R a Still The Second Best Thing About Payday
Nobelist Carlsson To Give HIGHLIGHTS Teenage Inventor Brings Sign Director's Lecture, Apr. 3
When the Nobel committee awarded the Translating Glove to NIDCD 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine to Arvid Impressive Teen Visits NIDCD By Jennifer Wenger Carlsson and his fellow neuroscientists Paul Greengard and Eric Kandel, It was a or George de Mestral, inventor of Velcro, the notion came to long-awaited Black Pioneers him as he removed large prickly burrs from his clothing after recognition of the Honored Fa walk in the woods. For Bette Graham, secretary fundamental extraordinaire who developed contributions White-O ut, a nagging wish to eliminate typing errors and a Carlsson has made HHS, Parks Sign talent for painting helped to advance Agreement understanding of spark her idea. And for high schooler Ryan Patterson, Dr. Arvid Carlsson synaptic transmis- sion. On Wednes inspiration struck one hot Historic Register day, Apr. 3, at 3 p.m . in Masur Auditorium August afternoon in the No Bar to Wrecl1ing in Bldg. 10, Carlsson will return to NIH, unlikely setting of a fast-food where he once spent a sabbatical leave, to restaurant over an order of give the Director's Lecture entitled, "A burgers and fries. Ryan Patterson demonstrates his "I was trying to think of a Paradigm Shift in Brain Research." He will NLM Free Film award-winning glove. discuss his work and the impact It has had Series Begins science fair project to do, and in the research world and in the area of I thought, 'What have I seen over the past year that I can try to SEE CARLSSON, PAGE 2 improve? What needs to be done?,"' recalled Patterson, an 18- see TEENAGE INVENTOR, PAGE 8 Historian '.s Perspective Past, Present Pioneers Celebrated NIH Offered Haven from NIH Black History Month Program Reveres Antinepotism Rules People Who Paved the Way By Buhm Soon Park Today, scientific couples w orking in the f history, as some have suggested, is the final frontier for same institution are not rare. But that w as Idesegregation, then the keynoter for this year's NIH African not the case 50 years ago, especially in the American History observance could very well be going boldly universities, which adopted "antinepotism where few have gone before. Take his latest book, for instance. rules." The main purpose of the rules was Keynote speaker Roger Wilkins, to protect institutions from favoritism, and historian and Pulitzer Prize yet they were practiced primarily as a winning journalist, said he was genteel form of discrimination against inspired to write Jefferson's Pillow: married women. No serious challenge had The Founding Fathers and the existed against the antinepotism rules until Dilemma of Black Patriotism by the 1960s, when the American Association U.S. Department three people-the late black of University Women began to publicize of Health and educator W.E.B. Dubois, the late their unfairness, Human Services Supreme Court Justice Thurgood N;irional Institutes Marshall, and Amy T. Wilkins, his With no official record for the employment of Health daughter. of scientific couples at NIH, it is difficult to Wilkins explained that in the days assess the extent, if any, to which the March 19, 2002 of Black Power, circa the 1960s, he SEE NIH COUPLES, PAGE 4 Vol. U V, No. 6 SEE BLACK HISTORY, PAGE 6 Keynote speaker Roger Wilkins CARLSSON, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 treatments for Parkinson's disease, depression and Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia through his schizophrenia. research firm, Carlsson Research Inc. He is also a NINDS' recent 50-year celebration recognized professor emeritus in pharmacology at the Univer- Carlsson's con.tributions to neuroscience, beginning sity of Goteborg. · with his early time at NIH. He was associate The lecture is part of the NIH Director's Wednes professor of pharmacology at the University of Lund day Afternoon Lecture series. For information and in Sweden in 1955 when he took a 6-month sabbati reasonable accommodation, contact Hilda Madine, cal to work in Bernard Brodie's laboratory at N IH. 594-5595. 1iJ Dr. Sherry Stuesse At the time, Brodie and his researchers were investi has joined the gating an unusual compound called reserpine, an Center for Forum on Importance of Sleep Scientific Review herbal remedy that had been used in India for as a scientific centuries, and which studies at the time had shown The staff training in extramural programs will review adminis to lower blood pressure and relieve psychotic present a Science for All Forum titled, "Wake Up trator of the brain symptoms. and Smell the Coffee: The Importance of Sleep on disorders and In addition, Brodie's researchers were looking at Performance and Health," on Thursday, Mar. 28, clinical neuro the hallucinogen LSD, because its effects appeared from 8:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Natcher science 5 study to mimic psychoses and its molecular structure was Conference Center's main auditorium. section and the similar to that of serotonin-a chemical known to How does lack of sleep affect job performance, brain disorders be in the brain. Before Carlsson arrived, B.rodie and and clinical health and quality of life? What's actually happen his team had reported