The broad objective of this revised proposal for renewal of the Illinois EPR Research Center (IERC) as an NIH Research Resource Center is to aid meritorious research, especially biomedical research, by developing, establishing, and providing special resources, methodology, and services related to electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), with particular emphasis on multifrequency and high-frequency EPR.
The specific aims of the IERC are to provide the scientific, especially biomedical, research community with assistance in applications of EPR to their research problems. This includes (1) collaboration and service requiring access to EPR facilities (both routine and special state-of-the art) and expertise, (2) technical research and development as well as demonstration of instrumentation, methods, and applications, (3) training in useful techniques, and (4) extensive national worldwide dissemination of a wide variety of information that might be useful to the EPR-active biomedical scientific community. Special techniques of the IERC include these: multifrequency EPR and double magnetic resonance from very low (radio frequency) DNP to high (mm-wave approaching far-IR) spectrometer frequencies- with many health-related applications, for example, improving pharmaceuticals for diagnostic radiology and determining details about structure and dynamics in proteins and DNA. The first-priority Technological Research and Development focus in the coming grant period will be the study by high frequency and multiple-frequency EPR of structure and dynamics in proteins and DNA through spin labeling, especially site-directed mutagenesis and site-directed spin labeling. The second-priority Technological Research and Development focus will be EPR development and applications to structure and dynamics of metal ions and radicals of biological relevance. Eight Technical Research and Development projects detail specific applications concentrating on these priorities and some additional instrumentation will be added to support them. These sections are revised and expanded in response to previous reviewers' concerns. During the renewal period, extensive dissemination, training, and service activities will be pursued. These include conducting some national workshops on high-frequency EPR methods, publishing a substantial Newsletter to serve members of the biomedical and other research community interested in EPR, supporting a large network of scientists through maintenance of an IERC database and Internet information site, and serving a clearing house for the exchange of information.
