The University of Massachusetts Amherst has secured more than $2.1 million in funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to bolster its research infrastructure and expand its capacity for biomedical innovation. The investment, which supports two distinct projects within the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), will provide researchers and industry partners with access to an advanced optical tweezers system that will be the first publicly available instrument of its kind in Massachusetts. These awards are part of more than $19.7 million in funding supporting 23 projects announced by the MLSC.
Advanced Optical Tweezers for Cellular Research
The largest portion of the funding, totaling $1,629,970, has been awarded through the MLSC Research Infrastructure Program. This grant is earmarked for the acquisition of one of the world’s most sophisticated optical tweezers systems and associated components for the IALS Light Microscopy Facility. The technology allows scientists to measure and visualize the tiny forces that power living cells, which are responsible for everything from DNA replication to the heart’s pumping action.
“This powerful tool will enable academic scientists and biotech industry partners to develop the next generation of drugs to treat myriad diseases, including heart failure and cancer,” Debold stated.
Expanding Micro-patterning Capabilities
A second grant of $497,230, provided through the MLSC Research Equipment Program, will be used to establish a new suite of micro-patterning equipment within the IALS Nanofabrication Cleanroom.
“This new micro-patterning system fills a critical infrastructure gap for life science and biomedical research in Western Massachusetts,” said Choi. The facility will support the development of technologies including organ-on-a-chip disease models, micro- and nanorobots for targeted drug and cell delivery, miniaturized ultrasound devices, and magnetically guided tools for minimally invasive procedures.
Infrastructure and Industry Impact
The IALS serves as a central hub for interdisciplinary research at UMass Amherst, managing 30 open-access core facilities. To date, the institute has supported more than 80 startup companies and pre-startups and provided more than $4.5 million in translational seed awards to address unmet individual and societal needs.
“These MLSC awards enable the important role that shared research infrastructure plays in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development,” Reinhart said. By providing students with hands-on training using advanced research infrastructure, the university aims to strengthen the workforce pipeline for the Massachusetts biotechnology sector.
The new instruments are currently scheduled for installation and are expected to be operational for researchers and industry collaborators by mid-2027.
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