The Newsletter of the NIH Alumni Association

Summer 2000 Vol.12,No.2 date

NIHAA Members Enjoy Annual Meeting with Osborn, Kirschstein, and Spiegel

"The health of the NIH is good." Dr. Ruth Kirscbstein, acting NIH director, told NIH alumni as she summarized the history and future prospects of the agency at the annual meeting of the NIH Alumni Association. Kirschstein's presentation was the first of three highlights of the well-attended member­ ship meeting on June 17,2000. NTI-lAA Public ServiceAwardee Dr. fane E. Osborn spoke of her experiences as a scientific advisor and reviewer for NIH, and Dr. Allen M. Spiegel, NIDDK director. traced N1H intramural research on signal transduction over a 30-year period. Dr. William Gay, tbe NIRAA president who opened and presided over the Dr. William I. Gay presents the 8th NIHAA Public Service Award to Dr. June E. Osborn during session beld at the Mary Woodard the group's annual meeting, held June 17 at the Mary Woodard Lasker Center (the Cloister) Lasker Center, announced the election on the NIH campus. (See Annual Meeting, p. 12) Shalala Speaks Frankly at BOth ACD Meeting In This Issue Page Angell To Give Fourth Research Festival '00 3 By Rich M cManus NIHAA Shannon Lecture Ca/1111dar ofexhibits anti e11e111s 5 HHS Secretary Donna Shalala Dr. Marcia Angell. fo1mer editor-in­ dropped in on the 80'h meeting of the News from and abour NIHAA members 6 chief of the New England l oumal of advisory committee to the NIH director Update 011 two Nobel laureates I 0 Medicine, will deliver tbe founh James on June 8 Lo offer encouragement and A. Shannon Lecture on Feb. 14, 200 l at congratulations on a variety of topics NlHAA members tour NIH 1 3 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10. including the FY 2001 budget, NIH's She will speak on, "Tbe Ethics of Missing from rhe stacks 15 effort to bo.lster oversight of human Clinical Trials.'' The Shannon Lecture gene transfer, the progress of the Working draft of h11ma11 is sponsored by NlHAA. Human Genome Project, and NlH's genome a111101111ced 16 Angell. who is a lecturer in social initiative to reduce health disparities. medicine at Harvard Medical School, Health dispariries top NIH agenda 18 She also expanded upon and ap­ bas been associated with the New plauded President Clinton's decision, FNlH rack/es family lodge project 20 England Joumal ofMedicine for over announced that morning, to extend two decades. She joined the Jo11rnal in Medicare coverage to participants in FYI 22 1979 and became executive editor in clinical trials, and answered questions NIH notes 24 1988. In September 1999. she became in a relaxed and freewheeling session. interim editor-in-chief following the "You've bad me as candid as I've ever NIH retrospectives 31 departure ofDr. Jerome P. Kassirer. (See ACD Meeting, p. 14) (See Angell, p. 2) N I H A A U P D A T E

Angell (continued from p. I) She is a board-certified pathologist In 1997, the NIHAA established a who received her M.D. from Boston lecture seri es named to honor Dr. James Update University School of Medicine., and A. Shannon, NIH director from 1955 to trained in internal medicine at Mt. 1968, a period of considerable growth Auburn and University Hospitals and and redirection for the institutes. The NIHAA Update is the nell'slerrer of the in pathology at Mt. Auburn and New The first lecrure was given by Dr. NJHA/wnni Association. The NlflAA office is England Deaconess Hospitals. Joseph Goldstein in January 1997 and at 9101 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD Known, both nationall y and interna­ 20814-1522, 301-530-0567; email address: subsequently published (with Dr. [email protected]: website: www.fnih. tionally, for her writings on medical Michael S. Brown) in the Journal of orglnih.111111. ethics and health policy, she is the Clinical Investigation, 99:2803-2812 author of lhe book Science on Trial: under lhe title "T11e clinical investigator: Editor's Note The Clash of Medical Evidence and bewitched, bothered and bewildered ­ The NIHAA Update welcomes leuers and the law i11 the Breast Implant Case but still beloved." The second Shannon news f rom its readers. We wish to provide (Norton, 1996). She has written many Lecture was presented in October 1998 news about NIH to its alumni and to report influential articles and editorials, and by Dr. Leon Rosenberg and published i.n alumni concerns and i11for111ation--appoi111­ is the co-author of lhe textbook Basic both Science, 283:331-332, Physician­ 111ems, honors, publications and other Pathology. Scien1i sts-Endangered and Essential," interesting developmems-to theircolleag11es. you have news abo111 yo11rself or other She is a member of the Institute of and the Journal of Clinical lnvestiga­ If alumni or co111111e11tsls 11ggestio11s for tire Medicine of the National Academy of rion, 103:1621-1626, "The Physician­ NTHAA Update. please drop a note to the Sciences, the American College of scientist: An essential- and fragile­ editor. We reserve the right to edit materials. Physicians, and the Association of link in the medical research chain." American Physicians. In 1997, Angell Last year's lecture was by Dr. Purnell Editor: Harriet R. Greenwald was named by Time magazine as one of W. Choppin, retired president of the NIHAA Newsletter Edilorial Advisory the 25 most influential Americans. Howard Hughes Med.i cal Institute, who Committee The article cited her not only for her spoke on, "A Role for Private Support work at the Journal, but also for her of Biomedical Research." Jerome G. Green, Chairman book Science on Trial, which became Please see invitation to the lecture by Artric e Bader an "instant classic on junk science." Angell below. Michael M. Goflesman Victoria A. Harden Carl Leventhal Robert G. Martin TIDS ISYOURINVITATIONTOTBESHANNON LECTURE Abner Louis Noiklns Saul Rosen The N1H Alumni Association Stonn Whaley corclially invites you to attend the fourth Richard G. Wya 11 JamesA.SbannonLecture NIHAA Newsletter Board of Contrib11ting Editors

"The Ethics of Clinical Trials" P. Eliuibeth Anderson Linda Brown Dr. Marcia Angell Giorgio Bernardi H. Franklin Bwm Former Editor-in-Chief, Henryk Eisenberg The New England Journal ofMedicine Donald S. Fredrickson Lars A. Hanson George Klein Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 at 3 p.m. Riclwrd M. Krcmse Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 Richard McManus Carlos Monge Reception to Follow Roger Monier Michael Sela

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NI HAA Officers Research Festival 'DO Slated for Oct. 1D·13 William 1. Gay. President By Paula Cohen Murray Goldstein, Vice Preside111 (For details, see box on this page and Jerome O. Green, Vice President Preparations are well under way for sidebar on p. 4). Storm Whaley, Secretwy!Treasurer the '14'hannual Nil-1 Research Festival The NIH Job Fair for postdoctural Past Presidents to be held on the Bethesda campus fellows, sponsored by the Foundation William S. Jordan, .fr., 1997-1999 Oct. 10- 13. The festival organizing for the NIH and spearheaded by the Calvi11 8. Bt1ldwin, Jr., 1995-1997 committee, co-chaired this year by NIH Office of Education 's acting Thomas J. Kennedy. Jr., 1993-1995 NHLBJ scientific directors Dr. Robert director Brenda Hanning and fair Joe R. Held, 1991- 1993 Balaban and Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, has Gordon D. Wallace, 1990-1991 coordinator Shirley Forehand, will kick been busy planning a wide-ranging off research festival events on Tuesday, Board of Directors program showcasing the scientific Oct. I0. A keynote address on "Career Alexander Adler diversity of the NIH intramural research Decision Strategies in the Era of Aririce V. Bader program. This year's festival will Biotech: How to Decide What Pathway W. Emmen Barkley follow a format similar to that of last Edwi11 Becker ls Right for You," by Dr. Wtlliam Robert l. Berger year's festival, comprised of plenary, Schrader, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, will Rita Colwell mini-symposia, and poster sessions; a begin job fair acrivities ar 9:00 a.m. in Pe1erC011dliffe job fair for postdoctoral fellows; a Jack Masur Auditorium, CC. The job Cyrus R. Creveling biomedfoal research equipment show: fair will follow in the NIH Visicor Murray Eden special exhibits on intramural re­ Carl Frells Infonnation Center, CC, and will host a Pe1er /.,. Frommer sources; and a lunchtime food fair. number of representatives from Samuel W. Greenhouse Samuel S. Herman Mini-Symposia I Wednesday, October 11 2:00-4:00 p.m. .lane SundelofJones • Mechanisms ofBlood Pressure ReguWJ.ion and DysregulaJjon Joseph Keyes, Jr. Irwin Kopin Co-Chairs: Mark Knepper, Nm...Bl, and Juergen Schnermann, NIDDK Lloyd W. /.,a IV • Erulocannabinoids and Related lipid Mediators Carl Levemhal Co-Chairs: George Kunos. NIAAA, and Miles Herkenbam, NIMH Waller Magruder • Acquired Mitochondrial Toxicities KQfh/een McCormick Chair: Marinos Dalakas, NINDS Caroly11 McHale James 0 'Don11ell • DNA Polymerases, Helicases, Nucleases, and Genomic (in)Stability Paul D. Parkman Co-Chairs: Vilbelm Bohr, NIA, and Roger Woodgate, NICHD Joseph Perpich • Tile Cell Cyclt! Karl Piez Co-Chairs: Mary Lilly, NICHD, and Oroa Cohen-Fix. NIDDK Harley Sheffield • Development and Degeneration of Glial Cells /.,a.wre11ce E. Shulman Joan Topalian Co-Chairs: Vittorio Gallo, NICHD, and Lynne Hudson, NINDS Paul Van Nevel Mini-Symposia II Thursday, October 12 2.·30-4.·30p.m. NIRAA Staff • Chromatin Structure, Gene Regulati.on and Boundary Elements Harrie/ R. Greenwald Chair: David Clark, NIDDK Mary Calley Hartman • Protein Analyses and Proteomics: Emerging Methods in Mass Spectrometry Chair: Sanford Markey. NlMH Tim NIH ALUMNI A ssocJK rJONTHANKS'fu.£ • Membrane Microdomains FouNDATION FOR rn1> NIH, MERCK & Co., [ NC., AND WYETH·A YERST R ESEA RCH OF Co-Chairs: Teresa Jones. NlDDK, and Ira Levin, NIDDK A~nmICAN Ho;ov11>PROD UCTS FOR THEIR HELP • Protein Trafficking and Disease IN UNDERWRITING THE PUULISHlNG OfTHE Co-Chairs: Harris Bernstein, NIDDK, and Peng Loh, NICHD NIHAA UPDATE. W EALSO THANKCELERA GENOM ICS, I NC., 'fHE NIH FEDERAi. CREDIT • Eureka! - The Scientific Discovery Behind Today 's Medical Products UNION, AND R.O.W. SCIENCES. INC., FOR Chair: Sreven Ferguson. OTT '!'HEIR SUPPORT. W E A l,SO EX'ruND APl'RECI A· • The Science ofAlternative Medicine T ION TO NIHAA MEMBERS WHO MAKE DONATIONS llEYOND'ffJElR DUES. Co-Chairs: Stephen Stratls. NCCAM, and Jeffrey D. White, NCl

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industry. government, the academic community, and nonprofit organiza­ tions. NIH postdoctoral fellows who NIH RESEARCH FESTIVAL 2000 are completing their research training and seeking permanent employment will have the opportunity to meet wiLh Tuesday, Oct. 10 these representatives from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For a li sting of exhibitors 9:00 a.m. - I0:00 a.m. NIH Job Fair Keynote Address, Career and more information, visit the NIH Development Strategies in the Era ofBiotech: Job Pair web site at www.training. How to Decide What Pathway ls Right For You. nih.gov/jobfair. Jack Masur Auditorium, CC Two days of scientific symposia I 0:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. NrH Job Fair for Postdoctoral Fellows begin with plenary sessions on Exhibit Area. NIH Visitor Information Center. CC Wednesday morning, Oct 11. "Nitric Oxide: Molecular Physiology, Pathol­ Wednesday, Oct. 11 ogy and Therapeutics;· chaired by Dr. Alan Schechter. NIDDK, and 8:30-10:00 a.m. Plenary Session: Nitric Oxide: Molecular '·Angiogenesis: Molecular Mechanics Physiology. Pathology and Therapeutics and Therapeutic Strategies," chaired by Jack Masur Auditorium, CC Dr. William Stetler-Stevenson, NCI, 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Plenary Session: Angiogenesis: Molecular make up the morning program. A Lhird Mechanisms and Therape111ic Strategies plenary session on "The Utility of Jack Masur Auditorium, CC Whole Genome Sequences: Early 12:30-2:00 p.m. Poster Session I Glimpses of the Sequence-based Era," Natcher Conference Center chaired by Dr. Eric Green, NHGRI, will 2:00-4:00 p.m. Mini-Symposia Session I follow on Thursday morning, Oct. 12. Natcher Conference Center All three plenary sessions will be held 4:00-6:00 p.m. Poster Session 2 in Masur Auditorium, CC. Natcher Conference Center The morning sessions will be fol­ lowed each afternoon by six concurrent Thursday, Oct. 12 mini-symposia with topics solicited from the TC scientific directors and 8:30-10:00 a.m. Poster Session 3 members of Lhe various special interest Natcher Conference Center groups. Three poster sessions are also 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Plenary Session 3 scheduled. featuring presentations by The Utility of Whole Genome Sequences: Early hundreds of NIH intramural scientisLS. Glimpses ofthe Sequence-based Era The Technical Sales Association will Jack Masur Auditorium, CC again sponsor the popular research 12:00-2:30 p.m. Festival Food Fair festival exhibit show on Thursday and Natcher Conference Center Tent Friday, Oct. 12 and 13. Over 400 2:30-4:30 p.m. Mini-Symposia Session Il exhibit boolhs will display state-of­ Natcher Conference Center the-art equipment. supplies, and services by leading regional and TSA Research Festival Exhibit Show naLional biomedical research suppliers. (Parking Lot lOD adjacent to CC Blood Bank) NrHAA members are encouraged to attend. Program details a re available Thursday, Oct. 12 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m on Lhe Research Festi val web site at Friday, Oct. 13 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. hup://fcstival2000.nih.gov.

