# Center on Macromolecular Dynamics by NMR Spectroscopy

> **NIH NIH P41** · NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER · 2020 · $1,250,482

## Abstract

This proposal describes the need for and outline of a Biomedical Technology Research Resource
entitled Center on Macromolecular Dynamics by NMR Spectroscopy (CoMD/NMR) and situated at the New
York Structural Biology Center. The focus of CoMD/NMR is technical development and application of NMR
spin relaxation and associated methods for characterizing protein and nucleic acid conformational dynamics in
biological processes including ligand recognition, allosterism, catalysis, and folding. The central challenge
addressed by CoMD/NMR is to break down the high activation barrier to using advanced NMR spectroscopic
and computational methods and thus to make available the benefits of these sophisticated approaches to the
wider biological research community. CoMD/NMR is the platform for meeting this challenge through
Technological Research and Development (TR&D) Projects, Driving Biomedical Projects (DBPs), Collaboration
and Service, Training, and Dissemination components of the Resource. The TR&D component of CoMD/NMR
will develop new and extended methods for characterizing and interpreting macromolecular dynamics, with a
strong focus on expanding the general ranges of time scales and masses of targets accessible for study. The dual
needs for integrating experimental, computational, and theoretical methods (within the TR&D component) and
for interfacing with key biological researchers (within the DBP and Collaboration components) make
CoMD/NMR essential. In particular, CoMD/NMR addresses four primary obstacles: (i) future technology
developments requires combined advances in sample preparation, NMR hardware and methods development,
and integration with computer methods; (ii) access to NMR spectrometers at multiple static magnetic fields, as
well as specialty equipment such as dynamic nuclear polarization and field cycling probes, is key to many
emerging methods; (iii) transfer of technology to the general biological community has been hindered by the
complexity of the methods, absence of integrated pipelines to facilitate data acquisition and analysis by non-
specialists, and lack of infrastructure in individual laboratories to translate these methods for general use; and
(iv) biologists with research programs that would benefit from these methods are unaware of this potential and
lack expertise to incorporate these approaches into their own research. Technology development proceeds most
effectively when driven by challenging applications; accordingly, CoMD/NMR will work closely with
outstanding local and national investigators in DBPs designed to motivate and test emerging technology. The
resources of CoMD/NMR will be broadly available to the biomedical research community through
collaboration and service activities together with expansive training and dissemination programs. The basic
research developments of CoMD/NMR will impact a diverse range of biological research with human health
relatedness, including degenerative diseases, metabolic disorders,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9967018
- **Project number:** 5P41GM118302-04
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** ARTHUR G PALMER
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,250,482
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9967018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9967018, Center on Macromolecular Dynamics by NMR Spectroscopy (5P41GM118302-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9967018. Licensed CC0.

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