LLC Newsletter
From The University of Chicago Office of the Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories
May 1, 2006
This Month in Research Update:
- Competition Update
- Progress Underway on Final RFP Response
- Events
- Argonne and the University contribute to BIO2006 success
- New Gordon Center for Integrative Science celebrates opening
- Argonne Turns 60
- Community Leaders Roundtable
- Research in the News
- Newly found species fills evolutionary gap between fish and land animals
Competition Update
Progress Underway on Final RFP Response
Last month the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the final Requests for Proposals for the management and operation of Argonne. Proposals are due June 2, 2006, followed by Orals the week of June 19. A final decision is anticipated prior to the September 30, 2006 expiration date of the University’s current contract.
The University, together with industrial partners, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and BWXT Technologies Inc., are hard at work preparing the University’s proposal response. For your reference, the RFP is posted at the following Office of Science website: http://rfpanl.sc.doe.gov/.
If you have any questions for the University about the final RFP, please visit the University Research website and submit your questions via the Frequently Asked Questions section. A timely response will be provided.
Events
Argonne and the University contribute to BIO2006 success
The recent Biotechnology Industry Organization annual convention (BIO2006) held at Chicago's McCormick Place last month boasted a record attendance of 19,479 people from 43 states and 62 countries. The show's success was due in no small measure to the efforts of Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO). Members include the state's major research centers (Argonne National Laboratory, IIT, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and University of Illinois- at Urbana-Champaign) which helped to plan and to promote the event. Participation from scientists from both institutions reinforced the message that the Midwest region is a force in biotechnology.
"For the first time in BIO's history, regional universities and laboratories were major contributors," said Bob Rosenberg, Assistant Vice President for Partnerships and Technology, Office of the Vice President for Research and for Argonne, UofC.
The convention's success was measured by a 30% increase in overall attendance and a 25% increase in business development meetings this year. "The breadth of biotechnology, both from discovery stage science to clinical application was on display," said Rosenberg. "From farms to pharma, fermentation to food, and from medical devices to industrial biotechnology, we helped to build a much bigger tent for biotech than ever before."
Notables who appeared at the show included Former President William Jefferson Clinton; basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson; Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt; and Massachusetts Senator Mitt Romney.
With support from the city and the state, Chicago became the first Midwest locale for the premier international trade show. University presidents, including University President Don Randel, served on BIO2006's Steering Committee. Other University and Argonne executives took key roles. Rosenberg, along with James Frank, Associate Director, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Office, Office of Naval Research Global, London U.K.; and Alan Thomas, Director, Office of Technology and Intellectual Property, UofC, were on the ground floor planning the event and reaching out to the biotech community.
University and Argonne scientists, faculty and executives lent their expertise as speaker and poster sessions presenters. Daphne Preuss, Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology, UofC; Elsie Quaite-Randall, Office of Technology Transfer, Argonne; and Ellen Rudnick, Clinical Professor Entrepreneurship, GSB, UofC participated in a 2-day BIO Boot Camp for Chief Scientific Officers and Academic Researchers.
Philip Laible, Biophysicist, Argonne; David Rubin, M.D., Assistant Professor, UofC; and Kevin White, Director, Institute for Genomics and System Biology, UofC and Argonne, participated in panel discussions. In addition, dozens of Argonne scientists presented poster sessions highlighting technologies in various stages of development.
As part of their mission to enhance Illinois' and the Midwest Region's position as one of the world's great life sciences centers, the iBIO named four researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory among "20 People You Should Know: The iBIO Life Sciences Innovators." They included Argonne scientists, Millie Firestone and Andrzej Joachimiak, and University Professors, Milan Mrksich and Daphne Preuss, whose pictures and bios were featured on trading cards that were distributed at BIO2006. Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times mentioned the cards in stories about the convention.
According to Jim Greenwood, BIO's President and CEO, "BIO 2006 was a spectacular success. The convergence of health, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology created a fantastic opportunity for the biotech industry to show the many ways it is innovating to cure and prevent disease, alleviate hunger, and improve the environment."
