Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery

Funded by the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, the Albert and Margaret Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery was formed in 2010.

The center is committed to improving human health by development and application of metabolomics, proteomics and integrated informatics for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Molecular methods define genome integrity, protein expression and metabolic function, and the metabolic state of individuals to diagnose disease mechanisms and apply personalized medicine.

The Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery arose from a perceived need for the development and application of advanced molecular BIOMICS techniques for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Following extensive talks, driven by Drs. Bert O’Malley and Adam Kuspa, and critical funding by the Alkek Foundation, the organization and expansion of a complement of new Baylor College of Medicine Cores for Proteomic and Metabolomic analyses formed the foundation for the Albert and Margaret Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery in 2010.

By 2011, the Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery cores were offering analyses primarily to researchers in the Dan L Duncan Cancer Center. The cores for these services have since garnered partial support from CPRIT of Texas. Shortly after its start, the ACMD provided support of pilot projects in the areas of metabolomics of cancer, energy generation and obesity, aging, diabetes, brain dysfunction, liver and heart diseases, and the development of devices for collecting personal biochemical information.

In 2013 the ACMD advanced its strategic goals by the acquisition of newly constructed Baylor space, and the recruitment of new faculty, the purchase of new advanced analytical equipment, and the expansion of pilot projects beyond the Duncan Cancer Center to other units and investigators at Baylor.