From Discovery to Impact—Built Within the Community

Transforming scientific innovation into real-world solutions by empowering researchers, trainees, and communities.

Supported by the NSF EPSCoR Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) GRANT NUMBER

 

The NSF EPSCoR CREST Center for Adaptive Nanomotor Development was established with a $7.5 million Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) grant in 2025 from the National Science Foundation. Researchers are studying how protein nanomotors are biologically engineered to modify their mechanical functions and their interactions with the cytoskeleton, other motor proteins, and endogenous ligands. Such cellular machines are of interest not only for the richness in basic science, but also for the potential to revolutionize critical technologies. The Center will spearhead a program to encourage junior faculty and trainees to develop case uses of basic science findings. Educational and outreach initiatives will broaden scientific perspectives of protein design and mechanics. What is learned at the bench is extendible to different protein superfamilies. 

 

PROBLEM → SOLUTION

Breakthroughs Don’t Fail in the Lab—They Fail to Translate

Scientific discoveries too often stall before reaching patients and communities due to gaps in funding, infrastructure, and commercialization pathways.

We Bridge the Gap

Backed by NSF EPSCoR CREST, we connect discovery to impact through an integrated ecosystem that provides:

• Research development and pilot funding
• Mentorship and training pipelines
• Commercialization and startup pathways
• Direct access to industry and investors

 

FEATURED IMPACT

From Discovery to Real-World Impact

Our programs accelerate ideas from early-stage discovery to validated solutions that improve health and strengthen communities. By integrating mentorship, funding, and industry engagement, we enable innovations to move beyond the lab and into practice.

Learn more about the Centers impacts on the Impacts and Outcomes webpage.

SCIENTIFIC & TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

Convergent, Collaborative, and Scalable

The Center integrates investigators across disciplines to address complex biomedical challenges while providing trainees with hands-on experience in team science, quantitative approaches, and translational research.

• Cross-campus integration (LSU Health, LSU flagship)
• Access to shared experimental and analytical resources
• Mentorship spanning basic science, engineering, and clinical translation

 

 

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.