The Newsletter of the NIH Alumni Association
Summer 1996 Vol. 8, No. 2 date
Varmus Delivers 1996 Harvard Commencement Address
Full text ofaddress: Mr. President, alumni, graduates, parents, friends: Many members of today's graduating class reacted to the news that I would give this year's Commencement Address, j ust as I did: with surprise. The Harvard Crimson recorded some undergraduate responses: ''Who is he?" "Wow, that's boring. Everyone else got someone exciting." Edjtorials1 criticized the process by which "Dr. Who" was selected. I was featured in entertainjng cartoons, something that hasn' t happened during three years in Washington. I may never be this famous again. (See Varmus p. 74) Congress Supports NIH 1996 Harvard commencement speaker Dr. Harold E. Varmus is applauded by Dean Jeremy Funding Level Knowles after delivering his speech on June 6, 1996. Varmus also received an honorary degree as a "Literate laureate whose research has deepened our understanding of genetics In the face of balanced budgets, and disease; a brilliant and energetic marshal in the campaign for better human health." deficit reduction, govemment shut (Photo courtesy, Kris SnibbeVlarvard News Office) downs and gloomy forecasrs, the NIH emerged from the 1996 budget battles Members Enjoy Annual with a 5.7 percent increase over 1995. In spite of tJ1e same fiscal pressures, In This Issue Page Meeting in June NIH may benefit again in 1997 from Research Festival '96 schedule 0111101111ced; The annual membership meeting of the strnng support of Congress with an includes NIDR a/11m11i symposium 3 increase well above that requested by the Nil-1 Alumni Association was held the President (see chart on p. 2). Calendar 5 at the Mary Woodard Lasker Center on The President's fiscal year 1997 June 15, 1996. About 75 members and Newsfrom and about Nlr!AA members request for NU-I provides increase of guests attended, including NIH d.irector an and foreign chapters 6 4.2 percent over the 1996 level. In Dr. Harold Vannus. large part, the difference in funding is DRG celebrates 50th anniversary 10 The hjghlig,ht of the meeting was the due to tJ1e inclusion of $310 million for presentation of NIHAA 's 1996 Public NIH to finance ilie construction of a NIH informmion: dial direct or fry the net 12 Service Award to Florence Mahoney. This award was given in recognition of new Clinical Research Center on its Science Research Updates 18 Bethesda campus. her uruque and sustained role in stimu Under federal regulations, all funds NIH Notes 19 lating support for tJ1e programs of NIH. for a federal construction project must ln making the award presentation on be identified and requested in one lump NIH Retrospectil'es 23 behalf of NIHAA, Dr. Richard Hodes, sum. However, the Congress has director of the National Instirute (See Budget p. 2) (See A nnual Meeting p. I 1) N I H A A UPDATE
Budget(continued.fi·om p. 1) become more active in educating the expressed some reservations about fol public and policy makers about the lowing this approach and may choose importance of research. to allocate funds for the new clinical At a hearing of Nobel laureates in Update center over several years. February 1995, Porter remarked, "T Depending on the outcome of House believe that if the message is heard The NIHAA Update is the newsletier of the and Senate negotiations regarding fund very loudly and strongly in our society NIH Alumni Association. The NLHAA office ing for the Clinical Research Center, as of what bas and can be accompUshed, is at 9101 Old Georgetown Rd.. Bethesda. much as $200 million could be given to that as a priority. biomedical research MD 20814 . (301) 530-0567. wi ll stand at the very top of the list other funding mechanisms, including Editor's Note research project grants. In addition, the The question is whether that message is House has indicated the in tent to pro being heard or not." The NIHAA Update welcomes leHers and The final decisions on the FY97 bud news from readers. We wish not only to vide a 6.9 percent increase for NIH, bring alumni news about NIH, b111 also to adding another $300 million to the get await approval of the House level serve as a means for reporti11g informatio11 President's request. by the full appropriations committee abour alumni--lheir co11cems. informatio11 and the Full membership of the House. 011 recem appoi111111ents. honors. books pub This level of support from Congress lished and other developmems ofinterest IO signals st1·ong bipartisan affinnation of The Senate levels have not yet been 1heir collec1gues. If you have news about the federaJ role in funding medical through the first step of a subcommittee yourself or about oth er alumni. or com vote. Following votes in the House and mellfs 011 and suggestions for 1he NIHAA research. Rep. John Porter (R-Lll.), Update, please drop a note to the editor. We who chairs the House appropriations Senare on the appropriations bills, the resen•e the righ1 to edit 11101erials. subcommittee that has jurisdiction over differences wiJJ need to be worked out NIH, urged the scientific community to by a conference before fi nal passage. Editor: Harriet R. Green wald N/HAA Newsletter Editorial Advisory Committee FY 1996 FY 1.996 FY 97 Es1imate Presidem 's Budget House Jerome G. Green. Chairman Linda J. Brown NCI $2.254,95 1 $2,280,93 1 $2,385,74 1 Michf1el M. Gouesman NH LB J 1,35 1,440 1,378,670 1.438,265 Harriet R. Greenwald NIDR 183,478 186.78 1 195,596 \lic1oria A. Harden Colleen Henrichsen NlDDK 768.530 784,923 819,224 Han'e}' Klein NINDS 683,553 695,098 725.478 Ab11er.l o11is No1k i11s Nl AfD 1.17 1.1 68 1,208,730 1,256, 149 Lois A. Salzman NTGMS 944.409 963,623 1,003,722 Philip£. Sclwmbra NICHD 593,104 603.650 63 1,989 Elizabe1h H. Singer NE! 313, 109 319,207 333, 131 S1or111 Whaley NlEHS 287,6 14 295,142 308,258 Richard G. Wya11 NIA 453,520 463,365 484,375 NIA MS 244,058 247,141 257,637 NIHAA Newsletter Board of Co11trib11tillg NlDCD 175,9 12 180,8 16 189,243 Editors NJM H 659,98 1 67 1,205 701,247 NIDA 458,288 466.325 487,341 Giorgio Bernardi NIAAA 198,593 202,6 14 2 12.079 H. Franklin 8111111 Roger 0. Egeberg NfNR 55,676 56,966 59,715 Henryk Eisenberg NCRR 389,429 377,599 4 16.523 Donald S. Fredrickson NCHGR 169,3 11 179,875 189,267 LarsA. Hanson FIC 25,284 25.547 26.707 Walter W. Holland NLM 140,563 146.579 150,093 George Klein OD 259.440 25 1,51 3 275.423 Richard M. Krause B&F 146, 151 420,000 ' 200,000 Robert Q. Mar.won Richard McMa1111s TOTALS $ 11 ,927.562 $ 12.406,300 $12,747.203 Carlos Monge Roger Monier Source: OFM.NIH Seymour Perry Michael Sela
2 SUMMER 1 9 9 6
Research Festival '96 Includes Things Old, New
Research Festival marks its 10th week's schedule). NIHAA Board ofDirectors a11d Officers anniversary this year on Sept. 16-20. New to the festivaJ this year will be a Calvin 8. Baldwin, .Ir., Presit/el// Jn honor of the occasion, Dr. Henning job fair, to be held Wednesday morning, William I. Gay. Vice Preside111 Birkedal-Hansen, NTDR director of Sept. 18,at the Natcher Conference Joseph Pcrpich. Vice President Center and the Cloister (Bldg. 60). The Storm Whaley, Secretary intranrnral research and the '96 festival Harley G. Sheffield, Treasurer chairman, has planned to include some NIH 's Office ofEducation, the Founda Thomas J. Kennedy. Jr. Presiden t 1993 thing old- VIP posters-and some tion for Advanced Education in Lhe 1995 Sciences and Lhe Technical Sales Joe R. Held, President 1991-1993 thing new-ajob fair for NIH post Gordon D. Wallace. Preside/I/ 1990- 1991 docs. One hundred VIP posters were a Association will arrange job interviews highlight of the first research festival, and meeti ngs between NIH postdocs and Margaret A. Badger representatives of biotechnology firms. Carl G. Baker and presented an opportunity for weU Belia L. Ceja known estabtished investigators and Also part of the week's activities on Peter Condliffe postdocs to meet. This year, the VIP Wednesday afternoon, Sept 18 from 2 John l . Decker to 5: 15, NlDR will honor a recent Vernice Ferguson posters will be scattered th roughout the Murray Goldstein sessions. Invited VIP presenters alumnus, Dr. Srephan E. Mergenhagen William Goldwaier include institute directors, scientific (see box below) in the main auditorium Mary Calley /-/ar1ma11 of the Natcher B.ldg. Mergenhagen Joseph Keyes . .Ir. directors and from OD, Ors. Varmus