Los Alamos speaker at AAAS addresses pathogen detection for biodefense

Contact: Nancy Ambrosiano, nwa@lanl.gov, (505) 667-0471 (04-004)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 10, 2004 -- Saying that "in spite of the developments in both DNA technologies and antibody-based detection strategies, the reality today is that infections are not detected until people get sick," according to Los Alamos National Laboratory Bioscience Division Leader Jill Trewhella. Trewhella will speak at a proteomics seminar at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle. The session, "Networking Proteins in Biology and Medicine," is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14.

Trewhella's talk is titled "Detection of Pathogens in Biodefense," in which she notes that "the critical requirements for pathogen detection in biodefense applications include speed, accuracy and maximum information to guide response." Trewhella calls on researchers to provide "robust, effective, automated detection systems" for biodefense.

The AAAS symposium focuses on the application of proteomic techniques to biological problems. Proteomics describes the systematic separation, identification and characterization of the proteins present in a tissue or other biological sample. By comparing the proteins in samples from individuals affected by a particular disease with those present in healthy individuals, researchers can identify those proteins that are potentially related to that disease.

"Modern proteomics capabilities offer some promise in these pathogen detection areas and some of the most promising technologies and their potential applications will be discussed and compared with the state of the art in detection today," Trewhella said.

Trewhella is the Bioscience Division leader and program manager for the Department of Energy Biological and Environmental Research programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Trewhella received her bachelor of science degree with first class honors in physics and applied mathematics and a master of science in physics from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Her doctorate is in chemistry from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Trewhella is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as having been awarded the Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellows' Prize. She was elected secretary of the Biophysical Society and has served on numerous national and international committees including the NIH Division of Research Grants, Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Study Section, the American Heart Association Fellowship Peer Review Subgroup and the Biophysical Review Panel, National Science Foundation. She has given about 100 invited talks at international and national meetings, in academic departments and national laboratories on her research, and on science and technology approaches and national needs with respect to addressing biological threats.

She has been at Los Alamos since 1984 and she has held various science leadership and management positions before being named Laboratory Fellow in recognition of sustained outstanding contributions to science and technology.

The Bioscience Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory has approximately 300 scientists and technical specialists that provide science and technology research and development in support of the missions of the Department of Energy's Office for Biological and Environmental Research, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the intelligence community and law enforcement.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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