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| Vol. 23, No. 23 |
| December 15, 2001 |
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Research May Benefit Soldiers on Night Missions by MEREDITH-RAINE MIDDLETON The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a scientist at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston a three-year, $1.6 million grant to design a mathematical model that could lead to increased effectiveness for soldiers who are on missions at night. Dr. John H. Byrne, chairman of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, said the model will serve as a mechanism for simulating and studying the way gene networks operate in cells. Specifically, Dr. Byrne will be looking at circadian rhythms, a network of genes that control a person’s body clock. "Circadian rhythms are so important in our daily lives, yet little is understood about them," Dr. Byrne said. "We know that people who work night shifts have more health and performance problems than people who work during the day. That’s because our bodies are programmed by the genes to be most effective during the day." If the mathematical model can unveil the workings of circadian rhythms, then it stands to reason that scientists could alter them so that soldiers and civilians who work at night would be just as effective as their daytime counterparts. Dr. Byrne, who is the June and Virgil Waggoner Distinguished Professor, also will be studying genes that affect memory. About 15 other institutions are researching additional components of the project, which is being funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. Scientists believe this study will lead to the development of adaptive biosensors to better detect chemical and biological agents, such as anthrax or smallpox.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/12_15_01/page_05.html |