February 14, 2014, NIH Record, Vol. LXVI, No. 4
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FEBRUARY 14, 2014 The Second Best Thing About Payday VOL. LXVI, NO. 4 ‘Why Are We Here?’ Casadevall Speaks on Origins of Microbial Virulence By Belle Waring ABOVE · Cattle markets in Mali allow researchers to learn how ticks act as vectors hat killed the dinosaurs? In his recent Joseph J. Kinyoun Memorial Lecture, Dr. of disease. See story on p. 5. W Arturo Casadevall offered the possibility that the fall of the reptiles and rise of features mammals were linked by differing susceptibility to fungal diseases. Professor and chair of the department 1 of microbiology and immunology at Al- Unfettered Scientific Speculation Enchants Kinyoun Lecture Crowd bert Einstein College of Medicine of Ye- shiva University in New York, Casadevall 3 argued that science can be fun. NICHD’s Maddox Touts Strengths of Diversity “In biology, we don’t think any more,” he said. “In fact, we can’t think without 5 data, and I think that’s one of the things NIAID Research Thrives in Mali that we have lost.” 12 His talk embodied fearless scientific Homegrown NIH Diets Top thought in action. He explained how Dar- Magazine’s Rankings win wouldn’t get published today, con- Dr. Arturo Casadevall gives Kinyoun Lecture. fronted the current state of scientific publication, posed fundamental questions usu- ally not heard in scientific talks and redefined virulence. departments see casadevall, page 6 Reconnect to the ‘Why’ Get Moving Briefs 2 Former Navy SEAL Greitens Offers a New Exercise Your Way to a Longer, Healthier Digest 9 Meaning of ‘Frontline’ Life, Forum Speakers Urge Milestones 10 By Dever Powell By Dana Steinberg When Dr. Eric Greitens, former Rhodes schol- If people were aware of the litany of health ar turned Navy SEAL, says “frontline,” it’s benefits that arise from regular exercise, even hard not to imagine a battlefield in Iraq or the busiest among us would make it a prior- Afghanistan. ity. Keeping fit confers major health ben- efits—that message resonated at a recent A military frontline is well understood by ser- Staff Training in Extramural Programs (STEP) vicemen and women: it’s a place of pain, hard- forum, “Move: Physi- ship and fear, a cal Activity Bene- place where victo- fits Everyone,” held ries are won and in NLM’s Lister Hill friendships are Auditorium. formed. Research shows But a frontline is that regular exer- not just a military cise helps lower the term. risk of early death, “Every person has heart disease, stroke, a frontline,” high blood pressure Greitens said and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Eric Greitens, former recently in Masur NIA’s Dr. Chhanda Dutta In seniors, increased The NIH Record is recyclable SEAL, speaks at NIH. as office white paper. Auditorium, where physical activity can see greitens, page 4 see exercise, page 8 od.nih.gov/ for two easy options to subscribe. 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Diversity Seminar Make your own luck and find your own way to your dreams. Series at CSR By Don Luckett Have an exceptional work ethic. Always see yourself as a role model. “Diversity is the only true thing we all have Setting high expectations and pursuing them is not just a philosophy; it’s a way in common, so we of life for Maddox. She has led major scientific advances related to women’s and should celebrate it,” children’s health, health disparities and underserved populations in America. She said Dr. Yvonne Mad- counts herself blessed for the way NIH embraced her from day one. dox, NICHD deputy Maddox said much still needs to be done to increase diversity at NIH and in the director, who recently extramural community. After mentioning some of NIH’s key diversity programs, helped launch a staff she focused on what individuals can do: seminar series sponsored by CSR’s new diversi- ty committee. Value diversity. This value will reverberate to others. “Yvonne is one of the spectacular success sto- Embrace the diversity of your colleagues and together you will make each other ries of NIH,” said Dr. Richard Nakamura, CSR better at what you do. director. “Her career and way of making prog- Know that you can make a difference and use your abilities to do it.