Research Consortia 

The GCC's research arm is comprised of consortia, which serve to catalyze interactions and provide a supportive environment for collaborative research programs that require expertise beyond that available in any one institution.  

Currently, the GCC supports over 500 faculty engaged with consortia in the following areas:  

Chemical Genomics
Membrane Biology
Protein Crystallography
Magnetic Resonance
Bioinformatics
Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience.  

Clusters, such as the Gulf Coast Cluster for Translational Pain Research, focus around topics new to the Research Consortia which do not fit into current consortia. 

New clusters form when faculty come together around a common goal or interest, establish a working vision, and engage interest among the broader faculty community in the GCC. When there is critical mass to commit to a shared vision, the researchers are encouraged to apply to the GCC Oversight Committee for the formation of a new cluster. 

Notable accomplishments of the research consortia include the acquisition of two 800 MHz NMRs and a 9.4 Tesla MRI for small animal imaging, development and operation of a beamline at LSU’s synchrotron, and co-sponsorship of the fifth De Lange Conference “Frontiers of Medicine: Society, Pharmacology and Membrane Biology in the Genomic Era,” bringing together preeminent scientists and cultural leaders to explore how we can best use genomic information to advance our basic understanding of biology and improve human health. The initial investment of $3.5 million from the W. M. Keck Foundation in 2001 has been leveraged to generate an estimated additional $10+ million of funding out of over $85 million in new proposals. This does not include individual investigator initiated collaborative proposals and awards arising from GCC-catalyzed interactions between faculty members across institutions and disciplines. 

For more information about the individual research consortia, please go to GCC Home.