Lloyd law and Gonesman. (See box on p. 4 for Jane Leitch (See Research Festival p. 4) Terry l. Lierman Marjorie Melton Matrix, Microbes and Mucosa: Four Decades ofMicrobiology and Immunology Charles Miller, /I NIDR Alumni Symposium in Honor of StepJ1an E. Mergenhagen Paul Parkman Wednesday, Sept J 8, 1996 2-5:30 p.m. Seymour Perry Paul Q. Peterson Natcher Bldg., Main Auditorium Marvin Schneiderman Randy Schools 2:00 p.m. Welcome David Scoti Dr. Hal Slavkin 4:15 p.m. From Cytokines to Ma1 y E. Sears Director, NIDR Chemokines John F. Sherman Dr. Joost Oppenheim John P_ Utz Chief, Laboratory of Molecular .I. Craig Venter 2: 15 p.m. Matrix and Disease Bemhard Witkop Dr. George Martin Immunoregulation, NCI Eugene Weinbach Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Fibrogen 4:45 p.m. Mucosa! Decisions: Immunity, /11flammatio11 or Tolerance Thank you to lhe foll owing companies Dr. Jerry McGbee and individuaJ.s who supported NIHAA in 2:45 p .m. New Thoughts 011 the 1995- 1996: Pathogenesis ofRheumatoid Arthritis Director, lmmunobiology, Vaccine Boehringer Mannheim Phamrnceuticals Dr. William Koopman Center, University of Alabama Drew Dawn Enterprises, fnc. Professor & Chairman, Department Capitol Associates, lnc. (Terry Liennan) ofMedicine, University of Alabama 5: 15 p.m. Closing Comment.~ Realty Management Co. Dr. Henning Birkedal-Hansen R. 0 . W. Sciences, lnc. 3: 15 p.m. Lipopo!ysaccharide: A Director, Division of lntramuraJ Technical Sales Association Century of Puzzles Research, NIDR The Institute of Genomic Research Dr. Stefanie Vogel Professor, Department of Micro 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. We would like to thank Glaxo Wellcome Reception following Symposium in Inc., Sandoz Research Institute and Wyelh biology & Immunology, USUHS Ayerst for underwriting the printing of the Natcher A1rium to which Nil-lAA Update. 3:45·p.m. Complement-Endotoxin NIHAA members are invited. /11terac1io11s: 30 Years Later Thanks also to our members who have Dr. Henry Gewurz Please RSVP to (301) 496-4178 contributed donations beyond their dues Professor & Chaim1an, Department of (Ms. Chiquita Odinma) payment Immunology, Rush Medical College
3 N I H A A UPDATE
Research Festival ( cominued from p. 3) retired this year after an exceptionally NIH Research Festival 1996 General Schedule of Events distinguished career at NIB. He joined NIDR in 1958 as a fellow MONDAY, SEPT. 16 in the Laboratory of Microbiology. He was named chief Symposium Prion Diseases of the first immun Natcher Bldg., Main Auditorium ol ogy section in 8:30-1 J :00 a.m. l 965. In 1970, he Poster Session I became chief of 11:00 a.m.-l :00 p.m. the Laboratory of AJl Poster sessions are bel.d in the Natcher Bldg. Microbiology and Immunology, Lunchtime Picnic which in 1988 was I :00 p.m. located outside the Natcher Bldg. renamed the Lab- Tickets must be purchased in advance at NTH R&W stores (pro Dr. Mergenhagen oratory oflmmun- ceeds go to the Children's lnn at NIH); sponsored by the ology (LI). Among the most notable Technical Sales Association (TSA) accomplishment of the LI during Workshop Session l Mergenhagen's tenure were the charac I :30-4:30 p.m. terization of the alternative complement pathway; identification of C5a and Poster Session 2 TGF-beta as potent chemoattractants; 4:30-6:30 p.m. pioneering work on IL- 1, iL-2, OAF and FAF; elucidation of prostaglandin TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 dependent macrophage collagenase Symposium Genetics of Comple~' Disease: from Phenotype to Gene production; and more recently, charac Natcher Bldg., Main Auditorium terization of the antiviral activity of 8:30-J 1 :00 a.m. secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor. Birkedal-Hansen has written the fol Poster Session 3 lowing tribute to Mergenhagen: "His 11:00-1:00 p.m. contributions have consistently broken Workshop Session 2 new ground and created new paradigms 1:30-4:30 p.m. in general and mucosa! immunology. Because of his unusual insights and Poster Session 4 efforts, Steve has inspired an entire 4:30-6:30 p.m. generation of immunologists who are now playing leading roles in the field in WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18 the U.S. and abroad. He has trained and mentored nearly 200 scientists ... Job Fair NIH and NIDR owe Steve an immense In the morning at Natcher Bldg. and the Cloister (Bldg. 60) debt of gratitude for his contributions to NIDR Alumni Symposium (See Box 0 11 p. 3 for details) immunology and to oral health." A booklet detaiUng all the work THURSDAY, SEPT. 19-FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 shops and poster titles is now available. A searchable program will be posted on TSA Research Festival Show Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. the NIH Research Festival Web site: Friday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Located under the tents in Parking http://mantis.dcrt.nih.gov/festival. Lot lOD, near Bldg. 10 For more info1mation call Gregory Roa at the NIH Visitor Information Center at (301) 496-1776; e-mail: [email protected]. 4 SUMMER 1 9 9 6
Calendar of Exhibits and Upcoming Events
October-February Oct.1- Drug Abuse: A Preventable The Florence Mahoney Lecture will Behavior; Drug Addiction: A be on Sept. 25. wilh Dr. Elizabeth "Extraordinary Objects, Extraordinary Treatable Disease Barrett-Connor, professor and chair Stories: Celebrating the NLM Collec Oct. 8-Heart Attacks and man, department of famjly and preven ti on," an exhi bit of material from the Cardiovascular Risks in Men and tive medicine. UCSD, speaking on Women "The Gender Gap: Why Do Women UXT llA ORD I N,\R' OB J B C' 1' S· Oct. 15-Nicotine Addicti on: Have Less Heart Disease Than Men?" B l< I RAO RD I N ;\R' S 1' 0Rll! S : Science, Medicine, and Public th l UD R A ll NC '111 11 N IM CO i i IH ' rl ONS Policy The De Win Stetren, Jr. Lecture is OcL 22-Drug-Resistanl Bacteria: Oct. 23, with Dr. Baldomero Olivera, a
"' \I ltJl'lo\ t t I •M \ tl't (I t \tf'IH t.- I ~ I "'' 1111..," 1'11111 t 1 01 •".,, I 4 Old Foes with New Faces professor of biology at the University 1!0 t. Wll 1 t I 1 .. 1 •Il l rH1 1 l lt l "IJ-'• ""'t ,j 11 Oct. 29-Colorectal Cancer Therapy of Utah talking on "Using Deadly Cone l \ ~ 't Ott O •t• I • • • Now and into the Next Millennium Snails to Learn Drug Design and Probe Nov. 12-Aging: Genes, Ce lls, and Nervous Systems." Selves The NIH D irector's Cultural Lecrure. "Women and Men in Conversation: A October-March 1997 Linguistic Approach." will be given on Oct. 28 by Dr. Deborah Tannen, A concert series, sponsored by the University professor, department of lin Foundation for Advanced Education in guistics. Georgetown Uni versity. the Sciences, will be held, on Sundays at 4 p.m. in Masur Auditorium. Bldg. The Robert Gordon Lecture is Nov. acquisitions or the National Library 10. Ti.ckets are required. For more 13 with Dr. Joseph Fraumeni of NlH wi ll be displayed in the fron t lobby of information call (301 ) 496-7976. speaking on "Epidemiology of Cancer: NL M (Bldg. 38, 8600 Rockville Pike) An lnterdisciplinary Approach." until Oct. 31. Oct. 6-Trio di Parma, viol in, cello and piano The G. Burroughs Mider Lecture on On Nov. 14, another exhi bit on Dec. 8-Ignat Solzheni tsyn, piano Nov. 20 with Dr. John L Gallin, CC ''Emotions and Disease'' will open. Jan. 19-Radu Lupu. piano director, speaking on "Chronic This mixed media show will end Feb. Jan. 26-Marina Piccinini, flute Granulomatous Disease of Childhood: 28, 1997. For more information call Andreas Haefliger, piano An Orphan Disease Yielding Important the History of Medicine Division. Feb. 9- The Vellinger String Insights.·· NLM, (30 I) 496-5405. Quartet October- November Feb. 16-Helen Donath, soprano Dr. Joseph Goldstein, Nobel laureate. Feb. 23-The New York Wind has agreed to deli ver the first James A. Soloists Shannon Lecture. Tentatively sched Medicine for the Public: Mar. 9 - The Auryn String Quartet uled for winter 1997; invitations with Mar. 23-Andras Schiff, piano details wilJ be sent to NIHAA mem A lecture series on health and dis bers. ease, presented by NI H physicians and scientists, and sponsored by the A seri es of Wednesday Afternoon For more information about other Clinical Center. Lectures arc free and Lectures are held at 3:00 p.m. in Masur NTH lectures and events caJI (30 1) 496- held on Tuesday evenings beginning al Auditorium, Bldg. IO. For infom1ation 1766. For more information about 7 in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10. For call Hilda Madine at (30 I) 594-5595. NI HAA events call (30 1) 530-0567. more information call (30 I) 496-2563.
