Montana State awarded $10.7 million to expand biomedical research and workforce development

BOZEMAN - Montana State University has been awarded $10.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to launch a new center aimed at strengthening biomedical research, workforce development and public health across Montana.

The funding will support the creation of the Center for Advanced Molecular Pathogenesis, or CAMP, a program designed to help early-career scientists establish independent research programs while building the infrastructure needed to support discovery and innovation in the state.

The award is part of the NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE, program, which invests in states like Montana to grow research capacity and expand access to biomedical innovation.

Over the next five years, the NIH-funded CAMP will provide mentorship, research support and shared scientific resources to help faculty compete for major federal grants and develop sustainable programs.

"This is an investment in people and in Montana's future," said Alison Harmon, vice president for research and economic development at MSU. "By building research capacity here, we're creating new opportunities for students, strengthening our ability to address health challenges and expanding the state's role in biomedical discovery."

CAMP is led by Blake Wiedenheft, the Winifred Asbjornson Plant Sciences Endowed Chair and professor, and Jovanka Voyich, professor and department head, both in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology in the College of Agriculture. Together with partners across campus, they aim to create an environment where scientists can launch ambitious research programs while training the next generation of researchers.

A key component of the center is the Advanced Biological Imaging and Cell Analysis Core, which will provide access to technologies such as cryo-electron microscopy and advanced imaging, along with technical expertise and training. These shared resources are designed to accelerate discovery while making cutting-edge tools accessible to researchers across the state. In addition, the center will introduce scientists to translational research by providing training, expert guidance and direct engagement with experienced practitioners, helping researchers integrate fundamental findings into real-world health and biotechnology applications.

CAMP will initially support three faculty members as they build research programs focused on infectious disease and pathogenesis, with long-term goals of developing new diagnostics, treatments and prevention strategies. The selected faculty members are Alyssa Evans, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology; Heather Callaway, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Madison Collins, assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at MSU Billings.

Their research programs are unified by a focus on how pathogens cause disease, while approaching the problem from complementary angles, Wiedenheft said . One project examines how viruses invade the nervous system and cause neurological disease, another uses structural biology to understand how viral proteins are recognized by the immune system to guide vaccine design, and a third investigates how the human immune system responds to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, such as MRSA.

Together, these efforts span the full arc of pathogenesis - from molecular mechanism to host response - with the shared goal of discovering how biological systems work at their most fundamental level and leveraging that knowledge to create new vaccines and therapeutics.

As these investigators secure independent funding, CAMP will recruit additional researchers, creating a sustained pipeline of scientific talent in the state of Montana.

The center will also provide pilot funding for early-stage projects with the potential to be developed into larger, sustained research programs.

"Programs like CAMP help ensure that the next generation of scientists can build their careers in Montana," Wiedenheft said. "By investing in people and shared scientific infrastructure, we're creating a foundation for discoveries that improve public health and expand opportunity across the state."

Co-director Voyich added that the legacy of MSU alum Maurice Hilleman in part inspired the creation of CAMP. Raised on a farm near Miles City, Hilleman studied microbiology at MSU and in his career went on to develop widely used vaccines such as those for measles, mumps and hepatitis A and B. His work is credited with saving millions of lives.

"That kind of legacy is exactly what inspires the work we're building at MSU," Voyich said. "We know that attracting outstanding researchers is what drives innovation and discovery at MSU. CAMP provides MSU an exciting opportunity to recruit exceptional early-career faculty who want to do ambitious, impactful work. It allows us to create the kind of supportive environment where scholars can build successful careers providing the resources they need to pursue big ideas."