The UCSF Computer Graphics Laboratory (CGL) is home to the Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics (RBVI), a NIH National Center for Research Resources Biomedical Technology Research Center for the integrated analysis of biological sequence, structure, and functional information. The other major components of the Center include the Babbitt Laboratory and the Sequence Analysis and Consulting Service (SACS).
The RBVI creates innovative computational and visualization-based data analysis methods and algorithms, implements these as professional-quality easy-to-use software tools, and applies these tools for solving a wide range of genomic and molecular recognition problems within the complex sequence->structure->function triad. Application areas include gene characterization and interpretation, drug design, variation in drug response due to genetic factors, protein engineering, biomaterials design, bioremediation, and prediction of function from sequence and structure. Our Research Center also provides access for scientists to state-of-the-art computer hardware and software in support of research projects in these areas. Available hardware includes high-performance interactive three-dimensional graphics workstations equipped with special glasses for viewing in stereo for the visualization of complex molecular structures, and high-performance network connectivity and associated custom-designed "collaboratory software" for facilitating collaborations with distant scientists. Software developed at the Center, including the molecular modeling packages MidasPlus and Chimera, has been widely distributed to other sites and is being used in applications including molecular modeling, drug design and protein engineering.
The Director of the CGL and Principal Investigator for the RBVI is Dr. Thomas Ferrin.
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