5 N I H A A U P D A T E
News From and About NIHAA Members and Foreign Chapters
Dr. Elizabeth P. Anderson, who professor of pharmacology, Unjversity Corfman was awarded the American worked at NCT ( 1960-1995), first as a of Bern School ofMedic.ine, Bern, Col.lege of Obstetricians and Gynecol research chemist, and then in the Breast Switzerland. T have made frequent vis ogists' (AGOG) Distinguished Service Cancer Program as a health sciences its to the U.S. wi th guest professorships Award for outstanding contri butions in administrator in the Division of Cancer at the University of Arizona, UCLA the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Prevention and Control. has recently and Johns Hopkins. Since 1993, J have The award, in recognition of his many retired. She is now a consultant with been a researcher and editor at the notable achievements as a government the British Columbia Cancer Research department of the history of medicine, official committed to the enhancement Center and li ving on Saltspring Island University of Bern School of of women's health, was presellted to in British Columbia. Medicine." him at AGOG's annual clinical meeting i11 Denver. He is the fi rst career com Dr. Robert Haim Belmaker, who Dr. Paul Calabresi, who was a field missioned officer in the Public Health was a clinical associate at NIMH from investigator at NCI from 1956 to 1960, Service to receive this award. 1.972 to 1974. is now chairman of the is professor and chairman emeritus, division of psychiatry, Ben Gurion department of medicine at Brown Dr. Stanley N. Cohen, a clinfoal University School of Medicine in University. He is also director, division associate in the Arthritis and Beersheva, Israe l. He writes, "J have of clinical ph 6 SUMMER 1 9 9 6 receptor genes, the key to understand He is now in the radiation oncology Endocrinology Associates. ing immune reactions and essential to department at the University of developing new strategies lo prevent Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Bernadine Healy, NIH director and treat cancer by immunological from 1991 10 1993, now dean of the methods. The award is presented by Dr. Edison Goncalves, al NlDDK Ohio State University College of the General Motors Cancer Research from 1986 to 1988. now an internist Medicine. recently received the Jean Foundation and each of the three GM and endocrinologist practicing in Ellsberg Haseltine Catalyst Award Awards carries a monetary prize of Birmingham, from Lhe Society for the Advancement $100,000 and a gold medal. Alabama, has of Women's Health Research. She has been elected a "provided a li ving model for young Or. Robert J. Fitzgerald, who was fellow of the women who wish to enter the fields of chief, gnotobiotics section at NIDR American women's health research and medical from 1948 to 1969. writes, "After retir College of education and administration. As a ing from PHS. NIH, and NfDR in 1969, Physicians. He physician. administrator and teacher, I joined the VA in Miami as head of the is affiliated with she has been a major force behind the dental research unit with concurrent Brookwood changes in women's health research in appointments as professor of microbiol Medical Center. the past decade." ogy and chief of the oral microbiology Shelby Medical laboratory at the University of Miami Center, HealLhsouth Medical Center Dr. Roy Hertz, who was at NIH School of Medicine. I am now ret ired and lhe Eye Foundation Hospital-all starting in 1941 and is now scientist aga in with the title of professor (emeri located in Birmingham. He is part of emeritus, recent ly received the Fred tu s) of microbiology at the Uni versity Lhe private practice of Diabetes & Conrad Koch Awa rd aod medal, the of Miami and consultant to the Miami VA Research Service. l also work part time for the South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, which administers non-VA funds for VA investigators. While in the VA, I held the title of Research Career Scientist, a recognition given to non-physician researchers. On retire ment I received the Secretary's Award and Medal for Exceptional Service. I served a number of years as a member of NIDR 's caries task force advisory commi11ee. NfDR 's Intramural Research Advisors and as VA liaison to the National Advisory Dental Research Counci l. My work at NTDR with Pau l Keyes was the subject of a recent pro fil e in the ./011ma/ of Demo/ Research (vo l. 74, no. 9, 1995)." The National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Postal Service are joining forces in a breast can· cer awareness campaign. The Postal Service will issue 100 million Breast Cancer Dr. Eli Glatstein, chief of NCl's Awareness stamps this year as the centerpiece of this national campaign. NCl's Cancer Radiation Oncology Branch from 1977 Information Service toll-free number (1-800·4-CANCER) will appear along the border of each to 1992, has left his position at the sheet of stamps as the source for state-of-the-art information on cancer prevention, early University of Texas, Southwestern detection, and treatment. The stamp went on sale nationwide on June 15 in conjunction Medical School and the Center for with the 1996 Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C. Introducing the stamp here are (from I) Therapeutic Cancer Research in Dallas. Marvin Runyon, postmaster general, Dr. Richard Klausner, NCI director, and Dr. Barbara Rimer, chair of the National Cancer Advisory Board and an NIHAA member. 7 SU MM ER 1 9 9 6 board of directors. He is president and studied mechanisms of carcinogenesis Dr. Peter H. Wiernik, who was at director of the Institute for Human and developed the NCI carcinogen NCI ( 1961-1981) in the Division of Genome Research, Gaithersburg, Md. bioassay program along with Dr. Cancer Treatment, was president of the Recentl y he was presenred the 1996 Elizabeth Weisburger and the late Dr. Gold Plate A ward by the American M.icbael Shimkin. Weisburger is now Academy of Achievement. The award senior member. American Health is presented annually to about 40 ··dis Foundation, Valhalla, N.Y., and tinguished men and women of excep researching the prevention of cancer tional accomplishment" in a variety of and heart disease. utilizing natural fields. products such as tea as inhibitors. In April 1995, he "gave a keynote lecture Dr. Herbert S. Waxman , at NlH at the Conference of the International from 1964 to 1966 as a research associ Federation of Societies of Toxicology ate in NCr s Laboratory of Physiology. Pathology in Tours, France on the need has moved to the American College of to change legislation on food safety and eliminate the Delaney Clause." In November 1995, he "was the banquet speaker at the 6th lnternational Conference on Carcinogenic/Mutagenic American Radium Society. 1993-1994. N-substiruted N-aryl Compounds, in He writes that he "received the Monterey, CaUfornia." In January Janeway Medalist from the American 1996, The Chemical Society of Radium Society in L996 for contribu Westchester named him Distinguished tions to cancer research." Scientist. and the Mid-Atlantic Society of Toxicology made him an honorary Dr. Gary Williams, at NCI in the member. Etiology Division. 