April 2, 2021 Vol . LXXIII, No . 7

12 observing the pandemic anniversary. “Most of all, NIH family, I want you to “But there is encouraging news to report: know how much your dedication matters,” Nationally, Covid-19 case numbers are Collins concluded. “You are one of the main gradually dropping, and with three highly reasons that I feel hopeful. We are going to PANDEMIC ANNIVERSARY effective Covid-19 vaccines in distribution, get through this!” Collins Reflects on Past Year, more people are being vaccinated every day.” This issue of the NIH Record focuses on Looks Ahead with Optimism On Mar. 17, Collins marked the 1-year the past year of working through a pandemic. anniversary of NIH’s On Mar. 11, 2020, the World Health car-line Covid-19 testing Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. operation by visiting the Shortly after, all telework-eligible employ- site and thanking employ- ees across the NIH began teleworking to ees on the frontlines there the extent possible, schools transitioned (see story, p. 4). to distance learning and large gatherings In his email message, were discouraged. After the initial weeks Collins also acknowledged of sheltering in place, the social isolation the many stressors continued. Many have endured illness and and difficulties people loss. Today, more than 30 million people in continue to face and the the U.S. have contracted Covid-19, and the importance of self-care. national Covid-19 death toll exceeds 540,000. He ended with a note of “We can all agree that it has been a long gratitude and a nod to NIH director Dr . (l) visits staff at the car-line testing site, which marked its first anniversary recently . See story, p . 4 . and difficult year,” noted NIH director Dr. the air of resilience in the Francis Collins, in an all-staff email Mar. atmosphere. PHOTO: CHIA-CHI CHARLIE CHANG

NIMH Investigators Discuss ‘CORONA COASTER’ OF EMOTIONS How to Power Through Employee Needs, Support Pandemic, Move Beyond Systems Evolve BY ERIC BOCK AND DANA TALESNIK BY CARLA GARNETT

As we mark a Looking back over the past year of work year since the life amid a historic worldwide health crisis, pandemic began, professionals who help people navigate we look back on “Employee World” a year filled with can now describe long bouts of the textbook shifts social isolation, in terrain we’ve seemingly endless experienced. meetings “We’ve definitely A rainbow and other signs of light in nature, p . 12 . and virtual chats seen a predictable with people we evolution,” said ALSO THIS ISSUE miss seeing in Anna Verschoore, ORWH Publishes Special Journal Issue on person, and the Employee Dr . Maryland Pao Maternal Health ...... 3 persistent stress of Assistance Program Anna Verschoore navigating through not-normal times. (EAP) manager Collins Marks Anniversary of Car-Line. . . . . 4 ‘People Are Resilient’ and 30-year mental Mahoney Lecture Reset...... 9 health clinician. “The primary issues a RePORT Site Revamped...... 10 The Covid-19 pandemic anniversary is year ago were the logistics and emotions of SEE NIMH, PAGE 6 SEE EAP, PAGE 8 Digest...... 11 BRIEFS

NIMHD Seminar Hosts UCLA’s Mangione, reopened and accepting new donations that will be employee or group of employees in grades 1-12 or Apr. 8 considered supplemental to 2020 pledges . Donors equivalent . can contribute via payroll deduction if they didn’t Dr . Carol M . Mangione of the University of California, The Maddox Award honors a non-supervisory Los Angeles, will select payroll for the 2020 CFC or contribute a lump sum payment to one or multiple charities via a employee or group of employees in grades 13-15 or present “Best equivalent . Practices for the credit or debit card . Electronic gifts made through Development, the online system will be distributed to charities as EDI’s Award of the Year honors an executive, Recruitment and early as Apr . 1 . manager or supervisor . Retention of a The nationwide special solicitation will allow For more information, visit www .edi .nih gov. / Diverse Faculty,” the federal employees to voluntarily support not only consulting/outreach/edi-awards . next lecture in the the local non-profits in the state of Texas, but also NIMHD Director’s non-profits nationwide that are responding to the Seminar Series on devastation caused by the severe winter storm . Child Care Board Recruits Members Thursday, Apr . 8 at All non-profits included in this solicitation have The NIH Child Care Board seeks interested NIH 3 p .m . been vetted and approved to participate in the federal employees to fill multiple board vacancies Mangione is the 2020 CFC . for 2021-2024 . Individuals will begin serving in September 2021 . associate director By temporarily reactivating CFC, OPM is able to of the UCLA Clinical encourage federal, military and postal employees The NIH Child Care Board serves two primary and Translational along with retirees to provide emergency assis- functions: Science Institute and tance that will contribute toward the health and  a practicing primary stability of charities and the people who rely upon Advises on child and family programs and policies . care physician . Her Dr . Carol M . Mangione them for critical help at this time . expertise includes  For more information, go to https://cfcnca g. ivecfc . Advocates for affordable, accessible and quality diabetes, health child care for the NIH community . disparities, aging and public health policy . org/2021-special-solicitation-winter-storm-shirley . You need not be a child development expert to For reasonable accommodation, call (301) Nominations Open for Champions of EDI join—just an NIH federal employee interested in 402-1366 or the Federal Relay, 1-800-877-8339 . child care, resources for parents/grandparents/ The talk will be videocast at https://videocast . NIH’S Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion caregivers or work-life issues who is willing to nih g. ov/watch=41816 . To learn about the seminar (EDI) is accepting nominations for the annual participate in the work . series, visit www .nimhd .nih go. v/news-events/ Harvey J . Bullock Jr . Award for Equity, Diversity conferences-events/directors-seminar-series/ . and Inclusion; Yvonne Thompson Maddox Award Members serve for 3 years, are required to attend for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and EDI Award 7 board meetings per calendar year, and are CFC Reopens to Help with Winter Storm of the Year . expected to serve on at least 1 board committee . Recovery Participation is an official duty, requires supervisor These awards recognize NIH employees who approval and may be included as a non-critical The U .S . Office of Personnel Management champion the ideals of EDI . Awardees will be element on an employee’s performance plan . announced that the Combined Federal Campaign recognized at the 2021 NIH Director’s Awards (CFC) will conduct a special solicitation to Ceremony . For a description of requirements and an online application, visit https://www .ors .od .nih go. v/pes/ support charities serving and affected by Winter Nominations must be submitted to EDI no later Storm Shirley . dats/childcare/ccb/Pages/board_membership . than Friday, Apr . 9 . Send nominations to Ijeoma aspx . Application deadline is Friday, Apr . 9 . From now through Apr . 9, the CFC Online Giving Ofoha at edi .outreach@nih g. ov . Portal (https://cfcgiving .opm go. v/welcome) is For details, contact Linda .Owen@nih g. ov or (301) The Bullock Award honors a non-supervisory 827-3250, or visit www .childfamilycare .ors .nih .gov .

