CHAMMP INFORMATION UPDATE 4/8/97 1. The new Climate Change Prediction Request for Applications will probably not be published by the end of April as promised. It should be out soon thereafter. 2. You may recall the CHAMMP Science Team abstract book that was being prepared. Most PIs have their abstract in, but please send it as soon as possible if you are late. Contact Dave Bader if you need a copy of the format. Remember to save the file, as much of it will be reusable for the 1997 OHER/ESD "Rainbow Book" (previously the Red Book) of ESD project abstracts. 3. The information for DOE Office of Energy Research grant applications is attached. The booklet and guide are now electronic. For university and other non-lab investigators, this information is important for your grants administrators. 4. The latest OHER newsletter is also attached from Ari Patrinos. ------------------------------------------------------------------- April 7, 1996 About a year ago, ER's Grants and Contracts Division (ER-64) created a web site so that potential grant applicants could access the ER Grant Application Guide without requesting a paper copy via mail or phone. Also, ER's grant solicitation notices (about 15 per year) contain our web site address for easy access to the Guide. Please be mindful that the web is a very important tool to make the latest information available to our customers. Grant and contract procedures change frequently. For example, two new forms have just been added to the Guide for use by certain types of applicants to implement new statutory requirements. With the web, our customers have immediate access to this new information while paper copies could become outdated very quickly. Also, a new section at the beginning of the Guide summarizes any significant changes so that a user who had viewed or printed the Guide earlier may know immediately what changes were made since they last viewed or printed it. Your cooperation is appreciated. The ER Grants and Contracts Web Site address is http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. John A. Alleva, Director Grants and Contracts Division Office of Energy Research --------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Research (OER) Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) OHER NEWS March 31, 1997 GENERAL Introductory Remarks: This newsletter comes to you as we begin to see evidence of springtime in the cherry blossoms, forsythia, and other flowering trees and shrubs around us. It's a beautiful time of year and promises more beautiful days ahead. I can also say that I am encouraged by the promises of the research programs we have sponsored over the past 50 years. Research results that we cannot begin to envision now will bloom and show the way to even greater advances in addressing the major issues facing us in the biomedical and environmental sciences as we enter the new millennium. This office, working mainly with staff of our laboratories but also our university investigators, has always strived to maintain research excellence; so I know you will agree that the BER programs are positioned to make significant and revolutionary contributions to science and society. My staff and I continue to be bullish on the BER program even though our numbers continue to decrease as a result of retirements, and the budget is not all that we would like. People up and down the halls here remain committed to getting the job done faster, better, and at less cost. Our budget could have been worse. We're looking forward and moving ahead, and in the following articles, you will read about some of the many activities with which we are involved. I especially want to take this opportunity to invite you to join us for our 50-year celebration symposium on May 21-22 at the National Academy of Sciences. There is a brief article on it in this newsletter, and the OHER web page provides additional information. Retirements: On January 3, 1997, Dr. William Osburn of BER's Medical Applications and Biophysical Research Division, retired after 33 years of Federal service to the Atomic Energy Commission, the Energy Research and Development Administration, and the Department of Energy. Bill's wide-ranging knowledge of ecology and environmental issues placed him in a key position in the Office's development of policies in these areas, and in our input to the development of regulations across the Department. Effective today, Dr. Gerald Goldstein, also of BER's Medical Applications and Biophysical Research Division, retired after over 20 years of Federal service with the Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies. Gerald has been the key program manager for research in instrumentation for analytical chemistry, structural biology, and the genome program, as well as for instrumentation and boron neutron capture therapy research in the medical applications program. His knowledge, honesty, and integrity have been a great source of strength for the Office. BUDGET FY 1998 Budget: The President's FY 1998 budget for the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program is $371,860. The good news is that we were able to "roll over" construction funding to operating. This will get the EMSL, genome, and structural biology user facilities up and running. The table below provides subprogram budget structure. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH FUNDING SCHEDULES I. LIFE SCIENCES Activity FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 Structural Biology $28,016 $27,661 $28,178 Molecular and Cellular Biology 20,442 19,709 20,129 Human Genome 73,912 77,875 85,081 Health Effects 22,825 19,979 20,026 SBIR/STTR 0 3,497 3,623 Total, Life Sciences $145,195 $148,721 $157,037 II. ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES Activity FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 Climate and Hydrology $64,475 $ $63,697 $62,356 Atmospheric Chemistry and Carbon Cycle 25,569 26,020 23,993 Ecological Processes 13,195 10,991 12,029 Human Interactions 9,513 8,951 9,172 SBIR/STTR 0 2,674 2,576 Total, Environmental Processes $112,752 $112,333 $110,126 III. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION Activity FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 Bioremediation Research $17,746 $21,204 $28,073 Clean-Up Research 6,476 7,794 7,758 Facility Operations 560 4,897 29,143 SBIR/STTR 0 720 1,461 Total, Environmental Remediation $24,782 $34,615 $66,435 Funding Schedule--Medical Applications and Measurement Science: Activity FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 Medical Applications $50,941 $48,723 $36,196 Measurement Science 7,918 7,041 5,858 SBIR/STTR 0 1,529 1,058 Total, Medical Applications Measurement Science $58,859 $57,293 $43,112 Construction FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 $62,620 $36,113 0 Total FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 $410,956 $389,075 $371,860 BER 50-YEAR SYMPOSIUM The Biological and Environmental Research Program, Office of Energy Research, is planning to celebrate 50 years of sponsored research in the Department and its predecessor agencies. Plans include a retrospective publication that highlights the most significant contributions of DOE-sponsored research to science and society and a symposium that will focus on future research that will lead to revolutionary solutions to energy-related biological and environmental issues. The brochure, replete with many illustrations and photos, will be published in May, and the symposium will be held on May 21-22, 1997, at the National Academy of Sciences. The symposium will be co-sponsored by the Biological and Environmental Research Program (BER), Office of Energy Research, and the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, which has a long history of association with BER programs. The theme of the symposium is "The Legacy and The Promise," and it will revolve around three forms of presentation: program overview talks followed by panel discussions, and exhibits developed by the national laboratories reflecting the productive past and current focus, and presenting compelling future prospects. Outstanding keynote and featured speakers and panelists will give their views of future research that could best serve the needs of the Department and society. Attendance is open to the public, and you may register through the Board on Biology, NRC, by fax 202-334-1687 or by e-mail: brerannv@nas.edu. The NRC will provide you with hotel and other information on the symposium. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Health and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (HERAC) will meet on June 11-12, 1997, in the Washington metropolitan area. The agenda for the day and a half meeting will include subcommittee reports and discussions of future BER program direction based on outcomes of the BER 50 Symposium, recent HERAC reports on health effects, genome, and environmental science, and other information. BER RETREAT BER program staff participated in a strategic planning retreat, January 29-31, 1997. The 3-day retreat, which was held at the Morningside Inn near Frederick, Md. and attended by the majority of our staff, resulted in a consensus strategic plan that will give us direction in the years ahead. Our vision statement is simply "bringing revolutionary solutions to energy-related biological and environmental challenges." The Webster dictionary defines revolutionary as bringing about a sudden, radical, or complete change. So, attainment of this vision over the next decade presents a real challenge to the entire BER program family to be creative and innovative, both at headquarters and in the field. Within our office we are gearing up to develop the appropriate implementation plans. HOLLAENDER FELLOWSHIPS A panel of six outstanding scientists was convened Tuesday, March 18, 1997, to review 50 applications for Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships. As many as ten awards may be granted to begin in the June to September period for up to 2 years at a laboratory with an advisor receiving BER program support. Most BER research areas are represented by the applicants. In its ten program cycles, 75 fellows from 45 universities in 27 states and one foreign country have been appointed to 11 DOE and 11 university laboratories, as well as two private facilities. ER SCIENCE EXPLORER POST On Saturday, March 