1969-1971. now at the American Health Foundation, has Dr. P eter F. Weller, a research sent the following information: The associate in the Laboratory of Parasitic American Health Foundation's 4th Diseases, NIAID, (1974-1976), is now lnternational Course on the Safety professor of medicine at Harvard Assessment of Pharmaceuticals will be Medical School. He writes, " I have held on Oct. 20-25, 1996, at the become the chief of the infectious dis Crowne Plaza. White Plains, N.Y. For Physicians as senior vice president for eases division, department of medicine. a brochure and registration infom1ation education. ln this position he is respon at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston." please contact Ms. Nancy Rivera at the sible for the wide variety of educational American Health Foundation. I Dana products and programs for the college's Dr. Samuel A. Wells, J r., at NCI Road. ValhaJla. NY 10595-1599, (914) 95,000 members. He joined ACP from from 1964-66, was honored by the 789-7144 or fax: (914) 592-6317. Albert Einstein Medical Center in American Association for Cancer Philadelphia, where he was chair of the Research at its recent annual meeting in department of medicine and residency Washington, D.C. Wells received the program director in internal medicine. first Joseph H. Burchenal AACR What's Your News? He was also senior associate chairman Clinical Research Award for clinical We want to hear from you. of lhe depanment of medicine at excellence as an oncologist and onco Please send your news with Temple University School of Medicine logic surgeon and for his promotion of photo if possible to Harriet in Philadelphia. cancer clinical care and research. He is Greenwald. NlHAA Update. the Bixby professor and chainnan of 910 J Old Georgetown Rd .. Dr. John H. Weisburger, fom1erly a surgery at Washington University, St. Bethesda. MD 20814-1616. USPHS officer at NCI ( 1949-1972), Louis. 9 N I H A A U P D A T E DRG Celebrates 5Qth Anniversary The Division of Research Grants recently held several events to mark its SOth anniversary and the SOth anniver sary of peer review at NTH. Following the end of World Warn and the publi cation of Science--The Endless Frontier by Vannevar Bush, director of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development, the NTH Office of Research Grants was established on Jan. I, 1946. The new office was to manage 66 medical research contracts that had been transferred to the Public Health Service from the military and also develop and administer an extra mural peer review and award system involving contracts and grants. The peer review and award system has grown dramatically over the years. Originally, the instructions for a grant application were contained in 4 pages, Among the participants in a panel discussion on peer review at the DRG celebration were three NIH alumni: (from I) Dr. Thomas Malone , former NIH deputy director; Dr. Donald a single study section was constituted, Fredrickson, NIH director (1975-1981); and Dr. Eugene Confrey, DRG director (1963-1969). and the workload was eight applica tions. In 1996, NIH uses a number of future, of peer review were discussed tion was held at the Natcher Center. application kiLS (all longer than 4 by distinguished panels. The newly Thai evening, the Friends of DRG pages) for more than 40,000 grant designated director of DRG. Dr. Elvera held a dinner at the Washing1on Court applications submillcd each year and ''Ellie" Ehrenfeld, of the University of Hotel. Featured speakers were reviewed by several hundred initial Californ ia, Irvine, contributed thoughts Dr. Paul Berg of S1anford University review groups within DRG and ol11er on the furure of peer review that were and Paul G. Rogers, fonner member of components of NIH. read by Nl H deputy director Dr. Ruth Congress and presently chair of The centerpiece of the celebration Kirschstein; Ehrenfeld, who couldn 't Research! America. was a symposium on the "Past, Present, be present, begins part-time work at A number of events for present and and Future of Peer Review" held al the DRG this month and joins NIH full former DRG staff were held al the Natcher Conference Center and attend time in January. Rockledge II Bldg .. DRG's home for ed by more than 500 people. Speakers Overall, the symposium provided an the past year. Alumni who remem included Dr. Donald Luecke, acting opportunity for colleagues and fri ends bered working in Bldg. T-6 and the director of DRG, and Dr. Harold to discuss 50 years of peer review at Westwood Bldg. were interested in Varmus, NIH director. The history of NfH and its impact on biomedical IOuri ng the new facilities. Many peer review was discussed by Dr. research. There have been many staffers participa1ed in several humor Victoria Harden, NIH historian, Dr. changes in science and the process of ous skits and songs, including lists of Jerome Green, past director of DRG peer review at NIH over time. the top I 0 reasons staff miss the Wes1- ( 1986-1995), and Dr. Ri chard Manciel, However, ils fundamental principles wood Bldg. and the top I 0 reasons they historian and author or A Half a remain as established by Ors. Cassius like Rockledge. Everyone joined in the Cem111y of Peer Review. A panel dis Van Slyke and Ernest Allen, early singing of " I Can't Get Enough Rein cussion led by Dr. Thomas Malone, directors of DRG. The Nl H system is vention" 10 tJ1e 1une of "Sati sfaction" past deputy director of NIH, considered based on scientists judging the work of and the DRG version of 1he Village some key events in peer review at NIH. their fellow scientists. People led a rousing rendition of''Thc The current status, and predicted Following the symposium, a recep- NewDRG." 10 SUMMER 1 9 9 6 A11 11ual Meeting (co111i1111edfro111 p. 1) on Aging, paid special tri bute to her Bioscience Industry" that the High other sources of fundi ng beyond mem unt iring efforts for the establishment of Technology Council has provided. He bership dues. Solicitations will be the NIA. Hodes told of Mahoney's sig reported that NIH has been a highly going out shortly to area industry, busi nificant role and of her unusual "ability active member since the council was ness and community interests. Bald win to communicate science'' effectively on founded a decade ago as an organiza asked the association for suggestions of behalf of biomedical research. He tion of private, state and federal labora possible funding sources. called her a "champion wi th real tori es. The council serves both as a Before closing the meeting, he vision." catalyst and linkage for the bioscience announced that the fo llowing alumn i Dr. John Sherman, chairman of the agencies. Eaton is an NIH alumnus have been elected (or re-elected) to 3- awards committee, read the citat ion that who worked 4 years in the NHLBI year terms as members of the NIH AA accompanied the award, which is crys Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology. bmu·d of directors: tal with an etching of the Shannon NIHAA President Calvin B. Baldw in building. In expressing her apprecia Jr., gave a brief report on the status of Ms. Belia L. Ceja tion for the award, Mahoney told of her the association. Pointing out that there Ms. Mary Calley Hartman high regard for many NIH indiv iduals are currently some 1,400 act ive mem Dr. Joe R. Held with whom she had worked on behalf bers. he said that effort s must be Dr. Lloyd Law of biomedical research. During a extended to secure new members and to Mr. Terry Lierman reception that followed the meeting, encourage renewals. He reported that Dr. Seymour Perry she spent almost an hour in warm con locating former NIH employees is a Dr. Paul Peterson versations with new and old friends continuing problem. He also said that Mr. Randy Schools among the alumni. plans are nearing compleLion for solic Dr. Mary F.. Sears C. Roben Eaton, director of pro iting the past members of the many Dr. John F. Sherman grams of the Suburban Maryland High NIH advisory committees as members. Dr. J. Craig Venter Technology Council, was the featured He emphasized that the association speaker for the annual meeting. He needs not only to increase tJ1e number Invitations with details of fall spoke on "Ten Years of Service to the of acti ve members, but also to gain NIHAA events wi ll be sent to members. NIHAA members and friends greet Florence Stephenson Mahoney (front row, center) at the annual meeting of the association held on June 15, 1996, at the Mary Woodard Lasker Center. 