Binghamton University research and scholarship has a major part to play as the United States seeks not only to better understand the terrorist attacks of September 11 but to defend against future attacks, said Vice President for Research Frances Carr.

Because of its innovative and specialized research activities in the key and related areas of protein dynamics, sensors for detecting chemical and biological threats, and information security, the University is uniquely positioned to continue to make important contributions to national security and community and individual health, Carr said.

Already home to internationally recognized and federally funded experts in the fields of digital security, biological packaging, and biological, chemical and acoustic sensors, the University is looking to faculty research in the burgeoning field of protein dynamics to enhance diagnosis and treatment of soldiers and civilians in remote locations as well as to pave the way to improved diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related injuries and of a host of such chronic illnesses as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Scholarship and sponsored projects in such other disciplines as leadership studies, political science and the humanities also serve to strengthen our understanding of the world and the forces at work in it, Carr said.

“Research and scholarship helps us to better understand who we are, engages us as world citizens and makes us better neighbors,” Carr added. “Research innovation improves and at time defends our quality of life.”

The University’s commitment to quickly move innovation to the larger marketplace through enhanced technology transfer remains strong, and is matched by its dedication to new and existing research partnerships with Southern Tier industry, she said. New programs in bioengineering, and materials engineering and materials science, promise to do even more to enable and expand those partnerships and to fuel economic resurgence in the area, she added.