Sandia’s expansion into the biosciences was preceded by a well-established reputation in diagnostic and detector systems engineering, microfluidics, molecular and cellular imaging, and computer science. This legacy and the ready access to phenomenal expertise and resources in these fields have enabled Sandia researchers to rapidly develop core competencies in the following research areas:
Sandia has developed expertise and methodologies for studying membrane-bound and soluble proteins. A thorough investigation of these proteins, which are crucial for understanding how diseases originate and develop, is not possible with classic protein-science methods, so Sandia’s new capabilities represent an important breakthrough for pathogenesis.
The protein science capabilities at Sandia/California include new experimental methods for characterizing and understanding the tertiary structure and interaction partners of membrane and soluble proteins, as well as ways to engineer new functions into target proteins (e.g., stabilizing enzymes for energy production).
Sandia is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and by three separate multilaboratory Genomics:GTL projects to extend our work in the area of functional proteomics.
The many technical challenges associated with creating an interface between nanoscale synthetic and biological systems are being addressed with the help of Sandia’s significant nanotechnology and microsystem capabilities. For example, Sandia/California has pioneered the development of miniaturized devices for many biomolecular analysis techniques, such as gel electrophoresis, high-pressure- and electro-chromatography, and dielectrophoresis for diverse applications.
Sandia/California aims to integrate our efforts in the molecular/nano regime with work at the microscale. When achieved, this integration across multiple length scales will enable new biology-based sensors; sensors of biological material; biomimetic materials and processes; molecular electronics; programmable, reconfigurable materials; and microfluidic systems.
Sandia has a long history as an investor and leader in developing and applying fundamental physical and chemical measurement and analysis methods. Sandia is now making significant efforts to extend these capabilities to life science problems. Current activities include developing new scanning-probe microscopes to image membrane structure, applying infrared spectroscopy to detect diseased cells, and developing new algorithms and software for analyzing microarray data.
Computational approaches are fundamental to the development of new biology techniques and understanding. Building on our longstanding strength in the competencies required for massively parallel computation, Sandia’s efforts in computational biology involve developing and applying new algorithms, simulation methods, and software tools for bioinformatics, molecular biophysics and biochemistry, and complex biological systems. We are also applying these capabilities in the context of massively parallel computing architectures.
The following Sandia-developed applications in the biosciences may be of particular interest to our potential partners in industry:
Contact Jack Euske at (925) 294-2646 or Laura Santos at (925) 294-1214 for more information on partnering opportunities with Sandia’s Biosciences group.