11 N I H A A UPDATE NIH Information: Dial Direct or Try The Net NIH is expanding electronic access to its existing scientific databases, adding these and other biomedical information resources to the global vir tual library. From NJH 's World-Wide Web (WWW) home page-at hnp://www.nih.gov/-users can access information resources and services that include clinical practice guidelines aimed at physicians, on-line CME credit, specialized scientific databases, research funding opportunities and pol icy and information materials for patients and the general public. The NlH home page and those of its indi vidual institutes are changing continu ously, so any description of what's available is a freeze frame. Several of the six headings on the home page have resources of interest to The NIH Home Page alumni. Among them, "Welcome to NIH" has infonnation on research and Lion for the public and health profes tic infections. training opponunities for scientists and sionals. Information is also available in Selecting "NIH Consensus an e-mail listing of NIH personnel. Spanish. CancerNetTM is produced by Development Program" under Extramural and intramural research NCT's IJ1temational Cancer Informa "Health Information" connects the news, job and budget information and a tion Center (ICIC), whose home page user to searchable full-text consensus listing of meetings is available under can also be reached from the " Health conference statements and an option for "News and Events." Funding oppor Information" page. Here, on-line earning CME credit for completing on tunities and policy and links to extra news and abstracts from the Journal of line questionnaires based on individual mura,I offices are on the "Grants and the Na1io11a/ Cancer lnstifllte are avail conferences. Another option, the Contracts" page. "Scientific able as well as links to other NCI National Library of Medicine's Resources" lists NlH special (scientif resources, such as clinical trial infor "HSTAT' (Health ic) interest groups, the home pages of mation and lists of NCI publications Services/Technology Assessment Text) some research labs, molecular biology for physicians and patients. includes the full text of clinical practice and modeling resources and pointers to Also under the NIH home page's guidelines, quick-reference guides for on-Iin e journals. "Health Information" heading is a clinicians, consumer brochures devel The " Health Information" head link to the National Institute of Allergy oped with the suppon of the Agency ing is one of several avenues for reach and Infectious Diseases Lhat connects for Health Care Policy and Research ing the NCl's CancerNetTM, which pro to their gopher server and offers press (AHCPR). and the U.S. Preventive vides access to statements from NCI's releases and fact sheets on AIDS, links Services Task Force Guide to Clinical PDQ® database on cancer prevention, to other AIDS-related agencies and Preventive Services. The growing lis1 screening. detection, treatment, sup groups, and full -text on-line publica of other resources LhaL can be accessed portive care and drugs; citations and tions (written for the general public) on under " Health Infor mation" includes abstracts from NCl's CANCERUT® sexually-transmiued diseases, includ the NIH lnfonnation Index, which database; and other full-text infom1a- ing HIV and ALDS-related opponunis- alphabetically lists diseases and 12 N I H A A UPDATE Varmus (co111i1111edfro111p. / ) afflicting our family hero, Franklin became a heroic figure for me, even There is an advantage to starting Delano Roosevelt. In summertime, before I knew about his long pmh to from low expectations. Agreed, 1 am public swimming pools were forbidden. science- studying English literalUre al not running for President, and I cun 1101 Neighborhood kids nearly died of the your graduate school and converting to a prime minis1er or a general. Bui I disease. For my generation, the microbiology at nearly thirty. speak for an element of our culrure at announcement of an effective polio I too had trouble settling on a career. least as important as poli1i cs or war vaccine was a landmark. For us. the While my fellow pre-meds worked late an element that has nol been at thfa recent eradication of naturally acquired in their Jabs, I was editing the Amherst podium since Alexander Fleming, the polio from this hemisphere still seems College paper and writing about discoverer of penicillin, addressed the unbelievable. Charles Dickens. graduating class of 1945. That element When 1 was fourteen, and Jonas Salk In a prolonged adolescence as a is science. had just achieved fame for the first Harvard graduate student, I read The products of science shape and polio vaccine. my parents taught me an Beowulf, Shakespeare. and Sir Thomas pervade our lives. Sir Francis Bacon important lesson about how progress Browne. and listened to Bill Alfred, made this point in 1620. " Printing, gun occurs in medical research. I had Harry Levin, and Anne Ferry. Finall y powder, and the magnet," he wro1e, intended to describe Salk 's triumph in a I went to medical school-in part, "have changed 1he whole face and state public speaking contest (a contest, because someone once told Gertrude of things throughout the world .... no which, incidentally. I did not win). Stein that it "opened all doors:· in pan empire, no sect. no star seems to have But they persuaded me to talk instead because medical students seemed more exened greater power and influence in about John Franklin Enders. A mem eager than I was to get out of bed in the human affai rs:· Modem equivalents ber of the Harvard Medical School fac morning. are legion: consider e-mai l, nuclear ulty, Enders and two younger col Like many physician-scientists of my weapons, biotechnology. leagues had been the first to grow the generation, I learned to do and to love I wil l speak today about 1he effects of polio virus abundantl y, by infecting research while working at 1he National science on our li ves. But I will also animal cells in laboratory flasks. lns1itutes of Health, the Federal agency emphasize science in i1s most funda Previously, virus was prepared with that supports most of the basic medical mental fom1 , the process by which we difficulty. mainly from the brains of research in this country. I arrived at tJ1e make discoveries abou1 the world- like infected primates. Enders· discovery rn as a twenty-eight year-old doctor lhe atom or the genc--that precede was pivotal, because Salk needed to seeking 1wo 1hings: the credentials to practical inventions. At its core, sci inacti vate vas1 amounts of poliovirus become a medical school professor and ence is a way of thinking-making for use in a vaccine. Making and testing an alternative 10 service in Vietnam. judgments, often creati ve ones, that are vaccines -Stllk's and later Sabin 's Then, one day some months later. I was based on evidence. no1 on desires, came to seem less stirring to me than abruptly transfonned into a commined received beliefs, or hearsay. Thinking the more subtle triumph of learning scientist. when a method I was devel in this way is not unique to the natural how to grow the virus. And Enders oping to detect expression of a gene sciences; it is importan t for many disci suddenly worked. The technique was plines. But the pursuit of evidence, not especiall y novel, and the questions through experimenl and observation, is T was asking were of interest only to a the li feblood of science. few people in the world. But, at 1hat My own brand of science is biolo moment. I knew 1he intoxicating power gy-more specifically. biology linked of measurement and the sweet anticipa to medicine I was not born a scientist. tion of my own results. In my youth, l preferred 1ennis and For more than 1wenty years after novels to chemistry sets. My father, wards, at the Uni versity of California in Harvard Class of '28, W 14 S UMMER 1 9 9 6 curable, Alzheimer's Disease is both untreatable and common. Unless things change, nearly balf of us who reach the age of 85 will have signs of the disease. Until recently, all we knew about Alzheimer's Disease was the ugly appearance of brain s lices under the microscope and the unre1nitting deteri oration of mental function. Traditional methods-chemistry and enzymology, microbiology and immunology, so successful in approaching polio and cystinosis provided few clues. The speakers and honorary degree recipients at Harvard Commencement in June 1945: Dr. Hope is coming from a new direc Alexander Fleming, who spoke on science , is the second person on the left in the front row. tion. One day about ten years ago, a (Photo courtesy of the Harvard News Office) middleaged Massachusetts man in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease dents, working late, suggests a novel government is broke and under attack sought help from Dr. Daniel Pollen, a interaction between the hom1one and by its own citizens. 