Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB)

The Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB) is led by the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

ICB research is driven by more than 60 premier faculty and over 150 researchers, working together as interdisciplinary teams of molecular biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers.
Biological Inspiration. Technological Innovation.

Inspired by the study of the amazing processes, structures and features found in nature and biology, ICB research teams develop revolutionary technological innovations in bio-inspired materials and energy, biomolecular sensors, bio-inspired network science, and biotechnological tools.

Some 60 researchers from MIT, Caltech, and UCSB have formed the following research teams:

Biomolecular Sensors -- The ICB integrates the sensitivity and specificity of biomolecular recognition with innovations in optical and electronic transduction, microfluidics and microfabrication. These powerful new technologies detect a broad spectrum of biomolecules and other agents in air, food, water and blood.

Bio-Inspired Materials and Energy -- The ICB develops biologically-inspired fabrication techniques which create unique, multi-functional materials. These materials enable energy efficient, lightweight devices for generation and storage of energy, optoelectronics, sensing, information processing and communications. The ICB also investigates the fundamental mechanisms by which lightweight biological composites dissipate energy and resist fracture. Insight from these discoveries enables the development of high-performance, lightweight energy-dispersive materials.

BioDiscovery Tools -- The ICB develops new tools and techniques that accelerate our ability to harness the advantages of biomolecular recognition, signal transduction, self-assembly, multi-functional materials and network structures. These tools broadly catalyze innovation while specifically addressing needs for biological detection, isolation and identification.

Bio-Inspired Network Science -- The ICB investigates the principles and mechanisms of high-performance biological networks and uses the insights gained to design technological networks that are scalable, robust, and energy-efficient.

Cognitive Neuroscience -- The ICB develops new methods for analyzing variation in human cognitive strategy, perceptual categorization, visuomotor control and the effective retrieval and use of knowledge for decision making, with applications for optimizing human training and performance.