B ~ C 0 R a Still The Second Bast Thing About Payday

Scientists Explore Evolution of H G H L 1.G HT Delivering Progress to Patients Infectious Diseases By Linda Joy Festival Session Features Bench-to­ Which strain of flu virus will strike next Festival Highlights Bedside Success Stories year? Why is antibiotic resistance such a Research Triumphs problem in hospitals? Could vaccines for pneumonia or dengue fever do more harm hat goes around comes around. That adage could be than good? Kennedy To Give the principle upon which much of NIH's research is Shannon Lecture W based. As if to prove the point, NIH's 16th annual For medical researchers who study Research Festival devoted one of its plenary infectious diseases, these are important sessions to tracing three success stories from and complex questions. And increasingly, Trees Removed bench to bedside and back. biomedical scientists are finding clues to Behind Bldg. 1 "I'd like to welcome everybody to the t hese punles from an unexpected source-­ plenary session 'Bench to Bedside' and evolutionary biology. perhaps also bedside back to bench," said NIDA scientific director Dr. Barry Hoffer, NLM Receives To bring some of the puzzle pieces who cochaired the 2002 Research Festival Fredrickson Papers together, Dr. Irene Eckstrand ofthe NIGMS organizing committee and moderated the Division of Genetics and Developmental session held in the Natcher Center on Oct. Biology organized a meeting on the 17. "One of the true strengths of the "Evolution of Infectious Diseases" that was NIH Participates in intramural research program at the National held recently. The meeting was co­ D.C. Health Fair Institutes of Health is the close association sponsored by NIGMS and the Ellison between basic science, and clinical science and clinical research. Medical Foundation, a private, nonprofit Not only is there physical proximity between the clinical research infrastructure at the Clinical Center and basic science laborato· SEE EVOLUTION, PAGE 12 SEE BENCH-TO-BEDSIDE, PAGE 8 Thomas lnsel Returns to NIMH NHGRl's Trent Delves into Genetics of Melanoma As Director, Nov. 18 By Peggy Vaughn By Marilyn Weeks NA microarrays and high-throughput genotyping are Dr. Dr. Thomas R. lnsel w ill return to NIH on Jeffrey M. Trent's everyday tools in his role as scientific Nov. 18 to become director of the National D director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and Institute of Ment al chief of its Cancer Genetics Branch. Health, w here he But it's the talent and dedication of his staff and colleagues conducted worldwide that truly aided h.is work in locating the genes associ­ behavioral and ated with the malignant progression of tumor cells, he told the clinical neuro­ audience at the G. Burroughs Mider Lecture in Masur Auditorium science research for on Oct. 9. "It's nice to have cools and mathematical equations, 15 years. He has but it's essential to have people," he said during his presentation been professor, U.S. Department on "Integrating Genetics, Genomics and Biology of Malignant department of of Health and Melanoma." psychiatry and Human Services Trent arrived at NHGRI in 1993 and helped establish its Divi­ director of the National Institutes sion of Intramural Research. Under his guidance, it is now a Center for Behav­ of I lcalth major research center in human genetics investigating the molecu­ ioral Neuroscience lar changes behind the predisposition to, and progression of, Dr. Thomas Insel at Emory University November 12, 2002 human cancers. Much of his work has focused on the dire SEE INSEL, PAGE 6 Vol. LIV, No. 23 SEE M IDER LECTURE, PAGE 4 NHLBI Films Two New PSAs "Lights, camera, and action!" Througbout a bot, tors to the production of the PSA. The realistic steamy summer night, the director called these heart and plaque-clogged artery seen in the spot commands dozens of times as the National Heart, were created through a combination of original Lung, and Blood Institute's new television public prosthetics, character-generated computer animation service announcement (PSA), ''Jackie," was being and special cinematography. NHLBI's Dr. George filmed at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. Sopko was on the set as a medical consultant to ''Jackie" tells the story of a 48-year-old woman, a make sure the heart and artery were medically heart attack survivor whose life has changed as a accurate as well as artistically exciting. result of heart disease. The PSA is one of two being The Heart Truth campaign was launched nation­ produced for The Heart Truth, a national awareness ally in September. See if you can spot "Jackie" and campaign for women about heart disease sponsored "If You Could" on TV this fall-Ann Taubenheim Iii by NHLBI. Produced and directed by ThinkFilm, Inc., the Correction award-winning production company that shoots the Washington, D.C., scenes for The article, "NIH Grantees Win Nobel, Lasker the TV show The West Wing, Honors" that appeared in the Oct. 29 NIH Record the filming of "Jackie" omitted this year's recipients of the Lasker Award required some creative camera for Clinical Medical Research, Dr. WilJem J. Kolff of techniques. For example, the the University of Utah and Dr. Belding H . Scribner first scene simuJates Jackie's of the University of Washington; the cwo were arrival by ambulance to the honored for the development of renal hemodialysis, ER for the viewer. To capture an advance that has revolutionized the treatment of those terrifying moments as acute and chronic kidney failure. they were happening to In the late 1960's, Kolff and his group at Utah Jackie, the camera man had to received several NIAMD contracts to develop and be Jackie by holding a heavy test an improved artificial kidney system. Scribner camera and filming flat on his is a former NIDDK grantee who pioneered the use back on a stretcher while of dialysis in patients with kidney disease by being moved out of the inventing a shunt that would enable repeated use of D1: George Sopko ambuJance. hemodialysis. His research also established the of NHLBI visits the set at Stargate The fi lming required the talent of eight actors and minimum level of dialysis needed and the factors Digital in Los a 25-member production crew. Throughout the all­ that need to be considered in determining the Angeles, where a night shoot, crew members unloaded a11d set up a dialysis schedule for individual patients (for ex­ newPSA was truckload of equipment and props, including an ample, weight and residual kidney function). El prepared. ambulance, uniforms donated by D.C. paramedics, medical equipment and special signs to tum Holy Cross Hospital's main entrance into an emergency room. After an entire night of filming and many days of post-production work, the final "Jackie'' N I H A f C 0 R a spot was ready to deliver 30 seconds of critical Published biwcckl)' at Berhesd.t, ~h,, b~ '/le Editorial Opemtion, messages about heart disease in women to television Bmnch, Division of Public lnfr>mut1 n, t"nhe information of cmplorees of rhe ~ ati(1nal ln,nlllt<"' it lkalth, Department of audiences. Healrh nnd Human Scmc,-,. I hr conrt:nt i.s reprint.:1ble wirhour "If You Could," NHLBl's second television PSA permis~ion. Pi,:ur<"' n:2' ~ n.irlable on request. Use of ftinils fur for The Heart Truth, was also produced this past printing this penOd!QI hls been approved by the Jim:ror of the Office of .Manawrr.nt Jnd Budget through Sept. 30. ! \)IIJ, summer. This spot, through the use of somewhat shocking special effects-a plaque-clogged artery, a Nil-1 Record Office Phone 4%-:e­ cramped heart muscle and a blood clor-mges Bldg. J I, Rm. 5"B41 Fax 401-1- d' women to taJk to their doctors abour heart disease. The concept for the PSA was developed after focus Web addre.ss http://www.nih.gov/news/Nil-l-R= r~ ·r~ni,·es.htm group participants strongly recommended that NHLBI show women the hard truth about heart Editor k,-.:ord reserves disease, ''whether they want to see it or not.'' Richard McManus =:- _-: IJ" ruake. [email protected] _ -- :a. changes, or Special effects for "If You Could" were produced - ..,, m submitted by Stargate Digital, the Los Angeles-based visual Assistant Editor '1 C.Ollformity with effects company for the hit CBS series CSI-Crime Carla Garnett ~ ..