{"id":133773,"date":"2022-09-20T11:19:09","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T17:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=133773"},"modified":"2022-09-20T11:19:10","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T17:19:10","slug":"centering-the-biofrontiers-center-7-questions-with-bob-camley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=133773","title":{"rendered":"Centering the BioFrontiers Center: 7 Questions with Bob Camley"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Neurons, and their connections, in a fruit fly larva. Image credit: Guy Hagen, UCCS BioFrontiers Center, and Eugenia Olesnicky Killian, UCCS Department of Biology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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The UCCS BioFrontiers Center<\/a> bridges the fields of biology and physics \u2014 and in doing so, aims to create new ways of seeing and manipulating nature. Its goal? To revolutionize human health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The applications of the interdisciplinary science the BioFrontiers Center conducts are vast. From new diagnostic tools \u2014 like the development of a method to \u201csee\u201d temperature in MRI images \u2014 to new therapeutic treatments \u2014 like nanoparticules that can both detect and kill cancers \u2014 the Center is focused on expanding the frontiers of biotechnology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housed on the first and fourth floors of the Osborne Science and Engineering Building at UCCS, the BioFrontiers Center creates opportunities for faculty, students and research associates to collaboratively solve pressing health and biotechnology problems. In just a few years, the Center\u2019s faculty and research associates have published over 130 research papers, received over 1,700 citations to their work, and guided over 150 students through cutting-edge work in the Center\u2019s laboratories and facilities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more, we sat down with Bob Camley, Director of the BioFrontiers Center and Distinguished Professor of Physics. Read Camley’s interview below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Describe how and why the UCCS BioFrontiers Center was started.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Bob Camley is the Director of the UCCS BioFrontiers Center and a Distinguished Professor of Physics at UCCS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Center was started as a UCCS initiative to bring multiple disciplines together to improve human health and advance biotechnology. This was done in conjunction with the founding of the BioFrontiers Institute (centered in Boulder) and funded by the CU Foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the primary focus of the Center has been biophysics, we have also supported work in biology, computer science, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. How does the Center\u2019s work align with your own background?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My primary background is in theoretical physics, but I spent a couple of years working as an engineer for a company that made integrated circuits. I also spent several years working with an immunologist at UCCS. This broad background gave me an appreciation for the fascinating questions and issues in biology and the different methods to approach these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Share a project, piece of research or initiative the Center has advanced that you\u2019re proud of.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oh\u2026.I can\u2019t list just one. We have projects to do all the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n