Texas A&M established Bioinformatics systems engineering center

On Aug.8, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the establishment of the Center for Bioinformatics & Genomics Systems Engineering, a joint center of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

The center in College Station, Texas, will conduct research in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics and systems engineering as they relate to human and animal health, medicine and agriculture, serving communities across the state of Texas and beyond.

"The Center for Bioinformatics & Genomics Systems Engineering brings together two significant strengths within the engineering and agriculture programs to use bioinformatics and genomics to directly improve the health of animals and humans," said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Texas Engineering Experiment Station director and vice chancellor and dean of engineering at Texas A&M.

The center will feature 7,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, a greenhouse and offices for faculty and graduate students.

"Our aim is to expand our existing strength in the mathematical formulation of molecular-level medicine and to translate that theoretical capability into diagnostic and therapeutic applications for human and animal health," said Dr. Edward R. Dougherty with the Texas A&M department of electrical and computer engineering, who will direct the center.

The overall mission of the center is to utilize the strengths in contemporary engineering systems theory and life sciences to perform fundamental and translational research that affects human and animal health, agriculture and life sciences, an announcement said.