Office of Research

Centers & Institutes

University of Georgia centers, institutes, programs and initiatives facilitate a range of research and creative activity while catalyzing unique interdisciplinary research collaborations throughout the state of Georgia and beyond. Some of these groups report to the Office of Research, while others are units of individual UGA colleges and schools. For a listing of those units managed by the Office of Research, please visit this page.

Centers

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A multidisciplinary organization dedicated to research and development of nuclear analytical technology, including a premier analytical laboratory and technical training for radioisotope and stable isotope analytical techniques.

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Focuses on discovery and development of new chemical and biological entities for combating a variety of existing and emerging life-threatening diseases for which the etiological agents are infectious viruses and infectious microbial agents. Other therapeutic areas involve cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Advances the fight against infectious diseases through innovative research, cross-disciplinary collaboration and educating the next generation of scientists. Comprised of more than 50 researchers, CEID represents interdisciplinary expertise in the fields of quantitative and disease ecology.

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Conducts research that provides information useful in solving food safety problems in the food industry while also providing the consumer with high-quality foods that pose minimal risk to human health.

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Conducts scientific investigations incorporating geospatial technologies, including remote sensing, satellite-based positioning and geographic information systems.

Children in Cambia crossing over a bridge and holding items on top of their heads as they walk.

Established as a collaborative, cross-disciplinary, international research hub in the global effort to combat human trafficking. Conducts research, develops programming and influences policies that measurably reduce human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

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Conducts research that emphasizes the social and ecological trade-offs associated with managing complex systems and responding to contemporary environmental challenges.

Center for International Trade & Security

Established in 1987 with the support of former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk & has developed a network of academic researchers, public officials and industry representatives with expertise in critical areas of national and international security. Advises policymakers and trains personnel around the world on nonproliferation and strategic trade controls, while serving as a hub of research, teaching and outreach on new and emerging security topics.

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Works to better understand the molecular and cellular basis of human disease, and then uses this information for the development of new therapies, cures and diagnostics.

Center for the Study of Global Issues

Fosters educational and research activities focused on economic, political and sociocultural change and development at the global level. Conducts research and educational activities that examine trends and the human problems associated with these trends in order to forecast the future and form public policy.

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Brings together researchers in parasitology, immunology, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics to pursue research on tropical and emerging global diseases that threaten the health of people throughout the world, and trains students in the field.

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Conducts research to expand understanding of the immunology of infectious diseases and how vaccines work in different populations based upon age, gender and ethnicity. Translates the science of vaccine design and development into the assessment of current and novel, experimental vaccines through pre-clinical and clinical trials.

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One of only three centers worldwide dedicated to the study of complex carbohydrates, which play critical roles in cellular communication, gene expression, immunology and organism defense mechanisms, growth and development. The CCRC is home to 17 interdisciplinary research groups, including four federally designated centers for carbohydrate research.

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Enhances the tradition of outstanding research in plant molecular biology and genetics with a focus on the growth, development and behavior of plants and their associated organisms, the organization, evolution and function of plant genomes, and the improvement of plants for agricultural or industrial uses.

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Conducts research focused on solving problems of importance to the poultry industry, especially diagnosis and control of economically important diseases of poultry. Provides diagnostic, necropsy, consultation and field services to companies in Georgia, across the U.S. and globally.

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Focuses on using human stem cells for restoring damaged tissues throughout the body and speeding the discovery of new compounds, therapies and drug discovery tools to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

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Conducts research connecting freshwater science to management and policy with emphasis on conservation ecology of aquatic ecosystems, applied research on aquatic system stressors and development of appropriate management tools.

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Pursues basic and applied research at multiple levels of ecological organization, from atoms to ecosystems. Located at the Savannah River site near Aiken, S.C.

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Takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to fighting cancer

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Promotes scholarly inquiry and creative activity in the humanities and the arts by supporting faculty research grants, lectures, symposia, publications, visiting scholars, visiting artists and public conferences, exhibitions and performances.

Institutes

professor and students looking at computer screen in research facility

Supports interdisciplinary research centers and graduate training programs in the biomedical and health sciences.

Farmer on a green John Deere tractor harvesting a field.

Serves as a conduit to connect agricultural technology research, education and Extension within UGA and with outside partners such as other universities and agribusiness. Focuses on such research areas as automation, modeling, computer vision and sensing, precision irrigation and poultry/livestock management, site-specific crop management, variable-rate technologies, precision forestry, controlled environment agriculture, and others.

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Facilitates interactions and research collaborations between experimental biologists, technologists and computational/mathematical scientists to tackle complex biological problems, and trains the next generation of biologists in using computers and mathematical techniques to address biological problems.

UGA Institute for International Biomedical Regulatory Sciences

Provides a venue for industry, government and academia to improve and harmonize the worldwide safe use of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices, biologics, animal health products and combination products through the regulatory sciences.

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Serves as the organizational foundation for growing UGA’s applied research partnerships with U.S. mission agencies and industry. Facilitates and supports research teams of faculty, research staff and students in meeting the needs and requirements of mission agencies and industry.

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Develops new materials guided by green engineering principles—the design and use of processes and products in a way that minimizes pollution, promotes sustainability and protects human health—without sacrificing economic viability and efficiency.

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Stimulates, supports and sustains innovation and infrastructure in the social and behavioral sciences by catalyzing innovative interdisciplinary research, fostering faculty careers and encouraging and mentoring junior faculty.

Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Located on the bank of the Skidaway River on the Georgia coast, conducts research on marine and coastal systems and trains tomorrow’s scientists. Research areas include physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, geological oceanography and biological oceanography.

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Located on Sapelo Island, supports ongoing research by resident and visiting researchers that contributes to understanding of patterns and processes that shape estuarine and marsh environments. Provides access and facilities for college classes to experience field research and gain an appreciation of the Georgia coast.

Programs & Initiatives

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Bridges the traditional fields of chemistry and biology, applying chemical methods to solve difficult biological problems.

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Supports investigators conducting clinical and translational studies that advance the understanding, prevention and treatment of human disease. For students and health sciences trainees, the unit provides opportunities to learn how laboratory discoveries are translated into improved patient outcomes.

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Furthers the study of development in all organisms and at all levels of life, represents and promotes communication among students of development, and promotes the field of developmental biology.

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Addresses infectious disease threats to species and economies worldwide by integrating multidisciplinary research in animal, human and ecosystem health, and by developing successful countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

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Advances the fundamental science and engineering involved in robotics, facilitates diverse robotic applications with profound societal impact, and enhances UGA’s prominence in the discipline of robotics by serving as a singular hub for research in robotics that brings together interested faculty and students from a variety of disciplines.

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Fosters a scientific community dedicated to improving our understanding of the complex processes and effects of climate variability and change on natural, managed, human-built and societal systems, and develops effective and appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies, solutions, information and tools.

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Fosters and supports clinical and translational research and education at UGA and among partner institutions Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia Tech. CTSA is funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Obesity Research Initiative

To promote multidisciplinary, collaborative research that will inform effective and sustainable obesity prevention and treatment programs across the lifespan. Through these research efforts, we aim to address the epidemic of obesity and overweight that faces our state and our nation.

More about Centers & Institutes

UGA centers and institutes operate under the guidelines of the UGA Policy on Centers and Institutes. See summary descriptions of UGA centers and institutes for inclusion in proposals. UGA’s schools and colleges also feature a number of additional research units across a wide range of disciplines. These units are listed below.