June 11, 2021, NIH Record, Vol. LXXIII, No. 12

June 11, 2021 Vol. LXXIII, No. 12

school] was my first encounter with being and more than 30 years pursuing medical excluded. I attribute the lapse in my career research as a full-time profession. path to my feelings of being excluded.” That No stranger to NIH, Valantine served for UNRAVELING HEALTH DISPARITIES and other teen distractions at the time—“the 6 years since 2014 as the agency’s first chief Swinging Sixties, the Rolling officer for scientific work- Valantine Discusses Genomics Stones, the Beatles”—also force diversity while also in Organ Transplantation may have contributed to maintaining a lab as a senior BY CARLA GARNETT her less than enthusiastic investigator in NHLBI’s embrace of textbooks. intramural research A decades-long career in medicine and “That’s my story and I’m program. She returned to research never occurred to an adolescent sticking to it,” Valantine her post as professor of Hannah Valantine. Born in Banjul in the quipped, smiling. medicine and cardiology at small West African nation of The Gambia, A job in a microbiology Stanford Medical Center in 13-year-old Hannah and her family relocated lab put her back on an spring 2020. to London, where she was the only youngster achievement-filled educa- In her NIH virtual lecture, of color in her high school. Within a student tional trajectory that has led “Inclusive Excellence in population of 500 adolescents, her sense of to an M.D. degree, cardiology Biomedical Research— isolation took a toll. fellowship at Stanford Applying Genomics to “My academic struggles at age 18 were University, her own lab Dr. Hannah Valantine Unravel Health Disparities such that I had zero aspirations to go to and principal investigator in Organ Transplantation,” university,” recalled Valantine at a recent authority on numerous grants, authorship she used evidence from some of her NHLBI Clinical Center Grand Rounds. “[High of 200-plus peer-reviewed publications SEE VALANTINE, PAGE 4

A SCIENTIFIC JAM SESSION Panelists Collaborate to Develop Toolkit for Music- Based Therapies BY DANA TALESNIK

Performers and music lovers the world over will attest that music moves and rejuvenates us, affecting our brains in profound ways. But can investigators prove it? NIBIB director Dr. Bruce Tromberg (r) briefs visiting senators on RADx Tech.

PHOTO: CHIA-CHI CHARLIE CHANG “Eye Candy” of the plant world? See more, p. 12.

ALSO THIS ISSUE Cadre of Senators Visit NIH, NIH’ers Nominated for ‘Sammies,’ Government’s Take Home Tech Oscars ...... 3 A bipartisan contingent of U.S. senators and staff members visited NIH on May 17 Health Disparities Events Scheduled. . . . . 5 for science briefings, a lab tour and biotech Opera singer Renée Fleming UNITE Releases Priorities, Plans for Updates. . 9 demonstration. The group included Sen. Digest...... 10 Four years ago, world-renowned soprano Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Roy Blunt Renée Fleming spent 2 hours in an MRI (R-MO), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Milestones...... 11 scanner that tracked her brain activity as John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Dick Durbin