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Calendar of Upcoming Exhibits and Events

Exhibits Oct. 10-Dr. Steven Warwick, Stroke Sept. 25 (Monday)-Florence Oct. 17-Dr. Vivian Pinn, M ahoney Lecture: Dr. Cynthia Kenyon National Libra ry of Medicine Women's Health Oct. 2+-Dr. Marston Linehan, Oct. 18-Stetten Lecture: Ors. Peter Moore. Ada Yooalh, Veokatraman Prostate Cancer Continuing until March 31, 2001 Ramakrisboan (2-4 p.m.) in the NLM Rotunda, "Breath of FAES Cham ber M usic Series NoY. I-Margart Pittman Lecture: Life," an exhibit that examines the Dr. Nancy Hopkins history of asthma, the experiences of The Chamber Music Series, sponsored Dec. 6-Khoury Lecture: Dr. Robert people with asthma and contempo­ by FAES, Sundays at 4 p.m. in Masur Weinberg rary effo11s co understand the Dec. 13--Astute Clinician Lecture: Audicorium Bldg. 10, beginning Oct. I. disease. For more information, call Tickets are required. For more informa­ Dr. Maria New 301-594-7170. tion call 301-496-7975. An exhibit on the life and work of Sha re the Health Dr. Joshua Lederberg, Nobel Oct. I Brentano String Quartet laureate, featuring memorabilia, No".5 Thibaud String Trio Saturday. Oct. 21. 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., leners, newspaper clippings and No,. 19 Ysaye String Quartet an "Exposition of Health from NIH photographs, is oo display until with Jean Claude to Its Neighbors:· sponsored by the November 2000. Pennetier and Regis NIH Office of Community Liaison Pasquier at the Natcher Conference Center, DeW itt Stetten, Jr.. Museum Dec.3 Auryn String Quartet Bldg. 45. For more information call with Peter Onh, piano 301-650-8660. ext. 132. For more information about all the Jan. 28, 2001 Wolfgang Holzmair, Stetten Museum exhibits, call the baritone Virolog_v Award NIH Historical Office at 301-496­ Feb. .t, 2001 Trio di Parma 6610. Feb. 18,2001 Tokyo String Quartet Tuesday, Nov. 14-Dr. Norman P. Mar. 11, 2001 Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Salzman Memorial Award in Virology Other Activities of Interest piano Program at the Cloister. Bldg. 60, in Mar. 25, 2001 Winners of the Paolo the Chapel from I 10 5 p.m. For more Medicine for the Public: Borciani String Quartet information call Dr. Philip Krause, Competition 301-402-3191 A free lecture series on health NIH Events and disease sponsored by the CC 1\11.H Research Festival 2000 and presented by NlH physicians The NIH Director's Wednesday After­ and scientists, Tuesday evenings noon Lectures are at 3 p.m. in Masur Oct. 10, 11, 12. 13, witb job fair, ar 7 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Auditorium, Bldg. JO. For confLrmation of symposia, posters. workshops, and Bldg. 10. For more information call information call Hilda Madine at 301 -594­ Technical Sales Equipment Show (see 301-496-2563. 5595. p. 4 for schedule).

Sept. 19- Dr. Allan D. Kirk. Organ Sept. 13-R.E. Dyer Lecture: NIHAA Events Transplantation Dr. Michael Oldstone Sept. 26-Dr. Lauren Wood, Sept. 18 (Monday)-NIH Director 's Wednesda y, Feb. 14, 2001: the TeenageAIDS Cultural Lecture: Dr. Jared Diamond fourth James A. Shannon lecture, Oct. 3-Dr. Stephen Piscatelli and Sept. 20-NIB Director' s Lecture: Dr. Marcia Angell. Masur Auditorium Dr. Aaron Burstein, I Ierbal Prod­ Dr. Thomas Cec h at 3 p.m. ucts and Interactions For more information about NIH events calJ 301 --'96-1766. For more information about NlHAA events call 301-530-0567.

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News From and About NIHAA Members and Foreign Chapters

Dorothy L. Allison, who was at NIH Dr. Constance U. Battle, executive funded by NCI to look ar the role of ( 1949-1962) and then at NIMH ( 1980­ director of the Foundation for the NIH, difluoromethylornithine in the 1984), writes from her home in was recently inducted into lhe Mary­ prevention of skin and bladder cancer. Dagsboro, Delaware, where she lives in land Women's Hall of Fame during a Tbjs compound was developed by Al retirement, that she ·'worked for 13 ceremony held in Annapolis. She was Sjoerdsma, another NIH alumnus. l years in OD where she was secretary to recognized for her local and national still serve on an NIH study section. John E. Fletcher, who was assistant contributions to children with disabili­ Later this year, I will be appointed as director for Infoanation and Public ties and women's health. The author of the Yong Loo Lin professor at the Relations, and then secretary to Joseph over 50 articles. book chapters and National University of Singapore to Murtaugh, International Office." She monographs. she is also a professor of help develop a cancer program. l have adds that she came back to NIH in pediaaics at George Washington been a consultant and visiting profes­ 1980 and was secretary at the CC University School of Medicine. as well sor at the Academica Sinica in Taiwan where she worked for Dr. David M. as an assistant professor of pediaaics to coordinate the training of 13 young Jacobowitz before leaving in 1984. and child health at Howard University. Taiwanese doctors in medical oncol­ She bas served as president of two ogy. My oldest son David is also an Dr. John P. Atkinson, who was a national/international organizations, NTH alumnus and he is now a professor clinical associate in the Laboratory of the American Women's Medical of medicine at Vanderbilt. I also have a Clinical Investigation (1971-1972), a Association and the Association for daughter. who graduated from UW and chief clinical associate, LCI, NlAID Care of Children's Health. She also trained and was on the faculty at Johns ( 1972- 1973) and a staff fellow (1973­ served as president of the District of Hopkins, and is a lab chief in the FDA 1974), is now professor of medicine in Columbia Hospital Association. working at the NIH on viral diseases. Lhe division of rheumacology at My third child of seven is also a Washington University School of Dr. Thomas G. Bowery, at NIH (1962­ physician, working at the University of Medicine in St. Louis. Recently he 1985) in DRG, OD, and lastly as Pennsylvania as an anesthesiologist was named co the National Arthritis and director of Biomedical Research and serving as a vice president for the Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Support Program in DRR, and who University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Advisory Council. His research has retired in December 1985, writes: She is also an executive MBA studem focused on further understanding the "Moved from our home in Rockville to at the Wharton Business School. The origins of autoimmunity; for the past Lakeland, Florida in January 1990. other children are in other fields, law decade, his laboratory has worked on Live now in Cypress Lakes. Golf and and business. We now have 16 characterizing complemenc receptors Country Club. an adult retirement grandchildren and enjoy visiting them. and complement regulatory proteins. community." I also manage to get a few rounds of golf in regularly." Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr., who was in the Dr. PauJ P. Carbone, who was at NCI Biology Brancb, NCI, (1972-1975), (1960-1976) in the Division of Cancer Dr. Richard L. Christiansen retired has been head of the division of Treatment, Medicine Branch, sent the from NIDR in 1982 as director of medicine at M.D. Anderson Cancer following email: "Since I left NCI, I Extramural Programs, NIDR, then Center. In March, he was appointed have been at the Universiry of Wiscon­ accepted a position at the University of vice president for translational research sin where I served as director of the Michigan School of Dentistry. He at the center. He will work to faci litate Comprehensive Cancer Center until started the International Union of collaborations between clinicians and 1997. I became emeritus at that time, Schools of Oral Health. He writes that laboratory investigators throughout the but I still -see patients, do my research his international interests were "largely center. He will also be the co-principal and serve as associate dean for started by my participation, near Lhe investigator of the core grant from NCI HealthStar, an ambitious program to end of my NIH career. in the 25th with Dr. John Mendelsohn, president of build $200,000 worth of teaching and anniversary of the Hadassah School of M.D. Anderson. research facilities for the medical Dental Medicine in Jerusalem al school. I have two research projects Hebrew University." Chrjstiansen is

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now professor of orthodontics and past Medical Institute and professor of prevention, development of a TB dean at University of Michigan School microbiology and immunology at vaccine, and talking to Congress and of Dentistry. On June I, 2000, he Stanford Uni versity School of Medi­ organizations both in and out of received an honorary degree from the cine. He shared the William B. Coley government. Nippon Dental University at its Tokyo Award for Distinguished Research in campus. He was also invited Basic and Tumor Immunology with Dr. Dr. James M. Felser, at NIAID in the to speak at the annual meeting of the Michael Pfreundschuh of the Univer­ Laboratory of Clinical Investigation as scientific organization, "Shigakkai ," sity of Saarlandes, Homburg. Germany. a medical staff fellow (1983-1987), in Japan. The award, given by the Cancer and then at the Laboratory of Molecu­ Research Institute, recognizes out­ lar Microbiology as a senior staff Dr. Rita R. Colwell, director of the standing achievements in the field of fellow ( 1987-1989) is now director, National Science Foundation, and basic immunology and cancer immu­ clinical research at Novartis Pharma­ recently elected to the N1HAA board of nology. The awards were presented at ceuticals corporation in East Hanover, directors. received the 2000 Cosmos a ceremony in New York City on May New Jersey. Club Award, becoming the 37th 24, 2000. recipient. She addressed the club at a Dr. Donald Fredrickson, former NIH black-tie dinner on Apr. 25 and Dr. R. Gordon Douglas, Jr., who was a director ( 1975-1981), spoke at the received a special certificate and clinical associate and clinical investi­ recent "Symposium on Science, Ethics $5,000 provided by the Cosmos Club gator at NIAID in the Laboratory of and Society: The 251.b Anniversary of Foundation. Her portrait is also Clinical Investigation, ( 1963-1966), the Asi lomar Conference," sponsored displayed in the award foyer. She was retired as president of the Merck by the University of Southern Califor­ selected as "a club member of great Vaccine Division in May 1999. ln nia, held at Asilomar, Calif. He distinction. She is a biochemist, first April be was honored as the recipient presented a paper, "The First Twenty­ woman director of the National Science of the 2000 Maxwell Finland Award for Five Years after Asilomar." In it he Foundation, a microbiologist and a Scientific Achievement. This award is recounted the political saga of estab­ marine biologist. In addition, she has presented by the National Foundation lishing the recombinant DNA molecule the attributes of an exceptionally for Infectious Diseases to a scientist program advisory committee (RAC) in qualified statesman in the field of who has made outstanding contribu­ response to the safety concerns and science." tions to rhe understanding of infectious self-imposed moratorium of the diseases or public health. Douglas bas scientific community about working Dr. Peter Dans writes: "I was in NIAID recently joined the Dale and Betty with recombinant DNA molecules as from 1964-1967 in Bob Chanock's Bumpers Vaccine Research Center as discussed extensively in the 1975 laboratory ... He is a person you ought director of strategic planning. He will conference. The activities put into to honor. I just published a book guide research strategies for potential place at NIH then led to the gradual called Doctors in the Movies: Boil rhe HIV vaccine candidates. He will also relaxation of the moratorium, but with Water and Just Say AAH, about how be involved in collaborations among maintenance of public trust. and doctors (and scientists as well) have the YRC, academia and the pharmaceu­ opened the way for the development of been portrayed in movies from the tical and biotechnology industries that the scientific and commercial biotech­ I930's to the I 990's. I will be leading will foster and facil itate HIV vaccine nology revolution now at hand. a discussion at one of the NIH summer developmenc efforts, and will advise on festi val films. I have been on the research efforts at NlH in other infec­ Dr. Peter Herbert, at NHLB I ( 1969­ facu lty at Johns Hopkins Medical tious diseases and cancer. He contin­ 1977) has been named chief of staff at Institutions since 1978 (now part­ ues his advocacy of infectious disease Yale-New Haven Hospital. After he left time)." prevention as a member of group called NHLBI, he joined the faculty at Brown the Princeton Project 55. This is University as professor of medicine. Dr. Mark M. Davis, who was a staff composed of Princeton graduates from He returned to New Haven in 1991 to fellow in the Laboratory of Immunol­ the class of 1955 who wanted to give become chief of medicine at the ogy at NIArD (1980-1984), is an something back in tem1s of public Hospital of St. Raphael. investigator al the Howard Hughes service. His projects are tuberculosis

