An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Material Measurement Laboratory Fiscal Year 2014 (2015) / Chapter Skim
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4 Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
4 Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
Pages 24-34
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From page 24... ...
The Genome Scale Measurements Group includes application teams in clinical diagnostics, synthetic biology, and microbial identification. The BBD research activities focus on providing validated methods and measurements, technologies, and data and standards to advance the understanding of complex biological systems and biomaterials through characterization and quantification.
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From page 25... ...
The group developed an internal fluorescence reference method to allow quantitative comparison of expression of markers for pluripotency and patented the method for potential development as a kit to enable widespread application; in collaboration with NIST's Information Technology Laboratory, developed methods for automatically scoring stem cell colonies for their pluripotent character; developed a bioinformatics approach to identify potential short tandem repeat (STR) markers and analytical measurements to measure multiplex STR markers; developed an African green monkey cell line multiplex STR assay; developed a mouse multiplex STR assay and applied for a U.S.
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From page 26... ...
The group developed a bioinformatics approach to identifying potential STR markers and analytical measurements of multiplex STR markers; developed African green monkey and mouse cell line multiplex STR assays; formed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with DNA Diagnostics, Inc., to jointly work on the mouse assay (DNA Diagnostics is planning to develop a database of profiles of mouse cell lines to facilitate identification, and other companies have expressed interest)
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From page 27... ...
The group is also developing standards for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics, such as candidate NIST SRM 2373, which consists of genomic DNA samples that have been extracted from five human breast cancer cell lines with HER2 gene copies ranging from no amplification to low, medium, and high levels. It is evaluating additional copy number standards for the cancer genes MET and EGFR and working on mixture designs for genome scale measurement assurance by establishing reference materials and methods for RNA-sequencing experiments using samples made from well-established mixtures of (usually three)
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From page 28... ...
The Genome Scale Measurement Group, partnered with Stanford University, has many opportunities for collaboration with small and large biotechnology companies in the San Francisco Bay area, which are diverse and numerous. This group has set up a beachhead for the MML on the West Coast and can serve as a conduit for many of NIST's programs.
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From page 29... ...
The Cell Systems Science Group has a major focus in medical research and is at the center of many of the major research programs being undertaken by NIH and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The expansion of the Genome Scale Measurement Group to the West Coast is good for the BBD.
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From page 30... ...
For example, it is working in microbial measurements, cell manufacturing and therapies, synthetic biology, and predictive biology. However, there is not a critical mass in any of these areas sufficient to make the BBD a focal point for more outside collaborations.
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From page 31... ...
It appears that in order to better develop translational research outcomes, the BBD may have to perform a complete review and overhaul of their technology transfer operations. The BBD does not seem to be deriving optimal benefit from the NIST technology transfer mechanisms and the NIST Innovation and Industry Services (IIS)
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From page 32... ...
BBD staff work closely with the MML divisions engaged in the fields of manufacturing, biomanufacturing, biosciences, health and safety, security, and forensics. Overall, the division possesses a high level of technical skills and works on cutting-edge science that requires both reference materials and standards.
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From page 33... ...
BBD staff reported that there is a disconnect between various central administrative functions and the BBD laboratories with respect to appreciating the needs of the scientists and how to make BBD capabilities known to potential stakeholders, clients, and the public. For example, BBD staff reported that there is little communication between the technology transfer group and laboratory staff.
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From page 34... ...
Recommendation: The Biosystems and Biomaterials Division should examine alternative paths to acquire equipment, including cost sharing with and borrowing from other agencies, where feasible. The BBD depends on the materials with which they work, but they do not have the capability to make the materials.
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