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The National Cancer Institute Aikido story on page 3. News from the NCI-Frederick AUGUST 2003 Offi ce of Scientifi c Operations IN THIS ISSUE I recently discussed in The Poster predominantly Government-operated), why I feel so strongly that the NCI- the NCI-Frederick is a unique blend Aikido - A Closer Look 3 Frederick is a great place to work. I of Government employees and have discussed many of the more employees from multiple contractors. Charles River Laboratories 4 obvious aspects of the NCI-Frederick This situation empowers the NCI- that make this facility a wonderful Frederick with added expertise and and productive place to be. But to the fl exibility necessary to respond Data Management Services 5 fully understand what makes the rapidly to the changing research NCI-Frederick so important to the priorities at the NCI. The facility has McKesson BioServices 6 National Cancer Institute, the National also been designated as a Federally Institutes of Health, and the nation Funded Research and Development SAIC-Frederick, Inc. 7 in general, you need to appreciate Center (FFRDC). The fact that the what makes NCI-Frederick unique. NCI-Frederick is the only FFRDC in Wilson Information Services the entire Corporation 8 Department of Health Building 470 9 and Human Services Science Today 10 further demonstrates the unique Platinum Publications 11 role of this facility. The Did You Know? 12 importance of this Community Outreach 16 FFRDC designation Offi ce of Diversity and is further Employee Programs 17 exemplifi ed The bottom line is that this facility by the very short list of other Environment, Health, and is more than just a few NCI research prestigious laboratories which have Safety Program 18 labs and animal facilities located 37 been awarded this status, including miles north of the main NIH campus Argonne National Laboratory, Los Special Events 20 in Bethesda. The NCI-Frederick is a Alamos National Laboratory, Oak unique and integral piece of the NCI, Ridge National Laboratory, and the Jet with a unique role and unique mode of Propulsion Laboratory. Job Vacancies 24 operation. This designation as an FFRDC As a background, the NCI-Frederick empowers the NCI-Frederick with is a Government Owned-Contractor special authority, but only to meet the Operated (GOCO) facility. Unlike “special needs” of the Government. the NCI effort in Bethesda (which is As such, NCI-Frederick is expected to continued on page 2 News from the NCI-Frederick Offi ce of Scientifi c Operations continued from page 1 meet some special, long-term, research prohibits the NCI-Frederick from the unique and important role the NCI- and development needs of the NCI 1) providing services which can be Frederick plays in our nation’s war through the establishment of a long- easily met by existing Government on cancer and AIDS, you will have a term relationship with its contractors. resources, or 2) utilizing these better appreciation for how important This special relationship allows the Government facilities to compete with your work is to this mission. NCI-Frederick to provide a rapid private industry. Keep up the good work! response capability, which cannot be Yes, the NCI-Frederick is a pretty met as effectively anywhere else in the special place to work. We are all a Craig Reynolds, NIH. very unique and integral element of Director of However, our FFRDC designation the NCI. I hope that by understanding the Offi ce of Scientifi c Operations Dr. Paul Nisson, provide high quality services, of Rochester School of Medicine Project Offi cer in the technology development and research where he studied the yeast genetics Offi ce of Scientifi c collaborations to their customers.” He of DNA repair and mutagenesis. As a works very closely with the program postdoctoral fellow at the Worcester Operations Director, Dr. Joseph Kates, and Dr. Foundation he studied gene expression Dr. Paul Nisson, the new project David Goldstein (CCR), who helped to in sea urchin and pre-implantation offi cer in the Offi ce of Scientifi c establish the RTP. mouse embryos. He then worked at Operations, comes to NCI-Frederick The RTP comprises six laboratories Life Technologies (now Invitrogen) with more than 20 years’ experience and 90 scientists and administrators: from 1989 until 2000, commercializing in research the Laboratory of Proteomics and products for molecular biologists in and product Analytical Technologies, Protein the areas of gene mapping and gene development Expression Laboratory, Gene discovery and started and managed in the Life Expression Laboratory, Laboratory a custom services group. Inspired by Sciences. In of Molecular Technology, Protein a growing interest in Bioinformatics, his fi rst few Chemistry Laboratory, and the Image he