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Dr. Freddie Ann Hoffman, who was at .Jean Kilbourne, who was a member of Office of Policy. Planning. and Analysis NCI ( 1976-1986). lastly as director of the National Advisory Council on at NIA. He left NlH in .1986 to become Exrramural Clinical Trials, Biological Alcohol Abu e and Alcoholism for the first director of the Office of Response Modifiers Program. Division several years in the I990's, sends the Minority Health at HHS. Then in 1988, of Cancer Treatment. is now senior following news: Free Press has he joined the American Association of director for complementary medicine. recently publi hed her first book. Medical Colleges. medical & clinical affairs at Warner Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Lamben-Consumer Healthcare in Girls Must Fight tire Addictive Power Dr. Robert K. Oldham was at NCl as Morris Plains, New Jersey. ofAdvertising. It contains chapters on associate director, OCT and founding alcohol and tobacco advertising. She director of Biological Response Dr. Robert Horlick, who was at NIH is a speaker who has been twice named Modifiers Program ( 1980-1984). (1980-1986) in Dr. Bruce Paterson's Lecturer of the Year by the National Earlier he had been at NCI as a medical laboratory at NCI, writes: "I was Association of Campus Activities and oncology fellow, a clinical associaie recently promoted to associate director is a visiting scholar at Well esley ( 1970-1972), and then he returned as of molecu lar pharmacology at Millen­ College as well as an advisor to two senior investigator in the cellular and nium Pharmaceutics. Inc .. in Cam­ surgeons general. tumor immunology section of Lhe bridge. Mass.'' The company special­ Laboratory of lmmunodiagnosi ( 1973­ izes in using genomics to develop Or. Victor J. Marder, who was at 1975). He Iive s in Aiken. South drugs. NIAMD, Clinical Hematology Branch, Carolina, where he is the director of the ( 1961-1964. 1966-1968), writes: Biological Therapy rn stitute. Most Dr. William J.M. Hruskesky, who was "After 22 years at the University of recently. he has been a senior consulrnnt at NCI in the Division of Cancer Rochester School of Medicine and with the American Red Cross and Treaonent ( 1974-1976). has left his Dentistry. serving as co-chief and as Maxim Pharmaceuticals. position as professor and senior chief of the Hematology Unit. I have clinical investigator of medical taken a position as cl inical professor Dr. Barbara Packard, NHLBI associa1e oncology at the Stratton VA Medical of medicine and director of the director for scienti fic program operation Cemer and Albany Medical Center. to depanment of medicine at the Univer­ and director. Office of Science and become director of research at the WJB sity of California Los Angeles, as of Technology. (1967- 1971 and 1975­ Dorn VA Medical Center and professor May I. 1999. I remain fully commit­ 1996), now li ves in Treasure Island, in the department of developmental ted and active in the lab, the class­ Florida. She writes,'·[ was Lbe com­ biology and anatomy, University of room and the clinic, working on mencement speaker at my alma mater South Carolina Cancer Center. He will subjects of hemo tasis, thrombosis and Waynesburg College, Wayne burg, Pa., also be at the USC School of Public fibrinolysis. For 2 years. 1997- 1999, I on May 14. 2000. The title of my Health in the department of epidemiol­ served as president of the XVII presentation was 'Opportunity. Change. ogy and statistics. Congres, of the Inte rn ational Society Hcallh.' I received an honorary de­ for Thrombo is and Hemostasis." gree-doctor of humane letters.'' Dr. .John LaRosa was an NH LB I clinical associate ( 1967- 1969) and Dr. Herbert W. Nickens, an NIHAA Or. Stephen C. Schimpff, who was a chief resident ( 1969-1970). He then member who died in 1999, was clinical associate in the Baltimore spent 20 years at George Washington posthumously honornd in Febru ary Cancer Research Center of NCI ( 1969­ University Medical Center. where he 2000 with a memorial lecture that was 1970), a guest worker at NIA rD ( 1972­ was dean for clinical affairs and then presented at the 7th Biennial Sympo­ 1973) and who remained with NCI as a dean for research. He was later sium on Minorities, the Medically •enior investigator until 1982. i CEO chancellor of 1he Medical School of Underserved & Cancer, held in of the University of Maryland Medical Tulane University in New Orleans. On Washington D.C. Beginning in 1982, Center and executi ve vice president of Sept. I. 1999. he was named president Nickens held a series of federal the University of Maryland Medical of Downs1ate Health Center, State appointments with NIH and DHHS, System. He has been named chair ofthe University of New York in Brooklyn. becoming. in 1985. director of the board of governors of the CC. Schimpff. a member of t11e board and iis

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executive committee since their Dr. Micbae] Walker, who served as What's Your News? inception four years ago, is also chair director of the NINDS Division of of the finance working group. Stroke, Trauma, and Neurodegene­ rative Disorders and who had more The NIHAA wants to hear from its members. Please type or print your note (include pho- Dr. Leon Smith, who was at NlAID as a than a 30-year career with NIH (1965- tograplhs, if you have them) and mail it to staff fellow ( 1957- 1959), is now 1999), retired recently. He was Update at 9101 Old Georgetown Rd. , director of medicine and chief of honored ar an NINDS-sponsored Bethesda, Md ., 20814-1522 or email at infectious diseases at St. Michael's seminar. "Stroke in che Next Millen­ [email protected]. Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. nium," held in Lipsett Amphitheater, At Caldwell College's 58th commence­ Bldg. 10. He will continue to be seen ment ceremony on May 21, he received around the campus, involved in a an honorary degree: doctor of medical variety of neuroscience projects. Name: research, honoris causa. During his Home Phone: 36-year career ac St. Michael's, he Dr. John Weisburger, who was at NCI taught more than 3,500 medical (1949-1972), is now director emeritus students. In 1962, he and his wife, and senior member oif the American News: (Include NIH affiliation) Peggy, co-founded New Jersey's first Health Foundation, Valhalla, N.Y. He free medical clinic. In 1964, Smith co­ was named an honorary member of the founded an ongoing infectious American Association for Cancer diseases conference which meets at a Research at its annual meeting in San New York City or a New Jersey hospi­ Francisco on Apr. 3, 2000. He has been tal. In 1984, he established the first active in research on cancer prevention free shower and clothing center for the through nutritional interventi.on witl1 homeless at Saint Patrick's Pro Cathe­ specific dietary components. He is dral in Newark. In 1995, he developed known for his studies on the role of the a school-based HIV/AIDS prevention cooking of foods and the generation program in Newark, Jersey City and and prevention of specific cancer Edison where AIDS patients talk to causing agents duci:ng cooking. He is high school juniors and seniors. He also recognized internationally for his has advised Essex County on the activities in the field of tea and health. prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in jails. In 1997 and 1998, his Dr. Gary Williams, who was at NCI in feUow pbysic.ians voted him the bes t the Etiology Division, (1969- 1971), is diagnostician in the New York/New now at New York Medical College, Jersey/Connecticut metropolitan area department of pathology. He sends and appointed him ro "The Best .information about a course on the Doctors Board." safety assessment of medicines, Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, 2000 in White Plains, N.Y. Dr. George Vande Woude, at NCI as For information contact Mrs. Barbara chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Krokus at New York M edical ColJege Oncology (1981-1983), as scientific 914-594-3087 or fax 914-594-4163 or advisor to the NCI director (1995), and e-mail [email protected]. director ofNCI's Division of Basic Sciences (1998-1999), is director of the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is building a $60 million research headquarters that wiU house 200 scientists and administrative staff.

9 N I H A A UPDATE

Update on Two Nobel Laureates, Blumberg and Axelrod Astrobiology and the Search for Origins Shortly after Baruch Blumberg came the universe, the NAI is expandable. the organisms that are still present in to Nili in 1957, he and others in the Blumberg would especiaJJy like to contemporary geothermal venis," he clinical research group that he had see expansion ia the form of coordi­ notes, observing that although such joined (in what was then known as the nated NAI-NIH research. He envisions astrobiological explorations may seem Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases a variety of collaborations to be remote, "the whole world of molecular lnstirute) started a new section, which determined between NAI and NIH biology, as revealed by PCR, is based Blumberg named "Geographic Medi­ intramural scientists-jointly funded on an enzyme extracted from an cine and Genetics." projectS, perhaps, in such areas as new extremophile that operates at very high ''Thinking of genes by themselves and emerging diseases, prebiotic temperatures"-a discovery that earlier can be mislead- chemistry. and the origins of cancer. generated considerable interest in the ing," he He's had discussions with acting NIH field of astrobiology. explains. "You director Ruth Kirschstein, deputy Some life forms adore the cold. can't look at director for intramural research "A lot of our people are in the Arctic just one gene at Michael Gottesman, and NIAID and Antarctic, where they have found a time, and you director Tony Fauci, and be plans to organ.isms living in ice crystal water can't look at talk with more institute beads. channels. Nobody knows if they genes ouiside Discussions are under way for an cause disease. I'm interested in the context of NAI-NIH seminar to acquaint the exploring virology, the phage within the environ­ scientific community here with the these bac1eria under these extreme Dr. Baruch Blumberg ment of the astrobiologicaJ plane. conditions." host, both internal and external." It's a program of "discovery of basic Medical mkrobiologists and astrobi­ The world at large became the site of research," Blumberg says. And ologists, Blumberg notes. tend to look his field work. studying polymor­ although much of the research "is at organisms differently. The "one phisms and their relation to disease based on the notion that NASA has bug-one disease" paradigm still susceptibility-work that Jed to the space flight capabilities," most of it to prevails among the former, while the discovery of the Australia antigen and date has been conducted on Earth­ latter adopt an "ecological approach," later. after he'd left NlH, to the identifi­ albeit under the sea, deep within rocks, examining, for example. biofilms, or cation of the hepatitis B virus and the or embedded in ice, for example. layers of bacteria glued together with development of the hepatitis B "Asrrobiologists are very interested in Jong-chain sugars, and the interactions vaccine. organisms that live under what we among organisms and the relation of Today, Blumberg's focus is stiJJ, think of as extreme conditions; of their evolution 10 the changes in essentially, "geographic medicine and course, they are not 'extreme' for these Earth's environment. genetics," but his "geography" bas organisms, which we have given the Another possible field for mutual expanded beyond the terrestrial. name 'extremophiles."' exploration, presumably with NCI, Last spring, Blumberg became the The greatest probability for liJe in our could revolve around the question. first director of the newly created solar system. Blumberg says, is on ''When did cancer start?" The answer NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAl). Its Mars, Europa (a moon of Jupiter), and could be, "When cells first started," mission is the "study of the origin. Titan (a moon of Saturn), as well as in Blumberg speculates. How cells evolution, distribution, and furure of "cosmic dust." which can also be found started is a major astrobiological life on Earth and in the universe." all over Earth. If life actually exists in concern. The search for organic mauer Headquartered at the Ames Research these places, il would most Likely be in space has uncovered such things as Center in Mountain View, Calif., its under the conditions of early Earth, amino acids in meteorites and organic work is carried out wherever the spirit before our atmosphere had oxygen, molecules floating freely in space dust. moves affiliated scientists at what are when extremophiles probably flour­ The NAI's initial request for proposals now 11 participating U.S. institutions ished bere, he says. from institutional groups representing and one international team. And, like ''We want to look at early Earth and multiple disciplines brought in SO-plus

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applications, I I of which were ac­ The most recent addition to the the 1970 Nobel Prize in Physiology or cepted. In addition to the Ames archive are documents from pharma­ Medidne along with Sir Bernard Katz Research Center, the other lead cologist and neuroscientist Julius of the University College London and institutions are Arizona State Univer­ Axelrod, who shared the 1970 Nobel Dr. Ulf von Euler of the Karolinska sity, Tempe: the Carnegie Institution of Prize for discoveries "concerning the Institute in Stockholm. Washington (D.C.); Harvard University, humoral transminors in the nerve Axelrod also helped to discover the Cambridge, Mass.; the Jet Propulsion terminals and the mechanism for their pain-relieving medicine acecami­ Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; the storage, release and inactivation." nophen, better known by its brand Johnson Space Center, Houston; the Axelrod spent his most fruitful years of name, Tylenol. He was one of the first Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods research at NIH, first at the (then) scientists to conduct full studies of Hole, Mass.; Pennsylvania State National Hean Institute and later at the caffeine, amphetamine and mescaline. University, University Park, Pa.; the National Institute of Mental Health. Until his retirement in 1984, he worked Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, According to a recent ABC News poll, on research projects that sought to Calif.; the University of California at one of every eight adults in the United elucidate the relationship between Los Angeles; and the University of States has taken Prozac or a similar drugs and behavior. Colorado, Boulder. drug to help relieve anxiety or depres­ His research suggested that mental Blumberg is currently also senior sion. That they can do so is the result states were the result of complicated advisor to the president of the Fox of research by Axelrod in the 1960's. physiology and brain chemistry, rather Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, His work enabled pharmaceutical firms than the sole result of psychological where he was fonnerly vice president to create anti-depressants like Prozac. or environmental factors. This ushered for population oncology and associate Prozac and similar drugs are called in an era of pharmacological drugs director for clinical research-and the SSRis (selective serotonin reuptake that were designed to inhibit or recipient for 30 years of an NIH gram inhibitors) because they prevent stimulate neurotransmitters in the for a Ii ver cancer prevention program. certain actions of chemicals, called nervous system. neurotransmitters, in the brain. The new Profiles site shows off a By Fran Pol/11er "Axelrod did not invent Prozac, but variety of documents and includes The N1H Catalyst, May/June Issue he discovered how early materials that span the various phases antidepressant of Axelrod's li fe and career. These drugs work in the include examples from his extensive brain, and he collection of laboratory notebooks coined the term showing his early experiments involv­ Julius Axelrod Featured 'reuptake" to ing caffeine and LSD. an unpublished on NLM Web Site describe chose manuscript from 1994, and a large actions." said sampling of his most important The accomplishments of some of the Dr.Alexa pubUshed articles. giants of 20th century biomedicine are McCray, who Axelrod, known to friends as '"Julie." newly available as the NLM makes the directs the Dr. Julius Axelrod still comes to 1he laboratory about scientists· archival collections avai l­ "Profiles in three times a week to conduct research, able on its ''Profiles in Science" web Science" project at NLM. according to Dr. Michael J. Brownstein. site (profiles.nlm.nih.gov). Since his discovery in the early chief, Laboratory of Genetics. NIMH/ Launched in 1998, Profiles contains l 960"s, Axelrod's explanation for how NHGRL His contributions are still felt the personal collecti ons that scientists neurotransmitters work has forever among his colleagues. As Brownstein have donated to NLM and features altered the way modern pharmaceutical recounts, "He has a greater capacity published and unpublished items companies design antidepressant than most scientists to take pleasure in including books, journal volumes, drugs. Furthennorc, his work has other people's novel findings and to pamphlets, diaries, leuers, manuscripts, greatly advanced how scientists suggest followup experiments." photographs, audiotapes, video clips understand the biological basis of and other materials. human behavior. Axelrod was awarded N I H A A U P D A T E

