# Systems Biology Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2020 · $395,246

## Abstract

ABSTRACT 
Researchers in the Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (CIBC) will be investigating 
complex biological systems. As a result, these researchers expect to make extensive use of mass 
spectroscopy (MS), microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These capabilities in 
systems biology are currently available through three existing University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) core 
facilities. However, these separate, distinct cores present practical and logistic impediments to researchers 
needing to effectively incorporate systems biology into their projects. The existing core structure requires an 
investigator to duplicate effort by interacting with each separate core and devising repetitive protocols. In 
addition, each individual core focuses on applying its specific expertise and technology to a problem instead of 
a broad, synergistic view of all alternatives. A systems biology core facility that incorporates all systems biology 
instrumentation, methodologies, and expertise under a single organizational structure will help ensure that UNL 
biomedical investigators receive support and training in the systems biology techniques that best fit their 
research needs. Thus, the establishment of the Systems Biology Core (SBC) facility will address the specific, 
critical requirements of CIBC investigators. The SBC facility's long-term goal is to create a sustainable systems 
biology facility that meets the omics and microscopy needs of CIBC members, UNL faculty, and the larger 
scientific community. The SBC facility's short-term goal is to facilitate the adaption of systems biology 
technologies by CIBC and UNL investigators. The SBC will accomplish its goals by training and educating 
investigators in systems biology methodology and by continually expanding and enhancing SBC capabilities, 
instrumentation, technologies, and capacity. Through the SBC facility, CIBC members will have routine 
interactions with skilled omics and microscopy experts who can assist with study design, sample preparation, 
and the collection, analysis, interpretation, and modeling of resulting data. SBC personnel will also collaborate 
with the Center's Data Management and Analysis Core to facilitate CIBC projects that require data mining and 
archiving, statistical analysis, functional and predictive analyses, and computational modeling. Thus, the SBC 
facility will enhance infrastructure in an area of critical importance to CIBC investigators and to UNL faculty 
more broadly. Establishing the SBC core will require accomplishing three specific aims: 1) Engage a director 
who will oversee the core; 2) Hire two new staff experts in NMR and MS metabolomics to advise investigators 
on study design, sample preparation, and data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; and 3) Efficiently 
provide omics and microscopy assistance to CIBC projects to ensure investigators have adequate, timely 
access to core services. As a centralized...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10016361
- **Project number:** 5P20GM113126-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT POWERS
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $395,246
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-15 → 2021-09-13

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10016361

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10016361, Systems Biology Core (5P20GM113126-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10016361. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*
