November 1, 2019, NIH Record, Vol. LXXI, No. 22
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November 1, 2019 Vol. LXXI, No. 22 “Scientists’ Mind-Body Problems: Lobotomy, Science and the Digital Humanities,” the 2019 NLM James Cassedy Lecture in the ALL IN THEIR HEADS History of Medicine delivered Sept. 19 by Dr. Miriam Posner, assistant professor in the When Faces Made the Case information studies department at UCLA. for Lobotomy “This whole lecture is the story of BY CARLA GARNETT different modes of proof coming in and out of fashion,” she said. “We find ourselves now If you were mentally ill back in the late in a time when data and statistics claim an 1930s to late 1950s, doctors might have tried enormous amount of cultural authority. One to cure you by drilling a hole in your brain of the central questions of digital humanities and disconnecting the thalamus from the is, what can statistics capture and what kind frontal lobe. They may have been convinced of meaning eludes these methods?” A drawing from Dr. Walter Freeman’s book, to employ this drastic surgery by eccentric In the mid-20th century, lobotomies were Psychosurgery in the Treatment of Mental Disorders and Intractable Pain, shows his neuroscientist Dr. Walter Freeman, “the commonly practiced “on tens of thousands icepick-inspired transorbital lobotomy world’s greatest proponent and pioneer of of mentally ill people,” Posner pointed out. instrument. lobotomy,” who used portraits as scientific “We now think of lobotomy as an atrocity proof of concept. and rightfully so, but it’s also important to Posner was compelled to examine the Why did the medical community back then understand how a lot of very smart, educated surgery’s history, and Freeman’s career, accept what seems preposterous to us now? people could have believed otherwise during by a photo—and then more photos and old That was the fascinating question in the procedure’s prime.” SEE LOBOTOMY, PAGE 6 THE BIGGER PICTURE NCCIH Celebrates 20th Charon Espouses Power of Anniversary Narrative Medicine BY ELLEN O’DONNELL BY DANA TALESNIK An anniver- Everyone has a sary—especially a story to tell. We milestone one— seek compassion. invites us to reflect on the past, examine We want to be Film depicts active-shooter training; see p. 12. heard. the present and Dr. Rita Charon envision the future. ALSO THIS ISSUE NCCIH staff, a has pioneered a Briefs ....................................2 whole movement group of research- around this idea, ers and a public NIH Hosts International Summit in Genetics, encouraging audience did just Genomics. .3 the medical that at the center’s Grantees Share 2019 Nobel Prizes ...........5 community to Dr. Helene Langevin 20th anniversary symposium, Structural Biologist Wilson To Give Kinyoun Dr. Rita Charon think beyond Lecture ...................................7 their checklists of “NCCIH at 20: A Catalyst for Integrative symptoms and embrace patient narratives. Health Research,” held recently in Lipsett CFC Contest Features Karaoke ..............9 Actively listening to and empathizing with Amphitheater. Digest ...................................10 “I think it’s fair to say that at 20 years old, patients, she believes, can improve health Milestones ................................11 outcomes. NCCIH has proven itself to be an incredibly SEE CHARON, PAGE 4 SEE ANNIVERSARY, PAGE 8 BRIEFS NLM Lecture on Informatics, Nov. 13 NIDCR scientist emeritus, who developed the first- are more common in women than in men; and The next talk in the NLM Informatics and Data ever salivary gland gene therapy tried in humans; some are characterized by different disease Science Lecture Series is “Informatics for Genomics- Steven Taylor, chief executive officer, Sjögren’s courses in women than in men. The FOA seeks informed Surveillance of RNA Viruses,” to be given Syndrome Foundation; Dr. Caroline Shiboski, pro- research that will expand the current understand- by Dr. Matthew Scotch on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 2 fessor and chair, department of orofacial sciences, ing of the sex and gender factors that drive these p.m. in Lister Hill Auditorium, Bldg. 38A. University of California, San Francisco, School of crucial differences. Dentistry; and NIDCR assistant clinical investigator Genomics-informed Dr. Blake Warner. First-round applications are due Nov. 25. Due dates surveillance is for subsequent rounds of applications are Nov. 25, now recognized The event will be followed by a reception on the 2020, and Nov. 26, 2021. as an important FAES terrace. Individuals who need sign language extension to the interpreting and/or other reasonable accommoda- Webinar on Decision-Making in mHealth monitoring of rapidly tion to participate should contact Chalante Davis at Features Dempsey, Nov. 5 [email protected] and (301) 827-1093, or the evolving pathogens. The Office of Disease Prevention will hold a Next-generation Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339. Requests should be made at least 5 days before the event. Methods: Mind the Gap webinar with Dr. Walter sequencing has the Dempsey on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. ability to produce large amounts of NIH Community College Day, Nov. 26 Dempsey, an data for tracking The Office of Intramural Training & Education will assistant professor viruses of public hold NIH Community College Day on Tuesday, Nov. of biostatistics health importance. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Natcher Conference at the University Dr. Matthew Scotch Biomedical infor- Center. The all-day event will provide community of Michigan, will matics approaches college students and faculty an opportunity to focus on mobile can facilitate the visit the NIH campus and learn about careers and health (mHealth) translation of these data into information for public training opportunities in biomedical and health studies in which health surveillance. care fields. To register and for more information both longitudinal visit www.training.nih.gov/communitycollegeday. and time-to-event Scotch is associate professor of biomedical data are recorded informatics at Arizona State University and per participant. He assistant director of ASU’s Biodesign Center for NIH Offers First Research Project Grant on will discuss how Environmental Health Engineering. His work lies Sex, Gender models enter into at the intersection of bioinformatics and public Dr. Walter Dempsey various stages of health informatics and focuses on the theory and NIH recently released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled The Intersection of the intervention application of genomics-informed public health development process. surveillance of RNA viruses. Sex and Gender Influences on Health and Disease for research project grant (RO1) applications. The Registration is required at https://www.prevention. The talk will be broadcast live and archived at ORWH FOA encourages research across many sci- nih.gov/education-training/methods-mind-gap/ http://videocast.nih.gov/. entific disciplines to examine how sex and gender joint-models-longitudinal-and-time-event-data-in- factors intersect with health and disease. Individuals who need reasonable accommodation forming-multi-stage-decision-making-mhealth. The to participate should contact Ebony Hughes, (301) In the last decade, there has been growing webinar will be recorded and available on the ODP 451-8038, [email protected] or the Federal recognition that disease prevalence, course and website within about a week. Relay (1-800-877-8339). outcomes in women and men are influenced by both biologic sex and gender. Research suggests NIDCR Holds Sjögren’s Grand Rounds, that some diseases are unique to women; some Nov. 15 in Lipsett Amphitheater The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research will host a special grand rounds to mark Sexual & Gender Minority Research the genesis of its Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic, a Awards bench-to-bedside program bringing basic and pre- The Sexual & Gender Minority Research clinical scientific discoveries to the clinical setting. Office held the second annual NIH Sexual “Celebrating 35 Years of Sjögren’s Syndrome & Gender Minority Research Investigator Research at NIH” will be held Friday, Nov. 15 from Awards Program in Wilson Hall on Sept. 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Lipsett Amphitheater, Bldg. 10. 17. Three awardees presented on their research and answered questions from the In 1984, a Sjögren’s syndrome clinical protocol led audience. At right (from l) office director by NIDCR investigator Dr. Bruce Baum launched Dr. Karen Parker welcomes honorees Dr. the clinic’s establishment. Speakers will trace Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen of the University the past, present and future of research on this of Washington School of Social Work, systemic autoimmune condition, which commonly Dr. Lindsay Taliaferro of the University of causes dry mouth and dry eyes and affects up to 4 Central Florida and Dr. Katie Biello of Brown million people in the United States. University School of Public Health. Their lectures highlighted research on health Dry mouth is caused by decreased functioning disparities faced by sexual and gender of the salivary glands and interferes with taste, minority populations. To see the event, makes chewing and swallowing more difficult and visit https://videocast.nih.gov/summary. increases the risk for cavities, tooth loss and oral asp?live=34691. infections. Featured speakers include Baum, now 2 • NIH RECORD • NOVEMBER 1, 2019 and bioinformatics; field trips to academic administrator. Collectively, in just this past NIH Hosts International and commercial institutions, such as Johns year, the 2016-2018 fellows have published Summit in Genetics, Hopkins University and