9416826 Baier The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Biosurfaces is becoming a multi-site university Center. The State University of New York at Buffalo's Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Biosurfaces is being joined by a research site at the University of Memphis and another research site at the New York State College of Ceramics. Research in the multi-site Center will address: 1) Characterization of the chemical/physical properties of various substrata that favor or inhibit bioadhesion, in aqueous media of varied organic/inorganic content; 2) Determination of the surface properties of cells as they engage in interactions with well- characterized substrata, giving special attention to the dynamics of media flow, cell arrival, surface modification, bio-attachment and -- finally -- stability of the attachment mechanisms; 3) Documentation of reactions between cells and supporting films, cells and adjacent cells, films and surrounding media, and other cross-reactions, with particular attention to technology that may control these interactions to either promote or prevent bioadhesion in practical biomedical or bioengineering situations; and 4) Scale- up of these biotechnologies to macrosystem processes, like adhesive secretion or biomineralization, that may produce new, or mimic existing, materials such as structural composite shells and adhesives of natural organisms. This multi-site Center has been coordinated with Dr. Norman Caplan, Program Director, Environmental Systems Program. The State University of New York has requested funding to support undergraduate research assistants. These students will participate in the Center's ongoing research projects. Additional funding is provided through a supplemental Research Opportunity Award (ROA) for a woman Assistant Professor at D'Youville College to perform research for the State University of New - Buffalo. Pa ge 1 of 2 The Project is determining the protein structure associated with bioadhesives functionality. The project's goal is to study the protein structures responsible for the binding ability of selected native adhesive protein domains and for their use in the development of manufactured proteinaceous adhesive agents. The Program Manager recommends the State University of New York at Buffalo be awarded: $50,000 for the first year of a five-year continuing award (including $25,000 for administrative activities); $50,000 for the first year of a five-year continuing award to the University of Memphis through a subcontract; $50,000 for the first year of a five-year continuing award to the New York State College of Ceramics through a subcontract; $5,000 for one year with funds provided by the Women, Minorities, and Disabled Engineering Research Assistants Program; and $54,995 for 24 months for a Research Opportunity award. Near the end of each 12-month period the Program Manager and/or the Division Director of the Engineering Education Centers Division will review the progress of the Center on a number of renewal criteria requirements, including the following: 1) the extent to which the industry/university interaction is developing; 2) the extent to which support base is developing; and 3) the extent to which a robust research program is developing. If the review is satisfactory, the Program Manager will recommend support for the next period of this continuing award. Page 2 of 2
