PREFACE
Scientific knowledge of
the living world has grown exponentially for the past 50
years. A great deal
is known now about the structure and function of living cells, how they
retain and transmit genetic information, and how they respond to chemical and
physical signals. From this knowledge base, through fundamental research
supported largely by the U.S. Government, the tools of modern biotechnology
have been forged.
Biotechnology has been employed by humans for millennia; traditional
applications include production of beer, cheese, and bread. But the recent
developments in molecular biology have given biotechnology new meaning, new
prominence, and new potential. It is this "new biotechnology" that has
captured the attention of scientists, financiers, policymakers, journalists,
and the public, even though the revenue it generates is as yet only a
fraction of that produced by traditional biotechnology. Through the use of
advanced tools, such as genetic engineering, biotechnology is expected to
have a dramatic effect on the world economy over the next decade.
A variety of U.S. industries, primarily the agriculture and pharmaceutical
sectors, already are profiting from this trend; an estimated $7 billion in
sales were generated in 1993 as a result of the new biotechnology. These
sales are expected to reach approximately $50 billion in the next decade. The
United States leads the world in technological innovation and new company
formation in biotechnology. The biotechnology industry is responsible for
approximately 100,000 high-skill jobs generated by 1,300 biotechnology
firms.(1)
Examples of new products derived from modern biotechnology include tomatoes
with an extended shelf life and a drug, tissue plasminogen activator, used to
dissolve blood clots during heart attacks. But these innovations offer only a
hint of the enormous potential of biotechnology. Many other new products are
also in development, including disease-resistant plants, "natural"
pesticides, environmental remediation technologies, biodegradable plastics,
novel therapeutic agents, chemicals, and enzymes that will reduce the cost
and improve the efficiency of industrial processes.
A coordinated Federal research effort can provide the leverage needed to
fulfill the broad promise of biotechnology, which may well play as pivotal a
role in social and industrial advancement over the next 10 to 20 years as did
physics and chemistry in the post-World War II period.
The Federal Government has propelled the development of modern
biotechnology by supporting research that led to the cloning of the first
gene in 1973 and the subsequent
development of DNA sequencing technologies. A
strong foundation has been laid that places the United States at the
forefront of biotechnology research. Critical to continued innovation in all
spheres of biotechnology is an ongoing Federal commitment to basic research
into fundamental life processes, as well as support for the requisite
infrastructure.
To date, the Federal investment in biotechnology has been focused primarily
in the health field. Figure 1 shows that approximately 80 percent of the
Federal biotechnology investment supports health-related projects and basic
research that is broadly applicable but often health oriented. Much of this
support comes from the National Institutes of Health (part of the Department
of Health and Human Services), as indicated in Figure 2.
The results of health-related biotechnology research are having a
profound impact on medicine and health care, providing improved approaches
to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. While health-related
research must remain a national priority, researchers are poised to build on
the foundation in basic science to bring the power of biotechnology to bear
in other fields. At present, as Figure 1 shows, only 12 percent of the
Federal investment in biotechnology research supports applications outside
the health arena.(2)
This report presents the overall Federal perspective on biotechnology issues,
opportunities, and priorities in areas beyond health that need to be
addressed by funding agencies and the research community. The report is the
result of a planning effort by the Biotechnology Research Subcommittee (BRS)
of the Committee on Fundamental Science of the
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).(3)
The BRS is an interagency committee charged with
coordinating the Federal investment in biotechnology.
Because biotechnology research is broadly applicable to diverse government
missions and goals, it is supported by 13 Federal departments and
agencies, all represented on the BRS (4):
Agency for International Development
(USAID)
This report is aimed at a wide audience, including the U.S. Congress,
Executive Branch officials, industry, and academic institutions.
The Federal Government is one of three partners, along with the industrial
and academic communities, in the collaborative venture that is biotechnology
research and development. The government's role is to sponsor research that
will generate new knowledge and to ensure that technological advancement
contributes to the overall public good and national welfare. Support of basic
research generates innovations, from which previously unanticipated products
may arise. The private sector completes the technology development cycle and
ensures distribution of beneficial products to consumers.
The resources of Federal agencies, as well as expertise from the private
sector, were brought together to identify opportunities in four rapidly
developing areas of biotechnology research. Each area is addressed in a
separate chapter of this report, which identifies priorities for Federal
investment and summarizes current directions and specific research
opportunities. (Related activities of each BRS agency are summarized in the
Appendix.) The chapters emphasize
multidisciplinary, long-term research,
which will be essential in order to enhance the efficacy of existing
biotechnologies and develop new ones.
The four areas highlighted are agricultural biotechnology, environmental
biotechnology, manufacturing/bioprocessing, and marine biotechnology and
aquaculture. The concluding chapter of the report outlines infrastructure
needs -- facilities, human resources, databases, and mechanisms for
collaboration and information exchange. A sophisticated infrastructure is
required to support all areas of biotechnology research.
Based on the common themes identified in the four areas, the BRS identified
three overarching priorities for Federal investment in biotechnology
research. Pursuit of these priorities will ensure the development of a strong
research base, which in turn will facilitate product commercialization and
help maintain U.S. leadership in biotechnology.
Overarching Priorities
Textbox 1:Biotechnology Defined
Biotechnology is a set of
powerful tools that employ living
organisms (or parts of organisms) to make or modify products,
improve plants or animals,or develop microorganisms for specific
uses. Examples of the "new biotechnology" include the industrial
use of recombinant DNA, cell fusion, novel bioprocessing techniques,
and bioremediation.
The Federal Role in Biotechnology
Textbox 2:Biotechnology Comes of Age
For the first time ever, a
biotechnology company
has been
awarded the Presidential National Medal of Technology, the
high-
est honor given in the United States for achievement in science and
technology. Amgen received the award in December 1994 for bringing
to market two widely successful medicines - - EPOGENTM (Epoetin
alfa) and NEUPOGENTM (Filgrastim) -- which vastly improve the quality
of life of patients with cancer and kidney disease.
Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
Department of Commerce
(DOC)
Department of Defense
(DOD)
Department of Energy
(DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS)
Department of the Interior
(DOI)
Department of Justice
(DOJ)
Department of State
(DOS)
Department of Veteran Affairs
(DVA)
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
National Science Foundation
(NSF)
Report Structure
Return to:
Table of Contents
