September 2006 ASCB Newsletter
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ASCB SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 29, NUMBER 9 Collaboration and the Future of ASCB Stem Cell Niches Bernfield, Cell Biology Meeting Successful Gilula Page 2 Awards The Critical Task of Peer Review Named The ASCB Page 24 has selected Lloyd Annual Meeting Attendees at the Stem Cell Niches summer meeting at Boston University Trotman of Education Recent advances in our understanding of the environmental con- Memorial trol of stem cells from Drosophila, C. elegans, and mammali- Lloyd Sloan- Events an systems were highlighted at the ASCB Summer Meeting on Trotman Kettering Stem Cell Niches. The meeting was held July 15–18 at Boston Cancer Page 26 University and organized by Sean Morrison. Center to The keynote was presented by Allan Spradling, who receive the reviewed mechanisms that regulate the maintenance of sixth annual stem cells in Drosophila germline and intestinal epithelium ASCB Inside James niches. Subsequent speakers addressed recent insights into Moseley Merton mechanisms that regulate the behavior of germline stem cells Bernfield See Stem Cell Niches, page 6 Memorial Award, President’s Column 2 and graduate student Annual Meeting Program 8 James B. Moseley of HIV-1 and Other Rockefeller University to InCytes from MBC 14 receive the sixth annual ASCB Norton B. Gilula Public Policy Briefing 15 Retroviruses Explored Memorial Award. A variety of perspectives on how The Bernfield Award Members in the News 17 virus–cell interactions influence honors a postdoctoral retroviral replication were featured In Memoriam 18 fellow or graduate at the ASCB Summer Meeting student who has on the Cell Biology of HIV-1 Dear Labby 18 excelled in research. and Other Retroviruses. Co-orga- Trotman will speak at ASCB Profile 20 nized by Eric Freed and Andrew a minisymposium at Mouland, the July 20–23 meet- the 46th ASCB Annual Celldance 2006 22 ing was held at Emory University Meeting in San Diego. in Atlanta, Georgia. Most speak- WICB Column 24 Meeting Co-organizer Andrew The Gilula Award Mouland speaks at the ASCB ers were primary investigators, was made possible by the Summer Meeting. Education Events 26 who presented data noteworthy Rockefeller University for their depth and quality. They Press and recognizes an Grants & Opportunities 27 also provided a larger foundation of background information for outstanding graduate or discussion. The tone of the meeting was established by an ex- undergraduate student Member Gifts 27 citing presentation by the keynote speaker, Wesley Sundquist. who has excelled in Sundquist identified another new cellular factor in the endosom- ■ Calendar 28 research. See HIV-1, page 10 The American Society for Cell Biology PRESIDENT’S Column 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762 Tel: (301) 347-9300 Fax: (301) 347-9310 [email protected], www.ascb.org Collaboration and the Future Joan R. Goldberg of Cell Biology Executive Director Cell biology is by definition a broad field that en- tion through the lens of a single discipline. Some Officers compasses fundamental processes such as control of us took a genetic approach while others em- Mary Beckerle President of cell growth and cell death, cell adhesion and ployed biochemical, biophysical, molecular, or Bruce Alberts President-Elect motility, signal transduction, in- imaging strategies to tackle the Zena Werb Past-President tracellular trafficking, membrane problems that interested us. Gary Ward Treasurer structure and dynamics, organ- Cell biologists have evolved and Jean Schwarzbauer Secretary elle biogenesis, receptor biology, become scientists who utilize a and regulation of gene expres- comprehensive toolbox. Council sion. As our appreciation of the Recent advances in cell Kerry Bloom mechanisms underlying these biology as well as numerous Juan Bonifacino processes has increased, it has technological developments David Burgess John Condeelis been possible to integrate this make collaborations ever Peter Devreotes understanding in the context of more important in our field. Linda Hicke physiology, development, and Although cell biologists have Caroline Kane pathogenesis. Technological ad- become quite diversified Sandra Masur vances have allowed us to probe in terms of their technical Barbara Meyer cells to achieve unprecedented expertise, it is simply not Erin O'Shea molecular understanding, ap- possible for an individual to Daphne Preuss Mary Beckerle Anne Ridley preciation of spatial and tempo- be the master of the many ral relationships, and exciting in- approaches and intellectual ASCB Newsletter sight into dynamics of cell processes. With the arenas that now interface directly with each is published twelve times per maturation of the field of cell biology, opportu- question of interest. year by The American