Affordable Malaria Drug
May be Developed Soon

Malaria-infected blood cells

Hopes for an affordable treatment for malaria, which kills a million people a year, may soon be realized thanks to bioengineer Jay Keasling. The Berkeley Lab director of the Physical Biosciences Division has been devising a way to engineer bacteria to mass produce a semisynthetic version of artemisinin, a critical but expensive ingredient in life-saving malaria drugs. Now, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-aventis has signed on to help bring Keasling's breakthrough work to the market at a cost that can make a difference for many of the estimated half a million people who are infected with malaria every year. Full story.

Adopting Practical Ways
To Reduce Paper Use

The predictions of the “paperless office” from several years back will likely never become a widespread reality, but an increasing number of businesses, environmental groups and conservation-minded citizens have adopted practical and simple ways to curtail use of paper products. Promoting a “paperless” ideal was silly from the start, said Bruce Nordman, with Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division. “We don't want to stop using paper. We just want to use less of it,” Nordman said. Full story.

Materials From Synthetic
Polymers and Proteins

Francis

Researchers have developed a new strategy for the formation of hybrid materials from synthetic polymers and proteins. They have thus been able to fuse the specific biological functions of proteins with the advantageous bulk and processing properties of plastics. Polymer-protein hybrid materials may be of use in the manufacture of sensors, nanomachine parts, or drug-delivery systems. The researchers include UC Berkeley professor Matthew Francis, with Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences Division. Full story.

Computer Modeling
Of Self-Healing Ceramic

Repaired ceramic, above, damaged below

A new computer simulation has revealed a self-healing behavior in a common ceramic that may lead to development of radiation-resistant materials for nuclear power plants and waste storage. Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that the restless movement of oxygen atoms heals radiation-induced damage in the engineered ceramic yttria-stabilized zirconia. Some of the research was conducted at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab. Full story.

From Lab to IPO: Online
Talks on Tech Transfer

The National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer is hosting a series of free online lectures, every Tuesday and Thursday, from April 22 through May 20, plus Wednesday, May 21. The lectures are for graduate students, researchers, faculty and inventors who want to commercialize intellectual property in biotech or high-tech. Class topics include venture capital, copyright and trademarks, partnerships, and licensing. Go here for more information.

Lab Delegate for UC
Staff Group Sought

The Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) is comprised of delegates from every UC-managed institution, including Berkeley Lab. The Lab is seeking a new junior delegate to serve alongside a senior delegate for 2008-09. Members meet quarterly at a different UC campus to discuss issues that affect staff with top UC administrators and Regents. CUCSA members also participate on teams that develop recommendations to UCOP and the Regents. Details on who is eligible and the application process are available here.