Annual Meeting, (continued from p. 1) developing procedures to improve Decades of Research on Signal Trans­ oversight of clinical research, particu­ duction at NIH: A Broad Overview." of ten new members to the board of larly in studies of "gene therapy." Spiegel's lively presentation first directors. Four were selected by The NIH is also looking into ques­ covered transduction as a general associaLion members-at-large: Dr. Rita tions that have been raised concerning process and then described its signifi­ Colwell, Dr. Murray Eden, Dr. Peter differences among the States as to the cant role in ilie context of his own Frommer and Dr. Lawrence E. Shulman. amount of NIH support going to their special research interests. Six were elected by the current board: agencies and in-state institutions. When dle lecture was finished, Gay Dr. W. Emmett Barkley, Dr. Samuel W. Gay presented the N1HAA's eighLll made a special presentation on behalf Greenhouse, Dr. Irwin J. Kopin, Dr. Public Service Award to Dr. June E. of the board of directors to Harriet James O'Donnell. Joan Topalian and Osborn, president of dle Josiah Macy, Greenwald and Mary Calley Hartman. Paul Van Nevel. Jr. Foundation since 1996. The award He gave eacb a plaque in acknowledg­ In his brief remarks Gay noted that was made in recognition of "her ment of their ten years of outstanding there is continuing need for support membership in many Nll:-1 review groups service to the association. of the and as a major advisor to NIH for Llle association's past 27 years; her outstanding contri­ program butions in dealing with ilie AIDS beyond U1e epidemic on the national level, serving annual as ilie chairperson of Llle U.S. National income from Commission on AIDS ( 1989-1993); and dues, but her achievements in academic medicine that gifts and public healili that have been during the particularly valuable to NIH." past year Or. Wiiiiam I. Gay After receiving the award, Osborn have helped sustai n current operations. talked informally about her experi ences He thanked Celera Genomics and the as an advisor and program leader in NIH Federal Credit Union for support of excramural NIH. the annual meeting. Dr. Cyrus R. "Bob" Creveling, NIHAA Kirschstein, a longtime NIHAA board member and program chairman Harriet Greenwald (I) and Mary Calley member, gave an upbeat report of the for ilie annual meeting, introduced Dr. Hartman with 10-year service awards. status of cJ1e NIH. She mentioned Allen M. Spiegel, NIDDK director, who especially the interest that hac; been gave an illustrated lecture "Three In his remarks, he stated Lllat their shown by the Administration and dedication and talent have been Congress in greatly expanding the essential to the success of Llle organiza­ budget for biomedical research tion, particlarly dle publication of ilie conducted and supported by the NIH. valued NIHAA newsletter. of which She mentioned that a Congressional Greenwald is editor. initiative launched 3 years ago to Following the program, attendees "double the NIH budget in five years" were invited to an attractive and ample is on track, and that the recent buffet luncheon. appropriations hearings went well. Afler the luncheon a number of alumni She said that the recent decision by took advantage of a campus bus tour, HCFA to provide support for routine conducted by R. Anthony "Tony'' care of patients enrolled in clinical Cli fford , director of the NTH Division of trials will be very beneficial. She Engineering Services. The tour expressed appreciation for the support provided a unique opportunity to see being shown by hea lU1 interest groups and learn about ilie massive program of favoring stem-cell research. She construction and building improve­ Or. Allen M. Spiegel reported that NlH is engaged in ments under way at NIH.

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N I H A A U P D A T E

ACD Meeting, (continued from p.l) "an absolutely first-rate" person as • A working group on NIH oversight director. She said NIH "is taking of clinical gene transfer research issued been," she enlhused at the end of a visit seriously the issue of health dispari­ an interim report on review of gene in which she also announced her ties," noting, "We can have the best transfer protocols. The group proposes intention "to leave NIH in the best health care in the world, but it isn't two pathways for review, depending on shape this institution has ever been in." sufficient if it doesn't reach every one whether the protocol presents novel With respect to NIH's next budget, of our citizens. Insurance does not scientific, ethical or safety issues, or ShaJaJa counseled patience: "The equal quality health care." not. The group concluded that ''there budget process is nowhere yet. .. We'll She said she "couldn't be happier must be assurance that subjects will not negotiate the whole thing in the fall in with the Human Genome Project," be enro.lled in a gene transfer protocol some smoky room, bul at the end, NIH adding that she gives a copy of The until NIH's Office of Biotechnology will be satisfied with the mark." She Double Helix to anyone who mentions Activities and the recombinant DNA explained, "I've learned that politi­ the controversy between publicly advisory committee (RAC) has deter­ cians were those people who in college funded and private genome hunters. mined whether the protocol requires crammed the night before the final Asked by Dr. William Brody, president full RAC review and, in the case of a exam." of Johns Hopkins University, how novel protocol, until after that review She said NIH has made "enonnous financially distressed academic health has occurred." A proposed method of progress-I couldn't be more pleased" centers around the country can solve RAC review envisions open lines of with steps taken to improve the quality their problems, ShalaJa embarked on a communication involving the many of oversight in clinical trials involving frank discussion of political values and parties to the protocol, including FDA. gene therapy. "We have put an economic realities. Her busy schedule, OBNRAC, institutional review boards. enormous amount of money into NIH, however, overtook the debate and she institutional biosafety committees, and all of it is at risk from a series of left to a standing ovation (she had research institutions, sponsors and incidents ... Cumulatively, they look served on the ACD from April l 991 to patients themselves. like a pattern to the public, while to us January 1993). ·'Madame Secretary, we • As of June 8, the federal Human it may look like an acceptable amount want to thank you for 7 V2 wonderful Genome Project was "within a whisker" of risk." To address shortcomings, her years," said NIH acting director Dr. (88.5 percent done) of achieving the office on May 23 announced a new Ruth Ki rschstein. working draft of the human genome series of protections for human research The 15 of the 18 advisors who were that was promised for spring 2000, said subjects, and on June 6 she announced on band heard presentations on several Dr. Francis Collins, NHGRI director. "I the appointment of a new dfrector for topics: can say without reservation that the the Office of Human Research Protec­ • Dr. Alexa McCray of the National sequence of the human genome is tion, which supersedes (and lifts out of Library of Medicine gave an update on largely in hand, and up there on the NIH into the Office of the Secretary) NIH's new clinical trials database, web (at the GenBank site sponsored by the Office of Protection from Research which debuted on Feb. 29. "Response NlH) for study." He added, "Working Risks. "We need a much more refined has been incredible," she said. The draft is great stuff, but finished se­ office, not just one that closes down web site has logged 6.6 million hits so quence is better." More than 20 institutions and gives them a slap on far, averaging 3,000 to 4,000 users per percent of the sequence is finished, he the wrist." day (which generates some 42,000 said, showing a slide illuminating Shalala predicted that Medicare's pages of information daily). ''Tuesday disease genes (including BRCA2) readiness to pay medical expenses is our busiest day," she disclosed, whose discovery was aided by access associated with clinical trials will "although we don't know quite why." to draft or finfahed sequence. "coax mi llions more participants into The database is in phase I, which Dr. David Lipman, director of the research trials," and estimated a cost for includes 5,000 mostly NIH-sponsored National Center for Biotechnology the program of some $350 mHlion. trials; phase 2 will involve the private Information al NLM, which hosts Vowing to finish up her term as sector and other sponsors. "This is just GenBank, said GenBank gets 175,000 secretary "with a lot of enthusiasm," totally cool and amazing," enthused visits per day, in addition to hundreds Shalala said a new office of oversight ACD member Rebecca Eisenberg of of daily emails and calls. "Gene of scientific fraud is set to open with Stanford Law School. products are what most scientists are

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interested in, rhen genomic structure. year in order to help meet the called for "OB-cubed," an Office of Mostly, scientists want as complete initiative's six goals. Bioimag ing. Bioengineering and and accurate information as possible • Dr. Stephen Straus. director of the Bioinformatics. NIH hopes to establish on gene products." To demonstrate the National Center for Complementary Centers of Excellence in Biomedical value of his treasure trove, Lipman and Alternative Medicine for the past 8 Computing. and has asked for SI 0 ordered up a discovery just for the months, offered a "mature approach co a million in planning grantS for the effort ACD meeting: a colleague found a somewhat controversial undertaking," in FY 200 I , he said. novel BRCT domain protein con­ in his outline of NCCAM's draft ln addition to the centers, Klausner served only in humans and Droso­ strategic plan. "The public needs better said the field needs breakthroughs in phila. "We're very exc.ited that, on guidance about which CAMs are information storage, curation, analysis demand, we can make discoveri es with effective," he said. Some 40 percent of and retrieval, p.lus investigator­ this data," Lipman said. Americans, and perhaps 2 of 3 people initiated research and more computing • Dr. Yvonne Maddox, acting NIH worldwide. practice CAM. he said. The infrastructure. deputy director, reviewed the agency's center intends to stan an intramural Dr. Larry Smarr. ACD member and health disparities initiative, which by clinical research program. director of the National Center for 2010 aims to eliminate disparities in • Due to the oceans of data being Supercomputing Applications at the six major health areas. A formal generated by such efforts as the Human University of Dlinois (and cochair of Center for Health Disparities can be Genome Projecc, an effort is under way the working group that gave ri se to the established administratively by to Lrain a new generation of experts in new OB3 initiative), observed, "data Kirschstein, said Maddox. She bioinfonnatics. Reporting on the management nowadays is an exponen­ forecast that such a center might be up initiative to address this need was NCI ti al snowball- you have 10 run as fast as and running by the end of the fi scal director Dr. Richard Klausner, who you can to stay in the same place.'' Missing From the Stacks The NIH Library maintains a collection of annual reportS from all intramural programs, but there are gaps, espe­ cially in the early decades, in what would otherwise be a comprehensive history of NIH intramural research. The Update received the following list of annual reports that were never received by the library. with a plea from NIH historian Victoria Harden ([email protected]) and NIH Library Branch Chief Suzanne Grefsheim ([email protected]) that holders of these vol umes consider donating them to the NJH Library in Building I 0. NIAID National Heart Institute Division of Research Resources 1963 thru 1966, 1969, 1970 1961 thru 1965, J966 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 NlAAA National Heart and Lung Institute All volumes after 1984 All reports after I 994 1969.1970 Division of Research Senices NIAMD (Now NIAMS) NlMB 1960 thru 1964. 1967 1961 thru 1966, 1969, 1970. 1981 1961 thru 1966, 1969. 1970 DRS, Biomedical Engineering NCI (may be two volumes per year) NINDB (Now NINDS) and Instrumentation Branch 1957, 1961tbru1966, 1969. 1970 1961 , 1962, 1963 (reportS filed separately) NlCHD Clinical Center 1982, 1984 1967, 1969, 1970, 1983, 1991 l 953 thru t 957, a959 thru t 964, NCRR NIDR (Now NIDCR) 1969, 1970. 1973, 1983, 1991 1991 1958. 1961 thru 1967, 1970. 1971 , Division of Computer Research and Division of Biologics Standards 1976, 1990, 1991 Technology 1957. 1958. 1959, 196 1 thru 1967. NIDA I 970, I 972, 1983 1970 All repons after 1994 Division of Research Grants NIGMS 1974 and alt volumes after 1984 1970. 1973, 1974, 1976. 1977, 1978, 1983, I 984. 1986, I 987

15 N I H A A U P D A T E

Consortium Announces 'Working Draft' of Human Genome

The Human Genome Project public continuous gapless sequence '·contig" The public and private projects use consortium announced that it has of 200,000 bases. The average similar automation and sequencing assembled a working draft of the accuracy of all of the DNA sequence in technology. but different approaches to sequence of the human genome-the this assembly is 99.9 percent. sequencing the human genome. The genetic blueprint for a human being. The sequence information from the public project u es a .. hierarchical This major milestone involved two public project has been continuously, shotgun .. approach in which indi­ tasks: placing large fragments of DNA immediately and freely released to the vidual large DNA fragments of known in the proper order to cover all of the world, with no restrictions on its use or position are subjected to shotgun human chromosomes. and determining redistribution. The information is sequencing (i.e.• shredded into small the DNA sequence of these fragments. scanned daily by sdi:mists in academia fragments that are sequenced. and then The assembly reported consists of and industry. as well as by commercial reassembled on the basis of equencc overlapping fragments covering 97 database companies providing infor­ overlaps). percent of the human genome. of which mation services to biotechnologists. The Celera project uses a .. whole sequence bas already been assembled Already. many tens of rhousands of genome shotgun" approach, in which for approximately 85 percent of the genes have been identified from the the entire genome is shredded into genome. The sequence has been genome sequence. Analysis of the small fragments that are sequenced and threaded together into a string of As. current sequence shows 38,000 put back together on the basis of Ts, Cs. and Gs arrayed along the length predicted genes confirmed by experi­ sequence overlaps. of the human chromosomes. mental evidence. There are many The hierarchical shotgun method has Production of genome sequence bas thousands of additional gene predic­ the advantage that the global location skyrocketed over the past year. with tions to be tested experimentally. of each individual sequence is known more than 60 percen t of the sequence Dozens of disease genes have been with certainty, but it requires construct­ having been produced in the past six pinpointed by access to the working ing a map of large fragments covering months alone. During this time. the draft. the genome. The whole shotgun consonium has been producing l,000 Consortium goals. The consortium's method de>el> not require this step. but bases a second of raw sequence-7 goal for the spring of 2000 was to presents other challenges in the days a week, 24 hours a day. produce a "worlcing draft" versi.on of assembly phase. Both approaches The average quality of the "working the human sequence, an assembly align the sequence along the human draft" sequence far exceeds the containing overlapping fragments that chromosomes by using landmarks consortium's original expectations for cover approximately 90 percent of the contained in the physical map pro­ this intermediate product. genome and that are sequenced in duced by the Human Genome Project. Consortium centers have produced far '·working draft· form, i.e., with some ·The two approaches are quite more sequence data than expected gaps and ambiguities. The complementary. The public project (over 22. I billion bases of raw se­ consonium 's ultimate goal is to and Celera plan to discuss the relative quence data, comprising overlapping produce a completely .. finished'. scientific merits of the methods fragments totaling 3.9 billion bases sequence, i.e. one with no gaps and employed by th e two projects. In the and providing 7-fold sequence 99.99 percent accuracy. The target end, the best approach may well be to coverage of the human genome). date for this ultimate goal had been use a combination of the methods for As a result. the "working draft'. is 2003, but the new resul ts mean that the sequencing future genomes:· aid Dr. substantially closer to the ultimate final. stand-the-test-of-time sequence Francis Collins, director of the Na­ "finished" form than the consortium will likely be produced considerably tional Human Genome Research expected at U1i s stage. Approximately ahead of that schedule. lnstinite. l n fact, current plans by the 50 percent of the genome sequence is Complem.entary approaches. Jn a public project to sequence the genome in near-"finished'. form or better, and related announcement, Celera of the laboratory mouse involve thi 24 percent of it is in completely Genomics announced that it has hybrid strategy. ''finished.. form. Across the genome. completed its own first a sembly of the The Human Genome Project will now the average DNA segment resides in a human genome DNA sequence. focus on converting the working draft

