The main research goal of COMBINE is to uncover how complex patterns in biological networks govern the organization and operation of living systems across many scales. Fellows’ research projects focus on transforming raw biological data into meaningful information from which new biological insights may be inferred. Some research projects will focus on applying a multidisciplinary framework to a single area of biological application, while others will emphasize the development of new methodologies for use in multiple application areas.

In exploring the rich expanse of Network Biology, COMBINE takes full advantage of UMD’s strengths in three different fields: (1) quantitative biology, (2) physical/mathematical modeling, and (3) computational science. COMBINE builds upon existing highly successful interdisciplinary initiatives at the University of Maryland (UMD), including:

• The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB), which combines quantitative biology and computer science
• The Biophysics Program, which combines quantitative biology and physical/mathematical modeling
• The Applied Math and Scientific Computing program (AMSC), which promotes the application and development of mathematical and computational tools for interdisciplinary research

Learn more about COMBINE’s research Application areas and Methodological approaches.