Fran Ligler: Combating Bio-threat Agents, Recognized Worldwide

When Fran Ligler joined the federal government in 1986 to work in the emerging field of biosensors, she never imagined that she would become one of the top leaders in her field.

Now two decades later, Ligler is an internationally recognized innovator of cutting --edge technology that is used to monitor the air for bio-threat agents, detect explosives aboard aircraft, identify pathogens in the food supply, and diagnose infectious diseases.

"I went into science because I was fascinated with how living systems work and because I wanted to help people, and it has given me the opportunity to realize that dream, but certainly in ways I would never have predicted," said Ligler.

As senior scientist for Biosensors & Biomaterials at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Ligler leads a team of researchers who have developed a broad array of sensors and diagnostic tests that have been put to use by the military, civilian agencies and the private sector to protect public health and safety.

Joel Schnur, a former division head at the Naval Research Laboratory, said Ligler is skilled in leading teams of bright people, testing complicated ideas, turning those ideas into reality, navigating the government bureaucracy and then working with commercial developers to make the products widely available.

"She showed that you can be diplomatic, do important work and make a difference," said Schnur.

One low cost diagnostic system developed in Ligler's laboratory has been used in Brazil to test for a co-infection of HIV--AIDS and Hepatitis C. The system has helped doctors quickly determine which treatment is most effective for patients. Ligler said this technology really "makes a difference in people's lives," and with very little financial investment.

Ligler and her team have developed the technology used to detect E. coli 0157.H7 in spinach washes in California. This system is now also being deployed in a variety of biodefense applications.

Other systems developed by Ligler and her colleagues include tests that can detect drugs in saliva and a device that can monitor soil and groundwater pollution from weapons disposal on military bases. The munitions detector will soon be evaluated on an unmanned underwater vehicle for harbor security.

Ligler currently holds 24 patents and has nine pending. She has published more than 300 research papers, lectured on five continents and collaborated with scientists around the world.

Banahalli Ratna, division head at the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, said Ligler is known by her peers as someone who can unite people across scientific disciplines.

"Fran has successfully created a common language so that people from different sectors can understand each other," said Ratna. "She has put together teams with very different backgrounds to work on a central goal."

Chris Myatt, the chief technical officer at Precision Photonics Corp. in Colorado, said Ligler has conducted "very thorough and systematic research" for many years.

"She has been revolutionary in seeing sensors commercialized," said Myatt, whose company works with Ligler to bring her sensor technology to the marketplace.

Ligler said her Navy laboratory is a very "entrepreneurial place," combining resources and freedom often not available in the private sector. The products she and her colleagues develop, Ligler said, would never be available to the Navy and the government as a whole unless private companies adopted the technology.

Currently, Ligler is developing a system for classifying populations of marine algae that are indicators of changes in temperature, currents, or pollutants in the ocean.

Another project involves developing a blood cell counter that will be more affordable and flexible than others currently being used. Myatt said this test will have "a huge effect on medical diagnostics" by "allowing patients to get test results immediately and get on with their lives."

Twenty-three years after entering government, Ligler said she still find her work stimulating and satisfying because it can make people's lives safer.

"I love my job for the adventure, the continuing exploration into new possibilities," says Ligler. "I also enjoy the opportunity to study scientists--the most curious, motivated and uninhibited species on the planet!"