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and near-finished sequences to a finished form. This will be done by filling the gaps in the working draft sequence and by increasing the overall sequence accuracy to 99.99 percent. Although the working draft version is useful for masc biomedical research. a highly accurate sequence chat is as close to perfect as possible is critical for obtaining au die informati on there is to get from human sequence data. This has already been achievt:Craig Venter, (I), pres ident and chief scientific offi cer of Calera SNPs. The Human Genome Project had Genomics, sh akes hands with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, at their joint news conference. set a goal of discovering I 00,000 SNPs by 2003. Already, wi th die assembled by the genome project. Such regions project is funded by grants from sequences and ocher data accumulated account for about 10% of the genome. government agencies and public by the SNP Consortium, scientists have and are said to be heterochromatic. (For charities in the various countries. now found more than 300,000 SNPs example, the center of chromosomes. These include the National Human and wi ll li kely have I million SNPs by called centromeres. consists of hetero­ Genome Research l.nstitute at year-end. chromatic DNA.) che National Institutes of Health. the These SNPs provide a powerful tool The international Human Genome Wellcome Trust in England, and the for studies of human disease and Sequencing consortium includes U.S. Department of Energy. human history. scientists at 16 institutions in France, The total cost for the working draft Background. Sequencing, which is Germany, Japan, China, Great Britain is approximately $300 million world­ determining the exact order of DNA's and the United States. The five largest wide. with roughly half ($ 150 million) four chemical bases, commonly centers are located at: Baylor College being funded by the NIH. The cost abbreviated A, T, C and G, has been of Medicine, Houston. Texas; Joint of sequencing the human genome is expedited in the Human Genome Genome Institute in Walnut Creek. CA: sometimes reported as $3 billion. Project by technological advances in Sanger Centre near Cambridge. However. chis figure refers to the deciphering DNA and the collaborative England; Washington University original estimate of total funding for natu re of the effort, which includes School of Medicine, St. Louis; and the Human Genome Project over a about 1,000 scientists worldwide Whitehead Jnsri tute, Cambridge, I5-year period ( 1990-2005) for a working together effectively. Massachusetts. Together, these five wide range of scientific activities The Human Genome Sequencing centers ha ve generated about 82 related to genomics. These include Project aims to determine the sequence percent of tJ1e sequence. studies of human diseases, of the euchrornatic portion of the The project has been tightly coordi­ experimental organisms (such as human genome. The euchromatic nated so that no region of the genome bacteria, yeast. worms, flies and mice). portion excludes certain regions is left unattended to. and duplication is development of new technologies for consisting of long stretches of highly minimized. Participants in the interna­ biological and medical research. repetiti ve DNA that encode li tde tional consorti um have all adhered to computational methods to analyze genetic information. and char are not the project's quality standards and to genomes. and ethical, legal and socia.I recovered in the vector systems used the daily data release policy. The is ues related to genetics.

17 N I H A A UPDATE

Health Disparities Research Tops NIH Agenda By Carla Garnett

Some disturbing trends have involving every agency in the depart­ American population. The plan will surfaced in the nation's health: Rates ment, also serves as the DHHS response include goals, timetables and ways to for blindness due to glaucoma in to President Clinton's Race Initiative. track budgets and accomplishments. African Americans are six times Last September, NIH director Dr. higher than the rates for whites. Harold Varmus answered the secretary's AU Aboard American Indians and Alaska Natives initiative by establishing an NIH-wide are nearly three times as likely as working group to develop a strategic Going beyond lhe six areas identified whites to have diabetes diagnosed; plan for tackling health disparities; in by the Secretary's initiative, NIH Hispanics and Latinos are almost January, NIH acting director Dr. Rud1 expects each institute to develop its twice as likely. African Americans Kirschstein elevated membership on own strategic plan for addressing and Native Americans show increased the working group to IC director level, disparity in the disease areas it studies. susceptibility to kidney complica­ effectively putting the initiative on lhe These individual plans will belp tions of diabetes. fasl track and giving it teeth. determine the priorities and emphasis Death rates from heart diseases are "NIH has a central role in eliminating areas in the total NIH strategy. disproportionately high among persistenl health disparities through NIH acting deputy director Dr. Yvonne blacks. Native Americans have a medical research, research training, and Maddox and NIAID director Dr. higher incidence of meningitis due to dissemination of scientificalJy sound Anthony Fauci, who now cochair the Haemophilus inj1uenzae 8. Stroke, a trans-NIB working group, major health problem for d1e entire recently introduced the initiative, country, disproportionately affects ..Addressing Health Disparities: minority citizens-particularJy NIH Program of Action," to the African Americans. Sudden infant agency's Council of death syndrome is more prevalent in Public Representatives (COPR). minority populations-two and a half "Initially, NIH will focus on times more prevalent in blacks and racial and ethnic minority three to five times more prevalent in populations including African Native Americans. tn 1998, blacks Americans. Asians, Pacific were nearly lO times more likely than Islanders, Hispanics and whites to be diagnosed with AIDS. NIH acting deputy director Dr. Yvonne Maddox and Latinos, Native Americans and In fact, certain sectors of the nation NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, who cochair the Native Alaskans," said Maddox. do not enjoy the same benefits of trans-NIH working group to develop a strategic plan on who also represents NIH on the health and increased life expectancy health disparities research, recently Introduced the DHHS disparity initiative panel. that the majority of Americans do. initiative to NIH's Council of Public Representatives. "Additionally, research on beall·b disparities related to socioeco- NIH Responds medical information," Kirschstein said, nomic status wi ll be included." Recognizing these differences­ in her opening statement to Congress The NIH initiative's goals commonly called health disparities­ earlier this year. In fiscal year 200 I, are to develop a 5-year strategic Secretary of Health and Human NIH will allocate $20 million 10 research agenda encompassing all Services Donna Shalala launched a establish a new Coordinating Center institutes, improve recruitment and department-wide initiative to eliminate for Research on Health Disparities training of minority investigators, or reduce six specific health gaps by within OIJ. expand outreach and communication 2010. The six areas are cancer screen­ In addition, a new trans-NIH working efforts in target communities, form new ing and management, infant mortality, group wi ll develop a strategic plan to partnerships with other federal and HIV I AJDS, heart disease, diabetes and eliminate or reduce healtJ1 disparities private organizations with similar immunizations. The initiative, among different segments of the interest in addressing health gaps,

18 SUMMER 2 0 0 0

and get more minority participants into clinical trials. NIH/SNMA Health Awareness Fair Draws Hundreds A health awareness fair Next Steps hosted jointly by NIH and the Student National Maddox said before the strategy can Medical Association move forward, it will have to pass (SNMA) drew more than muster with NCH associate director for 500 participants to NIH 's research on mi nority health Dr. John campus on June 3. Ruffin and his advisory committee as The fair capped a well as Kirschstein. Several TCs have weekend of activities had their advisory councils review that represented the first their individual plans; NIH will also outreach events in confer on the plan with COPR mem­ connection with NIH's bers. Since Kirschstein put the NIH acting director Dr. Ruth Klrschstein gives opening remar1

19 N I H A A UPDATE

A Place of Respite NIH Family Lodge To Be Built Near Lasker Center on Campus By Carla Garnett For many years. Clinical Center while they are learning the skills management officer. "Often families caregivers have known of at least one needed to sustain care at home. If come to suppon their loved ones and ching almost all patients have in space is available. patients who are must find lodging either in local common: When a person is seriously being treated at the CRC and travel to hotels-at great cost-or by utilizing ill, his or her family is also seriously NIH from long distances, but do not the current guest house, neither of affected. When treating the patient, a require hospitalization, may use the which is convenient to the CC." good caregiver has to chink about facility." The current "guest house" is located treating the patient's family roo. The new lodge wi ll replace what had in eight apartments on Bartery Lane What happens when visiting hours been called the NTH Guest House, about 1.5 miles from the hospital, are over for the day and the Weymouth said. Although patient·s family leaves the this is a successful program, hospital? Often the fam il y and the families who use it has traveled many miles to be are grateful to stay there with the mom, dad, or brother rather than at hotels, it is undergoing treatment. not convenient to the CC. Repairing to a local motel "It cannot accommodate quickly loses its appeal when many families," she all anyone wants is the continued, "and it does not normalcy and comfort of meet their emotional needs home. Developers of the like the Family Lodge will Children ·s Inn realized this do when it provides a long ago; the inn's success comfonable, private since it was built in 1990 to environment that will be help pediatric patients regain shared by others who can a sense of home is well The site of the family lodge is at the southwest corner where Convent provide support, if needed." documented. Dr. meets Center Dr. The Lasker Center Is In the background and the With an idea of pooling What about families of ad ult new hospital exp ansion is across the street. resources with the patients, though? Shouldn ·1 Children's Inn, Gallin, who there be a warm. homey place for them. before that structure-actuall y several sits on the inn's board of directors as a too? CC director Dr. John Gallin units in Bldg. 20. the apartment clinical advisor. broached the possibil­ thought so, and so did members of the building that sat at the corner of Center ity of adding an adult facility onto the Foundation for NIH (FNIH). which has and Wesc Drives -was razed in inn. Not wanting to dilute the pediat­ undertaken a project to build an NCH October 1997 to make way for CRC ric focus of the inn's mission, however. Family Lodge on campus. construction. Since then, CC logistics board members declined ro pursue "Having u chronic illness places an officials have arranged for families of adding on to that facil ity. Several on incredible burden on the family as a aclult patients to use off-campus the board later came to Gallin to offer whole-on marriages, as wel I as on housing-mainly local hotels, motels their help in getting another inn-like healthy children of an ill parent;' or shon-term apar1 ments. These place built on campus. this one for Gallin explai ned. "The NIH Family arrangements work well, but they are families or adult patients. How cou ld Lodge wi ll provide housing for the far from convenient, inexpensive or such a project be financed? That was families and loved ones or Clinical homey. just about the time the newly invigo­ Research Center adult patients. The ·'We need a comfonable place that rated FNlH emerged. FNIH provides lodge will also provide transitional will provide respite and lodging for donors in the private sector the housing for patients and their family families and caregivers or our patients," opportunity to collaborate with NLH in caregivers after hospital discharge, explained Jan Weymolllh, CC space projects that bolster the agency's

20 SUMMER 2 0 0 0

research and !raining activities. The by but need a rest or a shower or just a ..With NIH's new clinical treatment Family Lodge effort fit the bill. place to get away from the hospital for programs-particularly solid organ "This whole lodge concept promotes a few hours. When space allows, transplants and bone marrow trans­ what is called in the medical commu­ outpatients will have the opportunity plants-a greater number of patients nity 'family centered care,' remarked to use it on a daily basis while in with higher acuity illnesses are now Dr. Constance Battle, FNIH executive 1reatment, rather than waiting in the staying longer at the Clinical Cenrer director. "The idea is that in addition halls or public spaces of the CRC. We than before.'' GaUin said. "I have seen to providing the very best physical can do so much more to provide in my own patients the tremendous medical care, we also need to address comfort to our patients, their fam ilies benefit of having family members patients' emotional, psychological and and caregivers in a place so close to the nearby while they participate in the spiritual needs. They are concerned CRC rhat it will just take minutes to studies here:' about their condition and prognosis. reach their loved ones. In this way "The site is important for its beauty they're undergoing uncomfortable and rhey wilJ always feel connected both to and its proximity to the hospital.'" perhaps painfuJ procedures, they're their loved ones and the CRC." Banle concluded. ·we want an separated from family and they're often So excited are Gallin and his wife. Or. architect who can design in the spirit of lonely. We plan to create a comfort­ Elaine Gallia. at the prospect of a the lodge-a comfortable. convenient able, convenient and supportive setting lodge that this year they have donated place of respite for regrouping and that will enhance the research experi ­ half of bis retirement pay from the refortifying during the high stress of ence for patients and their families and Commissioned Corps to the effort. being ill.'' encourage patient participati on in research trials." The lodge is tentatively being planned as a 35-unit facility, erected Funding the New Lodge near the Lasker Center-walking distance to the new hospital-where "Because government funding is not available for this purpose;· explained Convent Dr. meets Center Dr. Each unit Dr. Constance Battle, executive director of the Foundation for the NIH, "the will be like a smaJ l apartment with a foundation is soliciting private support." Project planners estimate that $9 bathroom and kitchenette. Each million is needed-$7.5 million to build the lodge and $ 1.5 million to kitchenette will include a sink and a endow family support programs. The foundation has already raised more microwave. There will be common than $3 million for construction. and $ 1.5 milJion in endowment to help gathering and recreation rooms. ln sustain the lodge·s programs. FNlH board of directors chair Dr. Charles addition. Battle noted that a tele­ Sanders, retired CEO at Glaxo Inc., has been instrumental in acquiring commuting center will be installed so leadership gifts, Battle noted. Three major pharmaceutical companies have residents can keep in touch back home, contributed $ 1.5 million each to the project. Another $4.5 miJJion for and perhaps even maintain their jobs construction costs is being solicited through a 2000 campaign plan devel­ by working remotely via computer. oped by the foundation. Other maintenance costs for the lodge would be "My experience with the Children's borne by the institutes and centers lreating patients whose families stay at lan has taught me over and over that ilie facility. Planners hope that once the $9 million goal has been reached, families need privacy, but also need the lodge- unJike the Children·s Inn-will be self-sustaining without support," remarked Weymouth, who ongoing fundraising. 'The Family Lodge project is the foundation's also serves as lodge program manager. fundraising priority in 2000,'' said Battle. "We will seek gifts at every "The lodge will provide both housing level." The foundation hopes to receive contributions from anyone inter­ for families here for long periods and ested,...-eorporations, foundations and individuals.'· To learn more about the who !ravel great distances, as well as lodge or how to make contributions. contact the Foundation at 301- 402- opportunities for tJ1ose who li ve close 53 l I or visit online at http://www.fnih.org.