Seen...... 12 SEE MUSIC, PAGE 8 SEE SENATORS, PAGE 6 BRIEFS

“Allyship in Action” poster art

‘ALLYSHIP IN ACTION’ Join EDI in Celebrating Pride Month A scene from the Community Market pre-Covid The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will celebrate Pride Month—June—with a focus on Community Market Returns to Campus cultivating and enhancing allyship in the NIH community. The NIH Community Market, sponsored by the NIH Recreation and Welfare Association, has returned to campus on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the south lawn of the Clinical Center, Bldg. 10. Expected The theme, “Allyship in Action,” emphasizes are 5-7 vendors each week. Confirmed currently are All Things Olive (olive oils/vinegars), the Caramel usage of correct pronouns as an act of allyship for Kettle (gourmet popcorn), Cupcakes Lounge (baked goods), Shafa Blends (spices) and Apple Valley sexual and gender minorities (SGM). EDI hopes to (fresh produce). encourage the regular expression of pronouns in emails, meetings, conversations and all settings at While at the market, don’t forget to visit the food trucks for lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The NIH to help support the broad diversity of identities schedules and menus of trucks can be found at https://govemployee.com/nih/food-trucks/. Make sure within the SGM community. to maintain proper social distancing and other safety measures. Gender identity is multifaceted and nuanced, and The NIH Blood Bank will also make appearances periodically to discuss donation. For details about the gender expression varies immensely. In addition, R&W, call (301) 594-2411 or visit online: www.govemployee.com/nih. pronouns and gender identities are not inherently linked and may not match in socially predictable NIDA Launches Drug Addiction Treatment ways. behavior, feelings, motivations and attitudes Challenge across episodes of care. EDI invites the entire community to join Allyship in The National Institute on Drug Abuse has Learn more at https://www.challenge.gov/ Action, which will provide an opportunity to learn launched the “Mapping Patient Journeys in Drug more about pronoun usage, how to be an ally and challenge/mapping-patient-journeys-in-drug-addic- Addiction Treatment” Challenge. Applicants are tion-treatment/ or email [email protected]. where to find resources. challenged to create a “journey map” to show EDI will co-host a Twitter chat to discuss pronoun the good and bad experiences people with substance use disorder have when navigating the 2nd Lecture in ‘Diverse June 24 usage with contributors from across NIH using Voices’ Series Set #NIHPronounAlly. health care system to get treatment, an experience that’s often challenging, confusing and NIH’s Office of Research on Women’s Health Additionally, in collaboration with Salutaris, the inconsistent. will host “Analysis and Action: Applications of NIH SGM employee resource group, EDI will host Submissions, due Sept. 22, will enable NIDA to Intersectionality in Covid-19,” the second lecture in a presentation by Dr. Erin A. Cech, department of the Diverse Voices: Covid-19, Intersectionality and sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on focus research efforts into alleviating those areas of difficulty. the Health of Women series, on Thursday, June 24 research in the most extensive study of barriers for from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. LGBTQ professionals in STEM on Wednesday, June The challenge offers up to 3 awards: $50,000 (1st 23 from 1 to 2 pm. pl.), $30,000 (2nd) and $20,000 (3rd). Anyone The virtual presentation features two speakers. Dr. Lisa Bowleg of George Washington University and Also staff are encouraged to sign up for quarterly who has experience with a patient’s journey with substance use disorder is encouraged to participate. Dr. Tonia Poteat of the University of North Carolina Safe Zone training at https://www.edi.nih.gov/ at Chapel Hill. people/sep/lgbti/safezone. Knowledge and experience of steps individuals To participate in this webinar, register at https:// Follow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nih_edi) and take on the road from addiction to recovery are invaluable in solving this challenge. nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsce2urD- Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nih_edi/) wjGUOB7CXzPxET5ft_pBDbrCM. Details are to stay abreast of news and events for Pride Month. Journey maps incorporate physical and emotional available at https://orwh.od.nih.gov/about/ Check out EDI’s SGM Portfolio page (https://www. experiences with the aim of capturing patient newsroom/events/analysis-and-action-applica- edi.nih.gov/people/sep/lgbti/about) to learn more obstacles, interactions and movement through tions-intersectionality-covid-19. about the diversity and inclusion strategy. the health care system along with the patient’s

2 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 they believe has made the most significant contributions in public service. Go to https:// servicetoamericamedals.org/peoples- choice-award/ by Friday, July 2 to vote. The People’s Choice winner will be announced in the summer. Renamed the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals in 2010 to commemorate the organization’s founder, the program NIH’s Sammie nominees are (from l) Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Dr. Barney Graham, Dr. Gary Gibbons, has honored more than 500 outstanding NIMHD director Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable and below, Dr. Brigitte Widemann. federal employees since its inception in 2002. Details about the program and the ‘OSCAR’ NODS ANNOUNCED participation in Covid-19 treatment and 2021 finalists are available at servicetoamericamedals.org. NIH’ers Among 2021 Sammies vaccine trials in underserved communities Finalists across the country. The Science and Environment Category Five employees of NIH are among 29 final- recognizes significant accomplishment in ists for the 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service fields such as medicine, economics, energy, to America Medals (Sammies), the nonparti- information san, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service technology, recently announced. The partnership space, mete- called the 29 nominees “exceptional federal orology and employees who have helped make the nation resource healthier, safer and more prosperous.” conservation. Also known as the “Oscars of federal NIH’s service,” the Sammies are the premier nominee, awards program recognizing America’s best NCI senior in government. This year, the partnership investigator added a Covid-19 Response medal to recog- and Pediatric nize the extraordinary federal workers who Oncology ON THE COVER: Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. played a leading role in responding to the Branch chief Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an pandemic and saving lives. Dr. Brigitte apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with NIH’ers were nominated in two catego- Widemann and team, developed a break- SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (purple), isolated from a patient sample. Image at the NIAID Integrated ries, including the newly added pandemic through medical treatment for children Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md. bracket. The Covid-19 Response Category with inoperable tumors that cause disabling IMAGE: NIAID recognizes outstanding efforts to support pain, disfigurement, blindness and motor Americans’ health, safety and economic dysfunction. The NIH Record security during the pandemic. “For each of the unprecedented Since 1949, the NIH Record has been published NIH finalists in that category include challenges we have faced in the last year, biweekly by the Editorial Operations Branch, NIAID/Vaccine Research Center fellow Dr. dedicated public servants have worked Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Kizzmekia Corbett and VRC deputy director behind the scenes to move our country National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. For editorial policies, email Dr. Barney Graham, who were cited for con- forward, heal our nation and strengthen our [email protected]. ducting groundbreaking research that led to democracy,” said Max Stier, partnership Associate Editor: Carla Garnett the development of highly effective vaccines president and CEO. “The 2021 Service [email protected] in record time that are protecting hundreds to America Medals finalists have shown Staff Writers: of millions of people from contracting the tremendous commitment to the public good, Eric Bock • [email protected] Dana Talesnik • [email protected] deadly coronavirus that swept across the and they, like all public servants, deserve our globe in 2020 and 2021. support and recognition.” Subscribe via email: Follow: Facebook “f” Logo [email protected] / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps http://nihrecord.nih.gov/ Also contending in the pandemic category Finalists contend in six other categories, The NIH Record are NHLBI director Dr. Gary Gibbons and in addition to the Covid-19 award. Winners is recyclable as NIMHD director Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable, will be announced in the fall. mixed paper. who developed and implemented federal All 29 finalists are also eligible for programs—RADx-UP and the Community the Service to America Medals People’s Engagement Alliance Against Covid-19 Choice Award. Members of the public Disparities—to increase testing as well as can vote online for the federal employee

NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 • 3 biophysicist Dr. Steve Quake, who developed diagnostic technologies using next generation sequenc- ing. The Valantine and Quake groups worked together on a technique to identify potential signs of During a virtual Clinical Center Grand Rounds, Valantine shows the diverse composition of her lab while at NHLBI. organ rejection using donor-derived Valantine and infant mortality, Covid-19 and organ cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in solid-organ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 transplant rejection,” she said. transplantation. Turning to her own specialty—organ “We were able to do the proof-of-concept clinical studies on organ rejection to make transplantation, specifically development experiments and publish a range of articles the case for diversity in the scientific work- of chronic heart rejection—and the focus indicating that indeed [dd-cfDNA] was a force. Arguably, Valantine’s own career could of her recent research, she set out to significantly important marker of graft be Exhibit A. answer a series of questions: What is the injury and therefore rejection.” It was at Stanford in 1985 that she first role of genetic distance between donor Subsequently, Valantine and colleagues became “fascinated by the idea of transplan- and recipient? Is the organ rejection due were able to use the technology to predict tation”—extracting an organ from a deceased person and getting it to work effectively in a  living person. “Quite frankly, I’m still in awe of the idea,” she admitted. “Our work is really cut out for us to achieve equity at all Valantine gave several reasons that the world’s biomedical investigation workforce academic levels. Individual interventions are not sufficient to ought to include professionals and trainees take us where we need to go.” from diverse racial, ethnic, minority and ~DR. HANNAH VALANTINE underserved communities: To achieve excellence in research, improve the quality of  patient care and expand participant inclusion in clinical research. to mitochondrial DNA mismatch, even which transplant patients might develop an “All of these are in the NIH mission,” she when the genetics of the nuclear DNA are infection, which is one harbinger of organ noted. absolutely identical? What might be the rejection and poorer survival. Valantine cited journal articles docu- contribution of social determinants of The Valantine Lab at NHLBI, the menting the impact of diversity. Physicians health? Laboratory of Transplantation Genomics, from underrepresented groups in medicine About 10 years ago before coming to teamed with other like-minded investigators are twice as likely to work in underserved NIH, Valantine initiated a collaboration to establish GRAfT, the Genomic Research communities. Patients are twice as likely to with preeminent Stanford geneticist and Alliance for Transplantation, a collaboration adhere to recommendations and advice— with health care organizations about diabetes, cholesterol screening, flu that offer organ transplantation shot, for example—from physicians of similar and organ procurement centers. racial and ethnic backgrounds. GRAfT provided measures of In addition, she noted, “physician-scien- reproducibility and research tists are more likely to focus their research rigor, in addition to mechanisms on topics/diseases that disproportionately for long-term follow-up of affect their communities.” patients. GRAfT also recruited a The quality and applicability of clinical disproportionately large number research, including clinical trials, increase of African Americans; that rare when the investigator and patient popula- patient enrollment profile gave tions are diverse, Valantine pointed out. In 2017, Valantine, in her role as NIH chief officer for researchers a unique cohort to “These factors put together point scientific workforce diversity, chats with Dr. Dennis Jones of study how social determinants of significantly to reducing racial disparities Massachusetts General Hospital, a participant in that year’s health might impact diagnoses Future Research Leaders Conference. in a wide spectrum of disorders, including of problems related to organ PHOTO: MARLEEN VAN DEN NESTE hypertension, cancer, diabetes, maternal transplantation.