NHLBI Hosts Event on Sailing Association To Hold Virtual Open Disease Management House, Apr. 7 Tools for Underserved Populations Explore your interest in sailing (or learning to sail) by attending an Open House on Wednesday, Apr . The National, Heart, Lung, 7, from 7-8 p .m . with the NIH Sailing Association, and Blood Institute will host a a successful 50-plus-year-old, NIH-affiliated and virtual research and implemen- R&W-sponsored club . The live, but virtual program tation workshop Apr . 14-15 to (via Zoom) will include an introduction and a slide discuss barriers to—and oppor- show describing the club, its membership, boats, tunities for—improving heart, and various opportunities and activities . In addi- lung, blood and sleep health tion, NIHSA’s training team will be there to discuss outcomes in underserved, details and registration procedures for its very low-resource and remote popular and reasonably priced basic sailing course communities . The workshop that involves both classroom and on-the-water aims to identify practical and sessions . For more information and to get Zoom affordable technology solutions login, visit the club website at www .nihsail .org . You for disease diagnosis and may also contact commodore/membership chair, management in these groups, prioritize the ones that could have the greatest impact and determine Chris Hatch, hatch2chris@gmail .com or training the ones best suited for further research . The event is available via NIH videocast and is free and open coordinators, nihsa .basic .training1@gmail .com . to the public . Learn more and register in advance, https://go .usa g. ov/xsyeR .

2 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH from racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic factors . ORWH Publishes Special Noursi and Dr . Michael Lu conclude by proposing Issue of JWH a new MMM research agenda for the biomedical community . Lu and Noursi identify four key areas Staff and researchers from the Office of that require further research: factors causing higher Research on Women’s Health have collabo- risk for MMM in some populations; the long-term rated on a special edition of the Journal of effects of pregnancy complications; better safety Women’s Health (JWH) . The new issue char- and quality of maternal care; and the social, acterizes the increasing problem of maternal structural and environmental determinants of morbidity and mortality (MMM) in the United maternal health . States, suggesting solutions and proposing a research agenda for understanding, treating These areas suggest an agenda for the next stages and preventing maternal health complications . of research and provide a guide to biomedical investigators, policymakers and funding organiza- U .S . women—particularly those from under- tions toward addressing MMM . represented racial and ethnic populations and those who reside in rural areas—are more likely to care system—including clinical, behavioral, social, die from complications related to pregnancy or structural and political determinants—and their childbirth than women in peer nations . Each year, intersection with race, class and gender contrib- about 700 U .S . women die as a result of pregnancy ute to MMM . Another article delves into MMM or delivery complications, and approximately in American Indian and Alaska Native women, 50 percent of identifying hemorrhage, cardiomyopathies and maternal deaths are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as leading preventable . causes of maternal mortality in this population . For every pregnan- Other articles explore implicit bias and its cy-related death contribution to racial disparities in MMM . One article specifically looks at persistent MMM health ON THE COVER: Illustration of brain inflammation in the U .S ., 70 from Alzheimer’s disease. Research suggests women experience disparities among Black women, associated comorbidities and relevant structural inequities that chronic inflammation may be caused by the a “near miss ”. buildup of glial cells normally meant to help keep within and outside the health care system . Cases of severe the brain free of debris. Microglia (purple), a type maternal morbidity of glial cell, engulfs and destroys waste and toxins (SMM)—unexpected Comorbidities, Additional Considerations in a healthy brain. In Alzheimer’s, microglia fail to outcomes of Women with medical conditions predating clear away waste, debris and protein collections, pregnancy, labor or conception or conditions that emerge during including beta-amyloid plaques. Astrocytes (blue), another type of glial cell, are signaled to help clear delivery resulting in serious short- or long-term pregnancy experience higher rates of MMM . Several the buildup of plaques and other cellular debris consequences to a woman’s health—have almost articles discuss how the risk increases as the result left behind. These microglia and astrocytes collect doubled over the past decade . SMM affected more of co-occurring conditions such as dysglycemia, around the neurons but fail to perform their debris- than 50,000 U .S . women in 2014 . physical and cognitive disability, cardiovascular clearing function. In addition, they release chemicals disease, perinatal depression, sleep-disordered that cause chronic inflammation and further damage ORWH associate director Dr . Samia Noursi served breathing and infection . the neurons they are meant to protect. as guest editor and, along with NIH colleagues, contributed the introduc- Other contributing factors IMAGE: NIA tion . The issue delves into to MMM range from “epidemiological patterns environmental factors and The NIH Record and trends, biological and dietary supplements during Since 1949, the NIH Record has been published physiological risk factors, pregnancy to such societal biweekly by the Editorial Operations Branch, external risk factors, social issues as homicide, suicide, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, determinants of health drug overdose and intimate National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and proven and potential partner violence . Also and Human Services . For editorial policies, email interventions that are poised explored are pain manage- nihrecord@nih .gov . to be delivered to a broader ment during pregnancy and Associate Editor: Carla Garnett audience,” stated the authors . the problem of MMM around [email protected] the world . Staff Writers: Maternal Health Disparities Eric Bock • [email protected] Many U .S . subpopulations— Addressing MMM Dana Talesnik • [email protected] including underrepresented To mitigate MMM in the Subscribe via email: Follow: racial and ethnic groups, U .S ., there are new clinical Facebook “f” Logo [email protected] / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps http://nihrecord.nih.gov/ transgender individuals and tools and protocols (or The NIH Record women of advanced maternal “care bundles”) designed is recyclable as age—have higher rates of to improve obstetric safety . mixed paper . MMM due to socioeconomic Another article discusses how disadvantages, comorbidities, existing health information implicit bias and other factors . technologies could be leveraged to address health One article discusses how PHOTO: BIG CHEESE PHOTO /GETTY disparities in MMM stemming influences on the health

NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 • 3 More than 40 employees of the campus Covid-19 testing car line marked the operation’s 1-year anniversary with a ceremony featuring NIH director Dr . Francis Collins (front, c) . PHOTOS: CHIA-CHI CHARLIE CHANG

DIRECTOR THANKS CAR-LINE EMPLOYEES ORS’s Taylor Lauded for Work Ethic By Carla Garnett In a normal year, Rodney Taylor works a anniversary of the testing regular daily schedule. Like most folks, he operation with an apprecia- takes a vacation here and there and has tion ceremony at the site. the occasional day off. Of course, once the “What we did, we made novel coronavirus outbreak morphed into a contact with everybody who historic worldwide pandemic, 2020 wasn’t a had something to do with it normal year for anyone. Taylor, though, took throughout the whole year,” the past year to next-level extraordinary: Taylor explained. “It was Staffing the on-campus car line for Covid-19 kind of like a reunion.” Collins (l), Assistant Fire Chief Mike Gilroy (second from l) and testing, he has missed only 2 work days since Some 40 employees con- ORS Director Colleen McGowan (third from l) chat with Rodney Mar. 18, 2020. verged on the NIH Gateway Taylor (second from r), who has missed just 2 work days since the car line opened last year . “June 30 and July 6—before you ask, let Center, where the testing me tell you about those 2 days,” he says, operation recently relocated laughing. from its original site at the Collins had visited the site previously— On Mar. 17, 2021, NIH director Dr. driveway leading to the Lister Hill Center, but as a client, in his car, to be swabbed for Francis Collins marked the 1-year Bldg. 38A. Workers were praised for their Covid-19. For the anniversary event, he efficiency, profession- was led on a guided tour of the operation alism, dedication and with ORS Director Colleen McGowan and commitment to the Assistant Fire Chief Mike Gilroy. goals of the facility, Drive-up testing at NIH has run con- amid unprecedented tinuously since it was established; from circumstances. March until Memorial Day weekend 2020, it “Dr. Collins said operated 7 days a week. And Taylor was there he just wanted to for all of it. come and see what the “It was like going on a deployment for a workers do,” Taylor whole year,” said Taylor, an Armed Forces recalled. “He actually veteran. “I enjoyed working and I want to say walked over to each thank you to the health information man- person individually agement team, the [Division of Occupational and talked to them Health and Safety], the Fire Department McGowan and Collins at the campus car line and thanked them.” and Emergency Management, because those

4 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 a program specialist for food and retail in the ORS Division of Amenities and Transportation Services. His group was responsible for monitoring edibles and other items provided in all the cafeterias, snack bars, concession stands and vending machines for the main campus, Rockledge and Fishers Lane buildings in Bethesda as well as CONSIDER BEFORE YOU POUR NIH’s Bayview facilities Consult Guide About Drain On the tour with Collins, Gilroy describes aspects of the Covid-19 testing in Baltimore. facility and process . Before coming Disposal to NIH 5 years NIH policy requires that all waste be reduced were the four teams put together to make all ago in February 2016, he worked for the to the greatest extent feasible to limit potential this happen.” Department of Defense after retiring from negative environmental impact . The objective is to dispose of chemicals via waste management The testing operation has five general military service in 2006. So, he’s accustomed services and to prevent hazardous chemical areas: safety, greeters, swabbers, communi- to complex logistical operations that move at discharges to the sanitary sewer . cations and labelers. Taylor’s job doesn’t fit a fast pace. With advances in wastewater treatment easily into any of those categories. As for the only 2 work days in the past technology, some people have become overly “I’m the runner,” he explained. Every year that he was not at work? He still came confident in publicly owned treatment works morning, Taylor checks in at health infor- on site. capabilities to clean the waste released into the mation management headquarters on the On June 30, he and several other front- sanitary sewers . Despite tech advances, there B-1 level of Bldg. 10. There he collects the line staff were asked to report for testing remain chemicals that may interfere with the treatment process or that pass through the roster of people signed up to be tested and themselves; he was swabbed that morning system entirely untreated . This is an ever-grow- the swabs, solution vials and other test kit and given the required rest of the day off. ing concern as newly discovered chemicals in equipment. Then, he heads He was back at work the next the environment (and/or water supply) defy to the Children’s Inn, where morning. treatment standards . (Read details at https:// he drops off a portion of the By that evening, however, www .safewater .org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/ emerging-contaminants ). kits designated for inn needs, he was told to quarantine and finally sets off for the for 21 days as his initial test The Division of Environmental Protection in Gateway Center site. results came up positive for NIH’s Office of Research Facilities, in coor- dination with scientific directors and NIEHS Throughout the day, Covid. Testing was halted leadership, has developed a Drain Discharge variations of this route may anyway, for the Independence Guide to inform staff which chemicals can be be repeated several times Day weekend, and Taylor disposed of through the sanitary sewer . until, at day’s end, he collects stayed home until Sunday Laboratory workers should consult the guide, the completed kits for final afternoon. That’s when he online at https://nems .nih go. v/Documents/ drop-off at a Clinical Center was called with news that the NIH_Drain_Discharge_Guide .pdf, before lab for evaluation. first results had been contam- disposing of any lab chemicals down the “Rodney has been so inated. Would he come in for a drain . Only chemicals approved by DEP may Taylor treated the rigorous be disposed of down the drain . Surplus solid dedicated to anything he does car-line schedule like a new test? After arriving on site chemicals must be disposed of through NIH and it really showed up when military deployment . for the test July 6 and getting chemical waste services and not discharged we asked him if he would help the results that cleared him down the sanitary sewer . with the symptomatic testing site,” said Tim for work, he was back on duty July 7. He has If you are unsure about a chemical, call DEP, Tosten, associate director of program and not missed another day. (301) 496-7990 for further guidance . Chemicals employee services. “His willingness to do “And I will be there until it’s over,” Taylor not on the approved drain disposal list may anything has been remarkable, and he shows declared. “I enjoy the work and it’s all for a be considered via application, https://spapps . up every day with a smile—no matter what he good cause. What I was told from day one od .nih gov/sites/DEPAuthorizations/SitePages/. Home .aspx . Direct questions about the guide has to do.” was, ‘You’ll be on it until this is over with’ and to DEP . Before the pandemic, Taylor worked as I don’t have a problem with that.”

NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 • 5 NIMH in the past and how we want to be going supervisors to devise personalized alterna- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 forward. We are taking a closer look at tive work schedules. Maximum telework how we truly make our organization more has also highlighted the importance of a good time to pause and take stock of the diverse at all levels, including leadership,” face-to-face communication—especially in a year’s challenges and silver linings, said said Pao. “We are also discipline as collaborative Deborah Snyder, NIMH’s special advisor to reexamining what hospital as science. the clinical director. care looks like.” “We have to be ready to “I don’t know many people who have The pandemic has experiment within our own gone untouched by Covid-19,” she said. “Pay illustrated the importance offices and be open to doing attention to your mood, thoughts, actions. of relying on others, when our own little clinical trials Figure out what you can, for now, and work needed. Snyder said social on how our physical spaces on letting go what you can’t. Make time for support is a “key ingredi- and workstations affect our paying attention and expanding your own ent” to psychological and productivity and morale,” coping strategies.” physical health. Snyder said. “We have to be She advised employees to acknowledge Many NIH employees patient with each other, but the professional and personal difficulties of have been working non-stop that is the nature of good the past year but also reflect upon what got for months to help fight collaborative science.” them through. the pandemic. While these The ground has been “Our brains are hard-wired to scan for efforts are necessary, “We have to be patient with quivering underneath us the negative,” she explained. “But, it’s just they are unsustainable each other, but that is the nature for the last year and it will of good collaborative science,” as important to focus on the positive, such long-term. says NIMH’s Deborah Snyder . continue to quiver for a as the grit and ingenuity that allowed us to “While some NIH’ers bit more time. “We’ve got power through.” have had to, we can’t live at a heightened this. We just have to figure out how to get For Snyder, that means getting back state of readiness all the time,” she noted. through the challenging moments, soak up to the basics, connecting to experiential “You need to take time for yourself, other- the moments we should be grateful for and wise you’re not going to focus on doing what we can together,” Snyder • • • be good to anyone around assured. you. It’s important for Over the next few months, Pao thinks “We’ll remember how we like to connect our physical and mental most people will be surprised at how well with each other in person. health.” they handled the past year. “We’ll remember ‘A Bit of a Roller Coaster’ how we like to connect with each other in That joy will come back.” person. That joy will come back.” ~DR. MARYLAND PAO There will be perma- nent changes resulting Preparing to Reenter the World • • • from the pandemic. “It’s While months of continued vigilance hard to imagine that we’re remain, along with the hope of normal times sources of meaning, “love, beauty, nature, going to go back to what work life looked like ahead, we may feel stressed as we psycho- humor and gratitude.” in say, February 2020,” she said. It’s impos- logically to reconnect and interact “It’s normal to experience ups and sible, however, to predict what will become more in person—to rejoin the world. downs—especially during such a challenging the new normal. A lot of those questions will “The social isolation and significant year,” said Dr. Maryland Pao, NIMH’s clinical remain unanswered for a while. reduction in time spent around other people and deputy scientific director. “People are “We’re making it up as we go along has significantly impacted children, ado- resilient and find a way to get through,” said because no one’s ever lived through a lescents and adults,” said Dr. Krystal Lewis, Pao. “Just look at all the things we accom- pandemic in recent a clinical psychologist plished during this time.” memory before, except at NIMH. So it’s only NIH was part of the historic and unprece- for a few in their 100s,” natural that many people dented effort to develop effective testing and said Pao. “People are will have difficulties Covid-19 vaccines within a year. scared of being around a adjusting to being back Over the summer, NIH confronted lot of people, but they’re in public—returning to another significant challenge to health: also excited by it. It’s workplaces and schools, systemic and structural racism. Following going to be a bit of a going to crowded stores, the activism after George Floyd’s death while roller coaster.” driving with more traffic, in police custody, NIH launched efforts to Employees who “NIH employees were part of the historic being in close quarters end structural racism and racial inequities in have been teleworking, and unprecedented effort to develop with strangers and just biomedical research. effective testing and Covid-19 vaccines for example, will have within a year,” said Pao, shown here with seeing more people out “We are reexamining how we behaved to work with their her husband, NIAID’s Dr . Steven Holland . and about.

