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Material Measurement Laboratory

Biomolecular Measurement Division

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 41
Bioman lifecycle

Biomanufacturing Initiative

Ongoing
The objective of the NIST biomanufacturing program is to support US biopharmaceutical industry delivery of high quality and low cost protein drugs around the world. The mission is fulfilled through the development of standards, measurement science, and state of the art tools that support advances in

Chemical/Biochemical Microsensor Science

Ongoing
Our research is focused on the basic and applied aspects of chemical sensor science and technology in the following areas: The development and evaluation of nanoscale materials, e.g., nanowires and nanotubes, for high-performance chemical sensing of gas-phase species Novel approaches for low-cost

Clinical and Forensic Reference Materials

Ongoing
Below is a listing of the reference materials currently produced by the Applied Genetics group. Clinical Diagnostics SRM 2393 - CAG Repeat Length Mutation in Huntington`s Disease SRM 2365 - BK Virus DNA Quantitative Standard SRM 2366a - Cytomegalovirus DNA (Towne Δ147 BAC) for DNA SRM 2367 - JC
component 1

Consistency Analysis and Uncertainty in ‘omic Data

Ongoing
‘Omics is increasingly moving out of the laboratory and towards use in industrial and commercial applications. For instance, in biomanufacturing, there is a need for quality control when developing biotherapeutics, which will almost certainly require a machine-learning classifier to separate

Development of Proteomics-Based Methods for Protein Quantification

Ongoing
Reference measurement procedures and standard reference materials help ensure that routine clinical assays provide accurate results across different laboratories and over time. Lists of such higher-order methods are published by the Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM)

Development of Reference Methods and Reference Materials for Proteins

Ongoing
Accuracy and comparability of clinical assays is essential for timely and accurate medical interventions. However, studies have shown that large variations in results can occur among routine clinical assays. A clinical comparison among 14 commercial assay platforms revealed more than 20-fold
Instrumentation that create and read droplets for digital PCR measurements.

Digital PCR

Ongoing
With appropriately validated assays, digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) determines the number of DNA targets (copies) per reaction partition, without the need for a standard curve. Reaction partitions can be in the form of fixed chambers in a microfluidic device, referred to as chamber digital
A plot of data representing the peaks from a three person DNA profile

DNA Mixture Interpretation

Ongoing
Interlaboratory Studies Mixture interlaboratory studies provide a means to assess a laboratory's ability to process and interpret DNA mixtures. Initial ‘Mixed Stain’ studies (published in 2001) provided physical samples for DNA profiling with the first commercial STR typing tests. Later, mixture
The inside of a DNA extraction robot hold tube in a rack

Forensic Genetics

Ongoing
Since the late 1980s, NIST has had scientists involved in DNA testing (aka "DNA Fingerprinting"). Early concerns over measurement accuracy and poor quality control of forensic DNA tests caused the Department of Justice to call upon NIST scientists to help with standards development and technology
13 tubes each containing an individual glycan in SRM 3655

Glycan Standard Reference Materials

Ongoing
Now Available A glycan-based NIST Standard Reference Material ( SRM 3655 Glycans in Solution) supports the biomanufacturing and protein therapeutics communities with a set of 13 individually-bottled, pure glycoforms including those most commonly observed as N-linked glycans on therapeutic monoclonal

HDX-MS for Biopharmaceutical Analysis

Ongoing
Intended Impact This project is designed to improve, test, and validate hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) metrology for the determination of dynamical properties of therapeutic proteins and glycoproteins. Objectives Explore structure-function relationships between glycan
Unit of RGTM 10263 -- H5N1 Avian flu synthetic RNA fragments

H5 Influenza Positive Controls

Ongoing
In response to the current H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, NIST has developed a research grade test material (RGTM) for PCR-based assays. This material contains 3 vials with RNA fragments for HA (Part A), NA (Part B), and MP (Part C). A NIST Reference Material is also under development. The guidance
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) image of an LNP/RNA formulation

LNP-RNA Research Grade Test Material

Ongoing
The currently planned LNP/RNA material (designated RGTM 10240) will include a fragment of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that is approximately 4 kb in length. This fragment was previously included (in unencapsulated form) as “Fragment 1” of NIST RGTM 10169. The RNA fragment is not designed for cell-based
Fab Domain from NISTmAb

Metrologies for Protein Structure, Dynamics and Function

Ongoing
Based on its established expertise, infrastructure, and resources for structure/function studies of biological macromolecules, the program aims to impact advances in physics, chemistry, and engineering relevant to biological problems. NIST researchers also develop new technologies for application to
NIST MS Search 2

Monoclonal Antibody Mass Spectral Libraries

Ongoing
Intended Impact Modern mass spectrometers used in the field of proteomics and glycomics are capable of profiling hundreds, and even thousands of molecules in a single experiment. Each of these compounds is isolated and fragmented to form a mass spectrum. Therefore, interpretation of these mass

Nanocalorimetry

Ongoing
The global market for semiconductor chips is $270 billion. Growth in this industry is driven by the need to enhance performance by packing more transistors into the same chip area, with a relationship between feature size and time that approximately follows Moore's Law. As the feature size shrinks
Montage of photographs depicting eggs, almonds, grain, milk, strawberries, fish, peanuts, and soybeans.

NIST Food Protein Allergen Program

Ongoing
Food allergen management is an increasingly important economic and public health concern; therefore, accurate and reliable allergen measurements are a crucial component of the management pathway. Traditional methods for food allergen detection are based on immunoassay techniques and are linked to a
photo collage of meats, cheese, eggs, fish, and shellfish

NIST Food Safety Program

Ongoing
The Food Safety Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides advanced analytical chemistry and quantitative biology to ensure that food is free of contaminants and allergens and is authentic, promoting U.S. manufacturers’ participation in domestic and foreign markets