Oak Ridge Associated Universities 2006 Annual Report

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Scientific and Technical Peer Review Programs “Our goal is to provide independent and objective evaluation of scientific information by top scientific and technical experts. We meet this goal using a proven peer review methodology that ensures a highly credible and independent process for recommending research activities for funding and support, which in turn helps our customers make informed decisions on where to invest their research dollars.” Mike Wetzel, director of Scientific and Technical Peer Review Programs <strong>2006</strong> Accomplishments: Key Customers: When the federal government disseminates scientific information or funds research proposals, it is critical that the information or the proposals are scientifically feasible and have verifiable technical merit. Through a customizable peer review process using external experts, ORISE is helping the federal government make informed decisions regarding the quality of the science. • Assisted key customers with 42 postal and panel reviews of 2,203 research proposals, asset types, health risk assessments, or projects involving 1,220 scientific and technical reviewers. • Awarded $3 million contract to conduct peer reviews on scientific and technical documents related to work on DOE’s proposed nuclear waste and storage repository at Yucca Mountain • Managed reviews of research proposals with potential funding of awards totaling more than $142 million • Managed review programs for Pennsylvania’s Department of Health to evaluate the progress of five ongoing research projects and the outcomes of 102 completed research projects Key Facts: • Provide agency-specific peer review assistance to coordinate evaluations by independent and objective reviewers on the technical merit of research proposals, progress reports, or products • Manage our PeerNet © system, a Web-based application that distributes research proposals to reviewers, collects reviewer comments, and provides evaluation reports • Assist with research review activities related to energy production, environmental protection, citizen health, and security • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) • U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Contact Information Scientific and Technical Peer Review Programs (865) 576-1087 peerreview@orau.org www.orau.org/busops/peer 66
ORAU Awarded $3 Million Contract to Review Yucca Mountain Work The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) awarded ORAU a $3 million contract in fiscal year <strong>2006</strong> to provide independent peer reviews of scientific and technical work performed for the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. Located about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, on land owned by the federal government, Yucca Mountain is the proposed geological repository for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. DOE plans to submit a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which decides whether to grant a license to construct the repository. “We are excited about this opportunity, which is a further extension of the capabilities we’ve demonstrated in peer reviews for many state and federal agencies, including DOE’s Office of Science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” said Mike Wetzel, program director for ORAU’s Scientific and Technical Peer Review Programs. “We have extensive experience in designing and implementing processes that ensure independence and support credibility through rigorous review, and it’s fulfilling to know we can bring this expertise to bear on national issues such as the management and storage of nuclear energy waste.” The decision-making process involves a multiyear review of procedures, technical documents, and scientific and technical assessments that have been conducted for the site. To help ensure that evaluations are conducted with independence, DOE will identify the aspects of Yucca Mountain research that it wants reviewed, and ORAU will line up the appropriate scientific and technical experts and will coordinate review teams. Image Information: OCRWM is experimenting with new robotic technologies. Here, a robot rolls across the floor of the Exploratory Studies Facility (the underground laboratory inside Yucca Mountain). Photo courtesy of DOE’s OCRWM. 67
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ORAU at a Glance As a consortium of
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ORISE at a Glance The Oak Ridge Ins
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Statement from the President In 200
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Science to lead, education to build
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University Partnership Initiatives
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PROFILE Dr. Yongli Gao Enhancing In
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Strengthening Our Partnership with
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Page 46 and 47: HIGHLIGHTS Diabetes and cardiovascu
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Page 52 and 53: HIGHLIGHTS To protect the nation’
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Page 66 and 67: HIGHLIGHTS In 2006, ORISE completed
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Page 74 and 75: ORAU Board of Directors Mr. C. Mich
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Oak Ridge Associated Universities 2006 Annual Report

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