6 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 “I would recommend a slow integration Recently, Lewis appeared in a brief NIMH Grateful; integrate Relaxation into your day; back into daily life,” said Lewis. “Gradually video offering additional coping strategies Exercise; Acknowledge your feelings and increase trips outside the home while for the months ahead. She recommended accept them; Track your thinking. wearing a mask taking mini breaks During challenging times, it’s normal to and staying socially throughout the day experience a wide range of emotions—fear, distanced to increase and making time anger, even grief, she said. To help restore a comfort around for self-care prior to sense of calm, Lewis recommended what she others.” And bring feeling overwhelmed. calls disrupting anxiety. the kids, added Lewis, “Keeping a routine “Once you’re aware of the anxiety, you who specializes in is a key piece to can do certain things to disrupt the worrying pediatric anxiety. maintaining some and anxious feelings,” she said. “Challenge Children also will sense of normalcy,” anxious or irrational thoughts by reframing need practice read- she said. When your worries…Once you catch yourself justing to all kinds of feeling anxious, try experiencing unhelpful thoughts, you can say public places. to focus on what’s in [to yourself], ‘I’m doing the best I can.’” Once vaccinated your control. Create And, remember to ask for help. If you’re and comfortable, start schedules and dead- overwhelmed with anxiety or worry about getting together with lines, but “change the prospect of reentering the world, a ther- friends and family Clinical psychologist Dr . Krystal Lewis speaks your expectations apist can offer strategies to better manage who are also vacci- about pandemic anxiety for a January 2021 of daily productivity the fear. NIMH video, available on YouTube . nated, reacclimating and accept that this is “Often, when we feel stressed and to those in-person your norm right now… anxious, it’s because we don’t believe we can gatherings. As the weather gets warmer, we Pay attention to your physical and mental handle things,” said Lewis. “However, this can organize outdoor activities again while fatigue…Practice self-compassion.” is a reminder that we are stronger than we waiting for a time when it’s safe to gather Think of the acronym GREAT: find believe, and we can get through this.” indoors around larger crowds. small things each day about which you feel NIH Offers Mental Health Resources to Help Employees While public actions such as physical distancing and mask wearing information, see www .training .nih go. v/events/upcoming . Trainees and are critical to slowing the spread of Covid-19, they have caused major their supervisors can call (301) 496-2427 for counseling and advice . disruptions in our day-to-day lives . It can be difficult to cope with fear and anxiety, changing daily routines and the sense of uncertainty . • ORS’ Division of Amenities and Transportation Services has many tools and programs to assist employees during the Covid- “Taking care of yourself is really important, particularly this year,” 19 pandemic and beyond . These resources include the NIH Child NIMH’s Deborah Snyder said . “Covid was the tip of the iceberg— and Family Programs: www .childfamilycare .ors .nih go. v . For more which highlighted so many other information, see: https://www .ors . things swirling around including od .nih gov/pes/dats/wellness/. cracks in the health care system, Pages/index .aspx . To receive disparities, natural disasters, regular updates on health and polarized political discourse . It’s wellness events, subscribe to well- important to be mindful of the nessnih@list .nih go. v . impact on one oneself: take your distress temperature ”. • The NIH Coronavirus Intranet page features information and If you need support coping with resources to support your mental the events of the past year, help is and physical heath: https://employ- available in several places: ees .nih gov/pages/coronavirus/. how-to-cope .aspx . • The NIH Employee Assistance Program (see story, p . 1) offers free, Snyder and NIMH clinical director confidential short-term counsel- Dr . Maryland Pao also present a ing to help employees cope with stress and anxiety related to the virtual “Roadshow on Managing Stress During Covid ”. In it, they pandemic . To make an EAP appointment, call (301) 496-3164 . share strategies and tips and provide information about EAP’s role in enhancing employee productivity and well-being . So far, they • The NIH Here to Listen Staff Support Line provides resources for have given more than 32 presentations to 5,500 attendees . They’ve Clinical Center employees seeking emotional support and is staffed recently adapted their presentation to include new material . by NIMH clinical volunteers trained in Covid-19 disaster response . Call (301) 451-1151 . The line will be staffed live through May 31, 2021 . “If you’re struggling, reach out to get help, just like you would for any Thereafter, callers will be directed to EAP . physical symptom,” said Snyder . “Covid has taught all of us that our brain, our mood, our mental health deserve parity ”. —­ Eric Bock • The NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education regularly hosts virtual discussion groups that focus on wellness . For more

NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 • 7 EAP because a lot of folks are pretty depleted.” At the start of this, Owen saw in the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fortunately for NIH, Verschoore also has workforce a sense of adventure and curiosity observed a fairly textbook response to these that has since become resignation balanced transitioning to a telework environment. unprecedented challenges. with an abundance of creativity. “Back a year Most people had their children with them “The messages from leadership have been ago, [the lockdowns] felt short-term,” she while they were working, so there were critically important,” she said. “‘Take care of said. “People anticipated that they would all obvious parental and family stressors yourself.’ ‘Here are services to support you be back to work [in person] by summer.” associated with making that transition… and we’re going to give Management analyst EAP also received a lot of calls from employ- you maximum flexibility Tonya S. Lee, work-life ees who live alone and experienced the so that you can take care coordinator of ORS pandemic challenges all on their own. Many of your family and your Program and Employee folks have truly missed their colleagues and personal needs while Services, agreed. the meaningful work that brings purpose to you’re still working.’ “In the beginning, it our lives.” These actions have been was how do we adjust to Those early concerns evolved into a more critical in supporting the this new work environ- prolonged grief related to not being able to workforce and keeping ment, to the needs of our spend time with loved ones outside of home, people on the job.” families and our needs. she noted. “The loss of connection with their In the field for 43 Then midway through, it coworkers—that’s a profound issue for a lot years and counting, was mental health. And of folks, that shallowing of relationships that Linda M . Owen Linda M. Owen, manager now we’re seeing a shift occurs when all you’re doing is meeting over of ORS child and family programs, acknowl- to resiliency, and how to deal with burn out, the computer or phone. A human-connec- edged that having to conduct business which a lot of us are experiencing.” tion breakdown occurred on the professional remotely—during a pandemic—has been Lee, who has spent about 30 years in the level as well as the personal level.” extraordinarily challenging. work-life arena—the last 13 at NIH—has The longer maximum telework endured, “It’s always a full-time job, but it certainly watched work attitudes and atmosphere the more it began to really affect people, said has felt like more of a full-time job over evolve. Verschoore, who joined NIH at the beginning the last year,” she said. “Because we’ve “Through this pandemic what we’ve had of the pandemic. “A depression kind of had so many new hurdles to face and also is a significant shift in thinking that these started setting in after maybe 4 or 5 months… new things to learn. There’s been a lot of are actually programs that need to be part of As winter came, we saw a lag in people getting learning that’s been going on, in terms of our the way NIH works,” she said. “Even though outdoors, fewer getting exercise or doing operations.” our services are in very high demand, it’s some of those restorative activities…Then Her team helps people work through a really rewarding to know that our efforts are you introduce the vaccine wide variety of practical looked upon as being something that people into the picture. We’ve had problems the Covid crisis need…We’re able to relate to what the com- a lot of calls from people brought: The need for munity needs, because we’re going through distressed about ‘when am I emergency back-up child-, it with them. It’s been a great opportunity going to get it?’ ‘Why did my adult- or self-care; tuition for NIH to highlight all the programs and coworker get it before me?’ subsidies for lower-income services available to its workforce and to There’s a kind of vaccine federal employees to help have the ability to create new resources.” envy, vaccine anxiety. ‘Am I pay for child-care costs; and Recognizing that circumstances and going to be safe around my referrals to the multitude conditions change is vital, Lee pointed out. family even though I’ve only of resources involved in “Supervisors, check in with your employ- had my first immunization?’ supporting families. ees on a regular basis. You probably have These kinds of questions “We’ve seen a huge spike employees who in the beginning might became the next phase.” for one service called the have had a bag of tricks and were able to Unfortunately too, “a lot Tonya S . Lee ‘parenting coach,’” she noted. adjust. Make sure they’re still doing well. It’s of predictable depressive “There was a 77 percent increase [over the important to have meaningful interactions symptoms have evolved into more severe last 12 months]…We’ve heard more from with each individual employee, to know what mental illness states—and some folks have women particularly—scientists as well as their needs are.” needed hospitalization for significant administrators—feeling stressed. Winter Likewise, she noted, employees can symptoms—and we’ve had to work with them was tough. We’ve heard the term ‘[riding the] be proactive. “Communicate with your [through those issues],” she said. “The reality corona coaster’?...but, people are reaching supervisor what your needs are, what you’re is that we’ve had no choice as a culture but out, trying to find answers. I’m sorry they’re going through. Resources are available. And, to tolerate, to survive what we can’t control. feeling in such need, because I suspect if there’s not a program available, or it’s not It has demanded that we call upon all of our they’re coming from a place of uncertainty, meeting the need, then please reach out to resilience skills. And that’s something new, being tired and fatigued and worried.” the program managers and let us know.”

8 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 ‘UNDERSTANDING, MODELING AGING’

Stanford’s Brunet Will Present Next Mahoney Lecture, Apr. 7 Dr. Anne Brunet, renowned researcher for transformative discoveries in the field of aging and longevity, will present “Understanding and Modeling Aging” on Wednesday, Apr. 7 at 3 p.m. via NIH videocast. She was originally scheduled to present last year, but the 2020 Florence Mahoney Lecture on Aging was postponed due to the pandemic. An NIH grantee, Brunet is the Michele and Timothy Barakett professor of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging at Stanford University. She is interested in the molecular mechanisms of aging and longevity, with a particular emphasis on the nervous system. Focused on understanding aging and rejuvenation, the Brunet lab uses model organisms with diverse lifespans—worms, killifish and mice. Researchers are inter- ested in identifying pathways involved in regulating aging in response to external stimuli, including availability of nutrients. Finally, keep in mind that those in place Scientists also want to understand the to offer assistance often may need assistance mechanisms of brain aging and rejuvena- themselves. Dr . Anne Brunet will present the Florence tion, focusing on the role of regenerative “I think sometimes we lose track of the Mahoney Lecture on Aging on Wednesday, neural stem cell niches during aging. Brunet Apr . 7 . The talk was rescheduled from last fact that the helpers are also human beings will present work on the role of the immune year, due to the pandemic . who have their own needs for recovery,” system in brain aging and discuss how Verschoore stressed. Helpers are those who her lab pioneered the naturally short-lived African killifish as a new model to identify provide care and support to others, such as principles underlying vertebrate aging. direct care providers, supervisors, mentors Brunet earned her B.S. degree with honors in biology from Ecole Normale or parents, for example. “We are really Supérieure (France) and her Ph.D. in biology from the University of Nice (France). In careful as an EAP team to talk about our 1997, she moved to the to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard own self-care. Peer support is a critical part Medical School and moved to Stanford in 2004. She has received numerous awards of staying healthy and strong and available including the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, Bennett J. Cohen Award for Research in emotionally, physically, spiritually, for the Aging and the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award. workforce. We encourage each other to Mahoney lectures are sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and named in practice what we preach.” honor of Florence Stephenson Mahoney (1899–2002), who devoted much of her life to Sharing the most difficult problems is successfully advocating for the creation of NIA and increased support for NIH. crucial among those providing support, she pointed out. Divvying up the burden or simply getting another perspective eases Virtual Postbac Poster Day Scheduled the load. NIH Virtual Postbaccalaureate Poster Day 2021 will take place Tuesday, Apr . 27-Thursday, Apr . 29 and will “We talk about hard cases,” Verschoore be held on WebEx . There will be more than 120 poster sessions each with 5-7 poster presenters . Sessions concluded. “We’ve had a lot of really hard will take place over 3 days and are organized into 4 timeslots: 9-10:30 a .m ., 11 a .m -1. 2:30 p .m ., 1-2:30 p .m . mental health cases in the last year. Some and 3-4:30 p .m . The event program book and presentation schedule will be available on the event web page by Apr . 9 . of them were tragic, actually. And it really affects the helpers. Globally, any helper can Poster Day provides an opportunity for postbacs to share the research they have been conducting at have compassion fatigue. So we openly talk NIH and at the same time develop their scientific communication and networking skills . Posters will be reviewed by teams composed of graduate students, postdocs and staff scientists/clinicians . Authors of the about how hard it is—the tragedy of loss and top 20 percent will receive a letter acknowledging their accomplishments . Investigators, staff scientists grief and the pain that our employees report and scientific administrators can make a particularly important contribution by visiting posters and engag- to us. That helps us a lot.” ing authors in discussion . For more information, visit www .training .nih g. ov/virtual_postbac_poster_day .

NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 • 9 Revamped RePORT Simplifies Data Searches

Searching for grants data just got easier. NIH’s Office of Extramural Research recently launched a NIH to Host Panel Discussion on Women redesigned RePORT in Science, Apr. 8 (Research Portfolio Online The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Reporting Tools) that’s NHLBI will co-host a virtual panel discussion about packed with easy-to-find issues facing women scientists on Thursday, Apr . 8 . Find what you need faster . Browse NIH expenditures by state or IC, or lists, colorful charts and Staff can join the conversation at https://videocast . do a quick search right from the revamped RePORT homepage . nih gov/watch=41809. . other handy tools. Anyone interested in Panelists will discuss a variety of topics facing getting a glimpse of NIH expenditures and  Categorical Spending. It’s now easier women scientists, such as diversity and inclusion, harassment, allyship, bias and stereotyping, the results of NIH-supported research will to search funding over time for conditions, mentorship, pay gaps and balancing work and life . find a wealth of information on the new and diseases and other research areas. The discussion will be tailored to foster meaningful improved https://RePORT.nih.gov. Whether  And the newest feature, released in dialogue about cultivating an inclusive and equita- you’re just browsing to get a quick overview February, is a modernized MyRePORTER, ble workplace for all . or conducting a more specialized search, allowing users to save searches, configure, The panel will follow a week-long NIH-wide virtual RePORT is your one-stop shop for reports, update or delete saved searches from a dash- screening of the documentary Picture a Scientist, data and analyses of NIH research activities. board, and receive alerts for new projects, which chronicles the experiences of three women Right on the homepage, you’ll find patents and publications. who are reshaping the culture of science . To learn more, visit https://edi .nih go. v/pictureascientist . interactive graphs and charts including state map visualizations, funding trends and Discovery Channel Airs The Vaccine: Conquering Covid histograms displaying projects from multiple The Discovery Channel recently aired the documentary The Vaccine: Conquering Covid, which chronicles institutes and centers. the development of Covid-19 vaccines over the past year . User feedback over the years showed that The documentary featured interviews with several members of NIH, including NIH director Dr . Francis most searches tended to be for a single inves- Collins, NIAID director Dr . , director Dr . John Mascola and tigator, institution or grant number. OER VRC coronavirus vaccine lead Dr . Kizzmekia Corbett . Several clinical trial volunteers also share their responded by adding a quick search. Now, experiences . instead of a cluttered, cumbersome search The Vaccine is streaming on discovery+ . Visit the website at go .discovery .com/tv-shows/ page, you can do a quick search by keyword, the-vaccine-conquering-covid/full-episodes/the-vaccine-conquering-covid . or click on the RePORTER tab at the top to access more search fields. To refine a search, FAES Bookstore Reopens explore the search filters on the left menu. The FAES Bookstore in Bldg . 10 (just down the hall from Masur Auditorium) is now open . FAES welcomes Other features include: customers back and has worked with ORS’s Division of Occupational Health and Safety to implement  NIH Data Book, which summarizes proper protocols to protect everyone’s health while answers to frequently asked budget ques- shopping . Safety measures include limiting the tions. You’ll find summary statistics on total number of shoppers at one time, so be patient as customers are served safely . The store is open extramural grants and contract awards, weekdays from 10 a .m . to 4 p .m . Customers can grant applications, the NIH-funded also shop online anytime at www .shopfaes .com and workforce and NIH-supported fellows and choose in-store pickup as an option . trainees. Search and view data subsets such To celebrate reopening, and the incredible work as application success and funding rates and of the NIH community, the store is running several grant awards by institute or center. The data promotions until June . is updated annually; the charts and graphs FAES was founded by NIH scientists in 1959 to are exportable. provide educational programming and a collegial  Matchmaker. Enter abstracts of scien- environment for the biomedical community . If you tific text to find program officials, ICs, review have questions about FAES retail stores, email panels or activity codes to help you connect faesbookstore@nih g. ov or contact retail program manager J T. . Knight-Inglesby . FAES loves customer feedback and suggestions about potential new items, so share your ideas . to NIH staff in your research area.