__ .,:ieS of the paper Scene Investigation. The show's Emmy-nominated [email protected] JHHS. makeup artist and sound editors were key contribu- ~ The Record u • , ,., 1u/1ite paper. Kennedy To Give Shannon Lecture, Nov. 20 Irish Nurses Train at NCI Dr. Donald Kennedy, former FDA commissioner Four oncology nurses arrived at NIH on Sept. 28 (1977-1979), former president of Stanford Univer· from Ireland and Northern Ireland as part of the sity and now editor of Science magazine, will deliver Clinical Trials Training Program, a 3-month educa­ the sixth James A. Shannon Lecrnre on Wednesday, tional course sponsored by the Ireland-Northern Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10. lreland-Nacional Cancer Institute Cancer Consor­ He will speak on "A Second Post-War Revolution in tium. The program was developed as part of the Biomedicine." consortium's effort to increase Kennedy, an internationally recognized neurophysi­ clinical cancer research in Ireland. ologist, was born in New York City and earned his The nurses will rotate between undergraduare and doctoral degrees at Harvard rhe Clinical Cemer and NCI's University. After a 4-year period on the faculty of branch at the National Naval Syracuse Unirersity, he Medical Center to gain experience ------moved in J 960 to the in working in a cancer clinical department of biological trials center. During training, the sciences ar St,mford, and nurses will focus on a team I served as chairman of the npproach co managing clinical department from 1965 to trials, learning the components of L972. He then became clinical trial management including NC[ nurse Joyce chairman of the program in the roles and responsibilities of team members. Stocker (c) meets human biology, an interdis­ "Nurses are essential in conducting a clinical trial," with nurses from ciplinary undergraduate said Joyce Stocker, chair of the nurses working Ireland 011d program. group. ·•Well-trained cancer research specialists arc Northem Ireland, including 1n 1977, Kennedy began a crucial to the improvement of cancer care on the (from I) Ruth term as commissioner of island of Ireland... Boyd, Louise Dr. Do11a/d Ke1111edy the food and Drug Admin- For more than 30 years, fellows from Ireland have Sherwi11, Marie istration. He dealt with the been accepted in NCI's clinical research program. Cox and Mairead ban on saccharin, the overhauling of the drug When they returned ro Ireland they were frustrated Devine. provisions of the Federal Drug and Cosmetics Act in with the lack of infrastructure in place to support the proposed Drug Regulation Reform Act of 1978, research, Stocker said. and conducted a major revision of many of the That recently changed for several reasons. The agency's manufacturing practices. strengtl1ening of the economy in the Republic of He left in June 1979 and returned to Stanford, Ireland throughout the l990's allowed the govern­ where he was vice president for academic affairs and ment to increase its investment in health research, provost and then, from 1980 ro 1991, president of and the 1998 peace accord made feasible a collabo• the university. He also served on the board of rative approach to building capacity for cancer directors of the Health Effects Institute (a nonprofit clinical research between the Republic and Northern organization on pollution) and the California Nature Ireland. In late 1999, the consortium was created tO Conservancy. bring NCI on board as a partner to help build that Kennedy is now Bing professor of environmental capacity. In recent years, funding for clinical trials science, emeritus, at Stanford. His latest research has been made available in both Dublin and Belfast. program, conducted through the Institute for Learning is a rwo-way experience for the nurses Incernational Studies, includes interdisciplinary participating in the program. For instance, the studies on policies regarding such environmental visiting nurses tend to have more expertise in problems as: major land-use changes; economically palliative care, which is more fully developed as a driven alterations in agricultural practice; global national philosophy in the United Kingdom and climate change; and the development of regulatory Ireland. "We arc planning to tap into that expertise policies. Kennedy, with several colleagues, com· by planning training courses, having a visiting pieced E11vironme11tal Quality and Regional Coll­ professor provide lectures, or perhaps having f/ict, an analysis undertaken at the invitation of tbe students go to Ireland for training," said Stocker. Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Con­ Palliative care hns become a special focus for NCI. flict. The Irish and U.S. nurses form relationships on a The Shannon lecture series was esrablished in J 997 personal level. Over the course of 3 months they are by the NIH Alumni Association in honor of Dr. likely to become good friends. "We forge friend­ James A. Shannon, NlH director from 1955 to J 968. ships with them and enjoy social events, shopping The lecture is an NIH Director's Wednesday After­ and travel," Stocker said. "I took tbem to noon Lecture Series event. For more information Williamsburg with my family last spring. They and reasonable accommodation, contact Hilda really enjoyed D.C. in spring and were awestruck by Madine, 594-5595. li1 the cherry blossoms. "-Joanna Mayo (j) ....

MIDER LECTURE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 problem of malignant mehinoma, the deadl.iest form are well known, with sun exposme, skin types and of skin cancer, which is reaching epidemic propor­ family history topping the list. However Trent, tions worldwide. teaming with fellow NHGRI researcher Paul "One in 75 Americans born in the year 2000 wm Meltzer, recently confirmed the finding that B-RAF develop melanoma in their lifetime," he said. gene mutations are a CJitical component of malig­ "Melanoma, as an entity, has increased more rapidly nant melanomas, and for the first time presented than any other cancer except lung cancer in women. evidence that even common moles (called nevi) have It often aiflicts young people-the median age of mutations in this gene. patients is 45. lt is estimated the cost of the disease "Up to 60 percent of melanomas have this mutated exceeds $1 billion a year in the United States alone." gene," he said, with almost 80 percent of nevi The genetics of melanoma showing the identical genetic change. Work contin­ genesis and progression are ues on investigating a particular gene, wnt5a, as a not completely understood possible pathway to melanoma. Trent said there can even today. But two decades be little doubt for the clinical need to develop ago, when Trent first began molecular-based approaches to augment the routine J..'111~--- in the field as a cytogeneti- surgical pathology of the disease. -~- cist, it was known that At the conclusion of a lecture highlighted with chromosome 6 played a dozens of photos of his colleagues, Trent spoke primary role in the progres­ again of the asset he most valued during his years of sion of the d.isease. Investi­ genome research. "None of this would have been gators began to build on that possible without a myriad of workers in a myriad of knowledge, Trent said. areas," he said. "Disorders of chromosome Trent also formally announced that he would be 6 are almost universally leaving NHGRI to lead the private, non-profit happening in the overwbeLn­ Translational Genomics Research Institute in Mider Lecturer ing majority of the tumors in Phoenix. He will remain scientific director while a Dr. Jeffrey Trent this disease," he said. "Investigators began to look search is conducted to find his replacement. Iii (r) ofNHGRl at it for solutions to the problem, to not just stare at NlDDK's Dr. Ad Bax (l) alld NCJ's Dr. Marc Gwadz meets with NIH cytogenic patterns but to dissect them." placed first i11 the 2-man master's category at the 38th director Dr. Elias Using new chromosome microdissection technol­ an11ual Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston 011 Oct. Zerhotmi before ogy, researchers began ro identify the genes that 19. The rowers the talk in Masur caused the disorder, hybridized them, and in animal completed the 3- Auditorium. studies showed that transferring an extra chromo­ mile course in some 6 into a melanoma could reduce turnorigenic­ 17:48, some 25 ity. Array-based technologies also allowed research­ seconds slower ers to begin looking at tens of thousands of genes than their winning (and record­ and to analyze gene expression in cancer. This setting) perfor­ generated a new taxonomy of the disease, Trent said. mance last year, "Melanoma had been looked at as a single entity," but still good he said. "We wanted to get into the molecular enough to win the taxonomy of it and find cancer pathways. We event. Bax satd 30 worked on tests to distinguish tumors as leads into mph headwinds on the course's last stretch slowed al/ the biology of the disease. From that we were able boats in this year's regatta. D,: Chuck Selde11 (below) of to elucidate some hints as to what these genes were OER, who trai11s with Bax, also competed in the master involved in." doubles race 011 the Charles River with his partner John Trent said he was particularly interested in bring­ Younger. They finished in 18:33, placing fourth (up from eighth a year ago). ing these discoveries into the realm of patient care. Selden and Gwadz also He used gene-based technology to address the highly co111peted a iveek after Boston toxic side effects of using IL-2 in the high dose cell at Philadelphia's Thomas therapy pioneered by NCl's Dr. Steve Rosenberg. Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Using microarray and computational biology, Trent's Regatta. Selden finished team looked at literally billions of genes to find the second i11 the men's master three that separated the patients who would respond singles (ages 50-59) category, to IL-2 therapy from those who would not respond. while Gwadz placed second in "Ultimately, we hope to use this (technology) to men's heavyweight singles. distinguish survival patterns and the genes important Gw,1dz was also part of the winning boat in the master's quadmple sculls competition, rowing for Potomac Boat to this," Trent said. Club. He, Bax and Selden are members of the PBC in The factors involved in susceptibility to melanoma Washington, D.C. Trees Removed Behind Bldg. 1, Due for Replacement ome 17 red oak and pin oak trees located behind almost nonexistent. The trees were deep-root SBldg. 