Duke Center for Systems Biology

Principal investigator: Philip Benfey, Ph.D., Duke University

Website: http://www.genome.duke.edu/centers/csb/

The IGSP Center for Systems Biology (CSB) was established to characterize and understand the dynamics of biological networks, including both the dynamics of network states—changes in concentrations of molecular species as different portions of a network are utilized—and the dynamics of network structures—changes in the components or interactions of a network as genetic mutations accrue through evolution. The CSB builds upon the close working relationships between computational and experimental scientists across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, all nestled together on Duke’s expansive neo-Gothic campus. Among other activities, the CSB funds research projects that advance the Center’s mission. Currently supported projects study network dynamics at three different time scales:

the cell cycle in yeast and human cells, with a scale of minutes to hours;
development in plant roots and sea urchin embryos, with a scale of hours to weeks;
and network evolution in yeast and sea urchins, with a scale of millions of years.