4 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 Using the technology developed by Valantine’s team, investigators were able HEALTH DISPARITIES EVENTS COMING UP to detect signs of organ rejection 3 months NIMHD Seminar Hosts before biopsy. NYU’s Trinh-Shevrin, June 24 “This becomes very important,” she explained, “because it gives us the opportu- The NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series nity to act and treat those patients before will feature Dr. Chau Trinh-Shevrin of the they progress to chronic rejection” and New York University Grossman School of poorer survival risk. Medicine on Thursday, June 24 at 2 p.m. GRAfT results also revealed that Black ET. Vice chair for research and head of transplant patients show evidence of the the section for health equity in the NYU’s dd-cfDNA marker as early as the day after department of population health, she will transplant. Importantly, levels of dd-cfDNA present “Achieving Health Equity for Asian in Black patients remained higher than in Americans: Research, Policy and Action.” White patients throughout the follow-up For more than 20 years, Trinh-Shevrin’s period, despite equivalent blood levels of the research has been centered on the rigorous anti-rejection drugs. development and evaluation of multi-level “This eliminates the idea that [organ strategies to reduce health disparities rejection in Black patients] is in some way and advance health equity among Asian- related to non-compliance with medications American populations. She is a multiple or different metabolism of immunosuppres- principal investigator on several NIH grants sive drugs,” Valantine explained. including the NYU Center for the Study of Dr. Chau Trinh-Shevrin Conclusions drawn from GRAfT have Asian-American Health and leads the NIH led to a host of new questions to answer Community Engagement Alliance to End Covid-19 Disparities in New York. and avenues of research to explore, she For reasonable accommodation, call (301) 402-1366 or the Federal Relay, 1-800-877- pointed out. 8339. The talk will be videocast at https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=42154. “Which brings us all the way back to Learn about the NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series at https://nimhd.nih.gov/ who is going to be doing this work and why news-events/conferences-events/directors-seminar-series/. attention to the scientific workforce—and the diversity of perspectives embedded in Poster Submission Open for Nutrition Health Disparities Workshop the scientific workforce—is so critically On Sept. 21-23, 2021, NIH will host a virtual nutrition health disparities workshop to important…Our work is really cut out for review the state of the science on food insecurity and the neighborhood food envi- us to achieve equity at all academic levels. ronment. Participants will identify research gaps and explore innovative research Individual interventions are not sufficient strategies that could inform policies and practices. to take us where we need to go. We must As part of the event, NIH is encouraging early-stage investigators, as well as doctoral continue with institutional interventions… and postdoctoral students working in food insecurity, nutrition health disparities or that means transparency and accountability implementation science to submit an abstract for the poster sessions. as well as systematic review of hiring and Selected researchers will have an opportunity to present their research at the event promotion policies…The most important and receive an award. Submit your poster abstract by July 9 to qualify. Learn more and thing I learned from my time at NIH is that register by Sept. 7. https://bit.ly/3dY3D6H. we must be linking the diversity and equity work to institutional reward systems.” Valantine closed by countering the popular thought that great minds think alike. “Great minds think differently,” she emphasized, using oft-quoted words from Einstein to end: “‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’” Watch the full lecture with Q&A at https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=41679.

NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 • 5 At left, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), arriving on campus, bumps elbows with NIH director Dr. Francis Collins. At right, VRC director Dr. John Mascola (r), describes research on a tour of a Vaccine Research Center lab.

PHOTOS: CHIA-CHI CHARLIE CHANG

Senators the biodefense research section, joined in a Collins briefly discussed ARPA-H, a CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 discussion about vaccine development. potential new health research component (D-IL), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sen. In a tent erected not far from the VRC, devoted to scientific breakthroughs that Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Chris Van NIBIB director Dr. Bruce Tromberg provided would be housed within NIH. President Joe Hollen (D-MD). Many are members of the an overview of RADx and walked the delega- Biden proposed creating ARPA-H in a recent appropriations committee. tion through several technologies including speech to Congress. Collins also talked about NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and Covid at-home tests, point-of-care tests and what the senators would see during their NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci welcomed lab tests. [See sidebar, p. 7] He highlighted visit, which included several presentations the group at the Vaccine Research Center. A efforts developed via RADx over the past year on NIH’s multifaceted response to the tour of a VRC lab, a demonstration of Rapid and showed a large sampling of new tests Covid-19 pandemic. Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) tech- and products from 32 different companies. Afterward, on social media, Blunt posted nology, a briefing on mental health amid the Each senator and staffer received a box of two a message: “Thank you to National Institutes pandemic and a discussion of the potential at-home tests they could take with them. of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins “ARPA-H” were packed into the afternoon. In a large Porter Bldg. conference room, & researchers for giving us a terrific tour & Senators and staff members were separated NIMH director Dr. Josh Gordon and deputy presentation of their latest work to save lives. into two groups to facilitate occupancy in clinical director Dr. Joyce Chung discussed Because of medical researchers’ ingenuity & small spaces. mental health and Covid-19. Gordon drive, we are on the edge of finishing the fight For the lab tour, VRC director Dr. John provided an overview, with Chung presenting against Covid & on a faster timeline than we Mascola; VRC deputy director Dr. Richard on intramural research efforts, collabora- thought possible a year ago.” Koup, who is also chief of the Immunology tions and preliminary findings on the impact Laboratory; and Dr. Nancy Sullivan, chief of of the pandemic on mental health.

NIBIB director Dr. Bruce Tromberg chats with Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO). At right, the Senate delegation asks questions during the lab tour.

6 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 NIMH director Dr. Josh Gordon (l) and deputy clinical director Dr. Joyce Chung discussed mental health and Covid-19. At right, Collins briefly discusses “ARPA-H,” a potential new health research component devoted to scientific breakthroughs that would be housed within NIH.

