Education
For over ten years, UMBI has demonstrated its strong commitment to K-12 education and workforce development by providing quality, relevant lab-based education programs for students and teachers. These programs are derived from the world-class research in biotechnology currently being conducted at its four centers. These programs bring the latest advances and discoveries in biotechnology to science teachers, students and the bioscience workforce throughout the State. UMBI partners with a vast array of organizations throughout Maryland on these initiatives: other USM institutions, community colleges, public and private elementary, middle and high schools, and nonprofits such as the Living Classrooms Foundation, MdBio and the J. Craig Venter Institute.

Human Health
UMBI is dedicated to studying human disease mechanisms. Through investigations of molecular biophysics and cellular signal transduction, scientists seek to unravel vexing medical problems that include Alzheimer's and prion diseases, cardiac arrhythmias and failure, dysfunctions in molecular signaling and protein processing, as well as cellular development abnormalities. In addition, UMBI develops new technologies for exploring human biology, with an emphasis on nanobiology tools and imaging techniques.

Agriculture and the Environment
UMBI also conducts research which finds innovative ways to enhance agricultural production and protect the fragile environment we all share. Some areas of research at UMBI emphasize pathobiology (plants and animals), biomolecular/metabolic engineering and genome sciences. Commercial development is facilitated by integration of advances in biotechnology with innovation in bioprocess engineering. Practical advances include the development of novel poultry and fish vaccines, the use of insects as bioreactors for production of industrial and therapeutic proteins, and the recycling of crab shell wastes to produce industrial polymers.

Nanobiotechnology and Nanotechnology
UMBI is also active in the field of nanotechnology. Currently, UMBI is developing viruses for nanotechnology applications as an extension of a project that was initiated in 2002. Nanotechnology involves the manufacture and manipulation of objects on an atomic or smaller scale. At this scale, matter often displays unique characteristics that can be used to enhance a range of applications including: the production of smaller and faster microprocessors; more energy efficient electronic devices; and sensitive and selective sensors for environmental, manufacturing and homeland defense uses. This project is focused on the use of viruses to develop biological templates for the production of nano-particles, -tubes and -wires. UMBI is also using NMR spectroscopy to identify small molecules from a novel compound library developed at Rexahn Corporation. These molecules bind to cell-cycle proteins involved in cell survival, which make them attractive drug targets for the treatment of cancer. The small molecules that bind most tightly to the protein targets will be used as lead compounds for developing novel therapeutics.