21 N I H A A UPDATE

For Your Information Meet Dr. Howard Gadlin, NIH Ombudsman Dr. Roward Gadlin is the director of the Nffi Office of the ombudsman and bead of Lhe Center for Cooperative Resolution. The word "ombudsman" originated in Sweden during the 19th century, where the term applied to a public official appointed to investigate citizen's complaints against government agencies. The pw-pose of the Office of the Ombudsman is to ensure that every voice in NIB can be heard and that problems can receive an ,impartial review to provide the Nill Try this New Web Site: community with confidential and informal assistance in resolving work-related con­ Clinicaltrials. gov tlicts. disputes and grievances; to promote The NIH recently launched the fair and equitable treatment within Nill; and ftrst phase of a consumer friendly to work toward improving the overall quality database to provide the public of worklife. The office offers dispute with infonnation on federal and resolution services and helps people to use private medical studies available non-adversarial approaches in resolving to patients nationwide. Called disputes. Gadlin's five-person office bandied "ClinicalTrials.gov," it provides 305 cases last year. He is a former psychol­ patients, families, and members ogy professor with J7 years of professional of the public with easy access to experience as an ombudsman on both clinical trials infonnation. coasts-IO years at the University Massa­ including studies currently chusetts, Amherst, and most recently 7 years recruiting patients, the trial at the University of California in Los Angel.es. Dr. Howard Gadlin locations, the criteria for partici­ pation. and the purpose of the studies. Tbe site, which currently contains over 5,000 clinical Bench Honors Ophelia E. Harding studies sponsored primarily by NIH. will add studies from other federal agencies and private industry in the corning year. Visitors to the site can search the database by disease or condition or by the study sponsor. [t also provides the public with addi­ tional resource infonnation, frequently asked questions, and a user's guide.

When sitting on this bench, which was established in honor of the NIH resident housing manager, one appropriately views the NIH residential quarters. The bench plaque reads, "In memory and appreciation of Ophelia E. Harding, NIH Resident Housing Project Manager, 1972-1995; Clinical Center Nurse, 1955-1972." She died In 1997, and the bench was a combined effort of the residents who knew her and NIH staff wh o worked w.ith her.

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Hatfield Visits Clinical Research Building Site Mark 0. Hatfield, former U.S. senator from Oregon and member of the National Advisory Council on Aging, is sh own with Margie DeBolt, project architect of the Clinical Research Center, who is describing details of the CRC exterior to him and his wife Annette. The new CRC, is named in his honor. He served for 30 years as a senator and for 8 as chairman of the Senate appropriations committee, always champi­ oning mon ey and support for clinical research. The building Is scheduled to open In 2002.

Say Hello to Eurest Check This Out For almost 50 years, Guest Services, The NIA has a free I 00-page booklet on exercise for lnc., a not-for-profit entity that was seniors with infonnation on exercises, motivation, safety, established by Congress in the self-tests, benefits, and nutrition. A companion vide0 has 1930's to provide food service to just been released that costs $7. To receive both the government agencies, ran the booklet and tbe video, mail a check or money order for cafeteria services at NIH. They have $7. payable Lo the National Institute on Aging and send been replaced by Eurest Dining to NlAJC, Dept F.P.O., Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD Services, a component of a British 20898-8057. To receive only the free booklet, call 1- multi national corporation Compass 800-222-225. PLC, which recently won a lO-year contract to provide service at six campus cafeterias and two cafes in Bldgs. I , I 0, 3 1. 35 and 45. The company manages 145 facilities within an hour and a half of Wash­ Sea School ington, D.C.. including the Supreme Court. NASA's Goddard Space Flighc Continuing Education. Inc., Center, the PAA, Montgomery University at Sea is sponsoring, in College. Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac, conjunction with Holland Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, America, a series of medical Prudential, State Farm. IBM, Shell meetings 2000-2001. NIHAA in Oil, Mobil. and Chevy Chase Bank. will benefit if we participate. Eurest promises co improve the foterested NlliAA members variety, quaLity and presentation of should call 1-800-422-07 11 the food al lower prices. The proof or email: contactus@ will be in che eating since a recent continuingeducation.net. survey showed that 43 percent of NIH'ers bring their lunch lo work.

23 N I H A A UPDA TE

NIH Notes-February 2000 to July 2000 Appointments and Personnel Changes Dr. Richard A. Anderson recently joined section in the molecular, cellular. and deputy director of NlAAA's Division of NIGMS as a program director in the developmental neuroscience integrated review Clinical and Prevention Research. He joined Division of Genetics and Developmental group. From 1992 until coming to CSR, NIAAA in I 988. Jn his new position he will Biology, where he will manage researcb Chaiti11 was an associate professor (tenured in be responsible for advising the DCPR grants in the areas of DNA recombination 1994) in the department of anatomy and cell direcror in planning. administering and and cell growth and differentiation. He was biology at UNT ... Capt. Robert implementing alcohol treatment. prevention at Wake Forest University School of DeChristoforo has been named deputy chief and health services research programs ... Dr. Medicine. where he worked as an associate of the CC Phannacy Department. He bas Jerry Klein has joined the CSR wbere be professor in the departments of internal been with the Pbannacy Department for 21 will be scientific review administrator of two medicine and pathology with research years ... Dr. Harold Freeman, chief executive study sections in the oncological sciences affiliations in the departments of biochemis­ officer and president of North General integrated review group. These sections try and su rgical sciences ... Dr. Julian Hospital. Harlem, and cha.irrnan of the review Small Business Innovation Research Azorlosa has jo.ined CSR as the scientific President's Cancer Panel. was appointed to a and Small Business Technology Transfer review administrator of the behavior and newly created position of associate director Research gram appJjcations in the areas of biobehavioral processes-I study section, for health disparities at NCI. He will work diagnosis and treatment of cancer, radiation which provides initial scientific review of part-time as a "special government employee" biology and medkal physics ... Dr. Michael clinical and pre-clinical research grant setting up an NCI Center for the Study of Kozak recently joined CSR as scientific applications pertaining to psychopharmacol.­ Health Disparities ... Dr. Nancy Hicks review administrator of study section 5 of the ogy and basic behavior process. He was recently joined CSR as a scientific review behavior and biobebavioraJ processes associate professor of psychology from administrator in the social sciences, nursing, integrated review group, whicb reviews 1996 to 1999 at Southeastern Louisiana epidemiology. and methods integrated review applications in the areas of adult psychopa­ University ... Dr. George Barnas recently group. She has specialized in studies of the thology, aging and treatment developmenL joined tbeCSR as scientific review adminis­ health effects of ionizing radiation, elemental Since 1994, be was clinical director of the trator of the lung biology and pathology mercury and beryllium as well as studies on Center for the Treatment and Study of study section in the pathophysiological epidemiological and statistical methods, and Anxiety. Medical College of Pennsylvania ... sciences integrated review group. Previ­ she has published extensively ... Al Hinton, Dr. Barnett ''Barry" Kramer, deputy ously. be was SRA in the Division of who worked for the U.S. Park Police. has director, Division of Cancer Prevention. NCI Extramural Activities, NIDCD. Before been selected the new chief of the PoJjce since J 996, has been named director of the com.ing to NCH in 1997, he was an associate Branch in the Division of Public Safety. Office of Medical Applications of Research professor at the University of Maryland ... Robert Fuller. a longtime veteran of the (OMAR) that is in the NIB Office of Disease Dr. J. Carl Barrett, scientific direcror of Prince George·s County police department, Prevention. He is also currently the editor-in­ NlEHS since 1995, bas been appointed has been selected as his deputy ... Dr. chief of the Joumal ofthe Narional Cancer director of the Division of Basic Sciences. Charles G. Hollingsworth bas been lnstin11e and a clinical professor in the NCI, starting in April. He has worked al selected director of the Office of Review at department of medkine at USUHS ... NIEHS since 1977, and is an expert on NCRR. He will oversee grant review Thomas LaSalvia bas been named associate mismatched repair genes and telomerase ... activities that focus on the support and director for scientific information and program Dr. Mark Boguski, a senior investigator in development of resources for biomedical planning in NIAID's Division of AIDS. He the Computational Biology Branch of technology. clinical research, comparative was director ofresearch and evaluation at the NLM's National Centerfor Biotechnology medicine and research infrastructure ... Tom Fenway Community Health Center in Boston lnfonnation and an intramural researcher at Hooven bas been named the new executive ... Dr. Scott Leischow, an expert in pharma­ NIB for 12 years, has agreed to join Science officer at NlCHD. Although he spent much cological treatments for nicotine rese.arch. has magazine's board of reviewing editors ... Dr. of his career at NIH, he joined NICHD from been appointed chief of the Tobacco Control Norka Ruiz Bravo bas been appointed the Environmental Protection Agency where Research Branch in the Behavioral Research associate director for extramural activities ar he served as deputy director of the Office of Progran1. NCI. He comes to NlHirom the NIGMS. She was deputy associate director Program Management Operations in the School of Public Health, University of of the Division of Extramural Activities at Office of Prevention, Pesticides. and Toxic Arizona. where he was an associate professor. NlGMS ... Rabbi Reeve Rober t Brenner Substances ... Camille Hoover was recently He was also director of the Arizona Program bas joined the staff in CC's Spiritual appointed executive officer for NCCA11. for Nicotine and Tobacco Research, and co­ Minjstry Department. Rabbi Brenner is also She will sei;ve as an administrative partner to director of the BiobebavioraJ Oncology at the Bethesda Jewish Congregation. where the director, Dr. Stephen E. Straus, identifying Research Program at the Arizona Cancer he has served for 14 years ... Dr. Michael opportunities and leading the design and Center ... Dr. Monica Liebert has joined Chaitin recently left the University of North implementation of innovative business and NIDDK to direct basic science projects for Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort worth to management systems. She is a social worker the urology program of the Di vision of join CSR. He is the scientific review by training and has also been an. administrator Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic administrator of tbe visual sciences A study ... Dr. Robert Huebner bas been named Diseases. She comes to NIH from the