1 were recently removed owing to ill health fertilized and and the hazard they posed for people and property. aerated in the They will be replaced by winter of 1998. I new willow oaks in the think we did all we coming weeks. could. They had According to Lynn reached their Mueller, chief of the maximum poten­ grounds maintenance and tial and could no landscaping section, ORS, longer sustain the 35-65 year old trees themselves. When had outgrown their living we remove the Barriers prove co11fi11i11g quarters years ago. ''Over stumps we'll try to the past 5 to 7 years, those remove as much of the existing compacted backfill trees have gone into a soil as possible and replace it with fresh topsoil. steady decline," he said. This will help the new trees for years to come. Trees "Almost yearly summer are living, breathing things and, like us, do not live droughts over those past forever." years have contributed to Mueller said the trees were being girdled by the Use or lose their decline. The trees A tree past its prime steel pipe guards that were installed when the trees Reminder have been pruned almost were planted in the parking lot's narrow islands, to Don't forget to annually in that time at great expense and they ..,._~ keep car bumpers from officially schedule continued to have crown hitting them. "From your "Use or dieback." looking at the growth Lose" annual Mueller said NIH had to rings, it is obvious that all leave no later than pay for repairs to three the trees were in decline Saturday, Nov. 30. cars damaged by falling for the last 15 years," he Questions branches in recent years. said. "The rings for the concerning "Use "In those narrow islands past 12-15 years were or Lose" leave 1 (where the trees were compressed into 1-1 h should be directed confined) the trees had inches of growth while the to one's human become a hazard to previous 50 years had resource office or people and property and about 12-15 inches of other program were taking too large a growth. They definitely official designated percentage of our campus had reached their maxi­ by your institute tree maintenance budget," mum growth potential or center. he said. "The stumps will A girdled stump remains about 10 years ago." liJ One of 17 oaks that fell be removed and replaced with willow oaks, the best oak for this growing Holiday Auction Set, Dec. 6 situation. The young trees will be planted either later The Clinical Center's department of laboratory this fall or late winter medicine will hold its 30th Holiday Auction depending upon weather fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 6 in Bldg. 10, Rm. conditions for transplanting 2C310, which is the department's conference room and availability. Trees will and library. be in place for this coming Organizers welcome donations of items, and spring. remind donors that their contributions are tax­ "The removal decision was deductible. There will be a white elephant sale actually made last year at table, bake sale, pizza lunch and silent auction. The this rime, but then we bake sale, with coffee and tea, begins at 9 a.m., decided to do a late fall followed by the silent auction and white elephant pruning and hope the rains sale at 10. Pizza will be served at 11 a.m., and the would come," Mueller silent auction ends at 2 p.m. continued. "Ground water To make donations call Sheila Barrett, 496-5668, under all that paving is No room to grow or Norma Ruschel1, 496-4475. Ill INSEL, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 School of Medicine in Atlanta since 1994. Institute at the University of California, San Fran­ Since NIH director Dr. Elias Zerhouni announced cisco. He joined NIMH and served in various his appointment in mid-September, Insel said, "I scientific research positions until 1994, when he have had an opportunity to meet with leaders of went to Emory as professor, department of psycbia­ academic departments, professional groups and try, and director of the Yerkes Regional Primate advocacy organizations. The messages I am hearing Research Center. As director of Yerkes, Insel helped from these different constituents are surprising])' to build one of the nation's leading HIV vaccine similar: People are generally excited about mental research programs. He currently serves as founding health research and enthusiastic about current director of the Center for Behavioral Nem·oscience, treatments for mental disorders, but there is wide­ a science and technology center funded by the spread concern about the persistent stigma sur­ National Science Foundation. T he center has rounding mental illness and its treatment." developed an interdisciplinary consortium for Healthy A dults While Insel views this stigma as a "high hurdle," research and education at eight Atlanta coUeges and Needed he expressed hope that it can be reduced if "we can universities. Insel's research continues to study the continue ro support breakthrough scientific research Healthy adults role of oxytocin in social attachment and beh~vior, and to build on our most effective treatments. We and under an NIMH grant, he directs the develop­ ages 18-30 who must work not only with the research, treatment and ment of an autism research center. have never been advocacy communities, but also with other NIH immunized against lose! serves on numerous academic, scientific and institutes, other government departments and the professional committees including 10 editorial smallpox are media." boards. He is a fellow of the American College of sought to Insel, who first joined NIMH in 1979 as a clinical participate in a Neuropsychopharmacology and has received awards associate in the Clinical Neuropharmacology from the National Alliance for Research on Schizo­ phase 1/ 11 trial at Branch, outlined wbat he calls ambitious goals phrenia and Depression, the Society for Biological the Vaccine including: discovering vulnerability genes and Psych.iatry and the Public Health Service. Research Center. diagnostic biomarkers for the major mental disor­ "I am both honored and excited to be joining the The trial will ders; reducing suicide, which is globally responsible evaluate an NIH at this time; Dr. Steve Hyman is a hard act to for as many deaths as war and homicide combined; follow," Tnsel said, referring to his predecessor. experimental reducing HIV transmission; and developing new Hyman left NIMH in December 2001 to become smallpox vaccine strategies for the prevention of mental disorders. for safety, dosing provost at Harvard University. Insel said that Dr. "To accomplish tbis, we must move to the next schedule and Richard Nakamma, who has served as acting level in our key areas of basic neuroscience, transla­ director during the interim, would continue to help immune re­ tional research, clinical research aud studies of guide N IMH. sponses. All Ill mental health services," he said. "The needs are participants will great-an estimated 44 million Americans suffer also receive the D-1: Patricia A. with a diagnosable mental disorder each year, standard smallpox Grad)~ director including nearly 1 in 5 childt·en, causing significant of the National vaccine. To morbidity and mortality." volunteer or for Insel will oversee NlMH's $1.3 billion research Institute of more information, budget that provides support to investigators at Nursing Re­ call toll free 1-866- universities throughout the country and funds an in­ search, recently 833-LIFE or TTY; 1· house research program in Bethesda. 866-411-1010. received the After joining NIMH, Insel went on to hold several Centennial administrative and leadership posts. During his 15 years at NIMH before heading to Emory in 1994, he Achievement conducted research in obsessive-compulsive di.sorder, Medal fro111. initiating some of the first treatment trials for OCD Georgetown using serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Five years later, University [nsel launched a research program in social neuro­ School of Nursing. She was the first recipient science, focusing on the neurobiology of complex social behaviors in anjmals. Using molecular, of this award and was honored for her leader­ cellular and pharmacological approaches, his ship, accomplishments and contributions to laboratory has demonstrated the importance of the nursing science. The medal was created to neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in maternal celebrate 100 years of educating nurses at behavior, pair bond formation and aggression. Georgetown University by honoring scholars Insel graduated from the combined B.A.