Army Teams With Consortium of Universities to Establish Institute for Collaborative Biotechnology 8/25/2003
From: Maj. Gary Tallman of the U.S. Army, 703-697-4314; e-mail: gary.tallman@hqda.army.mil WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- The Army announced today that the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) was awarded a contract for up to $50 million over five years to serve as the newest Army sponsored University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). UCSB will partner with the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to establish the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB). The ICB will provide the Army with core competencies and expertise in the area of biologically-derived and biologically-inspired materials, sensors and information processing expected to impact applications in precision strike, signature management, chem/bio and particulate environmental protection, and counter-terrorism capabilities. "The ICB brings together world-class research institutions with the Army and future industry partnerships to leverage the rapid progress and large investments in Biotechnology," said Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Research and Technology, Dr. Thomas H. Killion. "Full spectrum mission effectiveness and force survivability are essential elements of Army Transformational goals. Biotechnology holds great promise for creating paradigm shifting capabilities to achieve these goals." Biotechnology is a critical technology for the Army and Transformation. "Biotechnology is a rapidly advancing area with the potential for a wide spectrum of applications that can significantly enhance the Army's Transformation to the Future Force," said Acting Director U.S. Army Research Laboratory, John Miller. With the Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office playing a key role in oversight, the center will provide the interdisciplinary fundamental knowledge and technical capabilities to manipulate biological systems and components, and to exploit biologically derived products and processes for both the soldier and engineered systems and platforms. "Through this innovative research collaboration new materials will be created with novel properties and functionalities that will advance sensors, electronics and information processing technologies to enable Transformational capabilities that are not feasible today for the soldier," said Killion. The ICB will conduct unclassified scientific research in two areas of emphasis: (1) sensors, electronics and information processing and (2) technical fundamentals enabling transition of cutting edge biotechnology research into these application areas. A single university will serve as lead UARC host for the ICB, with subcontracts to two other universities that complement the expertise of the host institution and are fully integrated and networked into the host institution program. The lead university, UCSB, will host those programs and equipment necessary for providing dynamic and real time collaboration with its partner universities, Cal Tech and MIT, as well as participating team members from industry, Army Labs, and/or other research centers. The ICB partners with industry and Department of Defense research organizations to accelerate the transition of its research into products with military and commercial applications. "The Army Research Laboratory looks forward to working with the ICB consortium during development of biotechnology discoveries that provide the Army the capabilities required to accomplish its missions," said Miller. For more information: Please contact Maj. Gary Tallman at 703-697-4314; e-mail: gary.tallman@hqda.army.mil |