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| CBMM | |
|---|---|
| Name | CBMM |
| Established | 2000s |
| Location | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Focus | Materials science, biomimetics, paleontology |
| Director | Marcos R. de Oliveira |
CBMM
The Center for the Study of Biological Materials (CBMM) is a research institute dedicated to the investigation of biomineralization, materials inspired by biological systems, and paleobiology. It brings together experts in materials science, biology, paleontology, chemistry, and physics to study structural materials such as nacre, bone, and tooth enamel and to translate natural design principles into engineered applications. The center engages with universities, museums, and industry partners across Brazil and internationally.
Founded in the early 21st century by Brazilian industrialists and academics, the institute built on collaborations with institutions such as University of São Paulo, State University of Campinas, and Brazilian Museum of Biology. Early initiatives were influenced by research on biomineralization and by discoveries linked to collections in the National Museum of Brazil and the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. Over time the institute expanded to include international visitors from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, Max Planck Society, and ETH Zurich. Major milestones include establishing long-term partnerships with the Smithsonian Institution and securing translational programs with companies in the automotive industry, aerospace industry, and medical device industry.
Research programs span experimental, computational, and fieldwork approaches. Active themes include hierarchical composites exemplified by nacre, crystallization processes studied alongside specimens from Paleontology collections and analytical techniques developed with groups at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. Programs support postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and visiting scientists from institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. Applied research targets biomimetic coatings, structural composites for aviation, orthopedics, and energy-related materials with translation pathways involving Siemens, Boeing, and GE.
Leadership and scientists include founders and directors with academic appointments at University of São Paulo and visiting chairs from California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley. Senior researchers have backgrounds tied to laboratories of Jennifer A. Lewis, George M. Whitesides, Julia Greer, and groups led by Dr. Joanna Aizenberg and L. Mahadevan. Administrative and technical staff collaborate with curators from the Natural History Museum, London and conservation scientists associated with the Getty Conservation Institute.
The institute maintains partnerships with Brazilian research agencies like São Paulo Research Foundation and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, as well as international consortia involving European Research Council grantees. Collaborative projects have been conducted with the National Science Foundation, industry partners such as Embraer, and museum networks including the American Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum, London. Exchange programs link researchers to centers at Tsinghua University, University of Tokyo, University of Melbourne, and University of Toronto.
On-site capabilities include advanced imaging suites with scanning electron microscopy instruments comparable to those at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and spectroscopic tools used in collaborations with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and SOLEIL. The center houses curated collections and access agreements with the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo and regional paleontological sites such as Chapada do Araripe. Computational resources support multiscale modeling and are linked to high-performance computing centers at University of São Paulo and national supercomputing initiatives.
Funding sources comprise private endowments from Brazilian industrial patrons, grants from agencies such as São Paulo Research Foundation and Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and project-specific awards from international funders like the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council. Governance is overseen by a board including representatives from partner universities, industry stakeholders like Embraer and Vale, and scientific advisors from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Max Planck Society.
Research outputs include publications in journals affiliated with Nature Publishing Group, Elsevier, and American Chemical Society. The institute's work has influenced biomimetic product development in sectors represented by Boeing, Siemens, and Johnson & Johnson, and has been featured in exhibitions at the Science Museum, London and the Smithsonian Institution. Awards and honors conferred on affiliated scientists include fellowships from the Royal Society, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and grants from the European Research Council.