The proper functioning of animal and plant life is governed by machine-like processes at the molecular level. These molecular assemblies govern such activities as swallowing, breathing, photosynthesis, the flight of birds, and so on. Research on exactly what happens at the molecular level and the macromolecular level; macromolecules being "large" molecules such as proteins and DNA involves the disciplines of chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering.
Spurred by the efforts of Ruth E. Stark, Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology at The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, a new Macromolecular Assemblies Institute (MMA) has recently been approved by The City University of New York (CUNY). Cutting-edge research of the MMA will focus on two areas: the naturally occurring interactions of proteins with each other and with DNA to form complex molecular assemblies within the human body, and engineered molecular assemblies that can be applied to tissue replacement, diagnosis of vision and heart disorders, drug delivery, and wound healing.
Twenty faculty members, approximately 200 doctoral, postdoctoral, and master's students in the fields of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Bioengineering, and Biology participate in this research. An additional 10 faculty are expected to join the MMA over the next 5 years. Ruth E. Stark is Director of the new institute.
The infrastructure (equipment and faculty) of the MMA is supported by New York State's Generating Employment through New York Science (Gen*NY*sis) program, CUNY's Office of Academic Affairs, The College of Staten Island, and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Research efforts are funded by the NSF, the National Institutes of Health, the Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Energy, private foundations, and seed grants from the university.
http://www.chem.csi.cuny.edu/mma/index.php