-M.D. program at Boston University. He did his internship who have demonstrated service, excellence, at Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, Mass., and achievement and le,tdership in health care. his residency at the Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Deitrich To Give Keller Lecture. Nov. 21 A-76 Program Information A person's level of sensitivity to alcohol is oue of the Session inborn traits that helps determine the risk that he or she will become alcoholic after having begun to On Tuesday, Nov. drink. The genes that control the initial reaction to 19, the NIH alcohol are present in both hwnans and animals; commercial the ability to breed animals for specific responses to activities review alcohol is a demonstration that these traits are, in team will conduct fact, heritable. an information The ability to breed animals with differing re­ sharing session sponses to alcohol has generated a tremendous on the NIH amount of information in recent years on the Competitive genetics and chemistry of the alcohol response. A Sourcing Program long-time authority on this research, Dr. Richard In the photo above, site preparntion goes forward at the (A-76). The Deitrich, wiJI discuss these advances when he gives Children's lmr at NIH 0 11 a proiect to expand the facility session is open to by one-third. The new wing will be built 011 the south the 2002 Mark Keller all NIH employees Honorary Lecture on side of the existing structure, some of whose windows can be seen boarded-up. The new wing-slated to open and will be held in Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 the Natcher p.m. in Masur Audito­ in 2003-wil/ provide space for 18 more families, bringing the inn's total capacity to 55 families. In the Auditorium from rium, Bldg. 10. photos below, work continues on two new buildings­ 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Entitled "Genetics of NIH's new firehouse (c) and the John Edward Poiter Ethanol Effects in Animal Neuroscience Research Center (bottom). The firehouse, The session will Models," Deitrich's ;ust a few ladders' lengths away from a county firehouse address the steps lecture will discuss the at the comer of Old Georgetown Rd. and Cedar Lane, NIH is taking as it will include 22,000 square feet and open next spring as selective breeding of implements the home to the NIH Fire Department. The new Porter labs rodents for high aud low competitive initial sensitivity to will occupy 560,000 gross square feet, or approximately sourcing aspect of alcohol and for acute the same space as three Bldg. 36s. It is to be built in two phases, with completion of the whole lab facility by the President's Di: Richard Deitrich tolerance-a term for the spring 2007. Management loss of sensitivity to Agenda. NIH is alcohol that occurs after drinking. These animal committed to lines have been the vehicle with which scientists have maintaining open, learned a great deal about central nervous system honest lines of effects of alcohol, and about the genes that control communication these responses. Deitrich will also discuss the with its employ­ implications of this research for treatment and ees throughout prevention of alcohol problems. Iii the A-76 process. Employees will be Communication for Women in Science encouraged to ask A major concern expressed by NIH women scientists questions. is the need to negotiate effectively and successfully. To address this, the Training and Development Sign language Branch has created the Communication and Nego­ interpretation will tiation for Women in Science workshop, which will be provided. For be conducted by Dr. Julie Wrute, a well-known other reasonable speaker, seminar leader, consttltant and author. accommodation Participants will learn: successful negotiation contact Carey tactics and strategies; approaches for breaking Roberts at least 5 through impasses and achieving mutually advanta­ days in advance geous solutions; how ro define and articulate needs at 402-2960 to attain career objectives. (voice), or 711 via The 2-day workshop will be held on Dec. 4 & 5 Md. Relay Service and Dec. 4 & 6. For more information, contact the or by email at Training & Development Branch at 496-6211 or RobertsC@od. visit http://learningsource.od.uih.gov/. Iii nih.gov. BENCH-TO-BEDSIDE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 callv and otherwise," she recalled. "With the ries, but also many of the individuals who are eno~·mous media exposure, we starred getting carrying out cutting-edge basic research are involved responses to these studies in groups where lmndreds in c]jnical research as well. This uniquely positions of people would phone in. That immediately-and the intramural research program tO be an organiza­ in a terribly efficient way-led to a series of studies tion at the forefront of translational research, that is, on a number of disorders we'd never considered taking findings from the laboratory, bringing them before that had in common non-useful excessive to the clinic and also taking insights from the clinic behaviors." and bringing them back to the laboratory." While studying one of those related disorders­ tricbotillomania (the compulsion to pull out one's Timing May Be Everything hair)-Rapoporr's group ended up developi11g the Looking back over the 26-year period from 1976 first animal model of OCD. Hearing of her work to 2002, Dr. Judith Rapoport, chief of the Child with trichotillomania, a veterinarian approached her Psychiatry Branch in NIMH's Division of Intramural team about Labrador retrievers diagnosed with Research Programs, said a confluence of circum­ canine acral lick dermatitis, which causes dogs to stances led to the success she and her team accom­ lick their fur until bald patches and ulcers appear. plished on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As a result, Rapoport admitted that her group_ "This brought back a "conducted the only clinical animal study in the wonderful period in wh_icb history of NIH." research on a little-known The success of the OCD work surpassed aJJ disorder in psychiatry and expectation, and is validated by its widespread what happened from clinical adoption by peers in other fields of study. research and clinical observa­ " Five years before we started," Rapoport said, tions Jed to some very interest­ "there were no papers on OCD. Now there are at ing and useful laboratory least 250 papers on the diagnosis, treatment and work," she said. "I've titled neurobiology of the disorder." .("\ this 'Bedside to Bench,' but it In addition, scientists at NIH produced the first has certainly reverberated brain-imaging studies for OCD, and an OCD many times since." subspecialty now exists. There are about 500 NIMH'sDr. Rapoport explained that despite the fact that the treatment clinics specifically for OCD across the Judith Rapoport, term obsessive-compulsive has become part of U.S. and nearly 75 percent of patients treated with NCJ's Dr. Steven cultural vernacular and is often used jokingly in some combination of therapy derived from th.is Rosenberg (c) and reference to benign habits, OCD is actually a severe work have a significant degree of positive change. NIDCD directo1' and chronic disorder that interferes in a major way "Obsessive-compulsive disorder is now claimed by Dr. James Battey with daily functioning. our neurology colleagues as well as our psychiatry offered words of It was while studying OCD in the late 1970s, colleagues," Rapoport concluded. "In summary, the wisdom about NIH studies did a series of firsts with bewildering basic, cli11ical a,zd Rapoport recalls, that several concurrent events extra111111·al propelled her research forward: The first epidemio­ speed, even to the investigators. We showed that research during logic report of psychiatric disorders in the U.S. (OCD) was common, we showed there were the NIH Research found that a larger than expected percentage (2-3 effective treatments, we showed-first with ana­ Festival. percent instead of .01 percent) of Americans rnet tomic then with functional studies-that there was criteria for OCD. Anecdotal evidence from Spain dysfunctional circuitry, we developed the first and England reported that in depressed patients with animal model, and perhaps most importantly, we've OCD, the antidepressant drug clomipramine seemed seen the development of new irnmunosuppressant to benefit both disorders. Clomipramine was no treatments under the current leadership of Dr. Susan longer being systematically tested, however. Swedo at the NIMH." ''A lot of things happened around the same time," PHOTOS: ERNIE ff At First You Don't Succeed... BRANSON Rapoport remembered, "and for something to work this well in a project, timing may be one of the most Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at NCI, has important things." Also around then, her group every right to be frustrated. Despite his best began a clinical study of young people with OCD; attempts to develop new treatments for people with the publicity following a radio interview with one of invasive cancers, many of his patients still die. the study participants opened the floodgates for calls However, many of his patients survive longer than from OCD patients. Next came Rapoport's book, predicted, and many others are cured entirely. And The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing, which-to that, he said, is the purpose of NIH research. her surprise-made the New York Times bestseller "Cancer is a curable disease today in about half of list and prompted Rapoport to hit the talk-show all individuals who develop it," Rosenberg said. circuit. "We have three effective treatments-surgery, "That was a fascinating experience-both scientifi- radiation therapy and chemotherapy-that will cure patients and allow them to Hve out their normal man's tumors. At the lowest point, Andy dropped lifespans. The problem we face in modern meclicine out of school, was bedridden and needed painkillers. is the remarkable incidence of this disease." As a final option-part of a compassionate therapy Last year in the U.S. alone, he noted, there were agreement- Rosenberg's team cried another tumor­ more than 1,200,000 new cases of invasive cancer; fighting combination. Remarkably, the new mixture thus, the half of patients who could not be cured completely eliminated the tumors and Andy, cancer­ accounted for over 530,000 deaths. free for more than 2 years, returned to college. Rosenberg Immunotherapy investigators learned quite a bit explained the from Michele's and Andy's illnesses, but adding to need to develop the knowledge base is not what satisfied Rosenberg. treatment options "We understand a lot at the molecular level that for those patients the patients have taught us," he said, ''but our goal whose disease is certainly not only to understand the underlying does not respond biology, but also to use this information to develop to standard a better treatment, to take this bench research back methods. One to the bedside. As Sophocles stated more than option, he said, 2,000 years ago, 'What profits wisdom when there Rosenberg discusses i111m1mothera/1y. could be immu• is nothing to be done?'