MBI Research Affinity Groups are collaborative teams formed around shared research interests. These groups aim to foster inter-research group connections and exchange of ideas. The groups are intended to support members in advancing research and grant development, and to raise awareness of emerging technologies and UCLA resources.
Current Affinity Groups
| Group Name | Goals/Purpose | Faculty Leaders |
| From Target to Translation: An MBI Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Affinity Group | To build a cross-campus, interdisciplinary community focused on the principles and practice of drug discovery and early translational science. | Feng Guo, PhD Stuart Conway, PhD |
| UCLA Biological and Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry Affinity Group (UCLA-BAMMS) | Foster community, seed collaborative projects, and ultimately to help build the foundation for a UCLA center of excellence in Mass Spectrometry-based technologies, funded by a major institute grant, such as from NSF or NIH. | Keriann Backus, PhD Mehdi Bouhaddou, PhD UCLAMassSpectrometry@gmail.com |
| Cell and Developmental Biology Club | To strengthen the MBI community by providing a regular, inclusive forum for trainees and faculty to share research-in-progress, develop scientific communication skills, receive constructive feedback, and build cross-lab collaboration in cell and developmental biology. | Claudio Villanueva, PhD D’Juan Farmer, PhD |
| Structural Biology and Molecular Mechanisms | Foster a community of investigators and trainees interested in structural biology and molecular mechanisms, accelerating collaboration, discovery, and translational impact. | Avi Samelson, PhD Stefan Petrovic, PhD Michael Lawson, PhD |
| Innate Immunity | Our high-impact collaborative group focuses on the intersection of metabolism and innate immune signaling‚at the frontier of biology critical for understanding cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease. | Tim O’Sullivan, PhD Anthony Covarrubias, PhD |
| UCLA Riboforum | To foster community, information exchange, and training in the chemistry and biology of RNA molecules and their technological and medical applications. | Douglas Black, PhD Jesse Zamudio, PhD |
| Junior Faculty Grant Forum | Provide a place for: -constructive feedback for projects, grant ideas, new lab directions -informal mentorship -collaboration among multiple PIs that can result in project grant applications -new ways of thinking | Avi Samelson, PhD Rosalie Lawrence, PhD |
MBI Affinity groups interest list