10 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 DIGEST

Study of Mosquito Protein Scientists Use Human May Lead to Virus Treatments Cerebral Organoid to Test The mosquito protein AEG12 strongly inhibits Drug for CJD the family of viruses that cause yellow fever, Two years after establishing a human cerebral dengue, West Nile and Zika and weakly organoid system to study Creutzfeldt-Jakob inhibits coronaviruses . NIH researchers found disease (CJD), NIH researchers have further that AEG12 works by destabilizing the viral developed the model to screen drugs for envelope, breaking its protective covering . The potential CJD treatment . The NIAID scientists findings, published online in , could lead PNAS describe their work in Scientific Reports. to therapeu- tics against Human cerebral organoids are small balls of Two scientists observe ocular tissue samples life-threat- human brain cells ranging in size from a poppy under a laser scanning microscope . ening viruses seed to a pea; scientists use human skin cells PHOTO: NEI that afflict to create them . CJD, a fatal neurodegenerative millions brain disease caused by infectious prion of people proteins, affects about 1 in 1 million people each “Better imaging resolution will enable better around the year . It can arise spontaneously, result from a tracking of degenerative changes that occur in world . hereditary mutation within the prion gene, or retinal tissue,” said Dr . Johnny Tam, Stadtman arise due to infection, for example, from eating Investigator in NEI’s clinical and translational NIEHS contaminated meat products . There are no imaging unit . “The goal of our research is to scientists preventive or therapeutic treatments for CJD . discern disease-related changes at the cellular used x-ray The Aedes mosquito can level over time, possibly enabling much earlier transmit diseases such as crystallog- Cerebral organoids are ideal for studying detection of disease ”. chikungunya, dengue and raphy to nervous system diseases over long periods of Zika . solve the time because they can survive in a controlled Earlier detection would make it possible to treat patients sooner, well before they’ve lost PHOTO: NIAID structure of environment for months to years . They have AEG12 . Senior been used as models to study Zika virus infec- vision . And by detecting cellular changes, clini- study author tion, Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome . cians could more quickly determine whether a Dr . Geoffrey Mueller, who heads the NIEHS new therapy is working . The CJD study was conducted at NIAID’s Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Group, said at the The two types of photoreceptors—cones (color molecular level, AEG12 rips out the lipids, or the Rocky Mountain Laboratories . Scientists tested pentosan polysulfate (PPS) to determine its vision) and rods (low-light vision)—vary in size fat-like portions of the membrane that hold the and density across the retina . Cone photore- virus together . potential preventive and therapeutic benefits . In the experiments, PPS treatment reduced the ceptors, while larger than rods, are trickier to “It is as if AEG12 is hungry for the lipids that are disease indicators by 10-fold or more without visualize when they’re more tightly packed in the virus membrane, so it gets rid of some causing tissue death . PPS is a benchmark anti- together as they are in the fovea, the region of of the lipids it has and exchanges them for prion compound in laboratory experiments, but the retina responsible for the highest level of the ones it really prefers,” Mueller said . “The it is rarely used clinically because it requires visual acuity and color discrimination . protein has high affinity for viral lipids and direct administration into the brain . Tam’s team at NEI, with help from researchers steals them from the virus ”. While it may extend a patient’s life, PPS has at Stanford University, sought to push the As a result, Mueller says the AEG12 protein has not been shown to improve quality of life . resolution of adaptive optics retinal imaging . great killing power over some viruses . While However, using the anti-prion properties of By blocking the light that illuminates the eye in the researchers demonstrated that AEG12 PPS with the new human organoid CJD model the middle of the beam, to create a ring of light was most effective against flaviviruses—the allowed researchers to assess the value of (rather than a disk), the NEI-led team improved family of viruses to which Zika, West Nile and this model system for drug discovery . The the transverse resolution (across the photore- others belong—it is possible AEG12 could be human organoid model can be used to screen ceptor mosaic) . But that came at the expense effective against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus compounds that may be useful for preventive of axial resolution (mosaic depth) . To compen- that causes Covid-19 . However, it would take treatment as well as screening drugs against sate, Tam’s team blocked the light coming back years of bioengineering to make AEG12 a viable established CJD . With this fully human model from the eye using a pinhole called a sub-Airy Covid therapy . of disease, scientists are optimistic about disk, which recovers the axial resolution that identifying compounds that would benefit would have been lost . Dr . Alexander Foo, an NIEHS visiting fellow and patients with CJD . lead author of the paper, explained that mos- Combining the ring illumination with the quitoes produce AEG12 when they take a blood NEI Sets Sights on Better sub-Airy disk imaging results makes it much meal or become infected with flaviviruses . Like easier to see rods, as well as subcellular details humans, mosquitoes mount a vigorous immune Retinal Imaging within cones . The achievement is the latest in an evolving strategy to monitor cell changes response against these viruses, with AEG12 NEI scientists have noninvasively visualized bursting their viral covering . in retinal tissue that, in turn, will help identify the light-sensing cells in the back of the eye, new ways to treat and prevent vision loss But early on, Foo and his colleagues known as photoreceptors, in greater detail from diseases such as age-related macular knew little about the function of AEG12 . than ever before . The researchers improved degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in “Thankfully,” he said, “we had enough clues imaging resolution by 33 percent by elim- people age 65 and older . and access to a wide range of expertise at inating extraneous light . The results were NIEHS to piece it together ”. published in Optica .

NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021 • 11 SEEN

Past Year, a Time of Learning Janice Solomon, a lead IT specialist in the NIH Office of the Director, took these photographs in her Maryland neighborhood during spring and early summer 2020, just as we were all coming to grips with the pandemic . “Pre-Covid, I was involved in many social and photography groups,” she noted for the Office of NIH History’s Behind the Mask project . “During Covid, I’ve still been able to attend many webinars, photo critiques and club meetings, all online . I’ve finally learned how to use Lightroom to edit photos and how to adjust aperture, timing aware of the wildlife and nature in my neigh- and other settings on my camera rather than borhood, and how the changing of the seasons using the Auto setting . I’ve had a lot more time at affects the foliage ”. home since I’m not commuting to work or to club get-togethers, so I go walking and taking nature A little more than 1 year after the worst pandemic photos several times a week now . I’m much more in a century, the images seem to reflect resilience .

12 • NIH RECORD • APRIL 2, 2021