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University ofTcxas-M.D. Anderson Cancer support the development of state-of-the-art new Office of Communications, which Center and Health Sciences Center. both io biomedical research faci Iities. improve animal replaces the Office of Cancer Communica­ Houston, where she served as associate research facilities, expand and develop faculty tions. The office will include five programs. professor in the departrnentS of urology, research capabilities at predominantly minority each headed by an associate director: surgery. and cell biology. She will also institutions. and improve tile public's Electronic Information Products and Systems, continue her research on urothelial differen­ understanding of science ... Dr. Lore Anne Communications Coordination; Outreach and timion and altered gene expression in bladder McNicol was recently appointed director of Partnerships; Media and Public; and cai1cer in NCl's Urologic Oncology Branch NEl's Division of Extramural Research ... D1~ Technologies and Services ... Dr. Karen ... Dr. Simon Y. Liu has been named Sandra L. Melnick has been appointed chief Sirocco, a research psychologist. has joined director of information systems at NLM. He of the Analytic Epidemiology Research the CSR as a scientific review integrated comes to NLM from the Department of Branch in NCI's Epidemiology and Genetics review group leader; she is responsible for Justice, where he served most recently as Research Program. Division of Cancer managing the review of applications for acting director of the infonmuion manage­ Control and Population Sciences. 111e branch grantS under tl1e Small Business Innovative ment and security staff. He will direct the identifies priorities and sponsors peer­ Research Program. Prior to joining CSR. programs of the Office of Computer and reviewcd extramural epidemiologic research Sirocco spent 10 years in the Laborat.ory of Communications Systems and its staff of 60, in cancer etiology and modifying factors, Clinical Studies, NlAAA, where she was who provide the NLM backbone computer nutritional epidemiology, infectious disease involved in basic and clinical biobehavioral networking facilities and suppon other NLM epidemiology, hormonal studies, molecular research into the causes. prevention, and components in local area networking ... epidemiology, metabolic/enzymatic pathways. treatment of alcoholism. Concurrent with James Marccticb is the new head of NLM's physical and chemical agents. and environ­ her position at NIAAA. she was also a index ~cction. which is responsible for the mental epidemiology ... Bar bara Merchant school psychology consultant ... Dr. Pamela indexing, editing, keyboarding and input of has been appointed executive officer at Starke-Reed is the new deputy director of the world's biomedical journal literature for NlDDK. A veteran administrator at NIH, she NIDDK's Division of Nuu·ition Research the MEDLINE database, plus Index Medicus has worked at NLM in the Division of Coordination, which advises the NTH director und other NLM publications. He came to Extramura l Programs and the Library and others on nutrition research and research NLM as a library associate in NLM's Operations and then as principal administra­ training injtimives. For the past 8 years. she postgraduate training program in I 979 ... Dr. tive officer of the Basic Research Division in has developed and promoted nutrition Michael T. Marron was recently selected NIMH's intramural program. In 1995, she research at NIA, where she directed the associate director ofbiomedical technology at was selected chief. Administrative Manage­ protein structure and function and nutrition NCRR. He has an extensive background in rnem Branch for the Division oflntramural and metabolism programs in the Biology of both chemistry and physics and hns been witb Research at NIDDK ... Dr. Laura K. Moen Agi ng Program ... Ronald Stewart has been the Office of Naval Research since 1983. He recently joined NIGMS us a scientific review named deputy executive officer at tl1e NLM. will head NCRR's grant portfolio, which adm inistrator in the Oftice of Scientific He has been chief of the Office of Adminis­ includes more than 60 Biomedical Technology Review, where she will manage the review of trative Management Services ( 1988-1990) Resource Centers nationwide, and NCRR 's selected research training. program project., and subsequently a supervisory management Shared Instrumentation Grants Program ... and center grant applications. She is a analyst in the Office of Administration ... Dr. Dr. Mark P. Mattson is NIA's new chief of biochemist who comes to NlGMS from Old Michael Waalkes. chief of the inorganic the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the Dominion Uni versity in Norfolk, where she carcinogenesis section of the NCI Labora­ Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore. was an associate professor in the department tory of Comparative Carcinogenesis at His laboratory will conduct sl.Udi es to of chemistry and biochcmifltry ... Dr. Susan NIEHS, has been appointed editor of elucidate the molecular and cellular mecha­ K. Pierce has been appointed chief of the Toxicology and Applied Plwr111acology a nisms responsible for nerve cell dysfunction Laboratory of Immunogenctics, NlAID. She Society of Toxicology journal ... Dr. Huber and degeneration in age-related disorders ... was the William A. and Gayle Cook chair in R. Warner has been named associate director Dr. Guy McKhann has been named the biological sciences and, since 1987, a of the Biology of Aging Program at NIA, as~ocimc director for clinical research at biochemistry professor in the department of which funds basic research to identify and NINOS. He fom1erly chaired the department biochemistry, molecular biology and cell characterize the genetic and environmental of neurology at Johns Hopkins University biology. all at Northwestem University ... factors that play a role in aging ... Dr. Michael und founded and directed the Z'lnvy l Krieger John Scachrist has been selected as director Weinrich recently joined the National Center Mind/Brain Institute. He also will be acting of the Office of Grants Management at for Medical Relmbilitntion Research as its clinical director for intramural research and NCRR. He will oversee a broad spectrum of new director. The NCMRR, part of the will coordinme NINDS extmmural and grams management activities concentrated in National Institute of Child Health and Human imrumural researchers ... Dr. Sidney A. four areas: biomedical technology, clinical Development. emphasizes the rehabilitation McNairy, Jr., has been selected as associate research. comparative and research infrastruc­ and life-Jong care of people with physical director of research infrastructure at NCRR. ture ... Dr. Susan Sieber has been name.cl disnbilities resulting from injury. disease or He will oversee grant program acti vities that director of communications, NCI, heading a disorder. He is an expert in clinical rehabiliw-

25 N I H A A UPDATE

1ion and a pioneer in computer-assisted Robert Dedrick, who directs the Drug honorary doctorate and spoke 10 the new rehabilitation. Before coming to NCMRR, he Delivery and Kinetics Resource in the ORS graduates on ''Privilege and Responsibility in was professor of neurology at the University Division of Bioengineering and Physical the New Millennium" ... Dr. Loretta of Maryland Medical School and acting chief Science, has been named NlH Engineer of the Finnegan, medical advisor to the director. of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Year for 2000 for his research conuibutions in Office of Research on Women's Health, Baltimore Veterans Administration Hospital. applying chemical engineering principles to recently was the keynote speaker and received important medical and biological problems ... the first Paolo Picchio Award at the Third Honors and Awards Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, NlAID director, National Conference on Methadone Mainte­ Dr. Darrell R. Abernethy, NTA clinical recently received two honors: At the 37th nance and other Substirucion Therapies held in director, recently received the Rawls-Palmer annual meeting of the In fectious Diseases Pierrasanta. Italy ... Mary Ann Guerra, Award from the American Society for Clinical Society of American, he was presented with deputy director for management. NCI, Pham1acology and Therapeutics at itS annual the 1999 Bristol Award, "in recognition of a recently received Vice President Gore's meeting in Los Angeles. His research focuses career reflecting major contributions to Hammer Award for her role as leader of the on the control of vascular tone by angiotensin, knowledge about infectious diseases." Ai lntraMall team. lntraMall is a innovative, full­ endothelin, calcium and their inhibitors ... Dr. Shippensburg Uni versity. Fauci received an service system that uses the power of Internet technology to streamline federal procurement. It was tested in January 1998 at NCI before it President Recognizes Young Researchers was adopted throughout NIH in June 1998. Two NIH intramural scientists are among 60 researchers who received rhe In addition to Guerra. members of the original fourth annual Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engi- lntraMall development team include: Karen neers. Tbjs is the hlghest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on Ortner, Jed Rifkin. Janice Romanoff. and young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. Jeffrey Weiner. NCI; Alan Graeff and Don President Clinton, who established the PECASE awards in February 1996, Preuss, then of the CC; Laura McNay and honored tbe recipients at a White House ceremony on Apr. 12. Awardees Alex Rosenthal. NlAID: Patrick Sullivan, receive up to a 5-year research grant to further their studies. NIH is one of NIDDK; Dennis George and Danielle eight federal agencies with science/engineering missions and PECASE KaczensJ...)'. CIT; Gary Kelley and Donald honorees. Winners from the intramural program are Dr. Ronald M. Sum­ Kemp, OPM; and Richard Nelson, OD ... mers of the CC's diagnosLic radiology deparnnent and Dr. Weidoog Wang Janyce Hedetniemi, director. Office of of NlA. Summers was cited "for developing special radiologic visualiza- Community Liaison. recently accepted Lhe tion techniques such as virtual reality presentations that pennit doctors and Montgomery County Civic Federation patients to better understand disease and better plan treatment." Wang·s Community Hero Award on behalf of her award read, "For innovative analysis of protein complexes and genes that office from federation president Dr. Jorge L. regulate development and aging." Eleven NIH grantees were also recognized. Ribas. The award recognizes contributions to the quality of county Life and was won on the National Academy of Sciences Elects 1\\'o NIH ScientisL'\ basis of NCH's commitment to create a partnership with surrounding nei ghborhood~ The NAS announced the election of 60 new members, including two N1H ... Dr. Colleen Hough, a postdoctoral fellow employees, bringing the total number of active members to 1,843. Newly at NLA. has received an AFLAC Travel elected members from NIH are Dr. Leslie G. Ungerleider, chief, Laboratory Scholarship Award for outstanding work in of Brain and Cognition. NlMH. and Dr. Reed B. Wickner. chief. Labora­ c:incer research. She is one of 81 members of tory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK. The NAS is a private organiza­ the American Association for Cancer tion of scientists and engineers dedicated to the furtherance of science and Research who have received AACR-AFLAC its use for the general welfare. It was established in 1863 by a congres­ Young Investigator Scholar Awards. She is sional act of incorporation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, that calls on the studying global gene expression patterns in academy to act as an official advisor to the federal government, upon ovarian cancer ... Dr. Daniel Kastner, request, in any maner of science or technology. NTAMS geneti c section chief. was the recipient of the metropolitan Washington 'l\vo NIH'ers Win Flemming Awards chapter of the Arthritis Foundation's first Of the dozen honorees in the 5 1st annual Arthur S. Plemming Awards, Breakthroughs in Arthritis Research Award. which honors outstanding federal employees with less than 15 years of He successfully identified the genes that are service, two are from NIH. Dr. Maria C. Freire, director of the Office of responsible for types of arthritis associated Technology Transfer, and Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, chief, molecular hematol­ with two inflammatory disorders known ns ogy section, NIDDK. TRAPS-tumor necrosis factor recep1or­ The awardees were honored at a reception and black tie dinner at the associated periodic syndrome and FM F Cosmos Club on June 8. More than 400 individuals - including a good (familial Mediterranean fe\'Cr) ... Dr. Stephen number of NlH'ers- have won the award, established by the Downtown l. Katz, NIAMS director and NCI Dennniol· Jaycees in 1948.. For the past two years, the award has been presented by ogy Branch chief. was awarded an American George Washington University. Academy of Dermatology Presidential Citation on Mar. 13. 'for leadership and

26

N I H A A UPDATE

had been a radiation safety training officer. an X-ray technician who worked for NIH Dana Bill, 44. a social science analyst at rEditor's Note: As the Upda1e went LO press. ( 1958-L970). died R:b. 22 at Monrgomery NHLB I. died of breast cancer Mar. 3 at we learned thal Virginia Holcomb. 60, died General Hospital. He had Alzheimer's Casey House Hospice in Rockville ... Dr. July 14 of breast cancer at the National Navy disease ....Dr. John L. Decker, 79. longtime John A. J acq uez who was in the depart­ Medical Center Hospital in Bethesda] ... NIH scientist and administrator. died of a ment of physiology. University of Michigan. Bonnfo Kalberer has retired after more than heart arrhythmia July 13 at Suburban Ann Arbor, died OcL 16. 1999. He was a 30 years at NIH. She began her NIH career Hospital. He was an authority on systemic scholar-in-residence at the Fogarty Intema· in personnel. serving as personnel officer in lupus erythematosus and chief of tional Center ( 1983- 1984) ... Mildred NlNDS and NWCR, and later moved into rhematology and the arthritis research Locke J ennings, 85, a research grants management, science education policy. and program at NJDDK ( 1965- 1983). From processor wilh NlH in the I 970's. died of program development and implemenlation. 1983-1990. Decker was direc1or of the lung cancer May 20 at her home in Leisure She plans to stay in the Bethesda area and Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center. After World in Silver Spring ... Elbridge will divide her time among family, consulling he retired from NlH, he did consulting work Johnson, 70. a security officer at N]}I in and volunteer work at the White House and for the FDA. From the start. Decker was the l 970's, died of cardiac arrest Apr. 21. for the Washington Area Women's Founda­ active in the NIHAA serving on various After he left NlH, he worked as a customer tion. and the Westie Rescue. as well as committees and on the board of directors for service representative with the Washington traveling and playing tennis ... Dr. two terms ... Elvira S. Dunham, 80. who Suburban Sanitation Commission ... Dr. Mobindar Poonian, a health scientist was a grants supervisor (1957-1967) at Elvin A. Kabat, 85. a renowned administrator in CSR. recently retired from NIH. died of cancer Feb. 1 at Montgomery microbiologist who was a pioneer in government service. His research expertise General Hospital ... Anita Briggs Dunn, 9 1, the field of immunology. died June 16 at encompasses the broad areas of organic a retired administrative assistant at NIH, died Royal Mergansett nursing home in North chemistry, nucleic acids synthesis, molecular May 30 of complications from injuries Falmouth, Muss. AltJ10ug,h he spent much biology and diagnostic techniques. In suffered in a fall. She spent 12 years in the of his professional career at Columbia retirement. Poonian 's plans include consult­ office of grants admini su·ation at NLH before University, he spent time and conducted ing, spending more time L1is family. retiring in 1973 ... Dr. Elizabeth Albrecht research at NlH. He was a Fogany scholnr­ gardening. investing. and reading ... Nola Frey, 49. a Silver Spring resident who had in-residence in 1974-1975. In 199 1. he Whitfield, a program analyst with NlDDK's worked at both NCH (1980-1986) and was honored with the National Medal of Office of Scientific Program and Policy USUHS (1986-L991). died of an aneurysm Science. It cited him for .. his seminal Analysis. has retired after 27 years at NTH. Feb. 11 at Holy Cross Hospital ... Dr. contriubutions in the field of immunology. She also worked at NCL and played a role in Andrew E. Gal, 81. a medicinal research and for bringing the field to its present developing NCl's Comprehensive Minority chemist at NINOS. died of respiratory and prominence" ... Dr. Seymour Kety, 84. a Biomedical Program. renal failure May 12 at Arlington Hospital. psychiatrist who was also a world-renowned He worked at NINOS from the early l 960's neuroscientist, died May 25 at his home in to the late 198o·s and retired as a section Westwood, Mass. Kety received, in 1999. Deaths head ... Genevieve "Gen" Evelyn Garner, the Alben Lasker Special Achievement Nancy Grancwich Adams, 67. an 81. died on Feb. 27 at the Goodwin House Award for li feti me achievement. He was occupati onal therapist who worked at NIH. in Alexandria. Va. She had worked at NIH cited for his work in neuroscience. died of breast cancer Apr. 4 at Washington (1948-1974). In 1948, she joined Nlli as a especially his "discovery of a method for Adventist Hospital. ln conjunction with her member of the Buildings Management measuring cerebral blood flow that Jed to job as an occupational therapist with the Branch. ln this job. and later, as a member current brain imaging techniques. adoptive clinical disorders branch of NIH's neuropsy­ of the Office of the Executive Officer, CC. studies in schizophrenia that established its chiatric research facility, she worked also at she worked oo the planning and opening of genetic origin. and visionary leadership in St. Elizabcths ( 1966-1998) as the hospital the CC. Then she served in adminsisrrative mental health that ushered psychiatry into occupational therapy training supervisor ... and special assistant roles in OD and when the molecular age." In 195 I. while at the Robert L. Campbell, a retired NLH she retired in December 1974, she was University of Pennsylvania, he began employee. died in September 1999. He special assistant in the office of the associate working with NIH. He was recruited as worked as an infonnatioo specialist, NfMH director foradministrati on. Once retired she the first scientific director of what became {1948-1962) and then wa<; an administrative and her husband, Bill, who died shortly NlM H. In 1956, hebecamechiefof officer al NIAMDD (1962-1976) ... Allen before her, spent time sailing and boating .. . NCMH's clinical science laboratory. He Chester, 75, a retired program analyst with Matilda Haratunian, 71, a secretary and continued at Penn and also worked at Johns NIGMS. died Apr. 28 at Suburban Hospital editor who worked al NEI ( 1983-1993), Hopkins University medical school. after a hean attack. He moved to the died Apr. L4 at a hospital in Atlantis, Fla.. In 1967 he joined Harvard University. Washington area in the early l 960·s and after after surgery for a heart ailment. She lived in retiring in 1983 ... Lois Perry Meng, 84. a working six years as an analyst with the Bethesda. but was taken ill in Florida while science writer with NIMH (195Crl976). Navy and Air Force depanments. he joined on vacation ... Susan Ruth Herbert. 59, a died Feb. 17 at Carriage Hj]J facility in NlGMS in 1969. During the 1970·s he was nurse who was a clinical trials specialist Bethesda. She had emphysema ... Ntinos C. a branch chief. He retired from NrH in 1983 working in coordinating drug development MyrianU1opoulos, 78. a scientist emeritus at and was a substitute social studies teacher in trials for NIDA ( 1994-2000), died of breast NIH and fom1er chief of the binb defects Momgomery County ... John P. Daly, 85. cancer July 13 at her Bethesda home ... and genetic disorders section. died Feb. 20 at