moved to Compugen, an Israeli months, he Analysis Laboratory. computational biology company, as has been busy “The government is responsible Director of Research and Development, “learning for overseeing the program which is where, over a three-year period, he the ropes, staffed and ably managed by SAIC- led the effort to develop a product line developing Frederick, Inc.,” Dr. Nisson said. “My called Oligolibraries, a gene expression relationships with the PI’s, working main mission has been to set up an profi ling tool that the company co- with directors and developing a rational annual review process to make sure the markets with Sigma-Genosys. process to examine how well the labs six labs are providing quality service Dr. Nisson wanted to stay in the are performing,” he said in a recent to their NCI/NIH customers. After a Washington Metro area and found interview. preliminary review of the program, it is his interests and past experience “The Offi ce of Scientifi c Operations clear that it’s an outstanding resource overlapped with the growing needs is responsible for the operation of for the NCI and the other NIH institutes of the Offi ce of Scientifi c Operations the site,” Dr. Nisson said. “This as well.” at the NCI-Frederick directed by Dr. offi ce oversees four contracts—the Now that the internal review is Craig Reynolds. “It’s an exciting time largest being SAIC—and our primary completed, the Offi ce of Scientifi c to be at the NCI and I’m fortunate to be responsibility is to ensure the customer, Operations will turn to outside experts a part of it,” said Dr. Nisson. in this case the government, is to review the program and offer their Dr. Nisson is located in Building satisfi ed.” evaluation and opinions about its 427, room 7; he can be reached Dr. Nisson is responsible for operation and the areas in which it at 301-846-7653, or by e-mail at overseeing the Research Technology could improve. [email protected]. For more Program (RTP). “I am part of a A Harvard undergraduate in information on the RTP program, visit government-SAIC team that is trying chemistry, Dr. Nisson received his the website at http://web.ncifcrf.gov/ to ensure that the RTP scientists PhD in Biophysics from the University rtp/. The NCI-Frederick Poster 2 August 2003 Aikido - A Closer Look Aikido: The Way of defend themselves. Jack says, “A all of this negative energy, all this Harmony lot of how I have changed has been aggression coming at you, your goal confi dence in myself. is not only to A delightful aspect of our annual I used to freeze up on negate that Spring Research Festival is that we school exams, but once I attack but not see not only the extraordinary research started studying martial to hurt the our scientists do, but also glimpses of arts, I would take fi ve person that is other paths they follow. to ten minutes before doing it. I can One of those who follow two an exam to do breathing immobilize apparently different paths is Dr. Jack exercises. And my exam that person Simpson, a scientist in the Protein scores went right up, and not break Chemistry Laboratory, SAIC- because I was relaxed anything,” Frederick, Inc. In June he presented at and I could think.” Jack says. the Research Technology Program’s He continues, “Aikido Staff Seminar, speaki teaches you about yourself: What Earning the Black Belt on “Nitrocellulose you can do well, what you need to A martial arts student must usually Purifi cation of work on, what you want to work advance through several non-degree BIAcore® and on.” A person’s demeanor, normally grades before earning the fi rst-degree Serum Samples unassuming, may be much more fi erce black belt. “You are just starting at that for MALDI-TOF,” “on the mat” in aikido. “That comes point, once you have your fi rst black while at the Spring from inside, and it takes a long time belt,” Jack says. Research Festival, he to understand how to control and tap The fi nal, tenth-degree black belt and his colleagues into it when you want to. One of my is usually reserved for founders of demonstrated the art students said I physically get bigger on various systems of martial arts. “In of aikido. the mat,” he says. Asian culture, martial arts were Although science The techniques limber the joints, traditionally family systems, so it and martial arts may stretching tendons and ligaments would usually be a family name seem very different, that have not been stretched before. followed by Ryu, meaning ‘school’ for Jack they merge “Performed properly, no permanent or ‘system.’ Aikido was at one point almost seamlessly damage is ever done, another reason called Ueshiba Ryu because Ueshiba in his life. “Aikido is that it is different from other martial Sensei founded aikido,” Jack notes. not a sport; it’s traditional Budo, or a arts,” Jack explains.