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
Technology Applications
The role that the Life Sciences Division plays in applying Laboratory-developed methods to solve problems of national concern is well recognized throughout the environmental and medical communities. For many years, the Division (or its predecessors) has been a leader in applying technologies, developing instruments, and formulating new approahes for dealing with environmental and medical problems that were beyond the technical scope of those that could be addressed by other federal or private organizations. To more effectively focus the Division's efforts in applying technologies, marketing capabilities, and ensuring cost-effective methods to solve national problems in these areas, a Technology Applications Program (TAP) has been initiated. The TAP consists of a "virtual" organization which includes the Assessment Technology, Environmental Technology, and Toxicology and Risk Assessment Sections and a Program Development Group that consists of recognized technical leaders in each section charged with determining programmatic needs and directions, marketing focus and methods, and long-range planning strategies. Initial efforts of the TAP will be aimed at environmental problems and will encompass pollutant detection and measurement, human health and ecological risk assessment, dosimetry and transport modeling, toxicology, life cycle analysis, laboratory analysis of samples, data management and computer applications, systems integration, and project management. This broad scope of capabilities covers the entire range of technical needs that could be required to address any environmental problem. Cooperative program development efforts are currently being conducted by the Program Development Group, and TAP management is evaluating financial structures and options to ensure cost-effective and efficient operation. The objective of this effort is to provide a model for structuring and strengthening applied programs at ORNL.