.. .The point of this sympo­ notherapy, a sium is to emphasize the importance of taking basic treatment that "doesn't use an external force like a scientific findings from the laboratory to patients io scalpel, radiation beam or drug, but rather attempts desperate need of new treatments for their disease." to alter the body's own natural defenses to fight the Sweet Sound of Synergy disease. The body recognizes a cancer as foreign, we now realize, but not foreign enough to reject it. The Imagine hearing a"ping" and being glad to goal of immunotberapy is to see if we can enhance have your son tell you it's just the microwave the body's defenses to fight off the invading cancer." oven. That's what a cochlear unplanr has He also put human faces on the research, describ­ done for Donna Sorkin, who struggled with ing the medical histories of Michele, a 28-year-old hearing loss for most of her life and lost most wife and mother of a 7-year--old, and Andy, a 16- of her ability to hear at age 35. A guest of yeaJ"-old high school senior. Both came to NIH with NIDCD director DL James Battey, Sorkin invasive skin tmnors that had resisted all other was invited to discuss her journey from treatments. barely noticeable hearing impairment to Through a series of slides, Rosenberg showed the profound hearing loss, and back. tremendous success with interleukin 2, which "The cochlear implant could only be stimulates the patient's immune system to destroy developed after there were many basic tumor cells. Of all melanoma patients whose tumors breakthroughs," said Battey, giving a brief disappeared completely, no recurrences have been background of the device, from concept co Donna Sorkin, seen in 80 percent up to 15 years after treatment. reality. ''This is a truly multidisciplinary endeavor, who uses a As of 2001, among 409 patients with widespread where anatomists together with physicists and cochlear implant, metastatic melanoma treated since 1985 in the engineers were needed to figure all the things that said sounds most Clinical Center, about 7 percent undergo a complete were needed to develop a clinicaUy useful cochlear people with regression; another 9 percent undergo at least a 50 implant." nonnal hearing percent regression of all of their disease. Regression The effort to develop the device spanned dozens of take fol' appears to be permanent. years and garnered both private and public funding; gra11ted- such as "Is complete regression possible? The answer is NlNDS (NINDB, on early grants) and NIDCD the ping ofa I microwave yes," said Rosenberg. "But it only happens in a supported grantees working on the implant, which oven-were small percentage of patients." was not without its detractors. foreign, but Such treatments did not prove permanent for "In the early going most auditory researchers did welcome, to her Michele and did not reduce Andy's tumors at all. not believe the cochlear implant would ever be of ears after she Over a period of 13 years, Michele would undergo benefit to patients," Battey said. "(This is) yet received her several procedures at NIH to resect tumors, identify another example where conventional wisdom implant. Battey anti-cancer antigens and boost her body's natural proved to be wrong. Most auditory researchers in {!) invited Sorkin ability to fight cancer. She died at age 41, but not the early 1980s did not believe that this device could to tell her NlI-1 before seeing her little girl grow up, marry and ever work cHnically." success story at a deliver Michele's first grandchild. For Andy, Important hallmarks began in electronics with the recent plenary Rosenberg's team was forced again and again to development of the transistor in the 1940s. By 1957 session. return to the drawing board. None of the immuno­ the first implant bad been placed in a patient, who tberapy options that had been effective in other could then detect sound but not understand speech. patients were having any effect at all on the young CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Signs of the Times In 1965, NINDB grantee Blair Simmons and NIH's 16th Annual Research Festival colleagues at Stanford University developed an Includes Multiple Poster Sessions implant that allowed a patient to distinguish between sound frequencies, providing the basis for Jeannine Botos speech recognition. NIH grantees showed in ofNCI's 1975 that determining the correct levels of Laboratory of electrochemical stimulation was crucial to Receptor prevent damage to the auditory system. Biology and In 1989 and 1991, dramatic advances in speech Gene Expres­ sion points out recognition were developed by NIH-supported details of her biomedical engineers. Today, about 50,000 work on people worldwide use cochlear implants, which "Cellular A have become the treatment of choice for Processing of postlingually deaf adults and an option for deaf Progesterone babies. Receptor in During her talk, Sorkin-now vice president Mouse Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cells" to Bradley for consumer affai1:s at Cochlear, which manu­ Scroggins, also of NCl. Her poster was one of hundreds factures the implants-summarized 40 years of on display at NlH's 16th a11111tal Research Festival. her hearing tests, which since elementary school Battey emphasizes days had showed mild hearing loss but by age 27 . - the importance of reflected rapidly diminishing hearing. She began to rehabilitation have difficulty keeping up in meetings, hearing the Tadashi Yamashita following cochlear soundtrack at movies and communicating by (/) explains his implant surgery. telephone. By age 35, she had a profound hearing work on "En­ In one of three loss that was difficult to correct with a hearing aid. hanced Insulin NIH success She required captioning for meetings, and worried Sensitivity in Mice stories presented about stopping work completely. She decided to Lacking Ganglia­ during a plenmy side GM3." session of the pursue the possibility of having surgery for an 2002 Research implant, if only to augment her lipreading ability. Festiva I, the More than 3 years after surgery and rehabilitation, development of Sorkin's hearing is nearly back to where she began­ cochlear implants equivalent to mild hearing loss. was hailed as a "This was the result of a lot of research that had multidisciplinary, been funded by NlH," she said. "People often ask public-private me what the sound is like, if it's as I remember. The accomplishment answer is that it's really very good sound. Voices that surprised its that I remember from the time before I lost my early critics. hearing, voices of my friends and family sound very much as 1 remembered them. I enjoy music. It's not exactly the way I remember music to be, but it's an enjoyable experience. Using the telephone was a watershed. I think sometimes we forget how Dzung H . Nguyen M answers questions 011 his work important using the telephone is in your life. For with D.D. Taub on "Inhibition of Chemokine Receptor me that was the ultimate." Function by Microbial Cholesterol Oxidase and On average, adults with the implant require 3 to 5 Sphingomyelinase." years following surgery before achieving their optimal hearing, Battey said, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation. Asked about the years-long delay before hearing is recovered, he said ,.-,--,._11 I \I J &,;o D"fo.,/(Q investigators have a theory: "We believe the answer gets an expla11a- is in two words. Neural plasticity. The brain learns l1 - tion of Qi again to interpret the input as meaningful speech, Wang's poster on much in the way that the brain I.earned that same • "Interaction of process over not a dissimilar period when you 're a ~... ~• Corepressors young child. The cochlear in1plant story is an tvith Agonist and aAntagonist enormous testament to technology, but it's an even Complexes of bigger testament to the phenomenal plasticity of the Glucocorticoid nervous system." Iii Receptors." Gitanjali Saluja (r) of NICHD shares her work on "Childhood Injuries and Adult Supervision: Results of a Retrospective Study," with .. institute colleagues Margaret Hillier (1) ... and Courtney • Johnson . NCl's Matt Garin views poster with NICHD's Meg Cooley (c) and Lauren Axelrod.

