Healthcare and Biology

SEED plants under UV light in greenhouse, Building 1506, March 10, 2023.

Biology and Healthcare Portfolio

ORNL is advancing science and technology to better understand complex biological systems and their relationship with the environment. The laboratory has expertise and special facilities in genomics, computational biology, microbiology, microbial ecology, biophysics and structural biology, and plant sciences. This collective expertise includes collaborations within and outside ORNL and focuses on scientific challenges in biology for Department of Energy missions in energy and the environment.

Featured Technologies

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A Biosensor for Detecting Plant Gene Expression

Amy Elliott at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility

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Automated Depowdering and Transfer of Additively Manufactured Parts via Robotics

Doctor holding medical records (Envato Elements)

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Antimony-Chelating Compositions and Their Use in Nuclear Medicine

A team of ORNL scientists led by Brian Sanders has developed a potent and selective covalent inhibitor of the papain-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

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Development of Covalent Inhibitors of the Papain-Like Protease from SARS-CoV-2

ORNL scientists identified four amino acids key to signaling pathways in the PAN protein domain. Mutating any of those disrupted the signal that tells cancer cells to multiply. Credit: Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

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A Protein Domain Modulating Host-Cell Invasion