Three central thematic areas fostering the accelerated synthesis, analysis and translation of novel molecules have been identified as the core focus areas for the ISI. The pursuit of innovation will be facilitated by world-class, cutting-edge technologies available within Woodson Hall, the future hub of ISI.

Within ISI, the synergy between and across themes will permeate the research and teaching environment, benefiting undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff in an unparalleled manner at NC State. Furthermore, integrating the humanities, social sciences and the arts will infuse a holistic perspective into our research and training efforts within the molecular sciences.

Molecular Biomimicry

Research in this theme seeks to mimic and replicate the structural and functional aspects of biological molecules or systems to develop innovative solutions for various applications in medicine and materials. Examples include natural product synthesis, synthetic biology, catalysis, peptidomimetics, biocatalysis and bioinorganic chemistry.

Molecular Metabolism

Research in this theme studies the complex biochemical processes within cells and organisms that produce energy and sustain biological function. By understanding the molecular transformations that coordinate metabolism and maintain the health of living organisms, we seek to provide insights to drive the prevention and cure of human disease. Examples include identifying molecules that control cellular communication in healthy, aged and diseased tissues, characterizing the pathways impacted by excess nutrients and other environmental factors during disease progression, and defining new molecular targets for disease prevention and therapy.

Accelerated and Predictive Technologies

Research in this theme focuses on leveraging robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantitative visualization tools, and computational approaches to expedite the synthesis, analysis, manipulation, and understanding of molecules and their behavior. These technologies exponentially increase access to a molecular knowledge base that will enable informed predictions about structures, functions, and intermolecular interactions. Examples include self-driving labs, high-throughput experimentation, single-cell and single-nuclear imaging, approaches to spatially resolve molecular processes in tissues and organoids, 3D tissue culture, microfluidic systems, flow chemistry and computational modeling.