SUPPORT FOR BIOINFORMATIC
INFRASTRUCTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

As approved by the IEEE-USA
Board of Directors (11 Nov. 2005)

The IEEE-USA supports biotechnology research and recognizes the potential contribution of a strong bioinformatics infrastructure to biotechnology and biomedical engineering. Further, we believe that developing a strong bioinformatics base will lead to expanded economic development, increased security, more technology-oriented jobs, and greater opportunities for professional development.

The Administration has repeatedly supported the use of Electronic Medical and Personal Health Records and encouraged the development and implementation of the National Health Information Infrastructure. Proper deployment requires a strong bioinformatics infrastructure.

In September of 2005, the leadership of international scientific, engineering and medical organizations urged heads of State and Government at the UN General Assembly to “strengthen world wide capacities in science, technology and innovation.” In order to meet these challenges, and maintain a leadership role, the United States must continue to build the bioinformatics infrastructure necessary for basic research, the protection of public health, the development of new biotechnology applications, and the efficient transfer of biotechnology applications from the research laboratory to the manufacturing environment.

In support of these objectives, the IEEE-USA recommends:

• Support of funding for biotechnology research: Leadership in biotechnology requires a stable source of funding for research from both private and public sources. IEEE-USA encourages developing stable and sustained funding sources for research in biotechnology and bioinformatics.
   

• Public Disclosure of State of Funding of Federal Bioinformatic Infrastructure and Biotechnology Research and Development: The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) should annually issue a report on the actual funding of federal research and development.
   

• Protection of public health: Protecting the public against the spread of disease and the potential of bioterrorism requires the development of reliable and secure networks for communicating health-related alerts and information among regulatory and enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, and the general public. The IEEE-USA supports the passage of legislation to mandate the development of such networks. The IEEE-USA also supports the development and implementation of systems for the rapid identification of pathogens in the environment which may pose a hazard to public health.
   

• Support of technology transfer: IEEE-USA encourages the federal and state governments, working in close collaboration with universities and industry, to develop programs to ensure the rapid transfer of biotechnology research results to technology development.
   

• Standards development: One of the primary requirements for smooth and effective technology transfer is the existence of recognized standards. IEEE-USA recognizes the need for technical standards for the format, transmission and linking of electronic medical records, and especially for the inclusion of genomic data in healthcare records. IEEE-USA also recognizes the need for a standardized national health information infrastructure to provide for the rapid and secure interchange of healthcare-related information.
   

• Education: Biotechnology and bioinformatics research requires an education that is uniquely cross disciplinary in nature; developing the biotechnology industry requires a highly-trained workforce. IEEE-USA encourages developing educational programs that address the need for cross-disciplinary training.
   

• Social, ethical and environmental impact of biotechnology research: Biotechnology research has ethical, social and environmental consequences for the world and its people. IEEE-USA encourages research that invites thoughtful and forward-looking discussion of these issues.

This statement was developed by the IEEE-USA Medical Technology Policy Committee and represents the considered judgment of a group of IEEE-USA members with expertise in the subject field. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., created in 1973 to advance the public good and promote the careers and public policy interests of the more than 220,000 electrical, electronics, and computer engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The positions taken by IEEE-USA do not necessarily reflect the views of IEEE or its other organizational units.

BACKGROUND

Biotechnology is broadly defined as a collection of new scientific techniques that uses living cells and their molecules to make products or solve problems. It has a wide range of applications, including human and animal health care, disease prevention, food and agriculture, environmental protection, and industrial processes. Bioinfomatics is defined as information technology as applied to the life sciences, especially the technology used for the collection, storage and retrieval of genomic data.

The National Committee on Health and Vital Statistics (NCVHS) has recommended that: “HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) should evaluate emerging technologies such as biometrics, digital signatures and PKI (public key infrastructure) for higher assurance authentication, message integrity and non-repudiation in a research agenda for e-prescribing and all other aspects of health information technology.”

Recent advances in biotechnology have brought many benefits to the world's population. The United States has demonstrated its leadership in the field of biotechnology in areas such as the development of drought-resistant crop strains, the eradication of communicable diseases through vaccination programs, and the decoding of the human genome through the joint efforts of the public and private sectors.
 

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Last Update:  7 December 2005
Staff Contact: Deborah Rudolph