition in the central nervous system, birth defects and disease development, kidney development and the regulation of growth factors during embryonic development. Their efforts will be enhanced by the School of Medicine’s recent establishment of one of the nation’s few departments of developmental biology, headed by Cecila Lo, Ph.D., an expert in congenital heart disease.
Drug Discovery Institute
The process of drug discovery relies on uncovering the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for disease processes, followed by the design of drugs that specifically target and interfere with those mechanisms. As researchers learn more about the human genome and the human proteome, they should be able to develop drugs that are much more specific than those available today.
The Drug Discovery Institute focuses in large part on developing drugs for treating so-called orphan diseases—those that typically afflict fewer than 200,000 people—and neglected diseases—often highly prevalent in underdeveloped countries— that do not attract interest from industry because of the high risk and cost of drug development. The effort is headed by pharmacologist John S. Lazo, Ph.D., the Allegheny Foundation Professor of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, and takes advantage of close ties with the schools of Medicine, Arts and Sciences and Pharmacy. Peter Wipf, Ph.D., University Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, is co-director. The Institute encompasses the University’s Molecular Libraries Screening Center, one of nine NIH-funded centers that will create ultra-sophisticated methods for rapidly assessing the therapeutic potential of hundreds of thousands of biologically active compounds as well as for creating new compounds. This capacity has until now been limited almost exclusively to pharmaceutical companies.
Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND)
It is estimated that approximately one in four Americans will suffer from a neurodegenerative disease, and virtually all Americans will have a family member with one of these conditions in their lifetimes. Unfortunately, the underlying disease-causing mechanisms of neurodegeneration are not well understood.
PIND brings together scientists from diverse disciplines and perspectives to collaborate on laboratory studies of neurodegenerative disorders, with the ultimate goal of translating their findings into novel therapies for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The institute’s research portfolio includes investigations into mechanisms of neural cell death; genetic models of neurodegenerative disease; and methods for protecting neural cells with drugs, physical interventions and gene therapy. PIND is directed by J. Timothy Greenamyre, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chief of the new Movement Disorders Division within the School of Medicine’s Department of Neurology. Dr. Greenamyre’s lab is studying the mechanisms that cause nerve cell death in Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases.
Proteomics Core Laboratories
The Proteomics Core Laboratory is committed to fostering the implementation of cutting edge research by making state-of-the-art instrumentation, applications and scientific expertise accessible to biomedical investigators. The facility provides a variety of standard and customized Proteomic analyses.
Proteomics services offered include protein identification, de novo sequencing, identification of post translational modifications and quantitative proteomics analysis. This resource is driven by the needs of the scientific community so new technologies are frequently assessed and added if warranted.
The laboratories offer expert knowledge and support with experimental design, new protocol development, technical support, data analysis and interpretation and assistance with manuscript and grant preparation including budgeting.