Life Sciences Division
1997-98
Progress Report
- Overview
- Mission
- Structure
- Lab Animal Resources
- Operations & Support
- Mouse Genetics Research
- DNA Sequencing Lab
- Gene Expression Chip Lab
- Dosimetry & Biokinetic
- Life Cycle Analysis
- Environmental Assessment
- Biological Sciences
- Functional Genomics & Proteomics
- Structural Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Technology Applications
Assessment Technology Section
Staff
|
C. F. Baes, III |
W. G. Fisher1 |
D. C. Landguth |
J. A. Rouse1 |
Technical Support
|
J. P. Abston |
S. C. Gambrell |
D. A. Roberts |
M. G. Williams1 |
Administrative Support
|
C. Y. Blair |
T. J. Graves |
K. J. Rader |
L. H. White |
Postdoctoral Fellows
|
R. A. Boll |
H. Luo |
Subcontractors
|
J. M. Lovegrove |
Students/Faculty/Visiting Scientists
|
C. T. Coburn |
J. Kropp |
M. G. Stabin |
F. Wang |
1Retired or terminated employment with Life Sciences Division
in 1997 or 1998
2Part-Time
The focus of this section is to conduct research and technological applications aimed at solving problems of national and international importance in areas concerning human health and the environment. Environmental programs are aimed at detecting, characterizing, and assessing the impacts of all classes of radiological and chemical environmental pollutants. These efforts include performing site characterizations at potentially contaminated facilities across the country, developing and testing new instruments and techniques for detecting chemical and radiological pollutants, and ensuring the quality of data obtained from field measurements and laboratory analyses. In addition to pollutant characterization programs, life cycle analysis studies are also conducted in areas concerning waste minimization, remedial action determination, and decontamination and decommissioning to optimize regulatory, economic, social, and environmental concerns in the decision-making process. Human health studies include nuclear medicine programs aimed at applying radiopharmaceuticals to the diagnosis and therapy of neural, cardiac, and cancer diseases; and biokinetic and metabolic computer modeling for calculating the effects of radiological and chemical insults on humans. In support of these efforts, state-of-the-art data management, training, information analysis, and communication programs are maintained.
Selected Accomplishments
F. F. Knapp Appointed to Corporate Fellow at ORNL. The Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation appointed Dr. F. F. "Russ" Knapp to the position of Corporate Fellow at ORNL. Dr. Knapp is currently the leader of the Nuclear Medicine Group and is an internationally recognized authority in the development and application of radioisotopes to diagnosis and therapy of cancer, heart disease, and neurological diseases. This recognizes his accomplishments and contributions to the field of nuclear medicine.
Dosimetry Research Group Publishes Federal Guidance Report 13 on Environmental Dose Conversion Factors. The Dosimetry Research Group prepared and published Federal Guidance Report 13 which provides nationally recommended radiation dose conversion factors for environmental radionuclides. Senior staff led the effort to develop exposure scenarios, perform radiation transport calculations using computer codes and nuclear data developed by the Dosimetry Research Group for radionuclides of interest, and prepare the summary report which was issued as an EPA document. Federal Guidance Report 13 will provide the basis for exposure estimates for a variety of applications in the United States.
ORNL Awarded Contract to Perform Major Environmental Pollutant Assessment for the U.S. Postal Service. Staff of the Assessment Technology Section successfully completed a pilot study which led to receipt of a major contract to perform a multi-year environmental pollutant assessment at facilities in the midwest United States for the U. S. Postal Service. This effort required development of field measurement and assessment capabilities for lead, asbestos, and radon pollutants; development of remote and local data processing and evaluation systems; implementation of comprehensive measurement and quality assurance programs; and development of report preparation systems. The successful completion of the pilot program resulted in the awarding of the full multi-year, 4,000-site project which will enable ORNL to showcase its human health assessment expertise, measurement and analytical capabilities, and data management capabilities.
Nuclear Medicine Group Develops Method to Prevent Coronary Restenosis Following Balloon Angioplasty. Investigators in the Nuclear Medicine Group developed a method to prevent coronary restenosis following balloon angioplasty. The Group developed a method to apply rhenium-188 to prevent arterial blockage by coating a stent which allows irradiation during angioplasty. This effort resulted in an invention licensed by the Mallinkrodt Medical Corporation which consists of a special ion exchange system developed at ORNL that provides the highly concentrated form of rhenium required for this procedure. In addition, a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) was awarded with Innerdyne, Inc., to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology with international collaborators.
DOE Certifies M-100 Radwaste Boxes Made from Recycled Metal. DOE awarded a type 7A certification for the M-100 class of boxes which are to be fabricated from recycled metal and used to contain low-level radioactive waste during transport. The effort was championed by DOE's Office of Environmental Restoration and was aimed at developing containers that would reduce fabrication and disposal costs, maximize worker and public safety, and facilitate inspection and quality control functions. The M-100 containers should be ASTM certified in the near future, and the containers should be available to DOE and contractors in November 1998.
NCRP Publishes Report on Radionuclide Exposure to the Embryo/Fetus. On September 25, 1998, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) published NCRP Report No. 128 titled "Radionuclide Exposure of the Embryo/Fetus. The leader of the Dosimetry Research Group was instrumental in the publication of this document in his role as consultant. The report describes effects of radionuclide exposure on the embryo/fetus, concerns of radiation exposure during pregnancy, dose estimation methods, and exposure limits. Primary contributions to this effort involved developing biokinetic and metabolic models and performing associated dose calculations for the embryo/fetus and mother following exposure to a wide variety of radionuclides.
ORNL Nuclear Medicine Programs Highlighted in DOE International Collaboration Effort. In an address the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced DOE participation in an international collaboration on research and development into the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening illnesses using radioisotopes. In particular, the United States will provide surplus radioisotopes for nuclear medicine applications to heart disease, cancer, and bone pain diagnosis and therapies. The Nuclear Medicine Program at ORNL was highlighted in Richardson's presentation as being the key supplier of reactor-produced radioisotopes and rhenium-188 produced using a clinical generator developed at ORNL. Particular projects being conducted by the Nuclear Medicine Group were also highlighted including labeling of antibodies for cancer therapy, experimental procedures that prevent or retard restenosis following coronary angioplasty, and cancer bone pain relief.
Assessment Technology Staff Receives Contract to Evaluate Ink for the U.S. Postal Service. The Environmental Management and Policy Office of the U.S. Postal Service has contracted with the Assessment Technology Section to evaluate ink used in mail processing systems. This effort involves determining the chemical composition of the ink, determining how it interacts with processing equipment, investigating the waste characteristics and disposal impacts, evaluating health concerns, and developing optimum specifications for ink from commercial suppliers. Specifications which take into account operational, health, waste, and processing costs should result in significant savings for the Postal Service.
Radon Mitigation Effort Completed on Guam. A major effort to conduct mitigation of radon hazard in facilities on Guam was completed in March 1998. This effort was funded by the U.S. Navy. A total of 119 facilities with initially measured radon levels greater than 20 pCi/L were mitigated over a five-week period beginning in February. This effort is the largest radon mitigation program conducted at one time to date.