New Gordon Center for Integrative Science celebrates opening
The University marked the opening of its new Ellen and Melvin Gordon Center for Integrative Science last week with a number of dedication events including tours, scientific seminars, donor recognition and a keynote speech by Nobel laureate Thomas Cech that took place during an evening celebration honoring some of the largest donors to the center.
Significant donors to the Gordon Center include: include Ellen and Melvin Gordon, president and chairman, respectively, of Chicago-based Tootsie roll Industries Inc. ($25 million) after whom the building is named; the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ($17 million); The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ($5 million), The Ben May Trust ($10 million); The Kersten family ($5M) after whom the building's atrium is named; and Gwendolen Stoughton, a University alumna and long-time supporter.
The Gordon Center will bring together 100 senior scientists, along with 700 additional researchers and students. Much of the research done at the Gordon Center will occur at the nanoscale where many problems in biology, physics and chemistry all merge. Occupying the heart of the building to tackle these problems will be the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, which was jointly founded in 1998 by the University Divisions of Biological and Physical Sciences. Work within the institute could influence developments as diverse as molecular-based computing techniques to more effective cancer treatments.
Also gaining laboratory and office space in the Gordon Center and pursuing similar sorts of often-converging lines of research will be the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Ben May Cancer Research Institute, the University Chemistry Department, and the James Franck Institute.
Argonne turns 60
On April 19th of this year, Argonne turned 60. Several events throughout the year were planned to mark the occasion, including a birthday celebration, a government reception, a Chicago Technology Forum and other festive activities still in the planning stages for later this year.
A birthday party was held on the Lab's actual birthday, April 19th, in the cafeteria featuring a 60-foot-long cake and remarks from Marvin Gunn, Manager, Chicago Office, DOE, Robert Wunderlich, Manager Argonne Site Office, DOE, Robert Rosner, Argonne Laboratory Director, and Thomas Rosenbaum, University Vice President for Research and for Argonne.
The University, which has managed and operated Argonne for the DOE's Office of Science since the Lab's charter in 1946, sponsored a reception in Washington DC to mark occasion. The event was attended by a number of DOE staffers, Congressional Respresentatives and their staffs. Congresswoman Judy Biggert and Jim Decker, principal deputy director, Office of Science, offered comments. Bob Rosner spoke about the transitional role of national laboratories. Tom Rosenbaum was the moderator.
On May 24 the Chicago Technology Forum will highlight the 60th Anniversary of Argonne and its contributions to industry and the nation's economy. Bob Rosner will discuss the Laboratory's ambitious plans for advancing science and technology. Denny Mills, Deputy Associate Laboratory Director; Don Hillebrand, Acting Director, Center for Transportation Research; and representatives from Abbott Laboratories and Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., will also be on hand to discuss the successes experienced with corporate collaborations.
The Tech Forum begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Business School's downtown Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza. If you are interested in attending the Forum, please email techforum@uchicago.edu.
Community Leaders Roundtable
Leaders from Argonne, the University and city and local governments, assembled for the quarterly Community Leaders Roundtable, held at Argonne last month. Brian Quirke, Public Affairs Specialist, Bob Wunderlich, and Bob Rosner, and Tom Rosenbaum welcomed attendees and answered questions. Jeff Gaffney, Senior Chemist, Environmental Science Division, Chief Scientist Global Change Education Program (GCEP), Lead Scientist, DOE Atmospheric Science Program Megacity Aerosol Experiment- Mexico City (MAX-Mex), at Argonne, presented findings from a new study of the link between aerosols and climate changes in Mexico. Norb Golchert, Manager of Monitoring and Surveillance Program Environment, Safety, and Health/Quality Assurance Oversight Argonne, presented the Site Environmental Report, which provides information on the Lab's environmental stewardship and compliance with IEPA and DOE requirements.
Research in the News
Newly found species fills evolutionary gap between fish and land animals
Paleontologists have discovered fossils of a species that provides the missing evolutionary link between fish and the first animals that walked out of water onto land about 375 million years ago. The newly found species, Tiktaalik roseae, has a skull, a neck, ribs and parts of the limbs that are similar to four-legged animals known as tetrapods, as well as fish-like features such as a primitive jaw, fins and scales. Full story
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for Research Update, please feel free to email them to ResearchUpdate@listhost.uchicago.edu.