RADx Tech Tent Show Visiting U.S. senators browsed Covid-19 diagnostic technologies on display May 17 in a tent erected for the occasion. The RADx Tech and Advanced Technology Platforms (ATP) programs have supported the development and production of 33 technologies, including those shown here:

• a Covid-19 home test kit developed by Ellume that produces a result within 15 minutes (FDA authorized in December 2020)

• MatMaCorp’s portable mini-lab NIBIB director Dr. Bruce Tromberg demonstrates Ellume’s that that can rapidly perform Covid-19 antigen test that displays its result in 15 minutes via multiple RT-PCR assays (FDA a smartphone app. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) extends the authorized in December 2020) microphone, while NIBIB health science policy analyst Dr. Patricia Wiley holds the paired smartphone. • Quidel’s lateral flow immuno- assay used with Sofia analyzers that provides results within 15 minutes (FDA authorized in May 2020)

• Talis One Covid-19 point-of-care test cartridges that insert into the Talis One instrument to detect SARS-CoV-2 through isothermal amplification of viral RNA and an optical detection system, returning a result in under 30 minutes;

• Two-pack boxes of QuickVue At-Home Covid-19 Tests that produce a result at home in 10 minutes (FDA authorized in December 2020).

NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 • 7 Music the concrete impacts of music on health.” unintentional bias, said Silberberg. He cited CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In welcoming this working group session, a decades-old psychology study in which Fleming said she’s excited to take part in this students were told certain rats were bred to she sang. The experiment was part of Sound process, hopeful the research could yield be smarter. The students repeatedly found Health, an NIH-Kennedy Center initiative therapies that will improve millions of lives. those rats to be fastest at their task; but there that Fleming helped launch to study the “I hope to keep singing this to the rafters in were no trained rats. impact of music on health and healing. the coming years,” she said. “There was expectation bias on the side Since then, Sound Health has hosted Three sponsoring institutes are also of the students,” he said. “They expected the performances, scientific workshops and singing its praises. NIA director Dr. bright rats to learn faster, so that’s what they community activities while also supporting Richard Hodes underscored the potential found.” investigative research into the science of of music therapy to help treat Alzheimer’s, Silberberg said his toolkit would include Parkinson’s, stroke and other a mirror, a balance, blindfolds, dice and disorders of aging. There’s great a statistician. The mirror is to reflect on interest in finding effective inter- unconscious biases; the balance represents ventions that could intercept taking measures to minimize their impact. neurodegenerative processes and Blinding all participants in a clinical trial maximize quality of life with age. can prevent expectation bias, he said. This initiative is also an Randomizing participants among the groups opportunity to study the thera- can increase the chance that comparison peutic benefits of music across groups are balanced. But be careful how you the lifespan. “Many of us at roll the dice. NINDS have been hypothesizing In a pilot study on music therapy to that…engaging with music during enhance mobility for Parkinson’s patients, NIMH researcher Dr. David Jangraw reviews brain scans with early life may in fact build the investigators randomized the participants. Fleming at NIH. resilience that allows one to The test group was exposed to specific thwart the forces that would lead life activities and received multiple music music. Now, NIH’s music and health working to neurodegeneration in aging,” said NINDS sessions per week, while the control group group—a medley of scientific minds from deputy director Dr. Nina Schor. The goal is did not participate in the music or activities. across NIH—is orchestrating a toolkit to help “not just to treat [these] disorders, but also to Was the music itself beneficial and restor- researchers conduct rigorous music-based prevent them in the first place.” ative? The study was inconclusive. interventions for brain disorders of aging. Music therapy has little risk of negative “We should do our best to adjust the “The field has incredible potential to side effects. It’s a natural, nonpharmaco- provide new insights into how our brain logical intervention with the potential of works, along with noninvasive and cost-ef- becoming more integrated into mainstream fective treatments using creative arts health care, said NCCIH director Dr. Helene therapies,” said Fleming, during a recent Langevin. “Singing and playing a musical virtual gathering of researchers, clinicians, instrument clearly involves both the mind music therapists, patient advocates and and the body.” creative arts representatives. Even listening to music, or thinking about It was the first of three meetings—a music, can have physical and psychological prelude to start hammering out the com- effects. Interestingly, when Fleming was ponents of the toolkit—in this new phase of in the MRI machine, the scans showed her Sound Health, in partnership with the Renée brain was most active not while singing or Fleming Foundation and the Foundation talking, but while imagining she was singing. Music has long been thought to have healing powers. But don’t make assumptions to fit for the NIH. The 26 panelists spent the Music may have medicinal powers, but your hypothesis, cautions NINDS investigator afternoon developing guidelines and don’t make assumptions to fit your hypoth- Dr. Shai Silberberg, whose advice could apply methodologies to spur rigorous, data-driven esis, cautioned NINDS program director Dr. to any clinical trial design. research on the impact of music on health. Shai Silberberg. groups to be equal except for the one inter- “Musicians and creative arts therapists A particular intervention may benefit vention being tested and, importantly, try have, through personal experience, always some study volunteers, but what if some to use objective, reliable outcomes,” advised been aware of the holistic value of music for participants are tone deaf or hard of hearing? Silberberg. healing,” said Fleming. “But to improve and Will the intervention be therapeutic if the Aim for transparent data, he added, and expand individualized care, and engage the subject is tasked with listening to opera large effects that make the research worth support of policymakers, insurers and health but—gasp—(apologies to Fleming) despises pursuing and may attract broader support. care institutions, we need this incremental that musical genre? process of research to solidify knowledge of In designing studies, beware of

8 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 UNITE Sets Initial Priorities NIGMS Renames Lecture Series for Greenberg NIH’s UNITE Initiative, which was established to identify and end structural racism at NIH, The NIGMS Director’s Early Career released its initial priorities at a Feb. 26 special meeting of the advisory committee to the NIH Investigator (ECI) Lecture Series will director (ACD). Consisting of nearly 80 employees representing each of NIH’s 27 institutes be renamed the Judith H. Greenberg and centers, UNITE is set to present an update on progress and priorities at a session of the ECI Lecture Series to honor NIGMS’s June ACD meeting. former deputy UNITE has five committees and each committee has focused priorities according to its director. charge. Greenberg The U committee is charged with “Understanding stakeholder experiences through listen- retired last ing and learning.” Priorities for the committee include soliciting feedback from NIH staff and October after the extramural community via listening sessions and focus groups; conducting qualitative 45 years of data analysis from feedback received and submitting institute/center data requests to all ICs; service to and reviewing NIH, most responses on of which recent, past, were spent at ongoing and NIGMS. She upcoming twice served diversity, as the insti- equity and tute’s acting Dr. Judith Greenberg inclusion director, from activities. May 2002 to The N November 2003 and from July 2011 to committee August 2013. addresses Throughout her career, Greenberg “New research held a strong interest in bioethics issues on health and in research training and career To learn more about UNITE and NIH’s efforts to end structural racism, visit https:// disparities, www.nih.gov/ending-structural-racism. development, and advised NIH on minority topics that included human embryonic health, and stem cells, gene therapy and biomedical health equity.” The committee’s priorities include proposing a Common Fund Initiative: career advancement for women. “Innovations and Transformation in HD/HE Research; empowering IC leaders and project “Judith especially had a deep officers with a data dashboard that tracks and provides visualizations of research invest- commitment to helping early-career ments, analyzing and improving business processes from ideation to funding in order to scientists, and naming this lecture in achieve equity, and achieving equitable support for health disparities, minority health and her honor seems a very appropriate way health equity research at NIH to measurably reduce health inequities. of recognizing everything she did for The I committee seeks to “Improve the NIH culture and structure for equity, inclusion NIGMS and NIH,” said NIGMS director and excellence.” Priorities for the committee include revising the NIH Manual chapter Dr. Jon Lorsch. on addressing harassment and inappropriate conduct, publishing accessible data on NIH The series was established in 2016 workforce demographics, and establishing an anti-racism steering committee that will assist to encourage undergraduate students with developing racial equity plans for each IC. to pursue careers in biomedical The T committee is charged with ensuring “Transparency, communication and account- research. The scope has since broad- ability with our internal and external stakeholders.” The committee’s priorities include ened to include graduate through developing a webpage with a data dashboard that provides transparent NIH and UNITE data, postdoctoral students and other developing a UNITE toolkit to help ICs communicate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts early-career scientists. and updating the portraiture and art installations throughout NIH’s physical spaces and the More information on the Greenberg agency’s online presence to reflect the diversity of identity and career paths at NIH. series, including details about this The E committee is focused on the “Extramural Research Ecosystem.” The committee’s year’s event, which will be held Sept. priorities include building and sustaining research capacity for fuller participation in modern 29, can be viewed at https://www. research enterprise, identifying policies that contribute to inequities in extramural funding, nigms.nih.gov/News/meetings/ECI/. launching programs that spur institutional culture change in support of inclusivity and equity and increasing career opportunities for individuals from diverse groups, including those from underrepresented groups. To learn more about UNITE and NIH’s efforts to end structural racism, visit https://www. nih.gov/ending-structural-racism.

NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 • 9 DIGEST

Turning Imagined Handwriting “This study represents an important milestone in the development of BCIs and machine learning into Text technologies that are unraveling how the human Researchers developed a system that quickly brain controls processes as complex as commu- translates brain signals for handwriting into text. nication,” said Dr. John Ngai, director of the NIH While preliminary, this technology could help BRAIN Initiative. “This knowledge is providing people with spinal cord injuries and neurological a critical foundation for improving the lives of disorders who have lost the ability to write and others with neurological injuries and disorders.” speak to communicate. —adapted from Research Matters NIH-funded Study Finds Higher Dose of DHA Lowers Research shows tailored, earlier cardiac rehab can benefit heart failure patients. Preterm Birth Risk FLY VIEW PRODUCTIONS / GETTY Women taking 1,000 mg of docosohexanoic acid (DHA) daily in the last half of pregnancy physical function, frailty, quality-of-life and had a lower rate of early preterm birth than depression in hospitalized heart failure patients, women who took the standard 200 mg dose, compared to traditional rehab programs. These according to an NICHD-funded study that findings, supported by NIA, were published in appears in EClinicalMedicine. Women given the Thoughts turned into text: Two implanted the New England Journal of Medicine. electrode arrays record brain activity higher dose who entered the study with a low “These results mark encouraging progress on a produced by thinking about writing letters. A DHA level had the greatest reduction in early computer processes the data in real-time and preterm birth, defined as birth before 34 weeks path to better overall quality-of-life and physical converts it into words on a screen. of pregnancy, which increases the risk of infant function for the millions of older Americans death and disability. who develop heart failure each year,” said NIA IMAGE: ERIKA WOODRUM (ARTIST), SHENOY LAB director Dr. Richard Hodes. Previous studies on the potential effects of DHA The study, funded by NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, as well and other omega-3 fatty acids—nutrients found For this new study, a research team followed as NINDS and NIDCD, appeared online in Nature. in fish and eggs and supplements like algal oil— 349 people with heart failure enrolled in “A Trial have been inconclusive and have not identified of Rehabilitation Therapy in Older Acute Heart Brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, enable a Failure Patients” (REHAB-HF). Participants had direct link between the brain and an external a specific type or dose an average of five comorbidities—diabetes, computer. Using BCI technology, people who are obesity, high blood pressure, lung disease or paralyzed can control a robotic arm or type with of omega-3 fatty acids. kidney disease—that also contributed to loss of a computer cursor. But point-and-click typing physical function. using BCIs can be a slow process, making it Researchers inefficient to use. enrolled In an earlier pilot study, researchers found strik- ing deficits in strength, mobility and balance in In the new study, researchers developed a BCI nearly 1,100 women and older patients with acute heart failure, along with that translates thoughts of handwriting move- the expected loss of endurance, worsened by the ments into text in real time. They assessed the compared the effects prescribed lengthy bedrest. The REHAB-HF team speed and accuracy of the system with a person designed earlier and more customized exercise who was paralyzed from a spinal cord injury. The of adminis- tering 1,000 programs that emphasized improving these participant was told to imagine he was holding areas of physical function. a pen on a piece of ruled paper. He attempted A higher dose of DHA in the last mg of DHA half of pregnancy may reduce to copy letters displayed on a screen, as well as in one group The team also began REHAB-HF during a risk of early preterm birth. symbols for spaces and stops, as if his hand was and 200 mg patient’s hospital stay when feasible instead not paralyzed. ISAYILDIZ/ISTOCK/GETTY in another of waiting until the traditional 6 weeks after group on discharge. After release from the hospital, study Electrodes implanted in the brain recorded the early participants shifted to outpatient sessions 3 activity from roughly 200 neurons that preterm birth rate. Overall, fewer women in times per week for 3 months. responded to the “writing” of each character. A the high-dose group delivered early preterm machine-learning algorithm used these signals to compared to the standard-dose group. Among Compared to a control group that received usual learn to identify the neural patterns representing women who had high DHA levels at study cardiac rehab care, REHAB-HF participants individual letters. After a series of training ses- entry, the rate of early preterm birth was low showed marked gains in measures of physical sions, the system allowed the participant to form and did not differ by dose. The authors called functioning and overall quality-of-life, including new sentences, with the computer displaying for screening DHA levels in pregnancy so that significant progress in a series of tests to letters in real time. women with low levels could consider taking a evaluate lower extremity function and mobility. higher daily dose. They also had notable improvements in self-per- Using the new system, the participant could ception of their health status. And, more than 80 compose sentences at about 90 characters per Tailored, Earlier Cardiac Rehab percent of REHAB-HF participants reported they minute with 94 percent accuracy. This speed is Shows Benefits were still doing their exercises 6 months after comparable to someone of a similar age typing completing the study. The research team plans to on a smartphone. In contrast, “point-and-click” New research shows that an innovative cardiac expand REHAB-HF into larger and longer-term interfaces have only achieved about 40 charac- rehabilitation intervention started earlier and trials with broader participant subgroups. ters per minute. more custom-tailored to the individual improved

