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  "ICD is an interdisciplinary research center focused on employing massively parallel strategies towards the rapid discovery of new materials."  
     
The Institute for Combinatorial Discovery
   
 

What is Combinatorial Science?

Combinatorial Science (CombiSci) embodies the application of massively parallel strategies to the discovery and high-throughput screening/testing of literally thousands of new target materials (libraries) in time spans of hours-to-days, representing a paradigmatic compression in the weeks-to-years required by traditional "serial" (i.e., one sample at a time) approaches. By far, the best-known successes in this arena have occurred in the pharmaceutical industry, which, in the search for new drugs, was the first market sector to apply CombiSci to the discovery process. Although at much more embryonic stages of development, CombiSci-derived breakthroughs are also beginning to emerge in the discovery of materials with enhanced luminescent, ferroelectric, magnetorestrictive, and dielectric properties, and in heterogeneous, homogeneous, and bio-catalysis.

The ICD focuses largely on opportunities in the materials and catalysis components of CombiSci , both of which are beginning to emerge as vital research areas. The goal of the ICD is to rapidly and firmly establish ISU at the forefront of research in CombiSci , both nationally and internationally. In these areas, CombiSci presents unparalleled prospects for the formation of a far-reaching research and education program with inherent connections to many departments and research units across the ISU campus, and the formation of the ICD represents the fulfillment of this objective.

Long Range Goals and Vision

The ICD will focus on opportunities and needs in three areas ripe for CombiSci research: nanomaterials, biomaterials, and catalytic materials. Importantly, these thrusts build on the existing strengths of the investigators across the ISU campus. In addition to stakeholder facilities, the Initiative will take advantage of two new state-of-the art research facilities and exceptional scientific staff housed at ISU: the W. M. Keck Laboratory for the Fabrication of Microminiaturized Analytical Instrumentation and the Roy J. Carver Laboratory for Ultrahigh Resolution Biological Microscopy.
Virtually all federal funding agencies have announced major CombiSciChem initiatives, which, when coupled with the billions of dollars in recent infrastructure investments by industrial leaders (e.g., General Electric, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and DuPont), are forceful testimonies of perceived impact, challenges, and research opportunities in this area. The ICD will tap into this new source of funds as part of the efforts to sustain itself and firmly place ISU at the cutting edge of this vital area of research. The ICD will also pursue support from companies in target industries, and will be a centerpiece of its Industrial Affiliates Program. Technology transfer opportunities will evolve naturally from interactions with the Industrial Affiliates, and will address Iowa's weaknesses in the growth of new ventures.
CombiSci
Pioneered for drug discovery

Impact
Industry Investment: ~$47 Billion
Market: 12-20% annual growth in CombiSci instrumentation
Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry:
Meteoric rise in prominence

Unique Opportunity
Design and fundamental understanding of materials
First broad-based research and education program in CombiSci in the Nation

Goals
Highly collaborative focal point for breakthroughs in CombiSci materials research Synergistic partnerships with industry for seamless knowledge and technology transfer Premier Combinatorial experimentation facility for research and education

Executive Committee

DIRECTOR

Balaji Narasimhan, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Andrew C. Hillier, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Surya K. Mallapragada, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering
Krishna Rajan, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Derrick Rollins, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Sriram Sundararajan, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Joe Shinar, Professor, Physics
L. Keith Woo, Professor, Chemistry

Departments

The ICD draws on faculty from twelve of ISU's academic departments, spanning five of its nine colleges. The ICD is in strong resonance with the learning-discovery-engagement land grant missions of the University through a synergistic coupling of research, education, and technology transfer. The goals of the ICD, which strongly resonate with ISU's strategic plan as a land grant institution, include:

  1. Research - create the next and future generation technologies in the vital areas of robotics, sensors, micro/nanomachines, informatics, and nanostructured materials.
  2. Education - develop learner-centered teaching for training students in leadership skills in areas critical to the growth of the U.S. economy with heightened awareness of the needs of our society.
  3. Scholarship - achieve effective integration of innovative research, creative learning, outreach, and engagement with key constituents through synergistic partnerships of knowledge and expertise.
  4. Technology transfer - implement core technological advances positioned to move from the research laboratory to commercial sectors with high levels of economic value.
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In summary, the ICD will not only play a key role in establishing ISU as the Nation's top land grant institution, but also has strong potential to serve as one of the vehicles for sustained growth and excellence in Iowa in the new millennium.