Zhen-Dan Shi of NCI-Frederick stands by his poster "Design and Synthesis of a Novel Macrocycle that Exhibits High Grb2 SH2 Domain­ binding Affinity." NIMH's E. Anne Riley stands by her poster 011 the Schizophrenia Program. NCI's Terrence R. Burke (1) shows his poster on potential new anticancer therapeutics to NIMH's NCI's Paris Jon Marsh. K. Ponder (r) shows a guest her On Thursday of ivork on Research Festival helping week, a tent youngsters outside the quit smoking Natcher Bldg. was tobacco. the site of a free lunch catered by a number of local restaurants, and which featured live music.

Susan Leitman of PHOTOS: RICH [ the Clinical MCMANUS Center's depatt­ ment of transfu­ sion medicine explains a protocol to treat hemochro­ matosis (HH) subjects with phlebotomy. The blood derived from these subjects constitutes 10 percent of the Nurses (from I) Margie Lloyd, April Powers, Colleen blood transfused Ternisky, S11sa11 Marden and Julie Gumowski pro11dly to CC patients, she said. "The subjects are thrilled not show their poster, "Does Structured Intermittent to have their blood discarded," said Leitman, who Therapy in HIV Patients Improve S)1mptom Distress and would like to see the day when all infants are routinely Health-related Quality of Life?" screened for HH. EVOLUTION, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 organization that funds aging and global infectious interest in this field. "It's a very hot topic," said disease research. Eckstrand. Evolutionary biology can contribute significantly During the meeting, scientists presented recent to the understanding of disease-causing organisms, findings on evolutionary processes in many different Eckstrand said. "Because evolution is a fundamen­ disease-causing organisms and the hosts they infect, tal feature of all living systems, it must be built into and on related topics such as antibiotic resistance the models," she explained. One goal of evolution­ and vaccine development. ary biology is to build better models of how and In one workshop devoted tO the ''Evolution of why populations change over time. Another is to Virulence," Dr. Michael Hood of the University of help identify Virginia presented evidence of a "host-shifr" in a which genes and fungus that attacks particular flowers in the carna­ blocks of genes tion family. The fungus causes anther smut disease are undergoing in one species of flower, yet in field studies Hood evolutionary observed it infecting a related species that it had changes, an· previously never infected. important consid­ Understanding how and why th.is shift occurred eration in devel­ could help biomedical researchers understand the oping antimicro­ ecological and genetic conditions that lead bacteria, bial drugs and viruses and fungi to shift species. Many microbes vaccines. A third that cause human disease, including the AIDS and goal is to build flu viruses, shifted to humans from other species. mathematical and In another talk, Dr. Marc Lipsitch of Harvard computational School of Public Health discussed a study that could models that give help assess the potential effects of new vaccines for insight into pneumonia. Although a vaccine could block a Scientists (front I) biological processes. strain of Streptococcus bacteria known to cause Karen Da)\ The meeting was held to give researchers partici­ pneumonia, it might aJso make way for other University of pating in an NIH funding initiative on the same related- and potentially harmful-strains to Oxford; Daniel topic tbe opportunity to look for common themes in colonize the respiratory tract. Hartl, Harvard Certain strains of colonize specific Univetsity; and the evolution of disease-causing organisms and to Streptococcus Dyann Wirth, identify productive areas for future research. The tissues within the body. Other strains are held i.n Harvard School initiative was started 2 years ago by NIGMS and check by competition. Removing one strain ofPublic Health, NlAID. NIDCR and NIDDK have also participated. through widespread vaccine use could release other discuss differing Its goal is to develop a predictive science of infec­ strains from their competitive disadvantage. Suffi­ models for dating tious disease by applying evolutionary biology ciently complex mod!!ls of the ecological relation­ the most recent methods to the study of disease emergence, preven­ ships between related strains are needed to help common ancestor tion and treatment. To date, the initiative is funding assess the potential effects of widespread use of a of the malaria 35 research projects. vaccine against one strain, he said. parasite during a The more than 100 attendees included NIH In other talks, researchers challenged common break at the notions about antibiotic resistance, discussed "Evolution of grantees, other leading evolutionary biologists, Infectious mathematicians, computer scientists and infectious models for the evolution of malaria and covered the Diseases" meeting disease experts from around the world. Participants development of variation in a bacterium associated held at the were eager to share their own results and learn with stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori. Dr. Paul Natcher Confer­ about the work of colleagues whose research Keim of Northern Arizona University, an interna­ ence Center covered diverse organisms such as Streptococcus tionally known expert on DNA analysis of che recently. bacteria, the malaria parasire, various plant patho­ bacterium that causes anthrax, delivered the gens, the Lyme disease organism and the dengue keynote speech on "Evolutionary Biology and fever virus. Bioterrorism." "We want to understand rhe basic principles of Many attendees told Eckstrand that prior to the evolution. The fact that we're doing it with infec­ meeting, they only knew a small percentage of the tious diseases makes it more relevant and interest­ other scientists attending. The meeting gave them ing," Eckstrand said. Evolutionary biologists have the opportunity to meet many new colleagues and already helped biomedical researchers more accu­ discuss new collaborations. Several scientists also rately predict future flu strains and develop more told her that for that reason, the meeting was effective drugs and vaccines. especially productive, Eckstrand said. Several of the scientists who attended the meeting To learn more about the meeting, see http:// have recently published articles in Science and other pub.nigms.nih.gov/evolution. Iii prominent journals, an indication of heightened Financial Division Launches C-RADS Fredrickson Papers Added to NLM Site The Division of Financial Advisory Services (DFAS), The papers of former NIH director Dr. Donald S. in ONs Office of Acquisition Management and Fredrickson have been added to Profiles in Science, a Policy, recently launched C-RADS (Commercial Rate web site created by the National Library of Medi­ Agreement Distribution Services), a secure web­ cine char is dedicated to documenting the lives and based system that provides restricted online access tO works of prominent 20th indirect cost rates DFAS negotiates with commercial century biomedical organizations. Because the commercial incLirect cost scientists. rates are proprietary business information, a secure Fredrickson discovered system had to be developed to prevent unauthorized the relationship between access to the confidential data. cholesterol and heart 1. A team of programmers and computer security disease, and headed NIH experts in OD's Office of Information Technology from 1975 ro 1981. spent months developing the complex C-RADS Fredrickson, who died in system, which incorporates numerous security June, was remembered as features. Access to the system is restricted to federal a scientist, statesman and employees who have a bona fide need for the humanitarian by col­ indirect cost rate information, e.g., contracts and leagues at a memorial grants officials. In order to access the system, each program in Natcher authorized individual must register and obtain a user Auditorium on Oct. 18. ID and password. The occasion was marked by the addition of his Attending the Access to C-RADS currently is limited to NIH papers to NLM. Oct. 18 service in employees. HHS Secretary Thompson recently made "Fredrickson's studies of the connection between memory of the the decision to centralize the indirect cost rate