Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory masthead A-Z Index Berkeley Lab masthead U.S. Department of Energy logo Phone Book Jobs Search

The vision of the Life Sciences Division is to advance basic knowledge, and the health of humans and the biosphere, by elucidating the 4-Dimensional dynamics of complex biological systems -- ranging from molecules to microbes to humans.

Research Highlights

Lab Scientists Developing Quick Way to ID People Exposed to Ionizing Radiation
Research conducted by Life Sciences scientists could lead to a blood test that detects if a person has been exposed to radiation, measures their dose, and separates people suffering from inflammation injuries—all in a matter of hours. More » 

 

Lab Scientists Help Develop Promising Therapy for Huntington’s Disease
Life Sciences scientists have helped develop a compound that is a synthetic antioxidant targeting mitochondria, an organelle within cells that serves as a cell’s power plant. Oxidative damage to mitochondria is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. More » 

 

sediment columns

 

Medical Imaging Goes Underground to Map Soil Changes
The same medical imaging technology that doctors use to noninvasively image the heart and brain is now giving scientists a close-up view of the subsurface world. The work of Berkeley Lab scientists could help improve the clean up of soil contaminants such as heavy metals. It could also help researchers learn how to best store carbon underground, where it can’t contribute to climate change. More »