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Material Measurement Laboratory / Chemical Sciences Division

Biospecimen Science Group

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13
Map of the Northern hemisphere Pacific Ocean, with environmental specimen sampling sites indicated with data points in the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and Bering Sea locations.

Classification Methods for the NIST Biorepository

Ongoing
NIST has been archiving biological and environmental specimens, including marine animal and environmental samples, for over 40 years. Currently, these biospecimens are stored at cryogenic temperatures in the NIST Biorepository located at the Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, SC. Various
Big data analysis report on 3D effects.AI technology generated image

Data Tools for Environmental Metrology

Ongoing
A recent addition to operations in the NIST Biorepository, we seek out places where NIST scientists get bogged down by the complexity of their data. Research at NIST can generated some of the most complex data in the world, at times requiring six months or more of processing to get to the data
Hexagon containing words “environmental metabolomics” with arrows pointing from the hexagon to each of the following images: coral, shrimp, mussel, microbe, horseshoe crab, plant. The circle figure has waves and a tree faded in the background.

Environmental Metabolomics

Ongoing
The application of metabolomics techniques to environmental systems biology offers a promising opportunity to achieve insights into non-model organism biology. Each biological system manifests distinctive challenges that offer insights into criteria important for rigorous study design and method
Photo with a person making notes on the notepad and superimposed graphics of check boxes and charts

Environmental Metrology Measurement Assistant (EMMA)

Ongoing
Quantification of environmental metrology data can be complex at the level on which NIST operates. Projects often include dozens of samples from multiple matrices and can target well over 300 analytes of vastly different chemical properties, each of which must be individually assessed. Quality
Photo of fuel platform burning on the sea water

NIST Assists in Marine-Related Disaster Response

Ongoing
NIST and the Biospecimen Science Group continue to collaborate with NOAA Fisheries, other federal and state agencies, and non-profit organizations to provide the ability to accurately assess exposure of marine animals to environmental stressors and provide a resource for retrospective analysis of
NIST Biorepository Freezers

The NIST Biorepository

Ongoing
The NBSB was established in 1979 at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD with a pilot project archiving human liver samples associated with collections through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). New collaborations and banking projects began to be established including the National Oceanic and
Photo showing the production of Salmon Standard Reference Material

Reference Material Production and Support

Ongoing
Bulk Cryogenic Production Large-batch cryogenic reference materials are produced using a Palla VM-KT Vibrating Cryomill. The mill is pre-cooled to cryogenic temperatures using liquid nitrogen. Frozen material is fed through the inlet funnel to a vibrating chamber containing 26 titanium rods. The
Illustration of the five primary features of STAR software, depicted as a blue star.

Sample Tracking and Analytical Reporting (STAR)

Ongoing
STAR (formerly known as Marine STAR) will develop a web-based interface to provide easy access to sample information from the NIST Biorepository. Information will include, but is not limited to, sample availability, chemical analysis status and results, and links to publications. Metadata associated

Seabird Tissue Archival and Monitoring Project (STAMP)

Ongoing
Seabirds are an important group of upper trophic-level marine organisms with potential for accumulating lipophilic contaminants. Analyses of seabird tissues, particularly eggs, have played important roles in temporal and spatial environmental monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs—e.g
Map of the Hawaiian islands showing outlines and major cities of the islands.

NIST U.S. Pacific Islands Program

Completed
To help address environmental research and resource management in the Pacific Islands region, the 111th U.S. Congress directed NIST to "expand its capabilities and resources into the Pacific region through a Pacific Islands component of NIST" and included funding to "expand its biodiversity storage