that reserpine blocked the ing during this mysterious time? Sleep is fundamen neuroscience action of LSD in the brain by lowering levels of fellowship study tal to all of us and is essential for our daily func section. She serotonin. At NIH, Carlsson studied the release of tions. Sleep or lack thereof significantly affects us comes to CSR serotonin in blood platelets exposed to reserpine. physiologically, psychologically and may play a role from the North Carlsson stepped into an area of research that was in the prevention and treatment of obesity, cardio eastern Ohio ripe with the potential for discoveries. The presence vascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Although. Universities of chemical transmission in the brain wasn't yet criticaJ to our health and productivity, sleep is a College of understood; most neuroscientists still thought that subject often overlooked in the research missions of Medicine, where neurons communicated by electrical signals. But the many institutes. she was a actions in the brain of serotonin, and other com professor in its The session will explore the importance of sleep pounds known as catecholamines, suggested that for health.. Topics wilJ include factors that affect neurobiology and another mechanism had to be involved. pharmacology sleep including lifestyle choices, drugs and disorders. department. Her When be returned to Sweden, Carlsson assembled Information will be provided to help you improve research there a research team and began intensive study of your sleep and suggest potential directions for new focused 011 the serotonin and another brain chemical, dopamine. research. Attendees earn ESA credit. Iii central nervous His work led to the identification of serotonin as a system pathways neurotransmitter, and the introduction of the that mediate concept of chemical neurotransmission. His cardiac function discoveries paved the way for a paradigm shift in and on brain stem understanding synaptic transmission as being both N I H R f ~ 0 R a and spinal cord electrical (via action potentials) and chemical (via Published biwe,kly ar llethesdn, MJ., by the Edit<,rfsl Operation, organization. She neurotransmitters). also studied Braud\, Divi,fon of Public Information, for rh, inform1ujon of neurochemical Carlsson didn't confine the scope of bis work to emplorces o( the National lnstitmes of Ht;ilth, D~parrm~nr of Health and Human Services. The contL'Jlt is rrprinr,1hlc wlrhout mechanisms basic research. He and his colleagues in Sweden ixrmission, PicrurilS may ho avail,1blc on rcqt1c-;t. Use of funds fo, related to chronic used the principles of chemical neurotransrnission to printing rhis periodical has been approved by the dimtur (>f the neuropathic pai11. narrow the search for compounds that could block Office ofManagement an(! .Budger through Sept. JO, 2002. Stuesse received the re-uptake of neurotransmitters in the synapse. NlHRceprd Office her Ph.D. in Phone 496-2.Lli Carlsson focused first on dopamine, which he Bldg. 3 1, Rm. 5841 Fa.'<: 402-1485 biology from the proposed as a neurotransmitter involved in the State Uni11ers/ty of control of motor functions. Applications of this Web address New York in theory resulted in development of levodopa-the http://www.nih.gov/news/NIH-Record/arcbives.hrm Albany, studying first drug to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms. neurotransmission Editor Tl1e NIH Reu,rd reserves at the junction of Turning to serotonin, Carlsson introduced the first Rich,µ;d McManus the right to =k~ motor neurons selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, zimelidine, [email protected]~ corrtctioas, changes-, or which led to the later development of such drugs as deletions in submitted and skeletal Assistant Ediror copy ln .:onformiry with muscle cells. fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zolofr), medica Carla Garnett the polidc'$ of tbe paper tions that revolutionized the treatment of depression [email protected] and HHS. and de-stigmatized mental illness. Carlsson continues to work on the biochemistry of .."; The Record is recyclable ru office white pape,·. HHS, Park Association Form Partnership Dr. Eric Bailey of the National Center 011 Minority Health and Hen/th Disparities delivei-ed a lecture Feb. 20 HHS recently signed a memorandum of understand titled "Tracing the Roots of Black Folk Medicine: A ing (MOU) with the Narional Recreation and Park Cultural Anthropological Approach" du.ring NLM's Association (NRPA) to promote greater use of African American History Month celebration. During community-based health education and physical the presentation in which activity programs in recreation and park facilities. audience members participated, The effort is being undertaken to help fight the Bailey discussed the history of national epidemfr of obesity and physical inactivity. several herbal and nontradi Tae Kwon Do Physical inactivity and obesity are the top two tional medical practices and Beginner's beliefs used by African Ameri leading health indicators for Healthy People 2010. Class cans during slavery, when T_hey increase ~he risk for heart disease, Type 2 common therapies were diabetes, certam cancers and other illnesses. Both The NIH Tae Kwon unavailable to them. Many of Do School is have increased dramatically in the U.S. in recent the medicines., he said, were offering a years. }\ccording to recent statistics, less than a third combinations of remedies aud beginner's class of American adults engage in the recommended 30 folklore blacks brought with for adults and minutes of moderate physical activity on most days them from Africa or learned of the week, while 61 percent of adults are now from American lndians; some of these complementary mature teens overweight or obese. and alter11ati11e medicines are still used today. Sponsored starting Apr. 8. 1 The class will Besides the N RPA, those signing the MOU were the b) NLM's History of Medicine Division, Bailey's talk was based 0 11 dozens of oral histories he has com.piled meet in the and gave insight on the wltural perspective and signifi Malone Center cance of folk medicine traditions to the medical history !Bldg. 31C, B4 ofAmerica. level, next to the NIH Fitness ~ RE Abstract Competition for Fellows Center) from 6 to 8p.m. on The ninth annual Fellows Award for Research I Mondays and Excellence (FARE) 2003 competition will again Wednesdays, and provide recognition for outstanding scientific w ill continue for research performed by innamw:al postdoctoral - about 2 months Show11 at the MOU-signing eve,rt are (front, from I) fellows. Winners of FARE will each receive a until participants NHLBI director D1: Claude Lenfant, NRPA President I $1,000_travel ~ward to use for attending and Marvin Billups, HHS assistant secretary for health Dr. can be integrated presenting their work at a scientific meeting. Eve E. Slater, and HHS assistant surgeon general a11d into the regular One-quarter of the fellows who apply will win an acting deputy assistant secretary for disease prevention school training. award. and health promotion Dr. Woodie Kessel. l1l the second Dues are $40 per Fellows who apply to FARE submit an abstract row ~re (from I) NTDDK director Dr. Allen Spiegel, quarter and a of their research, wbich will be evaluated anony President's Council on Physica1 Fitness and Sports uniform costs $30. Executive Director Lisa E. Oliphant, and director of the mously on scientific merit, originality, experimen Interested persons CDC's Washington office Donald Shriber. tal design and overall quality/presentation. The are welcome to travel award must be used between Oct. 1, 2002, President's Council on Physical Fitness and, for watch regular and Sept. 30, 2003. HHS, NHLBl, NIDDK and CDC. training sessions. The FARE 2003 competition is open to Th~ MOU calls for HHS and NRPA to improve For information postdoctoral IRTAs, visiting fellows and other public health by encouraging Americans to become call Andrew fellows with £ewe~ than 5 years total postdoctoral physically active and reduce overweight and obesity. Schwartz, 402- experience in the NIH intramural research The new partnership's efforts will include the 5197 or visit http:/ progr,mi. In addition, pre-IRTAs performing their creation of community programs for children /www.recgov.org/ doctoral dissertation research at NIH are also families and seniors, as well as the removal of r&w/nihtaekwon eligible to compete. Visiting fellows/scientists environmental barriers to physical activity such as do.html. those for the disabled. must not have been tenured at their home insti NRPA is a nonprofit group that represents more tute. Questions about eligibility should be than 170,000 indoor and outdoor facilities. NHLBI addressed to your institute's scientific,; director. has collaboi:ated with NRPA for almost a decade. Fello"".s are asked to submit their application, Th~ two established a Hearts N' Parks program, mcluding abstract, electtonieally, £rom May 1~31 which now offers physical activity and nutrition via http://felcom.nih.gqv/FARE. Winners will be education activities through 50 magnet centers announced by the end of September 2002. More across the country. The new MOU will expand on infm;mation is available on the web site above. that effort and provide more opportunities for Questions may be addi;essed to your institute's Americans to engage in physical activity. Ill fellows committee representative. NIH COUPLES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 antinepotism rules were practiced at NIH. Based on knowledge in the enzymatic study of metabolism. available sources, NIH's first scientific couple was The couple decided to join N1H at an annual salary Jerald G. Wooley and Bernice E. Eddy, who married of $5,400 each, or GS-11 level. in 1938 when both worked as bacteriologists in The Stadtmans were soon joined by other married Bethesda. Subsequently, there were Julius and couples in Bldg. 3: Marjorie and Evan Homing; Florence White, John and Elizabeth Weisburger, and Martha Vaughan and Jack Orloff; and Barbara Herbert and Celia Tabor. Wright and Herman Kalckar. It is interesting to note Perhaps no example can better illustrate the effect that all of these women scientists worked in the same of the antinepotism rules in academia than the case room of Anfinsen's laboratory. Former NIH director of Earl and Thressa Stadtman. and heart institute scientist Donald Fredrickson They first met in 1943 at the University of Califor recaUed: "I [as a clinical associate] got into a room nia in Berkeley when both worked as research of Thressa Stadtman's. I was there with four women assistants in the department of food technology. and I thought all the scientists at the NIH were They married that year and enrolled women." in the graduate program of the This clustering had not so much to do with admin department of biochemistry after istrative obstacles as social conventions that made the war. After completing their male scientists reluctant about working with female doctoral studies in 1949, both under partners or even their wives. The level of their the supervision of Horace A. Barker, reservation was greatly reduced in 1954 when they moved to the east coast for DeWitt Stetten, Jr., was appointed associate director their postdoctoral training: Earl of the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic worked in Fritz Lipmann's labora Diseases (precursor of NIDDK). He set a precedent tory at the Massachusetts General for other NIH couples b~· working closely with his Hospital as an Atomic Energy wife in the same section of the laborarory. Commission fellow; and Thressa There were scienrists such as Bruce Ames and secured a position as a research Marshall Nirenberg, who met. courted and married assistant in Christian Anfinsen 's their life partners on campus. Among other notable laboratory at Harvard Medical couples were the future leaders of l\1H , Alan Rabson Earl R. Stadtman School. In 1950 they looked for academic jobs, (deputy director of NCI) and Ruch Kirschstein (now and Thressa C. following the lead of Earl who attracted interest acting director of NIH). K.irschstein's remarkable Stadtman are from such schools as Berkeley, Yale, Tufts and career, which included becoming the first woman to shown in 1949 Indiana. The Institute of Radiobiology and Biophys head any institute at NlH (she became director of after receiving ics at the University of Chicago made the most Ph.D. degrees the National Institute of General ?-.1ed.ical Sciences in from the Univer concrete offer of an assistant professorship wirh an 1974), started when she was a resident physician at sity of California, annual salary of $5,000. the Clinical Center. Later, she worked as a re Betkeley. Unable Earl Stadtman was particularly anracted to the searcher in the Division of Biologics Standards. This to overcome the research opportunity at Chicago, and yet he could would not have been possible had the antinepotism barrier of not accept an offer that would rule out a fair rules been practiced at Ill as in academia. antinepotisrn rules position for his wife. He conveyed his honest (The attthor is a DeWitt Stetten Jr. fellow of the N IH in academia, they disappointment yet unyielding determination to T.R. History Office and N HLBT.) ll) elected to come to Hogness, director of the institute: "If my own the National future were the only consideration, 1 would not Woman's History Month Program Set, Mar. 20 Heart Institute in hesitate to accept your fine offer. However, my 1950. They are All are invited to attend the Nill l.002 Women's both still research decision is complicated by the fact that Mrs. H.i'story Month Program on Wednesday, Mar. 20, ers at NHLBI. Stadtman is also a scientist and if possible, we would from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.rn in Natcher Auditorium, bke to get located in an area where she can get a Bldg. 45. The theme is ''The World of Women - suitable position also." In his reply, Hogness gave Post 9/11." There will be a panel discussion advice: "If your decision is to be based upon highlighting women and their various o~ganizarions' simultaneous academic staff appointments for both responses to the e¥ents of Sept. 11. Panelists you and Mrs. Stadtman, it may mean that you are indude Capt. Patricia Ha,ynes, NIH Pqlice; Cmdr. closing your opportunities for an academic career, Angela Martinelli, Public Health Service; Tiffanye since I believe that the policy of the University of Costdlo, lead instructor, Arlington County fire Chicago in this regard is no different from that of department; Betty Has~ings, medical technician, most other universities." HRSA and fa. Brenda Rabbit, D.C. fire department. Meanwhile, Thressa Stadtman received an offer There will be an awards ceremony recognizing from Anfinsen, who had recently moved to the NIH'ets who made positive contributions in National Heart Institute as a lab chief. Anfinsen reaction to Sept. 11, followed by a reception in the also offered Earl a position in view of his broad Natcher atrium. Protecting NIH's Architectural Legacy NIH Buildings Eligible for Historic Register any of the original research buildings located alteration, for example, is to demolish the interior of M on the NIH campus are eligible to be listed in a historic building, the officer will make a determi the National Register of Historic Places as a result of nation of adverse effect on historic property. The the pioneering biomedical research that bas been federal and state preservation officers will execute a conducted on campus since 1938. The register is binding memorandum of agreement that usually the nation's official list of buildings, structures, stipulates how the agency will mitigate the loss of districts and sites that best represent United States historic property. In many cases, photographic D,: Jeffrey Elias history and architecture. The properties listed in the documentation is used for this purpose. recently joined register are acknowledged by the federal government When NIH converted Bldg. 2 into an administra the Center for as worthy of preservation for their significance in tive office building, it was required to prepare an Scientific Review American h.istory and culture, and are so considered historic American bujlding survey document for the as new scientific during the planning of construction and renovation National Park Service to be included in the National review adminis trator of the projects. Archives. behavioral and The original research buildings, which form the If the federal preservation officer makes a determi biobehavioral NIH historic core district and officer's quarters nation of adverse effect, it will not necessarily delay processes 5 historic district, were built in the 1930's and 1940's. the project. In most cases a project must be de scientific review They meet register criteria for significance in signed before any demolition can take place. The group. This American history, architecture, and culture, and officer should be able to weigh in at the preliminary group examines possess integrity of location, design, setting, work design stage; however, the determination of effect applicatio,zs for manship, and other distinctive characteristics. These can also occur later. grants to study buildings include, listed by historic names: Bldg. 1- For more information about the NIH historic the clinical Administration Building and Power Plant; Bldg. 2 - preservation program, contact Ricardo Herring, aspects of emotional, Industrial Hygiene Laboratory; Bldg. 3 - Public 402-2048. Iii behavioral and Health Methods Bldg.; Bldg. 6 - National Cancer Dr. Denise Wiesch ha-s mo11ed i-o i-f7e Center for Scientific cognitive Institute; Bldg. 4 - Institute for Experimental Review to be scientific review administrator for its disorders in Biology; and Bldg. 5 - Microbiological Institute. epidemiology and disease control 2 study section. She adults. Elias Bldgs. lSB, C, D, E, F, Gare known as the officers' comes from NIAID, where she was a program officer in comes to CSR quarters, Bldg. 151 is the NIH director's house and the Division ofAllergy, Jrrmumol from the Univer Bldg. 15H is the surgeon general's house. ogy, and Transpla11tation. She sity of Nevada in The Memorial Laboratory Bldg. 7 is eligible for the began her career at NJH after Reno. As register because it was one of the first bio-contain college, working as a senior director of laboratory technician i11 the ment laboratories in the nation. All of the existing research for its Neurogenetics Branch, NlMH. She Sanford Center buildings that pre-date NIH on the Bethesda campus also worked 011 a contract to the (or Aging, he such as the Wilson Estate (Tree Tops), the Convent National Library of Medicine conducted of the Sisters of the Visitation (the Cloisters) and the indexing scientific ;ournal articles independent George Freeland Peter Estate (the Stone H ouse) are for Medline. Wiesch then enrolled research 011 also eligible for the national register. The Rocky in Johns Hopkins University, where health issues and Mountain Labotatory in Hamilton, Mont., is she received an M.P.H. and a Ph.D. functional aging already listed on the National Register of Historic in genetic epidemiology. Her and coordinated Places. research focused 011 the genetic basis of occupational a diverse The crown jewel of NIH's architectural legacy, allergy in workers at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar f>ortfolio of basic Harbor, Maine. She continued this research at the according to the Division of Engineering Services, is and behavioral Center for the Genetics of Complex Diseases at the research. He the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest University of Maryland in Baltimore before joining p1·eviously was a medical library. the library collects materials in all NIAID. professor of areas of biomedicine and healthcare, as well as African American Volunteers Needed psychology at works on biomedical aspects of technology, the Texas Tech humanities, and the physical, life and social sciences. NIMH is seeking medically and psychiatrically University in Contrary to what one might think, a building that healthy African American volunteers ages 18-50 Lubbock. is listed or eligible for listiJ1g on the National years old to participate in a study about the regula Register of Historic Places can be altered or even tion of the activity of the body's most rapidly acting demolished. When a federal agency must alter a and powerful "stress" system-the sympathetic historic structure to meet program needs, it is nervous system. The study includes administration required to consult with the state historic preserva of test medications that affect the activity of the tion officer, who gets an opportunity to comment on sympathetic nervous system. Compensation is the alteration. First the agency's federal preservation provided. Participants should not be taking any officer must make a determination of effect. If the medications currently. <;:all 594-1430. Iii BLACK HISTORY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and his wife had taken their 6-year-old on a trip tO Mount Vernon. During the narrated tour of the estate, the travelers were led tO see "the quarters." Amy wanted to know what the quarters were, so her father told her. The child's reaction made an impact. "George Washington owned slaves?" she asked in a loud voice, amid a sudden deafening silence by the rest of the tourists. "Well, what's so great about him then?" Years later, Wilkins said, her question spurred one of his own, which resulted in years of research leading to his current publica tion. "I welcome the opportunity to speak to you today NTH acting director Dr. Ruth Kirschstein and OEO when you are celebrating pioneers," he said, Director Lawrence Self greet keynote speaker Wilkins. "because the only way that I have been able to understand my own life, my own needs as a citizen, As much as Woodson deserves to be honored for as a husband and as a father was through celebrat institutionalizing recognition of the contributions of ing those pioneers who were my ancestors." African Americans, Wilkins said, "There should The nephew of the late civ.il rights activist and come a time when we don't need black history former NAACP executive director Roy Wilkins, month any more, because our history is not a who along with Marshall helped rear him after the separate history. Our history is part and parcel of death of his father, Roger-a former assistant attorney general in the Johnson administration IL Thelma Gaither had read Dubois's writings describing what he called •• o(NTAID and foe a "double consciousness of the Negro." Dubois had •• I ~ Age,; who retired asserted that inside each black in the U.S., two , • as EEO officer at personalities actually were always in conflict with - .l. N/DDK, were each other-the American and the Negro. ' among 1nore than 45 current and PHOTOS: LEW BASS Wilkins said be had also spent countless hours tf former NIH'ers being inspired but also bewil recognized for dered by Marshall, "a true '. .~ their contrib11- American patriot" who deeply tio11s to campus believed-despite any evidence hist01·y. to the contrary- that there was no wrong that could not be American history. You cannot separate it. From the corrected by the proper applica very start, there has never been an American war in tion of the Constitution. which black people have not fought and died, going These three great black back to Queen Anne's War in 1701-more than half Americans spurred the premise a century before they thought of having a Revolu for Wilkin's book. The question tion." that had nagged at him over the Despite what may or may not be part of the Drs. Ernest course of his life and career seemed simple: "Can a history books, Wilkins pointed out that black people Marquez (l) and black person be patriotic?" Wilkins set out to served as infantrymen, porters, spies, cooks, seamen Tony Rene, both examine the lives of four acknowledged patriots, and harbor and river pilots and many of them won of NIGMS, are founding fathers Washington, Thomas Jefferson, their freedom by fighting in the Revolution. He also among the James Madison and George Mason. Wilkins came to a conclusion about Washington, Jefferson, hundreds of discovered that the impression left by most accounts attendees at a pre-program of history was similar: The American Revolution Program planning committee reception in the was a "great white achievement accomplished solely chair Kay Johnson Graham Visitor Informa by great white men. of NIDCD and NINR, tion Center. "No wonder [Dr. Carter G.] Woodson [father of noted, "Just as there were Black History Month] thought we had to study /Jioneers such as Harriett some black history," Wilkins said, "because the Tubman and Sojourner people who wrote history in this country ground Truth, we have Dr. Vivian black people and their spirits under their heels in a Pinn, NIH associate director for research on women's way to make them feel as people who can have no health, Dr. Griffin Rogers, pride, no dignity and therefore no human power to Dr. Ida Owens and man1~ free themselves." many others. " - Madison and Mason. "Somewhere deep in their women's health, who read the souls," Wilkins said, "each of these men understood names and accomplishments of chat slavery was wrong. Secondly, each of these men more than 45 of NIH's black was aware of the fact that he could not have been pioneers, most of whom were the man he was without blacks. These men all led seated in the audience as honor lives cushioned by slavery. They could not have had ees. "Our rich history should the leisure to study, to do politics, to read, to write, serve as a legacy to guide and to meet, to create new empower all of our people as institutions, a new army, a they contribute to the successful new government, without diversity of our nation." the freedom that their In his conclusion, Wilkins slaves made for them." stressed the importance of NIH's observance began honoring the past, but working in the present. This Program honor with a message from noted generation, he said, must repay the great debt owed ees Dr. Leamon abolitionist Frederick to those who first paved the paths. Lee (I), NIH associate director Douglass delivered by "I've been a fortunate man," he said. "But, as stage and screen actor for admi11istra Jackie Robinson said in his autobiography, 'I never tion_, and OD Frederick Strother. "It is had it made.' By that be meant that as long as there EEO Officer good, so good, that we were people who were like him, who were ensnared Hilda Dixon are assemble to lift up our by poverty and racism and hatred, he didn't have it greeted by voices in celebration and made." Roland Corsey, thanks on this Black Recalling the lives of those like Douglass and president of the History Month," Strother Frederick Strother portrays Harriet Tubman, who achieved their own freedom NIH chapter of intoned in what the noted abolitionist but risked it to go back and help others find libera Blacks in audience could only Frederick Douglass. tion, Wilkins said he is often asked why- having Government. For those who missed imagine was a Douglass already achieved tremendous strides in his various esque baritone. "Standing as we do upon the the 2002 Black endeavors-he continues to do such "thankless" and History obser watchtower of human freedom, we cannot be often frustrating work as sit on the Washington, vance, a video deterred from any expression or movement D.C. Board of Education. taped version is however humble-to improve and elevate the He said he tells people, "As long as there is race set to be broad character and condition of any member of the inflicted pain in this country, as long as we can't cast at noon on human family. We have tilled [this nation's] fields, Wednesday, Mar. we have cleared its forests, we have built its roads H onored as a 27 in Bldg. 31. and bridges. This is our home. We have to do with pioneer scientist Con(. Rm. 8. For the past onJy as we can make it useful to the present at NIH, Dr. Ida more informa and the future. To all inspiring motives and noble Owens of tion, call 496- NICHD chats 6302, deeds that can be gained from the past, you are with Dr. welcome. But, now is the time, the important time. R.ola11d Owens Your fathers have lived and died and now you must (110 relation), a do your work." tenured NIH acting director Dr. Ruth Kirschstein paid researcher at tribute to forerunners in science. "Our theme for NlDDK. today, 'Celebrating Pioneers: Standing on the Shoulders from the Past,' reminds us that African American History Month is a time of both remem figure out how to educate poor black children in the brance and reflection," she said. "Many of our richest nation on the face of the Earth, as long as great African American pioneers were scientists, there is only one doctor for every 4,000 people and physicians, nurses and other public health experts the mayor is closing hospitals in Harlem, as long as whose contributions improved the health of all all that is happening, there is something to do.. .l Americans. I want to acknowledge our current figme I'm going to die sometime and maybe I'll meet scientists. We are very proud of your accomplish some of tbese ancestors-maybe some who never ments as we continue to work in partnership to meet drew a free breath in their life. And they're going to the challenges of infectious diseases, diabetes, cancer look at me and ask, 'What did you do with your and other disorders." freedom?' I'm going to have to bave an answer for Later, African Americans who have made signifi them. It's the answer I leave with you: '1 tried to be cant contributions to NIH's history were recognized. as Strong as you. I tried to hold up my end, just like "Our history as people of African descent in this you did. You were my hope. You were my strength. nation is really an impressive one," said Dr. Vivian You were my future. I celebrate my pioneers along Pinn, NIH associate director for research on with you."' Iii TEENAGE INVENTOR, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 said Dr. James Battey, director of NIDCD. "We at year-old student at Central High School in Grand NIDCD are delighted that a talented and creative Junction, Colo. "Then I remembered a time when I young person like Ryan is interested in contributing was at the same restaurant and saw some people his skill to challenges of human communication. We who were deaf who needed an interpreter to help hope to do all that we can to nurture the interests of them place their order. I thought I could try to young scientists." develop an electronic method Why Patterson was perhaps the best person to that would make it easier for design a translating glove becomes obvfous at first people to communicate." meeting. The young man has deep curiosity and Seven months later and- so enormous technical ability, and has been fascinated what else is new for a busy high with electrical engineering since before he could school senior?- one day before walk. The stories he tells are mind-boggling, if not the Western Colorado Science just a little bit scary: how at the age of 3 he carried Fair, Patterson completed a around an electrical cord instead of a blanket; or prototype glove that can translate how he asked Santa to bring him an extension cord the hand positions employed by for Christmas one year. Or the time when, at 6 years people who use American Sign old, he helped his dad rewire the addition to their Language (ASL) to fingerspell house; or the less favorable times in which he felt the words in English by converting surge of 110 volts of electricity whenever he acciden them into large, easy-to-read tally stuck a screwdriver into an outlet. letters displayed on a computer "I lived," he said with a laugh-half in amazement~ screen. To Patterson, a tightly half in defense of his early attempts to tackle the closed fist with the thumb formidable learning curve that awaited him. pressed flat and to the side, an By the third grade, when neither his teachers nor outward-facing palm with the his parents could answer his questions-his father is During his trip to thumb neatly rncked in, and five fingers curved in a foreman at a metal fabricating plant; his mother is NIDCD, the shape of an incomplete circle can be translated a kindergarten teacher1s aide-he was introduced to Patterson shows as easily as A-B-C. John McConnell, a retired particle accelerator glove to D,: Patterson's invention, the "Sign Language Transla physicist from Los Alamos who had recently moved Judith Cooper, tor," was a Grand Award winner in the 2001 Intel to the area. McConnell, whom Patterson respect chief of the Scientific International Science and Engineering Fair, where it fully refers to as "my mentor," worked with Programs Branch, was named best of category in engineering, and the Patterson every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Di11ision of first place winner in the individual category at the the next 7 years, teaching him how to build circuit Extramural 2001 Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology boards, read schematics and design electronic Research. Competition. On Mar. 11, Patterson received top circuitry. McConnell and his wife Audrey, who honors and a $100,000 scholarship at Intel's Science helped in the stitching of the prototype glove, have Talent Search, a competition often referred to as spent so much time with Patterson during his "the junior Nobel prize." growing-up years, they consider themselves bis Patterson's glove offers a new way in which "third set of grandparents." individuals who sign might express themselves "It's .important for retirees to reach out to kids and during brief, one-sided conversations with people teach them what we know," said McConnell, who who don't understand sign language. As part of its directs a math and science center for K-12 students science education program, the National Institute on and teachers in Grand Junction. McConnell esti Deafness and Other Communication Disorders mates that approximately 1,000 children take part in invited Patterson to Washington last month, where center activities each month. "We give them wings he spent the day demonstrating h_is invention; so they can fly on their own. Now, Ryan's doing trading ideas with scientists, administrators and things that I can't," he noted proudly. Patterson's students participating in the Intramural Research past award-winning scjeoce fair projects have Training Award program; and touring the intramu included an autonomous robot and Sleuthbot, a ral research facilities to learn about other areas of computer-controlled search robot. human communication research. He also met with Once Patterson settled upon the translating glove leadership in extramural research, including the for his project, he began learning as much as he program administrator of NIDCD's Small Business could about the deaf community in general, and sign Innovation Research and Small Business Technology language in particular. A visit to the NIDCD web Transfer programs, to discuss his future plans and to site provided him with enough background informa learn about funding. tion to determine that the invention might indeed be "New assistive technologies hold tremendous useful for deaf people as well as other individuals promise in helping people with communication who have difficulty communicating such as people disorders interact more easily in everyday settings," who have had strokes, throat cancer, speech-impair- ment and possibly individuals with cerebral palsy Even with the accolades, Patterson has many who use ASL. improvements in mind for bis bilingual glove. Patterson set a number of goals for his translating Already, he has incorporated speech dictation glove, the first being accuracy. "I know how software, so that a computedzed voice says the annoying it is when I'm using speech recognition word aloud after it has been spelled. To increase software and the computer doesn't recognize what translation speed, he is attempting to fit all of the rm saying," he said. His other goals were cost computing hardware onto the glove itself. He also effectiveness, comfort, energy-efficiency and rugged plans to replace the first microcontroller with a ness. powerful math processor so that a full range of hand The Sign Language Translator consists of two motions-not just stationary hand pos.itions-can be separate components: a leather-thin golf glove, translated. And he'd like to redesign the glove so which tells the computer the precise position of the that all of the machinery is hidden from view. hand, and the computer, which is programmed to Currently, he has obtained a provisional patent on Customized associate each hand position with a corresponding the glove and plans to apply for a full patent later E-Learning letter that, in turn, flashes up on its screen. Ten this spring. Solutions
"The sign-translating glove is an interesting and Are you aware of effective way to use a computer to communicate," "If I can mal