Research Centers
Center for Bioethics, Health, and Society
The Wake Forest University Center for Bioethics, Health, and Society is a collaborative intellectual space for addressing ethical, social, and policy issues of importance for biotechnology, health care, biomedical research, and public health. The Center brings together faculty, students, and staff from all disciplines across all WFU campuses and schools, and engages academic and public stakeholders locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to advance research, education, and communication about bioethics issues.
Visit the Center for Bioethics, Health, and Society web site for more information.
Translational Science Center
Under the direction of Daniel Kim-Shapiro (Physics), the Translational Science Center focuses on the promotion and maintenance of functional health as people age. Three of four initial pilot projects are looking at the effects of interventions on cognitive function and physical activity. The center team includes medical staff, behavioral scientists and basic scientists who develop interventions to improve physical and cognitive health in aging populations while using observations from interventions to plan new studies. The center also proposes a new undergraduate minor in translational science in addition to a graduate certificate program.
Visit the Translational Science Center web site for more information.
Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials
Nanotechnology is engineering at the molecular level. At Wake Forest University’s Nanotech Center the revolutionary principles of nanotechnology are being used to address the pressing needs of human society from health care to green energy technologies.
The Nanotech Center is a shared resource serving academic, industrial, and governmental researchers across the region. We welcome researchers from any discipline who wish to explore uses of nano-materials and nanotechnologies in their work.
Visit the Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials web site for more information.
Center for Enterprise Research and Education
The Center for Enterprise Research and Education (CERE) is directed by Ajay Patel, GMAC Chair in Finance of the Schools of Business; Anthropology Professor Jeanne Simonelli; Religion Professor Ulrike Wiethaus; and Elizabeth Gatewood, Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship.
It builds on WFU projects and training programs in Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nicaragua, and the Chiapas region of Mexico to establish WFU as the leader in entrepreneurial research, practice, and education in developing countries. Its first task is to develop a comprehensive methodology to assess the needs of entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for education and enterprise development programs and to determine the impact that culture, political systems, religion, environmental conditions and participant differences have on those needs. Its ultimate goal is to identify training and micro-enterprise development models that are appropriate and effective in different cultural settings.
The Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability
The Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES) is directed by Miles Silman, Associate Professor of Biology in conjunction with Richard Williams, Reynolds Professor of Physics; Daniel Fogel, Executive Professor of Strategy, Schools of Business; and William K. Smith, Charles H. Babcock Professor of Biology.
The world needs the leadership and engagement of universities to remediate energy and environmental problems because they generate new knowledge and technology, gather deep and varied expertise, and train future leaders. In CEES, 60 faculty and staff across 16 departments and academic and administrative units coalesce in 3 areas of urgent concern: renewable energy research; biodiversity and ecosystem services; and policy, enterprise and ecosystem markets. It will conduct research and scholarly activities, education, and public engagement to generate new research teams and new ways of thinking.
Center for Molecular Communication and Signaling
The Center for Molecular Communication and Signaling (CMCS) is directed by Biology Professor Gloria Muday; in conjunction with Mathematics Professor Edward Allen; Rebecca Alexander, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Co-Director of the Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URECA) Center; and Leslie Poole, Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Center for Structural Biology.
It teams investigators in the life, physical, computational, and mathematical sciences to tackle basic questions about molecular communication among and within the cells of living organisms ranging from insects to plants to humans. CMCS will enhance opportunities to secure external funds for research and needed equipment by linking the College, Graduate School, and School of Medicine and building connections to Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina A & T State University, and Salem College. Members will share research, instrumentation, teaching, and mentoring resources to advance all areas of the university’s mission, enhancing our national profile and attracting exciting new faculty and students.
For more information, please visit the CMCS website.