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Home > About NIBIB > Staff Directories > Scientific Program Staff Directory
A true leader along the interdisciplinary roadway, Dr. Albert Lee comes to NIBIB with a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering specialized in combustion. As NIH embarks on a new era that welcomes people akin to Lee from the physics and engineering communities, he has played a key role in support and development of interdisciplinary research collaborations. Early in his career, Lee worked for an engine manufacturer in Detroit on projects that would allow clean-burning natural gas to run in diesel engines. Eventually, a job offer came from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) where he began working in high temperature research, but thirteen years later, Lee found himself managing a research group in a completely different emphasis. He explains, "Our projects focused on developing state-of-the-art measurement technologies for temperature, pressure, fluid flow, and composition, but our goal eventually shifted to be more involved in biological measurements. That shift opened up all kinds of opportunitites for me." A Federal interagency fellowship proved to be the door of opportunity that led to NIBIB. Lee talked to members of various NIH institutes, but felt that NIBIB's mission was most closely related to his experience and interests. He recalls, "I volunteered to come here for a year to learn and see if there were potential collaborations with NIST projects. I was asked to stay for a second year, and by the end of that time, NIBIB offered me a full-time position." Lee plays a dual role at NIBIB. As Program Officer, he manages grants in several technical areas, but his primary effort is to improve the compatibility of materials used as implants in the body. He also continues to spend much of his time investigating potential interagency collaborations. He says, "If an agency has a particular research interest that they think could be improved through collaboration, I will go in during the early stages to see if we can eliminate any potential barriers, as well as find out what we might need to do to pave the road for success." When asked who influenced him most along his professional path, he says, "In a technical sense, my research advisor influenced me most. He always emphasized excellence and attention to detail, and that translates very well in research, whether you're talking about combustion or biological problems. He also taught us to recognize problems that were truly socially or professionally relevant. It's not just a matter of what you find interesting. Having the savvy and confidence to move in directions that maximize the impact your work might have on the field is a gift, but it's also a matter of making a real difference in the world." Bridging the Sciences NIBIB was founded in 2002 on the premise that a new surge of medical advances would be born in an atmosphere where the life and physical sciences are seamlessly bound. Since that time, Congress has expressed its confidence in that foundational concept through mandates that effectively nudge diverse research disciplines closer together and encourage interdisciplinary research among, and within, Federal agencies. One such mandate came in 2003 when an appropriations bill called upon NIH, NSF, and other agencies, to promote interdisciplinary collaboration through Bridging the Sciences programs. Language in the bill did not specify details of projects or funding, and thus, allowed for development of a relatively unrestrained plan. NIBIB, whose unique identity at NIH rests on interdisciplinary collaboration, took the initiative to partner with NSF, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), to host two forums intended to explore recommendations for Bridging the Sciences projects and funding options. The ultimate goal was to devise actionable plans in the form of new RFAs (Request for Application) that would exemplify the new research paradigm. The first conference, held in spring of 2004, included participants from ten Federal agencies, and a November conference further expanded invitations to include distinguished participants from all realms of science. Lee has spent much effort on brainstorming and development of NIBIB's Bridging the Sciences Program, which is a natural extension of his interdisciplinary activities at NIBIB, and is an aspect of his work that he is devoted to. He says, "By providing an environment that brings people of diverse research backgrounds together, we aim to build a strong, easily navigable bridge of exchange that will significantly narrow the gap between discovery in the hard physical sciences, and the manifestation of clinical application." Additionally, in response to the 2006 NIH Reform Act, an NIBIB-administered special interest group called the Bioengineering Consortium (BECON), consisting of researchers from across NIH, formed a team to assist in brainstorming for mandated Demonstration Projects with the express goal of bridging the life and physical sciences. Additionally, the Demonstration Oversight Group, led by Directors from NIBIB and NIGMS, would build on BECON's reflections and spread an even wider net hoping to solicit truly novel ideas on which to base the projects. Lee, who serves as Executive Secretary for BECON, comments, "We are seeking mind-broadening ideas coming from completely different perspectives that would introduce fresh air to the projects." Lee uses the laser, an instrument developed by Nobel Laureate Dr. Charles Townes, to explain the program's purpose and vision further, "Townes, who was a physicist by profession, saw the laser only as a tool for communications, cutting, and welding. However, researchers from various other disciplines would later provide unique and important insights that ultimately led to a long list of biological and medical applications for Townes' invention." This historical interdisciplinary outcome serves as the base for the primordial soup of ingenuity from which Lee's Demonstration Project "dream team" would emerge. He says, "We want to entice the most creative minds to apply what they're doing and channel their energy into a biomedical problem. Hopefully, our Demonstration Projects will inspire them." |
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