28 SUMMER 2 0 0 0

Walter Reed Army Medical Center after a psychologist at NTMH before joining the heart attack. He was an authority on North Carolina facu lty as a research Huntington's chorea and other forms of professor in 1964 ... Janet R. Terry, 84. neurologic disorders. He first came to NIH died Feb. 29 at a nursing home in Philadel­ in 1955 and retired in 1988 as a research phia. She had Alzheimer's disease. She is a Late-Breaking IC Changes geneticist in the developmental neurology fom1er kitchen staff supervisor at NIH. She branch. In 1989, he was named a scientist also brought artwork LO NI H through Lhe Dr. Carl Kupfer, the first and emeritus ... Dr. Eva Julia Neer, 62. a noted National Gallery of An's "Pictures for onl y director of the NEI. stepped biochemist and heart researcher at Harvard Patients" in the 1960's. She li ved in down on July 15 after 30 years at University and Brigham and Women's Rockville from 1953 to 1966 and was NLH. He served under six NIH Hospital in Boston, died Peb. 20 in married for 44 years to former Surgeon Cambridge, Mass., of breast cancer. An General Luther L. Terry, who died in 1985. di rectors and six presidents and NIH grantee and study section member, she The Terrys moved LO Philadelphia in 1966, a watched the NEl budget grow from received an NIH Merit Award in 1989. She year after Tecry retired as surgeon general ... $24 mi Ilion in 1970 to more than had been a member of the National Advisory Alice Brake Throckmorton, 77. an $450 million today. Kupfer shaped administrative assistant at NIH in the I 960's, General Medical Sciences Council since vision research in this country. 1998 ... Dr. Seymour Perry, 78. a cancer died of vascular disease Feb. 3 at Holy researcher at NCI who became a specialist in Cross Hospital ... Brenda H. Vanags, 53. a building a program of clinical trials assessing medical technology, died May 20 computer specialist at NIH, died May I0 at in vision research, including the at his home in Washington of prostate cancer. the Lynn House in Alexandria, Va. She had landmark diabetic rctinopathy He was deputy director of the Division of over 30 years of government service with study, and advocating basic Cancer Treatment. NCI, former director of mos1of her career at NIH. She worked at OMAR at NIH, and professor andl chairman NIA and joined NIAMS as a computer research on central visual process­ of fami ly and community medicine at specialist in the Scientitic lnforrnntion and ing in the brain. He will continue Georgetown Uni versity Medical Center. He Technology Branch. She provided informa­ to see patients at NIH and will was a founding member of the NIBAA tion on grants and applications from che complete a catalogue of the Cogan board of directors and also on the NIHAA lMPAC system for the management of the Collection. This is a compilation Update board of contributing editors. Since extramural program. NIAMS will plant a 1995, he had been director of the WHO tree on the NIH grounds in her memory ... of more than 50,000 clinical cases Collaborating Center of Heal Lb Technology Pauline Hulbert Wall, 84. who was at NCI and pathology reports done by the and established a network of 650 health care ( 1948-1980) lastJy as section chief in the late Dr. David Cogan, an NEI professionals around the world researching cancer communications office, died of researcher. Dr. Jack McLaughlin, the safety, effi cacy and cost of medical congestive heart failure June 28 at Suburban deputy director of NEI since 1998, technologies. He was a foaner assistant Hospital. Her entire NIH career was spent U.S. surgeon general who had a 23-year in tJ1e NCI inform ati on oftice. She worked has been named acting bead until a career with the USPHS ... Dr. Elbert A. in the graphics and audiovisuals section and permanent director is selected. Pet.erson, 81 , a pioneering NlH scientist in the NCI publications. visuals and Dr. Harold Slavkin, director of known for hi s work in protein separation reference section ... Florence R. White, 91. the NICOR, left July 15 to become chemistry. died of cardiac arrest Feb. 22 at a retired NIH biochemfa1, died of congestive dean of the University of Southern his home in Garren Park. In 1950. he joined heart failure Mar. 29 at her home in the staff at NI H and worked for 36 years Schenectady. N.Y. She was at the NIH for California's School of Dentistry. before retiring in I 986 as chief of the protein about 30 years before she retired in 1977 ... his alma mater. Dr. Lawrence chemistry section of the Laboratory of Eileen Hartford Wolfe, 38, a fonner NIH Tabak was named the new director Biochemistry, NCI. After retirement he research and laboratory technician in Lhe of the National Institute of Dental continued to work for another I0 years on I980's, died Feb. 22 at her home in Sarasota, and Craniofacial Research on Jul y reduced schedule. He developed, in the mid­ Fla .. of complications associated with multiple 1, 1. I950 's with Dr. Herbert Sober, cellulose ion sclerosis ... Jack Wolk, 88, a retired NrH and he will begin Sept. He exchange chromatography. This work won library researcher ( 1966-1977), died of currently directs U1e Center for the 197 1 Hillebrand Award of the Chemical congesli ve heart failure Peb. 12 at a hospital Oral Biology, Aab Institute of Society or Washington ... George McCaw in Margate, Fla. Biomedical Sciences, at the Pickrell, Ill, 71, a building engineer who University of Rochester. Dr. Neal retired in 1983 after 30 years at NIH. died Mar. 15 at his home in Kensington. He had Nathanson, director of the Office diabetes and heart ailments ... Dr. Harriet Mrs. Mary Calley Hartman of AIDS Research. is leaving NIH Lange Rheingold, 92. a child psychologist made a contribution to NlHAA on Sept. I. and research professor emeritus at the in memory of Genevieve "Gen" University of North Carolina, died Apr. 29 at Evelyn Garner and Pauline a retirement center in Chapel Hill, N.C. Hulbert Wall. Early in her career, she was a research

29 N I H A A UPDATE

Remembering Sidney Udenfriend (1918-1999)

By D1: Bernhard Witkop NIH Scholar

On May 25, friends, disciples. and colleagues of Sidney Udenfriend gathered at Drew University in Madison, NJ., for a memorial to a pioneer in the fields of metabolism and molecular biology. When James Shannon hired both of us more than 50 years ago to work in tbe new National Heart Institute, he predicted that our common interests would lead to a successful marriage of organic chemistry and biochemistry. lndeed, our mu tual "trypto-fun" started when, in 1953, Udenfriend and Herb Weissbach demonstrated that 1-5- hydroxytryptophan is the natural subso·ate for aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and converts it to serotonin. Al that time, serotonin was suspected to be a novel neurotransmitter, controlling sleep, memory, mood, and other physiological functions. This area of budding Dr. Bernhard Witkop (I), the author, research would ultimately lead to the organization of TSTRY-the receives the Hillebrand Award on Mar. 12, 1959, from the American Chemical Society International Study Group for Tryptophan Research-in 1983. president, Dr. Joseph Spies (c). Dr. Sidney Tryptophan-5-hydroxylase was another of Udenfriend's st11died Udenfriend (r), also a Hillebrand awardee, enzymes. He wanted to assay it by a tritiated substrate in the same way delivered that year's Hillebrand lecture. he·d followed the conversion of trans-4-3H-l-proline to 4-0H-proline in rhe post-translational conversion of procollagen to collagen. However, there was a big surprise, in 1966. wben the conversion of 5- 3H-tryptophan to 5-0H-tryptophan proceeded with almost full retention of tritium, which was not lost but migrated into the neighboring 4-position. In fairness to all the participating investigators, Udenfriend coined the name of "NLH-Shin' · for th is unprecedented phenomenon. The biosynthesis and metabolism of another fundamental neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. fascinated both Udenfriend and Julius Axelrod, who received the Nobel Prize in 1970 for related research. In the formati.on of norepinepbrine, according to Udenfriend, the rate-limiting step is hydroxylation of tyrosine. The preceding step, hydroxylation of phenylalanine, is involved in the clinical syndrome of pbenylpyruvic oligophrenia, or phenylketonuria. Again, when Udenfriend looked for a rapid assay of phenylalanine hydroxylase by offering it the tritiated substrate 4-3H-l~phenylalanine , tyrosine was formed with more tban 95 percent retention of tritium. The introduction of the "'Visiting Program" in the late fifties was a boon for NIH and brought us such outstanding postdocs as Siro Senoh, from Japan, who made 6-hydroxydopamine available to Udenfriend and the novel metabolite of norepinephrine, the so-called normetanephrine, available to Axelrod. When in 1968 Udenfriend accepted the position of director of the Roche Institute for Molecular Biology, he parted from his beloved NfH with a heavy heart. Soon thereafter, he showed his gratitude and attachment by acting as one of the three ·•godfathers·• wbo belped to name Building I the James Augustine Shannon Building. A less well-known contribution of Udenfriend to NTH was his early recognition of the merits of Marshall Ni renberg, years before Nirenberg received the Nobel Prize in 1968 for deciphering the genetic code, and of Nirenberg's wife, Brazilian biochemist Perola Zaltzman, who worked in Udenfriend's lab and would have left had her husband concluded his search for a position outside NIH. If not for Udenfriend's finding places for Nirenberg and Zaltzman at the Heart Institute, NCH would have lost them both.

30 SUMMER 2 0 0 0

NIH Retrospectives: 5 Decades of History

Federal Security Agency announced Calvin B. Baldwin, Jr., bas been named that federal employees will be dismissed NIH associate director for administra­ only if the temperature hits 95 and tion. He bas been executive officer of the humidity hits 55 percent. NCI since 1970, and will now serve as Weather conditions in Washington, the principal advisor to the NIH Summer 1950 physicians say, are not likely to director on administration and manage­ endanger the health of normal persons ment concerns as well as director of the Miss Margaret Doonan, NIH librarian, during ordjnary working activity. office of adminislration ... On July 9, is retiring after 30 years in the PHS. the White House announced that Dr. The NIH-PHS library bad a long history Vincent T. De Vita, Jr. has been named before moving to Bethesda in 1942. In ninth director of the National Cancer 1920, Doonan began the library in the lnstituce. PHS filing room that was in the Butler f~1Record Building, now tom dO\.Vll. The library - ...... ~.:.:...._ •••>!'!.:' then consisted of several hundred Summer 1970 books that she had collected from Ther.iRecord various PHS offices. The NIH-PHS The NIH Library, now located in the - library now has 60,000 volumes ... CC, has added innovations such as an - Down by Bldg. T-6 families are busy electronic security system, longer loan Summer 1990 :it work on NLH g:irden plots. The periods, enlarging and improving the parents are weeding and djgging, the library collection, and a copy service Nine years of hoping, 2 years of kids are running up and down the bills. has been initiated. Orientation building, and 4 years of high-level There are 90 plots (35 X 40) that are program and tours will be offered corporate and political lobbying available for cultivation and pretty weekly ... Dr. Carl G. Baker has been culminated in the openfog of the soon there wi ll be produce gaJore­ named sixth director of the National Children's Inn at NIH during the third lenuce, onjons, peas, lima beans, Cancer Insti tute. Baker. a physician week of June. Festivities began beets, carrots, com, tomatoes and and biochemist, has been on the NCI Sunday, June 17 with an open house then flowers blooming. staff since 1949. and ended the following Friday night at a dinner.... Intramural NIH has distinguished itself in one of the most competitive areas of biomedical science-publication of research...... _.. _ ...... ·-··---·- ----· f~1Hecord According to a recent issue of The Summer 1960 ...... ~~:.._ ~...... '!.": __.. Scientist, 10 NIH researchers are among Summer 1980 the top 100 most-cited scientists of the Continuing along with the hisrory of I 980's. The list was compiled from the the NIH library the Surgeon General, Dr. Robert Levy, director of the files of Science Citation Index, a PHS, recently approved an organiza­ National Heart, Lung, and Blood publication of the Philadelphia-based tional move elevating the N1H Library Institute, recently was awarded the Yan Institute for Scientific Infonuation from a section in the Scientific Reports Slyke Award in Clinical Chemistry by (!SD. The scientists are: Dr. Robert Branch to branch status in the Division the American Association for Clinical Gallo, NCI: Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, of Research Services ... On Aug. 15 two Chemistry. He was cited by AACC as NIAID; Dr. Ira Pastan, NCI; Dr. Thomas institutes were added to NIH by an Act of "a world renowned authority and Waldmann, NCI; Dr. Stuart Aaronson, Congress: the National Institute of Neu­ pioneering investigator in lipid and NCI; Dr. Michael Sporn , NCI; Dr. rological Diseases and Blindness and the lipoprotein transport, lipid metabolism William Paul, NlAID; Dr. Ronald National Institute on Arthritis, Rheuma­ and medical approaches to atheroscle­ Crystal. NHLBI: Dr. John Daly. NIDDK: tism, and Metabolic Diseases ... The rosis in relation to hyperlipidemia" ... and Dr. Martin Rodbell, NIEHS.

31