The Office of the Chief provides overall CBEL management and planning, including laboratory, administrative and financial functions. It coordinates the establishment of new laboratory activities and the work of the sections and groups to encourage and ensure appropriate cooperation and integration of effort. It also coordinates CBEL work with other parts of CIT and the NIH ICs, as well as other government agencies and research institutions.

BIMAS develops computational methods for the analysis of data related to molecular biology and genetics; and provides bioinformatics guidance, support, and resources for the collection, management, and display of biological sequence and genomic information, for NIH scientists involved in genomics and genetic analysis. Research and development projects include:

• Protein and Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis
• Genomic Analysis Support
• cDNA Microarray Gene Expression Analysis

The Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section (SPIS) provides engineering research and design expertise to the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) for scientific projects that require advanced technology development.  SPIS collaborative projects involve custom signal transduction and data acquisition; real-time signal and image processing; automation and robotic control systems; and instrumentation prototype development. Most collaborations result in the creation of novel biomedical/clinical research systems, instrumentation, and methodologies, comprised of custom hardware and application specific software.

SPIS is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary, multi-investigator teams to solve biomedical laboratory and clinical research problems.  The majority of SPIS collaborative projects span the associated disciplines of systems biology – biology, chemistry, engineering, computer science, physics, and applied mathematics.  As a central, on campus, resource within the NIH IRP, SPIS’s broad range of engineering knowledge and experience provides a strong technical infrastructure required for systems biology research.  This in-house technology development capability is critical to establishing an interactive environment that facilitates progress through successive iterations of experiment and theory development as systems biology projects evolve.

SPIS collaborations necessitate extensive expertise in electronic, electro-optical, mechanical, computer, and software engineering.  More specifically, hands-on capabilities included:  advanced analog and digital circuitry, biophysical signal transduction techniques, radio-frequency and telemetry systems, digital signal processing hardware and software, programmable logic devices, printed circuit board development, electromechanical devices, opto-electronics, mechanical 3D prototyping, video processing, systems integration and simulation, scientific programming, and computer based instrumentation for signal processing and control.

SPIS core capabilities and project accomplishments have established the group as a focal point for engineering research and technology development at the NIH. Example technology developments and projects include:

• cDNA and protein microarray
• tissue microarray (TMA)
• laser capture microdissection (LCM)
• expression microdissection (xMD)
• chromosome microdissection
• microfluidics, microfabrication, and microanalysis
• single molecule, DNA, and chromatin fiber mechanics and manipulation
• high-speed scanning spectrometry
• atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging
• magneticresonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) methodologies and devices
• magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) imaging
• ultrasound imaging
• positron emission tomography (PET) imaging
• gamma camera imaging
• fluorescence imaging
• two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy (TPEFM)
• speech acquisition and real-time adaptive processing
• biomechanics real-time gait analysis
• neuro-specific nociceptive assay for mouse pain studies
• nonhuman primate maternal-fetal monitoring
• automated mouse activity monitoring system (MAMS)
• pathology tissue processing methodologies
• spectrally programmable lighting for health and rhythm entrainment
  

SPIS Staff

BIVS explores and develops image management, communication, and processing technologies in support of clinical image acquisition, transmission, and interpretation. Major projects involve the adaptation and utilization of telemedicine and collaborative technologies to support long distance medical and scientific work between NIH and other institutions. Also under development are new image processing and computer modeling techniques for NIH scientists using MRI. Research and development projects include:

• TELESYNERGY ® Medical Consultation WorkStation System
• Medical Image Display Systems
• High-speed Image Communication Networks
• Medical Haptics
• Diffusion MR Image Processing and Data Acquisition

BIVS Staff