The Life Sciences Institute is a collaborative, independent research institution located on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It encompasses 22 faculty-led teams from 12 schools and departments throughout U-M. The LSI brings together leading scientists from a variety of life science disciplines, working in a range of animal models and using a number of cutting-edge research tools, to accelerate breakthroughs and discoveries that will improve human health and lead to new treatments for diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, cancer and infectious disease. Of the university's $823 million in research expenditures, more than half is allocated for research in the life sciences, and the LSI is a cornerstone of this effort.
History
The Life Sciences Institute's construction was approved by the Board of Regents in May 1999. Initial funding of $100 million was provided for the creation of wet lab space, in addition to the $130 million for the endowment and startup costs.
Leadership
, Ph.D., began his tenure as the Mary Sue Coleman Director of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute in September 2016. A leading researcher in brain regulation of body weight, Cone also serves as vice provost and director of U-M's biosciences initiative. The managing director is Anna Schork. The institute's first director was Jack E. Dixon. In 2002, Mary Sue Coleman, U-M's president, appointed cell biologist and expert on insulin signaling Alan R. Saltiel as director. Saltiel served as the director until 2015, followed by interim directorStephen Weiss, M.D., who led the institute from 2015 to 2016.
The Center for Stem Cell Biology is a collaborative division of the Life Sciences Institute where stem cells are studied in a cross-disciplinary manner. At the Center for Stem Cell Biology, questions addressed include fundamental inquiries into tissue development and cell communication. Morrison himself investigates the mechanisms underlying the functioning of stem cells in the nervous and hematopoietic systems. Morrison's lab has disproven the immortal strand hypothesis for blood-forming stem cells.
The Center for Chemical Genomics
A High Throughput Screening facility is a central component of the Center for Chemical Genomics. This core facility is designed to assist academic researchers in carrying out high-throughput screens of chemical libraries and to identify new tools for biological research.
The Center for Structural Biology
The Center for Structural Biology is a "collaboratory" for X-ray crystallography, crystallization and protein engineering, and is a comprehensive structural biology resource for researchers at the University of Michigan and surrounding area. The center includes:
High-Throughput Protein Laboratory for protein engineering
Protein Purification Facilities for small- and large-scale protein production
Macromolecular Crystallization & Crystallography Laboratories for solving crystal structures of biological molecules
The Center for the Discovery of New Medicines, housed in the LSI, coordinates and supports the development of therapeutics from discovery to the market. The strengths of U-M's Medical, Pharmacy, Engineering and Public Health schools combine with departments in chemistry, biology, dentistry and nursing and converge with U-M's offices of Tech Transfer and Business Development. The university's scientific cores in chemical genomics, medicinal chemistry, animal models and pharmacokinetics provide an array of equipment and expertise to help researchers turn promising compounds into new medicines.
Innovation Partnership
The Innovation Partnership's goal is to bridge the gap, known as the 'Valley of Death,' between laboratory research discoveries from biomedical researchers and venture capitalists who can potentially make the discoveries viable in the marketplace. The Partnership supports work in neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancer and infectious disease.
U-M/Israel Partnership for Research
In collaboration with the Cardiovascular Center at U-M, the LSI funds promising collaborative research between scientists at U-M and at institutions in Israel.
Facility
The LSI is a 235,000 square feet building with six floors between U-M's central campus and the university's health system in Ann Arbor. Completed in 2003, the building includes housing for wet lab and laboratory support spaces, administration offices, PI offices, interaction spaces, core laboratory areas, a combined gallery/lobby space and a small library. The exterior design of the building is intended to harmonize with other campus loft-style structures, while also meeting the needs of a modern research institute.
LSI Symposium
The LSI Annual Symposium invites leading scientists from different disciplines to converge around a single topic. Past symposia have been designed to explore genetic insights into biology and disease, cancer, stem cell biology, evolutionary biology, autophagy and diseases of the nervous system.
Faculty
List of the faculty currently working at the life sciences institute:
