Renã Robinson
Professor of Chemistry, Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chair, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Main research aims? My research aims to increase equity in Alzheimer’s disease research and biomarker discovery efforts in disparate populations using proteomics and lipidomics.
How would you spend a $1 billion research grant? I would build a highly diverse and multidisciplinary team to establish cutting edge proteomics research with global impact to improve health disparities over a decade. I would provide the best analytical technologies on my own and build other national and global centers and create strong infrastructure to support the research goals. Of course, I would buy mass spectrometers but would expand to include other proteomics technology, ‘omics tools, and incorporate automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This level of funding would provide resources to include community engaged research and support a team and community members in a variety of ways. I could keep going but I think it would be fun to actually try to create a $1billion dollar budget.
Biggest challenge facing the field right now? Accessibility and inclusion. We have to ensure analytical science is drawing from a diverse global talent pool and we are expanding resources to conduct high quality research across the globe. The problems that analytical science solves are many and as a field we must ensure we have amazing talent and spread the resources to be successful.