0Lher countries neurologist at the University of the protein made from Hannah's gene. have recently surpassed ou.r rate of Massachusetts. His was not the most The results are surprising, but repro spending for basic research. common form of the disease-the onset ducible. Someone in a lab thousands of Universities and colleges are more was early, and his relatives had been miles away learns about this experi strapped for funds than ever before. affected early too. With the help of the ment and Lries it in a different way, per And many industries are turning away patient's family, Dr. Pollen recon haps in a mouse model, and gets an from research investments. structed the fam il y lineage and traced even more interesting result. A young Dr. Who is not the person who can the disease back to one woman, named Salk, seeking an anti-Alzheimer drug at solve these problems." l11s1ead r hope to Hannah, born one hundred and fifty a biotechnology company, tries to recruit you 10 my passions. That our years ago in a Byelorussian village. block the interaction. We are on our instillltions must be fit to nurture talent. Scientists here at Harvard, at the NLH, way. That new talent is essential ro advance in Canada, and several other places, Whal do we need to make these science. And that science, a source of have tracked several inherited fo1ms of things happen? New talent. beauty and delight. is also our best Alzheimer's Disease to abnormal ver Enrhusiasm for science. Money. hope for fighting the threats of sions of single genes. These genes have Strong institutions. Alzheimer's and many other diseases. been isolated in pure form, and we In that speech from the N IH steps on Several hundreds of you graduating know the proteins they encode. the eve of World War Two, FDR knew today have already enlisted to figh t So an obvious question: How do we what we needed: these ballles, as future scientists or get from Hannah's gene to a remedy All of us are grateful Lhe said) physicians. But the battle does not for Alzhe imer's Disease? that we in the United States can engage onl y those on the front lines. This, of course, is precisely what T still tum our thoughts and our It will affect all of you. As wotTi ed can' t tell you. I can ' r even tell you how attention to those institutions of patients, parents, and caretakers of par to proceed. All I can do is predict the our coumry wh ich symbo li ze ents. As taxpayers and good citizens of pace and flavor of the first moments. peace-institutions whose purpose the world. And as thoughtful Harvard I imagine a brilliant young neuroscien it is to save li fe and not to destroy graduates, who know that science-like tist, our new Enders, who is Lrying to it. ··no empire, no sect. no star"-can understand cell survival- perhaps FDR's confidence then underscores eventuall y change "the whole face and studying a hormone that keeps nerve the dilemmas that now plague us in the state of things throughour the world." cells alive in a dish. One of her stu- aftermath of the Cold War. The federal Congratulations to you and good luck. 17 N I H A A UPDATE Science Research in the hospital must become accus "This antimicrobial regimen not only Updates tomed to rigid timetables, rapid scan provides a trea tment option for severe ning and the need for immediate treat periodontal disease. but also brings NINOS-Funded Clinical Trial ment.'' such treatment into the realm of greater Leads to Stroke Therapy Each year. about 500.000 Americans accessibility for many individuals.'' suffer a stroke. As the third leading The investigators concluded that An emergency drug treatment for cause of death in the country after heart debridement plus antimicrobial treat stroke was approved June 18 by the disease and cancer, stroke kills about ment is likely to be successful for most FDA, following a 5-year clinical trial 150,000 Americans each year. The people with advanced gum disease for funded by NINOS. The trial demon overall cost of stroke to 1he nation is whom surgery is initially recommended. strated that trea tment with the clot-dis estimared to be $30 billion a year. solving drug t-PA was an effecti ve emergency treatment for acute Role of Telomerase in Cancer ischemic stroke despite some risk from Nonsurgical Option for Gum Detection is Debated bleeding. Results were first published Disease Uncovered in the Dec. 14, 1995. issue of the New For a clay and a half, researchers £11glc111d Journal of Medicine. Persons with severe periodontal dis from around the world met to debate The nationwide study of more than ease may be able 10 avoid surgery by the role of telomerase in the early 600 ca refully selected stroke patients taking antibiotics. according to a recent detect'ion of cancer. Although it is one found that those treated with t-PA study; scaling and root planing (deep of the most widespread cancer markers within 3 hours of their initial stroke cleaning of teeth above and below the discovered, it was not known, until symptoms were at least 30 percent gum) combined with short-term use of now, if telomerase bas any clinical util more likely than untreated patients to oral and locally applied anlibiotics dra ity. recover from their stroke with little or matically reduced the need for gum There was consensus by the end of no disability. surgery and tooth extractions by 88 per the conference that telomerase may 'The FDA action means that we now cent. prove useful for early diagnosis of at have an approved emergency treatment Periodontal disease is a progressive least two types of cancer, breast and for stroke. the leading cause of adult infecrion that w ithout treatment can lung, and for predicting disease out disability," said Dr. Zach W. Hall, destroy the gums and other supporting come for meningiomas and advanced NINOS director. " This is an exem structures of the teeth and lead to tooth neuroblastomas, specific types of brain plary demonstration of careful scien tif loss. The condition is typically treated tumors. Telomerase also shows ic investigation and of the power of by clearing away pockets of harmful promise in several other areas. partnership between industry, academia bacteria (debridement) that cause peri The workshop. organized by Dr. and the federal government." odontal disease. When this fails, Sudhir Srivastava. progranl director of The next step. according to Dr. surgery is usually recommended. This the Early Detection Branch. NCI. and Michael 0 . Walker. director of involves lifting back the gums, remov cochaired by Ors. Adi Gazdar and Jerry NIN OS 's Stroke and Trauma Division. ing the hardened plaque buildup, then Shay of the University of Texas will be developing a national educa stitching the gums back in place. Southwestern Medical Center, took tional approach to reach the many ln a study supported by the National place on June 6-7 in the Natcher members of the public who must be lnstitute of Den tal Research, Dr. Walter Conference Center. involved in U1i s new treatment. ·'A J. Loesche of the University of " This meeting was a very important bold three-tiered program is envisioned Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. step to guide the future of telomerase in which patients, their families and James Giordano at the University of research and its use as a molecular friends must become aware of the signs Detroit/Mercy School of Dentistry. and marker for cancer diagnosis," said of stroke and the need for prompt their colleague used debridement plus Sriv 18 SUMMER 1 9 9 6 NIH Notes from April awards and honors: an award from the ''insightful contributions to our understand National Council for lnternational Health ing of gene regulation networks and molec to August 1996 Leadership for his work in promoting public ular mechani sm governing llle development awareness of international health issues: of orgimisms willl a segmented body plan" two honorary degrees. a doctor of science ... Dr. David Lipman, director of LM's AWARDS AND HONORS degree from Colgate Universi ty and a doc National Center for Biotechnology tor of medical science degree from the In form ation. has received llle 1996 Dr. Peter H. Bennett, chief of NlDDK 's Medical College of Pennsylvania and Association of Biomolecular Resource Phoenix Epidemi ology and Clinical Hahnemann Univers ity School of Medicine Facilities Award for "his work in comput a Research Branch, received the American ... Dr. Claude B. Klee, chief or NC l's tional biology und the development of sof"l Diabetes Association's Banting Award for Laboratory of Biochcmis1ry, has been