James J Valdes

Bio-inspired Materials and Devices for Chemical and Biological Defense James J Valdes

Publisher Marketing: Living systems are capable of manufacturing processes, molecular recognition and other complex functions which cannot be replicated by synthetic chemistry or other industrial technologies. Cells routinely manufacture monodisperse nanoscale structures and assemble molecular machines, carry out biochemical reactions and production processes of great complexity, and interact with the environment in an adaptive and emergent manner. Biotic (i.e., living) system s can be labile and, by their nature, difficult to precisely control. The ability to elucidate key metabolic pathways and to replicate their functional properties in a synthetic (i.e., abiotic) format will ultimately permit the design of completely artificial systems with abilities similar to those of a biotic system but with the advantages of precise process control and enhanced ruggedness. This will have profound implications for the many and varied missions of the Department of Defense (DOD) which include, but are not limited to, small-scale power and energy, lightweight flexible armor, on-demand manufacture of high-value products such as pharmaceuticals, low observable materials and-the subject of this paper-chemical and biological defense (CBD). Contributor Bio:  Valdes, James J John W. Lyons is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP), National Defense University. He was previously director of the Army Research Laboratory and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Lyons received his PhD from Washington University. He holds a BA from Harvard. Richard Chait is a Distinguished Research Fellow at CTNSP. He was previously Chief Scientist, Army Material Command, and Director, Army Research and Laboratory Management. Dr. Chait received his PhD in Solid State Science from Syracuse University and a BS degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. James J. Valdes is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Defense University's Center for Technology and National Security Policy and the Army's Scientific Advisor for Biotechnology. Dr. Valdes received a PhD in neuroscience from Texas Christian University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes. He has published more than 120 papers in scientific journals and was a 2009 Presidential Rank Award winner.