lipids (fats and cholesterol) and heart disease made late Dr. Donald negotiation function at NIH for all commercial him one of the most widely cited physiologists of the Fredrickson are organizations that receive the preponderance of their 1960s and 1970s, and highlighted the benefits of a (from I) NIH federal awards from HHS; therefore, access will be healthy diet," said NLM 's Dr. Alexa McCray who director D1: Elias Zerhouni, expanded to all HHS employees with a genuine need heads the Profiles in Science project, located at Fredrickson's son in the near future. Eventually access will be ex­ www.profiles.nJm.nih.gov. Rurik, the panded to all federal employees with a bona fide The ouline exhibit about Fredrickson features director's wife need since the rates negotiated by DFAS are used correspondence, diaries, unpublished manuscripts, Dr. Nadia government-wide. Iii published articles and editorials, photographs and Zerhormi and audio recordings iJJusrrating his life and caree1~ Fredrickson s Levon 0. Parke,; minority and special concerns officer, Visitors ro the sire can view, for example, his widow Henriette. NINDS, recently received a 1002 Minority Access childhood scrapbook, as well as extensive documen­ National Mentor Role Model Award for his work as a tation relating to the regulation of genetic research mentor to students. He was also recognized for helping and to government funding for biomedical research minorities, women and individuals with disabilities do in a time of fiscal constraints. An introductory research on the brain and exhibit places Fred1·ickson's accomplishments in nervous system, and for stimulati11g interest in clinical historical context. Ill and basic research training Symposium on Oligonucleotides, Dec. 16-17 opportunities at, and sup­ ported by, NIH. Parker, who The therapeutic oligonucleotide interest group will has lo11g been a champion for hold its 6th symposium, "Therapeutic Oligonucle­ providing biomedical researcf, otides: Antisense, RNAi, Triple-Helix, DNA-Decoy training opportunities to and D A-Chip," on Dec. 16-17. The meeting will young people, also serves as be beld in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 from 7:55 director of the NINOS a.m. to 5:20 p.m. In addition to scientists from Summer Program in the IH, FDA/CBER, Georgetown, Johns H opkins and Neurological Sciences- a the Carnegie Institution of Washington, speakers program he founded some 18 will be coming from the University of Pennsylvania, years ago that offers students ha11ds-011 research experience at NTH. He was nominated for the award by Thomas Jefferson University, Columbia, UC-San the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program of the University of Diego and biotech companies in the U.S. and Maryland-Baltimore County, where he has served for a Canada. Speakers are also coming from the Institut 1111111ber of years as a mentoi: The Minority Access Gustave-Roussy, France; University of Zuricb; National Role Model Awards were created to honor University of British Columbia and the University of those who have excelled in biomedical research, as well Naples. There will be 35 speakers in all. Registra­ as thefr supporters including recruiters, mentors and tion is not required. Contact Dr. Cho-Chung i11stit11tio11s. ([email protected]) for more details. El 'Reclaiming Our Health' Duke, Pitt Offer Clinical Research Training BIG, Black Caucus Share Radio Segment Applications for the 2003-2004 NIH-Duke Training lacks in Government (BIG) and the Congres­ Program in Clinical Research and tl1e University of Bsional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) recently Pittsburgh Training in Clinical Research Program are shared a segment of Bernie McCain's WOL radio available in Bldg. 10, Rm. B1L403. show. McCain used a segment of his talk program The NIH-Duke Training Program in Clinical to spread the word on two issues: minority leader­ Research, begun in 1998, is designed primarily for ship in government workforces and minority health. physicians and dentists who want formal training in McCain alternately interviewed BIG leadership and the quantitative and methodological principles of runed in to a CBCF issue forum, "Prime Time Sisters clinical research. The program, offered via Call to Action: Reclaiming Our Health." Dr. Vivian videoconference at the Clinical Cente1~ allows the Pinn, NIH associate director for research on integration of a student's academic coursework witb women's health, who served as a his or her clinical trainu1g. forum panelist, presented "Suc­ Academic credit earned by participating in this cessful Aging and Menopanse." program may be applied toward satisfying the She said that 38 percent of U.S. degree requirement for a master of health sciences in women who are at least 45 years clinical research from Duke University School of old are experiencing menopause. Medicine. The biggest question many of these For more information about courses and ruition, women ask is, "Should I take visit http://tpcr.mc.duke.edu/. Email queries may be hormones?" Pinn described a addressed to [email protected]. The deadline for study on postmenopausal hormone applying is Mar. 1, 2003. Applicants who have been therapy that was recently stopped accepted into the program will be notified by July 1, Participants in the early because the risks outweighed and outnumbered 2003. WOL radio the benefits. The study of the risks and benefits of The University of Pittsburgh Training in Clinical broadcast combined estrogen and progestin in healthy meno­ Research Program, designed for Ph.D.'s and allied included (fmm I) pausal women began in 1998 and was scheduled to health professionals (i.e., pharmacists and nurses), Dr. Joycelyn run until 2005. Although noteworthy benefits were allows trainees to gain the knowledge and skills Elders, former found, the disadvantages were significant enough to required for the conduct of cfo1ical investigation, as U.S. s11rgeon terminate the study earlier this year. For example, well as more extensive knowledge relative to a general; Gregg Reeves, BIG estrogen/progestin therapy resulted in a 26 percent specific area of concentration. executive vice increase in risk of breast cancer. Participants have the option of receiving a certifi­ president; and Dr. Complete information on the study and the results cate in clinical research (15 credits) or a master of Vivian Pinn, NIH that caused it to be ended can be found online at science in cliJ1ical research (30 credits) from the associate director www.nhJbi.nih.gov under Postmenopausal Hormone University of Pittsburgh. for research on Therapy. For more information, visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/ wome11's health. During his interview, Gregg Reeves, BIG executive ccc/cc_pitt/index.html or send an email to vice president, described the organization's efforts to [email protected]. The deadline for applying is bring valuable information co its membership. "BIG Mar. l, 2003. Successful applicants will be notified represents roughly 3 million state, federal and local by May 29, 2003. Physicians and dentists are also government employees," he said. "We are an eligible to matriculate in this program. advocate of issues directly related to black govern­ Enrollment in these programs is limited. Prospec­ ment workers." Noting that BIG's recent training tive participants should consult with their institute conference was webcast and can be viewed at or center regarding the official training nomination www.bignet.org, he said tbat a 65 percent increase procedure. D in web activity has been experienced since the conference. "The webcast will definitely assist in Nat ive A m erican Heritage M onth Program Set getting information to the government employees whomBIG represents," he said.-Felicia Shiogler Iii All employees are invited to attend NIH's second annual American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage A nthrax Vaccine Study Recruits Month Program on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 11:30 a .m. to 1:30 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is currently Natcher Conference Center. The keynote speaker seeking volunteers for an anthrax vaccine study. will be A. Paul Ortega, a traditional healer from the You may be eligible if you are healthy between ages Mescalero Apache Tribe. For more information, call 18 and 50. Participants will be provided a free Frank GrayShield, 594-2373 or William Reeves, medical evaluation including blood tests and 435-1203. Sign language interpreters will be financial compensation. For more information, call provided. For other reasonable accommodation, call (301) 319-9335 or (301) 319-9320. Ill 402-3681 or (TTY) 1-800-877-8339. Ii] HIRf LDUCATIO N

