Resource for the Visualization of Biological Complexity (RVBC)

Mission

The mission and long-term goal of the RVBC is twofold: (1) to develop tools for visualization of biological systems in their entirety, in close to native conditions, and (2) to make this technology, when firmly established and tested, available to the scientific community. We are making use of advanced methods of three-dimensional imaging with the electron microscope and computation to look at different levels of biological architecture, and aim to integrate the knowledge gained from these experiments with existing data towards a comprehensive understanding of biological systems - their structure and dynamics. While single-particle reconstructions methods are used to study macromolecular interactions in isolated, well-characterized systems, electron tomography provides a detailed picture of the cell in its entirety.

Executive Committee

Dr. Joachim Frank	joachim@wadsworth.org	518-474-7002
Dr. Carmen Mannella	carmen@wadsworth.org	518-474-2462
Mr. Michael Marko	marko@wadsworth.org	518-474-7049
Dr. Bruce McEwen	bruce@wadsworth.org	518-486-9102
Dr. Terence Wagenknecht	terry@wadsworth.org	518-474-2450

Scientific Staff Members

Mr. David Barnard	HVEM facility, instrument development, time-resolved cryo-EM
Dr. William Baxter	SPIDER development, SPIRE (reconstruction engine)
Ms. Karolyn Buttle	HVEM tomography, time-resolved cryo-EM
Ms. Chyongere Hsieh	Cryo-tomography, cryo-preparation, frozen-hydrated sections
Dr. Ardean Leith	SPIDER and WEB maintenance and development, visualization
Dr. Bimal Rath	SPIDER and WEB development, motif and particle search
Dr. Christian Renken	Cryo-tomography: algorithm development, motif search
Dr. Tapu Shaikh	Single-particle EM: algorithm development, time-resolved cryo-EM

Administrative Assistant, mailing address

RVBC facility use

Individuals interested in using the facility may contact the RVBC Director, Dr. Joachim Frank. The application form is available as an (Adobe .pdf file) or (word file) and should be emailed to the Administrative Assistant for review by the Executive Committee.