Molecular-scale biophysics aims at studying biological systems at an intermediate level between atomic-resolution structural descriptions and cellular-scale observations. It addresses essential questions on how active biomolecular assemblies form and function. These include insights into their architecture, folding, stability and dynamics, as well as into the energy and kinetics of their interactions, both at ensemble and single-event levels. It is a strongly interdisciplinary field involving physicists, biologists, chemists, as well as medical, bioinformatics and materials scientists. The MOlecular-Scale Biophysics Research Infrastructure (MOSBRI) addresses the pressing need for a truly integrated and multi-methodological taskforce in the field, combining the best up-to-date instrumentation and the best expertise available in Europe, to the benefit of all researchers in the fields of biomedicine, biotechnology, biomaterials and beyond, from both academia and industry (notably SMEs). The consortium of 2 companies and 13 academic centres of excellence from 11 countries gathers a wide complementary panel of cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise, leveraging barriers that currently hinder the optimal exploitation of molecular-scale biophysical approaches.
MOSBRI provides academic and industrial researchers with a one-stop shop Trans-National Access to the latest technological developments in advanced spectroscopies, hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, real-time kinetics, and single molecule approaches.
The consortium is playing a major role in standardisation and policymaking in the field by carrying out Joint Research Activities to develop innovative methodologies, designing robust quality control guidelines and FAIR-compatible archiving formats and databases and engaging with instrumentation, pharma, biotech and CRO SMEs.
MOSBRI shares and disseminates theoretical and practical knowledge through conferences and training events in Europe, contributing to the emergence of a highly qualified new generation of scientists and reaching out to scientific communities currently unaware of the full potential of the integrated use of molecular-scale biophysics tools. Moreover, MOSBRI is complementary to other research infrastructures, thus helping to create a strong cross-fertilizing ecosystem with leveraging effects for European science. MOSBRI represents a unique opportunity for Europe to remain at the forefront in the field of molecular biophysics, thereby contributing significantly to the acceleration of discoveries beneficial for OneHealth.