HRDD Class Offerings ~ CIT Computer Classes The Human Resource Development Division All courses are on the N1H campus and are given supports the development of NlH human resources without charge. For more information call 594- through consultation and provides training, career 6248 or consult the training program's home page at development programs and other services designed to enhance organizational performance. For more http://training.cit.ni11.g0v. information call 496-6211 or vjsit http:// RACF on South and Titan Systems 11/13 LearningSource.od.nih.gov. Getting Started with GCG and Other Sequence Analysis Programs on the Helix Systems 11/13 Introduction to MS Access 2000 U/19 SAS Programming Fundamentals Il 11/13-14 Fellowship Payment System J 1/20 Project Management Book-of-Knowledge Successful Mentoring for Women in Science 11/20 and Certification 11/14 Impac ll Population Training Module 11/21 Relational Database Overview 11/14 Domestic Travel 12/2-4 AFNI Hands-On: Region of Interest Drawing Fellowship Payment System Refresher J2/2 a11d Usage 11/14 Communicarion and Negotiation for Women Introduction to TCP/IP 11/JS in Science 12/4-6 PowerPoint Topics: Graphs, Links and More 11/15 Professional Service Orders 12/5 Data Warehouse Query: Budget & Finance 1 1/15 Purchase Card Processing System [2/6 Introduction to the Mac Operating System 11/ LS Negotiating Skills for Ead y Career Scientists 12/9 Introduction to HTML 11/18 Travel Refresher Course 12/9 Introduction to Perl for Biologists 11/18-21 Foreign Travel 12/10-11 Data Warehouse Query: Staff Training NIH Retirement Seminar-CSRS 12/11-13 & Development l 1/19 introduction to NIH Information Resources Wednesday on the Web Campus Cyclists Reminded to Ride Safely ll/19 Afternoon Data Warehouse Query: Procuremenr NIH Poljce want to get the word out about the & Market Requisitions 11/20 Lectures rights and responsibilities of bicyclists riding on NIH Using Secure Email in the Exchange Messaging The Wednesday grounds. "Recently it has been brought to the Environ.meat 1 ·1/20 Afternoon Lecture attention of the NJH Police that bicyclists on the KMIG - Knowledge Management Interest Group 11/20 series-held on its campus have been observed operating their bikes in DSG - Desktop Support Group 11/20 namesake day at 3 what could be considered an unsafe manner," said Advanced FileMaker Pro 5 11/21 mAdb Basic Informatics 1.1/21 p.m. in Masur Warren LaHeist, acting traffic division sergeant. AFNI Hands-On: Using the Volume Rendering Auditorium, Bldg. Because there are no federal laws governing the Plugin l 1/22 10-features Dr. operation of bicycles on NTH roads, LaHeist said Creating Composite Jmagcs with Phoroshop 11/25 Donald Kennedy Maryland state laws on traffic issues are "assimi­ The NIH Conrracror Performance System on Nov. 20, giving lated" by the NIH Police. for New Users 11/25 the sixth James A. "This means any bicyclist on N1H roads must stop Experience the New Tec hnologies of Office XP 11/26 Shannon Lecture for stop signs, must yield to pedestrians and so Using Photoshop to Work w/Scientific Images ll/26 (see story on p. 3J. forth," LaHeist pointed out. "Bicyclists are also There is no lecture required to ride as far to the right of t he roadway as The N IH Evening on Nov. 27 due to possible, and must use arm signals when making Speakers Toast­ Thanksgiving turns." When turning left, extend the left arm; when masters Club break. For more turning right, extend the right arm, pointing to the celebrated its 20th information or for right. anniversary with ,1 reasonable In Maryland, bicyclists are not prohibited from dinner party on accommodation, riding on sidewalks. Bicyclists on campus w ho use Sept. 10. The call Hilda Madine, the sidewalk should use extreme care, LaHeist guest of honor was club founder 594-5595. reminded. "It is also helpful for those walking on D1: Padnzan campus to give bikers room on some of the tighter Sanna, shown pathways by staying to the right of the sidewalk." here with Dr. In addition, bicycles are required to have a bell to Francoise Arnaud, warn pedestrians of their approach. LaHeist said current club another acceptable alert is to call out when ap­ president. He was roasted and toasted by enthusiastic proaching someone. Finally, bicyclists riding on club members. Me111be1's improve their public speaking campus after dark must have both a headlight and and leadership skills through mutual help in a friendly taillight. "This is more for the safety of the bicycle and supportive atmosphere. Meetings are held in Bldg. rider than anything else," he concluded. "If you 10, Rm. 2 C116 (medical board room) on the second and can't be seen, you place yourself at risk." fourth Tuesdays of the mo11th, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Visitors Iii are welcome. 'Families, Fitness, Fun & Fellowship' NIH-Asbury Health Fair Urges 'Building a Healthier You' IH rook its health disparities message on the led by Kay Johnson Graham, NINRJNIDCD EEO N road recently, teaming with several public and officer, included representatives from a cross-section private organizations to present "Families, Fitness, of NIH and Asbury church. Tables were packed Fun & Fellowship: Building a Healthier You," a with NIH information and staffed by employees health fair held at Asbury United from several institutes, Methodist Church, located in the the Clinical Center and heart of downtown Washington, the Office of the Director. D.C. In addition, NICHD, "I want to thank the NIH and NIAMS and NIAAA its leadership for acknowledging hosted exhibits of their that there are health disparities own, and the Office of in our communities and for Research on Women's taking the initiative to bring this Health ran a short film valuable information from their throughout the day. campus into a diverse area of the "This event represents a District," said Anthony Will­ real partnership between iams, mayor of Washington, NIH and the church," Anthony Williams D.C., who stopped by the fair and took part in said Dr. Yvonne Maddox, Former NIDDK fellow Dr. (/), mayor of several activities including a blood pressure screen­ NICHD deputy director, Soren Snitker gives talk. Washington, D.C., ing and an eye health exam. "Prevention is our first who gave the event's is welcomed to the keynote talk on health disparities. "The role of NIH recent NIH­ line of defense against Asbury health fair disease and it is is to improve the health of all people. We know that byNICHD important that this the Bible says the body is a temple, so this is a deputy director kind of information wonderful setting for a health fair. Prevention and Dr. Yvonne reach the people." health promotion are Maddox and Rev. Kicking off literally (i ~ things we all can do to Eugene Matthews, with a 10-minute maintain our temples. pastor of Asbury interactive fitness The first step is United Methodist demonstration by educating yourself." Church. YWCA Fitness and "We're gratified to Aquatic Center trainer join hands with NIH," Claudia Bookei; the fair said Rev. Eugene mixed brief lectures on Matthews, pastor of breast and prostate Asbury. cancer awareness, The group's next PHOTOS: JANET STEPHENS hypertension and community event is a obesity- diseases panel discussion on disproportionately Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths "Asthma Across the affecting minority examines the mayor's eyes. Lifespan," featming communities-with Dr. Floyd Malveaux, associate provost for health affairs at Howard University. The discussion will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24 from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m. at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. The discussion is free and open to the public.-Carla Garnett

NCI nurse Florentino Merced­ Galindez, who also represented NIAAA's Dr. the National Anton Bizzell Association of offers informa­ Hispanic tion at one of Nurses, several NIH discusses NIH tables at the clinical trial event.