Recent advances in computing and networking technology have opened a new frontier in biological research. Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) has recognized this opportunity and its potential impact on understanding fundamental biological processes and developing biotechnological applications. The field of computational and structural biology was designated as one of the highest priority areas for development and expansion at BCM in the 1994 report of the College's Strategic Planning Committee. This proposal will create a new core laboratory for high performance computation, communication and visualization applied specifically to biological research. The proposed facility will include a parallel array of 12 processors with advanced visualization capability, and a high bandwidth network to four research and teaching clusters throughout the College. The core laboratory will be administered by an executive director and an executive committee of seven faculty and a student representative. It will be staffed with a computing application specialist and a system administrator. Twenty-five faculty members at BCM are key participants in this proposal, which covers four research areas. These include electron image reconstruction of macromolecular assemblies, x-ray crystallography, molecular biology informatics and computational neurobiology. All of the investigators are leaders in their respective scientific disciplines and use computationally intensive methods in their research efforts. Establishment of this proposed core laboratory will provide highspeed network access to a high performance computing and visualization resource that cannot be reasonably acquired by any individual investigator. The impact of this proposed bio-computing core laboratory at BCM will be enormous. This facility will: x improve our ability to tackle problems of great importance in cell biology, biochemistry, virology, molecular genetics and neurobiology which rely heavily on computa tionally intensive methods; x facilitate the development of novel methods of analysis and simulation using parallel and distributed computation; enhance our capability for visualization of large and complex biological data; x enable direct high-speed network linkage between the proposed high performance computers and the groups engaged in computationally intensive research at different locations throughout the College; x enrich student training in the use of computers for understanding complex biophysical and structural concepts; x attract new faculty members and trainees at postdoctoral, predoctoral and undergraduate levels to join our recently established Ph.D. Program of Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCBMB). The total cost of establishing the proposed core laboratory is $2.3 million, including equipment purchase, high-speed network connection, room renovation, software installation, equipment maintenance and personnel salary support for a period of three years. BCM will provide 34 % matching funds totaling $0.78 million. The total project cost that NSF is asked to fund is $1.5 million.
