Biotechnology

This area of research covers bioinformatics, biomolecular chemistry, biotechnology and genomics, all areas in which LTH has quickly gained a strong position, as evidenced by the SWEGENE project.

Quantitative studies of the interaction, structure, stability and dynamics of proteins and other biomolecules help us understand the function of complex biological systems. Such studies also provide the foundation for future bioengineering and medical applications. LTH is home to several world-leading research groups in biomolecular chemistry, characterized by the strong synergy between basic and applied research, and an extensive collaborative network, both within Lund University and internationally.

Research in structural biology at the Faculty of Science, and the recently established National Centre for High Resolution Electron Microscopy (nCHREM), are complemented by a unique capacity and level of competence in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at LTH, without doubt, the most powerful and versatile technique for the study of proteins and other biomolecules in their natural environment. At LTH’s unique NMR laboratory for frequency-dependent relaxation measurements, leading international research is being performed on biomolecular interactions and dynamics.

Nanoengineering plays an important role in bioengineering. The design of polymer matrices with specific sites for molecular recognition and catalysis has gained international recognition. This molecular fingerprinting technique, developed at LTH, has found several applications in biomimics. The design of miniaturized biosensors for clinical and environmental analyses is an important area within bio-nanoengineering. The combination of these sensors with information technology enables advanced analysis outside the traditional laboratory environment, for example, in home health care.

 

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