8, members of ER's recently established Science Explorer Post attended the National Capitol Area's Explorers Conference held at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Julie Stroud, of our office, the Post's Explorer Advisor, led the group to participate in the day's Explorer activities. The Science Explorer Post was established to give area high school students interested in science, an opportunity to explore the different scientific areas in which ER is involved. The students will be conducting ozone studies, with guidance from scientific staff in the Biological and Environmental Research Program, and comparing them with results obtained by members of an Explorer Post on the West Coast. The results of the study will be published on a Web page created by the students. RESEARCH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RIMS) As a continuation of our efforts that began in 1995 to reengineer the way we process new grant applications and other business processes, OHER recently began implementing an electronic information system--the Research Information Management System (RIMS). Its purpose is to facilitate project management and communications between researchers and program managers. RIMS is a central database of text information on all OHER-supported activities that can serve a number of purposes such as report preparation and program analysis. It is expected that the Web interface to the system will be available for use by researchers this summer. Additional updates will be provided as the system develops. HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH DATABASE ON WORLD WIDE WEB I am glad to announce that the DOE Human Subjects Research Database, updated for FY 1996, is now accessible on the World Wide Web. The database contains information on all research projects that involved human subjects and were funded by the Department of Energy, or conducted in DOE facilities, or performed by DOE personnel during FY 1996. The database consists of a detailed description of each research project and a section that summarizes the information for quick referencing. Statistical information concerning the database, along with a glossary of scientific terms to assist the reader with unfamiliar terminology, are provided. Information on individual projects is available in the body of the database. Thirty-five research facilities reported a total of 252 projects. A total of 28,616 human subjects were reported. Because registries, questionnaires, surveys, and epidemiological studies were included in this database, the total number of human subjects reported is not representative of actual people participating but includes a large number of records from human subjects. The total funding that was directly associated with tasks or portions of projects involving the use of human subjects was about $50 million. DOE annually funds approximately $37 million in projects involving human subjects while other federal and private sources fund an estimated $13 million in such projects. SOLICITATIONS The Environmental Sciences Division has four open solicitations: Integrated Assessment of Global Climate Change Research Program (closing March 27); Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (closing April 29); Biotechnological Investigations--Ocean Margin Program (closing May 6); Atmospheric Chemistry Program (closing June 14). In addition, two other solicitations have recently closed--the interagency Joint Program on Terrestrial Ecology and Global Change (TECO) and the Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) Program. Thanks to all of you who have applied, who will apply, and who will help us in the expert review of the applications/proposals received. Terrestrial ecology and global change research (TECO) is an important facet of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Interagency partners are DOE, NSF, NASA, USDA, and EPA. For 3 years TECO has conducted joint solicitation and funding of research, with most of the logistical support for the program provided by NSF. This year it is DOE's turn to manage the solicitation, review and selection, and Jerry Elwood and Roger Dahlman are leading the effort. Selections and awards will probably be made by June. We've observed modest laboratory participation response to this cycle of TECO. AWARDS On February 5, Ms. Julie A. Stroud was awarded a check for $1,000 from the Upper Montgomery County's Soroptimist Club's Training Awards Program (TAP). Ms. Stroud is a Procurement Technician in the Directorate of the Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER), Office of Energy Research. While sustaining her position in OHER, where she has been employed since 1989, Ms. Stroud is continuing her education at the renowned Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, where she received her B.A. degree in May 1993. Ari Patrinos Associate Director for Health and Environmental Research Office of Energy Research Note: Correction to $ amount in the above message In the March 31 OHER Newsletter the FY 98 total of 371,860 was incorrect. The FY 1998 request for the BER program is 376,710. Please accept my apology for this error. Have a nice day. Judy Nusbaum