10 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 MILESTONES

NIH’ers Win Flemming Awards and preserve genome integrity in cells. He Two NIH’ers are among the 12 public has perfected phys- servants who will be honored at the 72nd ics-based approaches annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards. and built unique Winners are recognized for performing instrumentation to outstanding service in the fields of applied control individual DNA science and engineering, basic science, lead- molecules with unprec- ership and management, legal achievement edented precision. His and social science. research has provided NHLBI’s Dr. Keir C. Neuman and NIDA’s novel insights and Dr. Tisha R. Wiley are NIH’s 2020 Flemming resolved longstanding Award recipients. questions concerning For more than 70 years, the awards essential mechanisms have celebrated stellar employees with 3 of topoisomerases, the to 15 years of federal government service. inhibition of topoisom- Recipients are nominated by their federal erases by anticancer Dr. Tisha R. Wiley and Dr. Keir C. Neuman are 2020 Flemming Award agencies, selected through a competitive chemotherapeutic recipients. judging process and presented by the Arthur agents and fundamen- S. Flemming Commission in partnership tal aspects of DNA topology.” similar settings—so that policy and practice with the George Washington University In the social science category, Wiley, innovations can be rapidly launched and Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and chief of the Services Research Branch and rigorously tested. JCOIN’s focus is provision Public Administration and the National associate director for justice systems, was of evidence-based opioid treatment services Academy of Public Administration. recognized as “the primary architect of the to individuals as they transition from the In the basic science category, Neuman, Justice Community Opioid Innovation justice system to the community.” chief of the Single Molecule Biophysics Network (JCOIN), an ambitious initiative Established in 1948, the award is named Laboratory, was cited “for the development that seeks to address the drug overdose crisis after Arthur Sherwood Flemming, a dis- of innovative technology enabling pio- by reimagining the way the justice system tinguished government official who served neering studies of the structural dynamics responds to addiction. JCOIN builds linkages seven presidential administrations, most of twisted (also known as supercoiled) between scientists at academic centers and notably as secretary of the Department DNA and topoisomerases, the essential justice systems—jails, prisons, probation/ of Health, Education and Welfare under enzymes that control DNA supercoiling parole, drug courts, juvenile justice and President Dwight Eisenhower.

NEI Retiree Huss Mourned National Institute of BY KYM COLLINS-LEE General Medical Sciences. In 1987, Huss took a Linda Maxsell Huss, former NEI position in the NEI commu- public affairs specialist, died Apr. 11, nications office where she after a long illness. She was 64. spent the last 28 years of Huss was a familiar face at NEI her career. Huss developed for nearly 3 decades, overseeing publications and traveling exhibits, publications, images and exhibits to promote NEI- photographs. She witnessed NIH’s As a communication specialist, Linda supported research. She first computers and the dawn of Huss developed publications and other and colleagues coordinated NIH’s official websites and social materials to promote NEI-supported photo shoots for the insti- media accounts. She retired after 40 research. She coordinated photo shoots for the institute using volunteer staff— tute using volunteer NEI years of federal service in 2015. including herself shown above behind a staff and family members Huss grew up in Montgomery phoropter—as models. as models. These photos County and graduated from Albert were used for the NEI’s Einstein High School. She began her federal career in 1975 at the first official website, two traveling exhibits, conference exhibits and Food and Drug Administration Bureau of Biologics, which at that publications for patients and the public. The photos were also used time was located on the NIH campus. She worked in the Division extensively by the media and public and professional organizations. of Compliance, filling out protocols for new drug applications, and Huss is survived by long-term partner, retired NIH’er David later worked in the Bureau of Biologics Freedom of Information Pair; her mother; a son and daughter-in-law; and many other family Office. In 1981, she moved to the communications office in the members and friends.

NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021 • 11 SEEN

BLOOMING ORCHIDS collection of 5 or 6 ‘phals’ that I would care for in our IC. We didn’t know what she’d look like if I could the office, and then give them back to their owners get her to recover, but she bloomed this spring for Keeping Personal Connections when they were in bloom. When lockdown hap- the first time in years. Oncostele (below, 2nd from Alive Amid Pandemic pened, I brought them all home so they’d continue l) is the last orchid I bought at an orchid sale just to get the TLC they needed. I didn’t get to share before lockdown. This one is known as Oncostele The Record asked readers to share pics of their plants grown during the pandemic. Jo-Ann Krieble their blooms in person this year, but have shared Eye Candy ‘Penny Candy.’ of NINR responded splendidly: photos with the office so their rightful owners could enjoy them. Photos of 3 favorites are [shown here], Aside from producing beautiful blooms that “Before COVID, I had started rehabbing the office as well as a group photo of all ‘the girls.’ brighten the office, helping others take care of orchids and learning about how to encourage their orchids has given me a way to help keep our them to bloom again,” she emailed. “Most of them “Rebecca (above, r) is a phal that belongs to an personal connections alive during Covid. I look are phalaenopsis (i.e., moth orchids) and are the office mate and has beautiful purplish blooms. Isla forward to being able to share them in real life next type most typically sold at grocery stores. I had a (below, l) belonged to a former colleague and was blooming season!” in pretty rough shape when her former owner left PHOTOS: OTTO BLAIS-NELSON

More Green Thumb Goodies At left, Oxalis, or purple shamrock; heather (c) and Fern kokedama (kokedama = “poor man’s bonsai”)—Laurie Doepel, NIAID There’s still time to see your plant photos in the Record. Email hi-res images with a caption to [email protected].

12 • NIH RECORD • JUNE 11, 2021