Society nities abound for interaction with the disciplines To maximize the potential of our research for Cell Biology. of engineering, pharmacology, computer science, discoveries, collaborations will be ever more medicine, math, chemistry, important. Collaboration Joan R. Goldberg Editor physics, health policy, and even between a cell biologist John L. Saville Production Manager … it is simply not Nancy Moulding Production Assistant social sciences. and a clinician can provide Kevin Wilson Public Policy Briefing Indeed, there has been possible … to be a productive link between Ed Newman Advertising Manager a revolution in cell biology the master of the basic science observations John Fleischman Science Writer over the past two decades. many approaches and unmet medical need. Thea Clarke EducationWriter We have emerged from a and intellectual Collaboration between a cell period of relatively narrow arenas that now biologist and a mathematician Deadlines for submission of specialization to embrace an interface directly can allow examination of articles and advertising era of connectivity with many models based on measurable materials: with each question fields and ever-higher potential physical properties of cells. of interest. Issue Deadline impact. The questions that can Collaboration between a cell November October 1 be effectively tackled today are biologist and a bioengineer December November 1 much more profound and far- might lead to improved drug January 2007 December 1 reaching than when I began my career. Forgive delivery mechanisms. Collaboration between me if I sound like a parent talking to a young a cell biologist and a chemist could lead to ASCB Newsletter child about how an 8-ounce Snicker’s bar used development of small molecule inhibitors or ISSN 1060-8982 sell for a nickel. The cell biology of two decades better biosensors. And on and on. Volume 29, Number 9 ago was probing new frontiers just as it is today, September 2006 but there is a much more substantive knowledge Who Gets the Credit? © 2006 base and many more tools available now. Historically, one of the obstacles to collabora- The American Society for Cell Biology tion, particularly for young investigators, has Postmaster: Send change of address to Opportunities at the Interface been the issue of establishing independence. ASCB Newsletter The American Society for Cell Biology There was a time when a typical cell biologist Independence used to be judged by number of 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 worked on a problem of cell structure or func- papers in which an individual was the last (so- Bethesda, MD 20814-2762 2 ASCB NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2006 called senior) author and by extramural grants Direct and frequent communication is also on which the individual was the Principle critical in a successful collaboration. Face-to- Investigator. These criteria were widely used by face meetings, particularly if all group members academic institutions for determining wheth- can get together, are optimal. Videoconferencing er to promote or award tenure. Even for estab- can be a very effective means to stay in touch lished investigators, it often seems that grant over long distances. File sharing and regular Many institutions referees counting papers as a measure of produc- data exchange also enhance communication tivity dismiss collaborative work. At the same and promote an atmosphere of trust and a are highlighting time that multidisciplinary science is being tout- commitment to common objectives. collaborative ed as the key to future advances, the structure of Generosity is an often-underappreciated activities as a our evaluation processes discourages collabora- feature of a successful collaboration. A simple positive measure tion by undervaluing it. thing like regular and public acknowledgment of faculty Things are changing now. Many institutions of a collaborator’s contribution can make the effectiveness. are highlighting collaborative activities as difference between a relationship that blossoms a positive measure of faculty effectiveness. versus one that sours. As in any relationship, a Similarly, promotion, retention, and tenure conscious effort to appreciate and understand committees are beginning to recognize co- the position of the partner is key to success. PI status as evidence of independent research One of the stickiest issues to arise in success. The NIH, which long had a policy that collaboration is authorship position on the joint only one individual could be a PI on a grant, is publications, again a question of who gets the developing new mechanisms that would allow credit. Although I don’t believe in deciding about partners in research to be recognized as such by the funding agency (http://grants.nih.gov/ grants/multi_pi/). These changes are designed to encourage