Biological and Environmental Sciences Directorate

Systems Biology Initiative

Biology is undergoing a fundamental shift from a descriptive to a quantitative, predictive science. This transition is being driven by advances in genome sequencing, massive amounts of data, rapidly expanding computational resources, and the introduction of powerful new analytical technologies. Systems biology will enhance scientists' ability to study cells as complete biological systems, and will fundamentally change the level at which biological systems can be used and manipulated for practical applications.

The Systems Biology Initiative is exploiting this paradigm shift with the goal of positioning ORNL to become a national leader in this burgeoning field. This will require building a multidisciplinary systems biology science research program and the core infrastructure necessary to support this program. This includes capabilities in gene expression, proteomics, mutagenesis, microbial growth, protein interactions, imaging and analytical technologies, and computing and bioinformatics.

The Initiative is targeting emerging national science programs that can fuel the growth of this research area. These primarily include DOE's Genomes to Life (GTL) program, a number of programs at NIH focused on the systems biology of disease and pathology, and range of opportunities in DHS related to understanding pathogens. One key strategy in this effort is to ensure that ORNL has a leadership role in defining the science to drive DOE-BER's Genomics:GTL Program. This is an ambitious 10-year program to create a biological infrastructure that can leverage genomics information to solve mission-related problems that have biological solutions. DOE's GTL aspirations are formulated and founded on the concept of systems biology and ORNL has the potential to become a major facility for GTL science. ORNL also seeks to be a major center for NIH systems biology research, and is developing partnerships with strong medically-related universities and institutes to develop large shared projects and centers.

Presentation: "System Biology and Bioenergy at ORNL”
presented by Brian Davison, ORNL Chief Scientist for Systems Biology and Biotechnology, July 2007.