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8. Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 73-78

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From page 73...
... BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AREAS The committee evaluated biotechnology developments in five broad application categories: sensors; electronics and computing; materials; logistics; and therapeutics. The following areas in each category were then identified as providing significant opportunities for the Army: · sensors: assay analysis; detection methods; chip architectures · electronics and computing: protein-based devices; biocomputing; biomolecular hybrid devices · materials: tissue engineering; biologically inspired materials and processes; hybrid materials logistics: miniaturization of biological devices; functional foods; biological energy sources; renewable re.
From page 74...
... Mechanisms that would encourage fruitful relationships between government and industry include contracts that allow businesses to use regular business practices and protect intellectual property rights for nongovernment applications; government funding to mitigate the technical risks of producing prototypes; and minimal requirements for noncommercial, government accounting and audits. These measures would alleviate some of industry's reservations about government contract regulations, restrictions on trade, and the possible negative perception of working with the military on "biological things." In addition to working relationships with companies, the Army will have to form novel relationships with small and large industry organizations and other government agencies with the same or similar interests.
From page 75...
... In short, this cadre of experts would monitor developments, enable the Army to identify new opportunities, publicize Army requirements, evaluate alternative biotechnologies, and otherwise influence the course of developments beyond traditional medical applications to future nonmedical applications. Recommendation 2b.
From page 76...
... 76 TABLE 8-2 Biotechnology Development Areas OPPORTUNITIES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE ARMY APPLICATIONS Development Investment Time Commercial Area Biotechnology Priority Frame Interest Assay Analysis Microfabrication/microfluidics medium midterm high Affinity reagents medium midterm high Detection Methods Optical detectors low midterm high Detector arrays of affinity molecules; DNA chips; medium midterm high protein chips Protein-Based Devices Optical-holographic high-density memories low midterm medium Three-dimensional volumetric memories high midterm low Associative memories end processors medium midterm medium Artificial retinas low midterm low Pattern-recognition systems medium midterm low Spatial light modulators low near term low Biocomputing Biological models medium far term low DNA computers low far term low Biomolecular Hybrid Devices DNA-based optical-signal processing low midterm medium Biomolecular diodes low midterm low Tissue Engineering Cartilage repair end replacement medium midterm high Neural bridging low far term medium Self-replicating systems high far term medium Stem cells medium far term high Synthetic biomaterials low far term medium Portable, artificial, assisting devices low far term high Bioinspired end Hybrid Materiels Biologically produced materials medium far term medium Biomineralization: organic/inorganic nanocomposites low far term medium Hierarchical systems; biocomposites medium midterm medium Miniaturization Technologies Microreaction technologies low midterm high MEMS-based microfluidic systems medium midterm high Biochip architectures low midterm high Biological nanotechnology medium far term high Functional Foods Genetically engineered foods low near term high Edible vaccines medium midterm medium Biological Sources of Energy Biologicalphotovoltaics medium midterm medium Renewable Resources Renewable fuels medium midterm high Nonmedical specialty products based on engineered low near term medium organisms Ecologicallife-support systems low midterm low Genomics end Proteomics Genomics data-gathering techniques medium midterm high Gene-expression monitoring medium midterm high Protein profiling low midterm medium Biospectroscopic instruments; terahertz spectroscopy and low midterm high analysis Vaccine stratification by genomics end toxicogenomics high midterm high Therapeutic Drugs end vaccines Small-scale vaccine production high midterm low Small-molecule end protein therapeutics low midterm high Genomics-based vaccine developments high midterm high Shock therapeutics high midterm medium Drug Delivery Biocapsules low midterm high Implantable antidotes medium midterm medium Somatic gene therapy low far term high
From page 77...
... These include: collection mechanisms for target threat molecules ethical and privacy issues that could limit the application of genomics and other biotechnologies and public perception that genetically modified organisms are undesirable increasing globalization of development and manufacturing expertise certification of biomaterials and nonmedical devices · length of clinical trials required for development of vaccines Conclusion 5. Miniaturized, biologically based sensing devices could significantly counter "unseen" threats on the battlefield.
From page 78...
... As the pace of genomics advances quickens, the Army will be hard pressed to take advantage of the many opportunities for providing better vaccines more quickly. Reducing the time involved in clinical trials, which routinely involve large populations, should be a high priority.


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