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Big Secrets in Small Genes the Brain, Inflammation, Cancer, And

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NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH • OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR | VOLUME 25 ISSUE 6 • NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 Big Secrets in Small The Brain, Inflammation, Cancer, and More Genes Report from the 2017 NIH Research Festival The Work of Gisela Storz, Ph.D. BY JENNIFER PATTERSON-WEST, NIDDK Her colleagues laughed at her “crazy idea” when she was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1980s. Gisela Storz had predicted that a single protein (OxyR) could sense a destructive oxidant, hydro- gen peroxide, bind to DNA, and turn on genes that would neutralize the threat. But Storz has gotten the last laugh. Turns D. NEMECEK, J.B. HEYMANN, A.C. STEVEN, NIAMS out that her hypothesis was correct. Storz, now a distinguished investigator at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, continued to study OxyR throughout her training and later as an investigator at NIH. For many years, her lab studied redox-sensitive transcription factors and the bacterial and yeast responses to oxidative stress. Her group discovered that the activity of the Escherichia coli transcription factor You guessed right: The bacteriophage Phi-6, which serves as a model system for rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrheal disease among infants and young children. Shown here, a cryo-electron microscopy image of Phi-6‘s protein shell, OxyR is regulated by a reversible disulfide- or procapsid, cut open to show the different types of protein: P1 (blue), P4 (red), P7, yellow, and P2 (purple). bond formation (Science 279:1718–1721, 1998). Her group also serendipitously found The annual Research Festival is “about the science we do here, but also about one of the first small regulatory RNAs—the the people who do that science,” said Deputy Director for Intramural Research Michael OxyS RNA (Cell 90:43–53, 1997). Today, Gottesman at the festival’s opening on September 13. The intent of the festival is for her lab focuses on the identification and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 characterization of small, noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) and of small proteins with 50 amino acids or fewer. CONTENTS Storz highlighted her lab’s many FEATURES • |1| Profile: Gisela Storz, Ph.D. |1| 2017 Research Festival |5| Insights from a former contributions to the field of sRNAs and Surgeon General |6| Lasker Scholar: Anish Thomas |7| NLM History |9| Robotic Exoskeleton small proteins at this year’s Anita Roberts |10| Research Festival Plenary Sessions |14| Research Festival Concurrent Symposia lecture held in May 2017. During nearly 20 DEPARTMENTS • |2| DDIR: Taking Stock of the NIH Research Festival |3| News Briefs: New NCI CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Director; NIH Partners with 11 Pharmaceutical Companies |7| Abbreviations |8| Research Briefs |16| Colleagues: Recently Tenured |17| SIG Beat |20| Photographic Moment: Bucking Protocol! FROM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH Taking Stock of the NIH Research Festival Don’t Miss the Very Best that NIH Has to Offer BY MICHAEL GOTTESMAN, DDIR The 2017 NIH Intramural Research and workshops reflecting the interests of why don’t more of us attend our Research Festival, co-chaired by scientific directors our scientific interest groups. (Every year Festival? In a survey we conducted several Susan Amara (NIMH) and Steve Cha- two different scientific directors with years ago, we found that the major reason nock (NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemi- complementary interests are asked to given by our fellows for not attending NIH ology and Genetics), was by most accounts manage the festival.) Plenary-session themes lectures and scientific events, such as the an amazing scientific potpourri of inno- this year included the BRAIN Initiative, Research Festival and the NIH Director’s vative research and new biotechnology as inflammatory diseases, and the Cancer Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series, was well as an opportunity to showcase the Moonshot. conflicting activities (the research itself, work of our trainees and fellows in the Other popular events included the deadlines involving publication and other context of the long-term goals administrative requirements, for intramural research. and other events, of which Yet attendance was at best there are many at the NIH). modest for most of the sessions. If research conferences are an So in setting priorities, NIH What should we do to encourage essential element of our discipline, communal research activities, all of our scientific staff to most of which are not spot-on participate more fully? more of us should attend our focused on the lab or clinical Let’s take a step back to Research Festival. work of the scientist, get less review the purpose and history of attention. Why is not giving the festival. It had its beginnings the Research Festival a higher in 1986 when then–Scientific Director Technical Sales Association tent show priority a strategic mistake? Most of the Abner Notkins (NIDCR) dreamed up the of scientific equipment and services and truly paradigm-shifting science in modern idea for the first NIH Intramural Research poster sessions featuring posters from our biology has come from interactions among Day. His goal was to bring our scientific postdoctoral fellows, NIH leadership, and people in multiple different fields. Given the staff out of their laboratories and clinics “future leaders” who are being recruited for rich intellectual environment at the NIH, to meet each other in an informal setting positions at the NIH. And there was more: with over 1,000 principal investigators to share research and receive constructive special exhibits on resources for intramural and nearly 3,000 postdoctoral fellows, we feedback and to enhance opportunities research; a Green Labs Fair featuring the are in a prime position to generate truly for collaboration. There were anecdotes latest in “green” tools and techniques; exciting collaborations just within the then that NIH intramural scientists were virtual-reality demonstrations; and an NIH. This is precisely the same reason meeting for the first time at national animal-tribute ceremony acknowledging for the Wednesday Afternoon Lectures, and international scientific meetings. So the important role animals play in research. which are designed to stimulate trans- Research Day was intended as a way to Since a “festival” should be festive, we disciplinary approaches across the more get NIH scientists to meet each other on had food provided by local vendors and thematic lines of institutes and centers (ICs). campus. refreshments at the workshops and poster We have tried to encourage collaborations The Research Festival has evolved into sessions. One year we even had a “battle of in many ways including providing funding a multiday event. We have added a mix the bands” featuring NIH directors. for trans-NIH collaborations through the of plenary sessions focusing on themes For scientists who argue convincingly new Innovation Awards program, through developed by the scientific directors who and consistently that research conferences the established Bench-to-Bedside program, lead each year’s festival program committee, are an essential element of their discipline, through IC-based grants for this purpose, 2 THE NIH CATALYST NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 NEWS BRIEFS NIH Partners with 11 Biopharmaceutical Companies On Thursday, October 12, 2017, the NIH and 11 leading biopharmaceutical companies launched the Partnership for and via shared resources and shared core Accelerating Cancer Therapies (PACT), NCI facilities (https://nih.scientist.com). Our Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless is the new director of NCI. a five-year public-private research newly renovated IRP website (https://irp. collaboration totaling $215 million as nih.gov) communicates the excitement and part of the Cancer Moonshot. PACT will the diversity of NIH science, and the NIH Norman Sharpless initially focus on identifying, developing, Intramural Database (https://intramural. Sworn in as New NCI and validating robust biomarkers to nih.gov) allows anyone to find a colleague advance new immunotherapy treatments with a resource or interest that would lead Director for cancer. The partnership will be to fruitful collaboration. managed by the Foundation for the But nothing replaces the one-on-one NORMAN E. “NED” SHARPLess took National Institutes of Health, with the interactions and conversations that occur the oath of office on October 17, 2017, to Food and Drug Administration serving at the Research Festival, and the chance become the 15th director of the National in an advisory role. for anyone who attends to be guided Cancer Institute (NCI). He succeeded New immunotherapies have resulted through what is most exciting currently in Harold E. Varmus, who stepped down in dramatic responses in certain cancer NIH intramural research even if it does as director in March 2015. Douglas R. cases. They have also been the focus of not coincide with their current research Lowy was NCI’s acting director since intense investment by biopharmaceutical program. April 2015. companies seeking to provide new options We have set the dates for next year’s Sharpless comes to NCI from the for patients who do not respond to other Research Festival (September 12–14, University of North Carolina School of cancer therapies, but they don’t work for all 2018) and want to encourage all of you Medicine (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), patients. Development and standardization to participate more fully. We will remind where he served as director of the NCI- of biomarkers to understand how you through the year about the event in Designated Lineberger Comprehensive immunotherapies work in some patients, hopes that you will not schedule other Cancer Center and as the Wellcome and to predict their response to treatment, activities during this time. I will continue Distinguished Professor in Cancer are urgently needed. to remind you, in forums such as this, how Research. As a practicing oncologist at the PACT will facilitate information sharing important it is for career development and North Carolina Cancer Hospital (Chapel by all stakeholders to better coordinate clinical enhancement to think outside the box.
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