WASHINGTON -- The White House announced on Monday thatPresident Bush will unveil a biotechnology research initiativeand four other federal R&D initiatives in the State of the UnionAddress tonight.

The biotech initiative was crafted by the biotechnologyresearch subcommittee of the Federal Coordinating Council onScience, Engineering and Technology. FCCSET is part of theWhite House Office on Science and Technology Policy.

The White House did not provide any information about thecontents of the initiative. FCCSET spokesmen also declined toprovide details.

The initiative, which is expected to establish a framework andgoals for federal biotechnology-funded research, is based on a"crosscut" analysis of all federal spending on biotechnology.

In addition to the biotechnology initiative, Bush will announceinitiatives in advanced materials and processing; highperformance computing and communications; global changeresearch; and math and science education.

-- Steve Usdin BioWorld Washington Bureau

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