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Human Genome News, January-March 1996; 7(5):4

Genome Program Director Smith Retires from DOE OHER

Multidisciplinary OHER Research Programs Study Energy Consequences, Solve Scientific Problems

After a DOE career spanning 19 years, David A. Smith retired on February 3 as director of the Health Effects and Life Sciences Research Division (HELSRD) of the DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER). As director, Smith managed the division's diverse programs including the Human Genome Program, which he was instrumental in initiating in 1986. He is succeeded as director of the Human Genome Program and chair of the Human Genome Task Group by OHER Associate Director Aristides Patrinos. Marvin Frazier is now acting director of HELSRD.

OHER Research Programs

Based on mandates from Congress, DOE OHER's principal mission is to (1) develop the knowledge necessary to identify, understand, and anticipate long-term health and environmental consequences of energy use and development and (2) employ DOE's unique scientific and technological capabilities in solving major scientific problems in medicine, biology, and the environment.

Because of its multidisciplinary nature, OHER's programs are organized and managed in three divisions: HELSRD, Medical Applications and Biophysical Research (MABRD), and Environmental Sciences (ESD). Some programs are administered jointly by the staffs of two or all three divisions. OHER organization and program areas are depicted at right.

Current HELSRD priorities emphasize the use of unique resources and tools developed in the human genome, structural biology, and cellular and molecular biology programs. MABRD has a long history of support for medical imaging and diagnostic modalities. HELSRD and MABRD have recently initiated a new program in computational structural biology.

ESD supports basic research in aspects of global climate change, including the fate of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, ecological effects, and climate modeling. ESD also supports research in the fundamental sciences that will underpin the development of new technologies for cleanup of the nation's nuclear weapons processing and production sites. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, OHER technical staff is responsible for managing, planning, and developing programs for the organization, whose FY 1996 budget totals $419.5 million. [See DOE Human Genome Program funding announcements.] The staff establishes strategy, priorities, and schedules; defines resource allocations; coordinates peer reviews of research proposals, program reviews, and evaluations; and maintains close liaison with other DOE programs, federal agencies, Congress, and the scientific community. (OHER contacts: 301/903-6488, Fax: -8521, genome@oer.doe.gov, http://www.er.doe.gov/production/ober/ober_top.html

Office of Health and Environmental Research

Ari Patrinos, Associate Director
Michael Riches, Executive Assistant
Ben Barnhart, Program Coordinator

Health Effects and Life Sciences Research Division
Marvin Frazier, Acting Director, (301) 903-5468

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Human Genome/Microbial Genome
  • Health Effects
    • Biological Research

Medical Applications and Biophysical Research Division
Roland Hirsch, Acting Director (301) 903-3213

  • Medical Applications
    • Radioisotope Development
    • Radiopharmaceuticals
    • Instrumentation
    • Clinical Feasibility
    • Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
    • Molecular Nuclear Medicine
  • Measurement Science and Dosimetry Research
  • Structural Biology Facilities
  • Human Genome Instrumentation
  • Computational Structural Biology

Environmental Sciences Division
Michelle Broido, Acting Director (301) 903-3281

  • Climate and Hydrology
    • Climate Modeling and Computer Hardware Advanced Mathematics, and Model Physics (CHAMMP)
    • Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM)
    • Unmanned Air Vehicle
  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Carbon Cycle
    • Atmospheric Science
    • Marine Transport
    • Carbon Cycle
    • Oceans Research
  • Ecological Processes
    • Ecosystem Function and Response
    • Vegetation

National Institute of Global Environmental Change (NIGEC) Environmental Restoration [including Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) and Microbial Genome]


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Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v7n5).

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.