Synchrotron Radiation for Macromolecular Crystallography

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Synchrotron Radiation for Macromolecular Crystallography

Background:

There has been a dramatic increase in the demand for synchrotron radiation facilities to carry out x-ray crystallographic studies to determine the structure of biological macromolecules. Existing facilities now struggle to provide scientists with high quality crystallographic beamlines and beamtime as well as necessary technical support. Primary funding responsibilities for individual facilities typically rest with single agencies, but user demand comes from scientists supported by a variety of sponsors including DOE, NSF, and NIH. Tight budgets are making it more difficult for single agency programs to fund facility operation and also fund the instrumentation and up-grades needed by the wide range of facility users.

To address this problem, the Office of Science and Technology Policy charged an interagency working group to develop an approach to synchrotron facilities support and planning. Their report, Synchrotron Radiation for Macromolecular Crystallography, reconfirms that the demand for synchrotron access is high and likely to increase even more rapidly given the growing importance of timely and accurate information in drug discovery, the study of larger more complex systems including whole viruses and genomics where the discovery of new proteins will provide opportunities for understanding protein structure and functional genomics.

Status:

The report concludes that many, but not all, of the requirements for optimal use of synchrotron facilities for crystallography are beginning to be addressed.
The report strongly recommends that interagency coordination on synchrotron facilities support and planning continue.
The report recognizes the importance of single agency stewardship of each facility, but provides a means for other agencies (NIH in this case) to influence planning and support further development of the facility.
In keeping with the report's recommendations, the working group will track efforts and ensure that the interagency planning continues, consider new scientific opportunities and developments, and address other needs, including the upgrades described in the report.

Office of Science and Technology Policy
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W
Washington, DC 20502
202.395.7347
Information@ostp.eop.gov

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