cho ware for 1he comparison of both nucleic his career contributions to tJ1e understand sen by the Federation of American Societies acid and protein sequences" ... Carolyn ing of diabetes prevention and 1rea1men1 ... for Experimental Biology 10 receive the McHale, chief of NLAMS's Scientific Shelby Duford, Sr., associate director of 1997 FASEB Excellence in Science Award. Information and Data Systems Branch, was the Offi ce of ComracLS Management, Office She is being recognized for her imponant recently selected as one of 1996's ··Top 100 of Administration, OD, recentl y received a discoveries of the mechanisms involved in Women in Computing" by llle McGraw National Association for Equal Opponunity calcium regulation of cell growth and her Hill companies. The honor acknowledges in Higher Education 1996 Distingui shed contributions to the study of abnorm al her achievements and contributions 10 infor Alumni Citmion of the Year Award for growth in cancer. Her work on calcium mati on services and technology: she was the making signilicant contributions 10 regulation in nerve cells has been imponant only woman in the federal government to be Ameri can society during the organizati on's in understanding how ce lls communicate aw:1rcled this honor ... Dr. Ronald L. 21st National Conference on Blacks in with each other in the brain ... Or. Eleni E. Melnick of NIEHS's Laboratory of Higher Edu cati on ... Dr. Lois K. Cohen, Kousvelari, director of the saliva 19 N I H A A UPDATE Developmental and Molecul ar Immunity. management officer and chief, Grants and is1ra1or at NlEHS since 1992, has been has been elected to 1he National Academy Contracts Managemen1 Branch of NlNR ... named director of the Office of Policy. of Sciences. Robbins is known worldwide Dr. Philip C. Fox, chief of NIDR's clinical Planning and Ed ucation, NIEHS ... Dr. as a pi oneer of new methods fo r developing investigations section, was recently named Jean Ann Pennington, a nutritionist for the vaccines and 111e1hods that enhance the NTDR clinical director ... Michael FDA Division or Programs and immunogenicity of antigens th at are weak Goldrich, deputy director of NJAID, has Enforcement Policy, Center for Food Safely or do not protect infants ... Dr. Griffin joined the CC as deputy director and chief and Applied Nutrition, has joined the Rodgers, chief of the molecular hematol operating officer. He has been at NIH for NIDDK Di visi.on of Nutrition Reseiu-ch ogy section in NJDDK's Laboratory of 25 years at NCTand NI AlD: he s1arted his Coordination as a research nutritionist to Chemical Biology, was recen1ly selec1ed by career at the CC and helped establish the coordinate trans-NTH and DHHS nutrition the Black Commissioned Offi cers advisory radiation oncology and surgical oncology education ac1ivi1ies .... Dr. Helen R. Quill group to receive the 1995 Hildrus A. programs ... Judith Grover, who was of NIALD has been named chief of the Poindexter Award for his cfocoveries in 1he deputy chief of the Grants Information Basic Immunology Branch in tl1e institute's de1ection and 1re111ment of li fo-l'hreaiening Office, DRG, and former editor of N1H Division of Allergy, Immunology and hemolytic di seases ... Dr. Elliot R. Siegel, Peer Review Noles has joined 1he Transpl antation. Previously, she served as NLM associtue direc1or for health in forma Extramural Outreach and In formation special assistant to the di vision director ... tion programs development. has been elect Resources Office, Office of Ex tramural William L. Risso has been named acting ed chair-elect of the American Association Research, OD, NIH ... Dr. Bela J. Gulyas director of DCRT following the retirement for 1he Advancement of Science's sec ti on has been named director of NCRR 's Offi ce of Dr. David Rodbard. As DCRT" s deputy on in formation. compu1ing and communica of Review ... Nancy Hazelton, who previ director for the past 5 years, he has joined ti()n. His 3-year 1em1 runs through January ously worked in 1he International Health the NTH administrative community in seek 1999 ... Or. Leo A. Whi tehair, director, Office of the Office of the Assistant ing new ways to apply computing to NTH Comparati ve Medicine Prognun, National Secretary for Health. has joined 1he Office bu s i n e.~s processes ... Dr. Michael E. Center for Research Resources. was recent of Alt ernati ve Medicine to direct interna Rodger has been named director of 1he ly inducted as an honorary member of the tional and professional programmatic activi Division of Pbarrnacology, Physiology, and American College of Laboratory Animal ties ... Dr. Carole Hudgings receml y joined Bio.logical Chemistry of NIG'MS, a position Medicine, for his program leadership in the Office of Alternative Medicine to direct he has held on an acting basis since 1993 ... supporting "federa l funding for research to research information and evaluation activi Helen M. Simon, planning officer for improve how animals are used in research." ties ... Dr. Barnett S. Kramer has been NCH GR, has been appointed di rector of the named deputy director, Division of Cancer Office of Program Planning and Evaluation, Prevention and Control, NCf. Since joining NIAMS ... Dr. Edward Sondik, deputy APPOINTMENTS the division in 1990, he has served as asso di recror of NCI's Division of Cancer AND PERSONNEL CHANGES ciate director of the Earl y Detection and Prevention and Control , has been named Community Oncology Program ... director, National Center for Health Dr. Faye C. Austin has been appointed Dr. Edison Liu, chief of the division of Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and director of the recentl y created Division of molecular genetics al the University of Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Cancer Biology at NC I. She has been act Nonh Carolina School of Medi cine, Chapel Human Services ... Dr. Linda Thomas has ing director since last October. She first Hill, has been appointed head of the new joined the NlDR Division of Extnmurnl came to NCl in 1976 to work in the NCl Division of Clinical Sciences. wh ich Research as director of the Craniofacial Laboratory of Viral Carcinogenesis. She encompasses the institutc's intramural clini Development and Disorders Program ... Dr. hns also served as chief of NCI's Cancer cal research acti vities ... Or. George Lucier Eugene Vigil was recenlly hired by NIGMS Immunology Branch an d associate director has been named director of the to administ·er grants i.n the Division of for the exu·arnural research program in the Environmental Toxicology Program, Mjnority Opportunities in Research. Before former Division of Cancer Biology, NlEHS; he had been serving in an acting joining NTG MS, Vigil, a cell biologist, Diagnosis and Centers ... Or. Karyl S. capacity since 1993 ... Or. Ernest worked al tl1e Agriculture Department 's Barron has been named deputy director of Marquez, formerl y chief in the Offi ce of Climate Stress Laboratory in Beltsvi lle ... NlATD's Division of Intramural Research ... Review, National Institute of Nursing Or. Samuel Wilson has been appointed Dr. Otis W. Brawley, a medical oncologist Research. has been appointed chief of the deputy director of NlEHS ... Or. Robert E. on tl1e staff at NCI 's Division of Ci111cer Mjnori ty Biomedical Research Support Wittes has been named director or NCl's Prevention and Control, has been named to Branch, Di v.ision of Minority Oppor1uni1i es Di vision of Cancer Treaunent, Diagnosis head a new Office of Special Populati ons in Research, National Lnslitute of General and Centers. He assumes this position hav Lha1w ill oversee the development and Medical Sciences ... Dr. Albert F. Marra ing served as a clinical investigator at assessment of research, education, training is NCRR·s new executi ve officer ... Dr. Memorial Sloan-Kellering Cancer Cenler, and outreach programs related to cancer in Stuart .J. Nelson, fonnerly associate pro NCI associate director for cancer therapy distinct racial, ethnic, underserved and other fossor of medicine al the Medical Co llege eval uation, and senior vice president for spec ial populations ... Jeff Carrow, chief of of Georgia. has joined the NLM as head or cancer research, Bristol-Myers Co., In the immunology grants management sec tl1e medical subject headings section ... Dr. 1990. he returned to NCl 10 serve as chief ti on, NIAID, has been selected as grants Sheila A. Newton, a health scientist admin- of the Medicine Branch and ror tl1e past 20 SUMMER 1 9 9 6 year has been serving as acting director of Branch and deputy director of tl1e Division studies, died from a bra.in twnor on Ju.ly 27 the Division of Cancer Treatment and more of Biometry and Epidemiology, NEl. has at his home in Bar Harbor. Me. He was a recently acting director of the new DCTDC. reti red after 27 years of government servi ce. senior staff scientist at tbe Jackson He was insrrumental in promoting the use Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Before joining of biostatistical and epidemiologic methods the Jackson Laboratory in 1980, he had RETIREMENTS and principles in the field of vision worked at NIH ... June L. Carroll, 75, who resea.rch. Retirement wi ll not be full time joined NIH in 1957 and retired as its crave! Dr. Robert L. Berger, chief of the bio because he bas joined EMMES Corp., an chief in 1977, died of cancer April 20 at her physical instrumentation section, organization that provides statistical and home in Silver Spring ... Dr. Cli ve J. Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, operational support for biomedical research Dawe, 75, a retired NCI pa1hologis1. d.ied NHLBT, recentl y retired in May 1996, after ... Dr. John G. Miller, deputy clirector of Jul y 9 after sustaining injuries in a glider 34 years of federal service. From 1962 NfH's Office for Protection from Research crash. He was a research consultant in the until 1990 he was in NHLBl"s Laboratory Risks, has retired af1er nearly 30 years of department of pathology at Harvard of Technical Development. Since 1994. he federa l service. On Aug. I, he became the University School of Medicine at the time has been on detail as the senior scientific executive director of we recently renamed of his death. During hi s years at NCI, he advisor to ihe blood resources division. Association for Assessment and pursued two major interests: an alysis of the Witlter Reed Army Institute of Research. Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, interactions of the polyoma virus with vari He plans 10 become active in the NTRAA ... Internati onal. wh ich is responsible for ous cell types, and comparative oncology. Dr. John D. Boice, Jr., chief of the accrediting over 600 organi zati ons world the srudy of cancer in lower animals such as Radiation Epidemiology Branch, NCI. wide ... Delphine Moell er retired recently sharks, clams, frogs, insects and worms. He retired at the end of .lune 1996. He has after a CC career in the phamiacy depart played a crucial role in establishing the joined the international Epidemiology ment that covered 40 years. Her future Registry of Tumors in Lower Animals at Institute in Rockville. MD as scientific plans include gardening, reading, visiting the Museum of Natural History at the director. He had been with NCI for 18 art exhi bits and her family ... Floyd M. Smithsonian lnstillltion ... Patricia M. years and is renowned for his research on Price, a biologist in the NCJ's Laboratory Gilliam, 57, a practical nu rse at the Clinical the effects of ionizing radiation ... Robert of Ccllu.lar am.I Molecular Biology, has Center for 24 years until~ he retired on dis H. Brunelle, deputy chief of the Computing retired after 31 years of federal service. He ability in 1983, died July I0 at the Facilities Branch, DCRT, 11as retired after spent much of his career studying tissue Washington Adventist Hospital. She had 37 years. One of the first computer profes culture and investigating the mechanism of diabetes and recently underwent triple sionals hired by NIH, he helped bring lead carcinogenesis. He has recovered slowly bypass heart surgery ... Ruth Mynne Hahn, ing-edge computing to campus. After from a fal l in 1993 that paralyzed h.im from 82, a fonuer .librarian who had been a Red retirement he plans to perfect his golf the neck down and he is able to play Celtic Cross volunteer at the Clinical Center for swing, create new woodworking designs, music on his recorder ...Rub y Ross, super U1e last 29 years. died May 25 at Shady and spend more time on his boat ... Dr. visory grants technical assistimt in Grove Adventist Hospital after a stroke ... Joseph Ciardi, a health scientist adminis NIGMS's Division of Extramural Dr. Rolla Be.nnett Hill, Jr., 66, a patl1olo trator at NTDR, retired recently after 38 Aciivities, has retired after nearly 29 years gist who served on tl1e Pathology Study years of federal service, 1.be last 25 of which with the institme ... Dr. David Scheim, Section at Nill, died of stomach cancer a l were with NIDR involving various pro chief of NE!'s Management Inforniation home in Philo, Calif ... Marian Bradford grams. He and his famiJy wUI stay in the Systems Brancl1, has retired. He was one of Jasch, 69, a secretary who retired in 1986 area where they can enjoy their nearby the pioneers of client-server database tech after almost 20 years at NIH, died of cancer mountain retreat and he c 21 N I H A A U P D A T E tion specialist in the news clipping office, chief of NINCDS's Epilepsy Branch and was chairman of the department of obstet died June 14 of pancreatic cancer at her director of me Neurological Disorders rics and gynecology at Fairfax Hospital, and home ... George Luhn, 72, who retired Di vision, died from complications of dia an NIH consultant, died of cancer May 27 from the Office of Logistics Management, betes at his home in North Carolina on Mar. at his borne in Arlington ... Clara Smith, OD, NJH, died Apr. 29 of heart failure in 3 I. At the time of his death, he was profes who first worked at NCI ( 1942-I 949) and Olney. He began his career with NIH in sor emeritus of neurology at Bowman Gray then in the Division of Etiology ( 1952- 1952 as a supply clerk when the Supply School of Medicine. An internationally rec 1986), died recently in Rock HiU, S.C. ... Management Branch storeroom was Located og11ized expert in epilepsy research, Penry Ernest Robert Stevens, 98, a retired bio in the sub-basement of Bldg. I. He played an enonnous role in the dramatic logical laboratory technician and a Baptist advanced in the inventory management spe progress made in the treatment of epilepsy pastor, died of congestive heart failure May cialist field and served in I.he Inventory through his scientific work and authorship 9 at Providence Hospital. He began working Liaison Office at the time of his retfremeni of standard tests on the use of antiepileptic at the National lnstitute of Health in 1930 as in 199 l ... Dr. Carl F. T. "Ted" Mattern, drugs. He joined NIN CDS in 1966 and is a laboratory technician and he retired in 72, a physician and research scientist who credited with starting the NINOS drug 1960. He was pastor from 1979 to L984 of bad worked al NIH, died of pneumonia and development program for finding new the Rising Sun Baptist Church in sepsis May 6 al Holy Cross Hospital. In an1iepileptic drugs, promoting international Washington ... Dr. Ala n Van Dervort, 4 l, 1.949, Mattern joined the PHS and served as epilepsy research and pioneering ways to CC physician, was shot in a Gaithersburg medical d.irec1or of NLAID, assistant chief monitor and care for patients. ln 1979, he parking lot on May 24 and died the follow of the virus laboratory, senior investigator returned to his alma mater, Bowman Gray, ing day at Shady Grove Hospital. A mem in the parasitic diseases Jab, head of the as associate dean for neuroscience develop ber of NHLBJ's pulmonary critical care electron microscopy unit and head of the ment. There, he continued hi s research medicine branch since L994, Yan Dervort biophysical section. He did basic clinical efforts ... Helen Dorothy Telford Reeves, came to NIH in 1987 as a staff fellow. He work in the development of the Coulter 86, a retired federal statistician, died May stud.ied communication systems employed counter, which is used in ioclustry and medi 25 at Memorial Hospital in Ranson, W. Ya., by cells, research relevant 10 pulmonary dis cine to count and analyze blood cells. He after a heart attack. From 1964 LO 1973. she ease in the critically ill patients and recently retired ill. 1982. From 1983 unti.l retiring in worked at NIH. Following her retirement, he studied the role of nitric oxide in regulat J 990, he was a visiting professor of obstet she was active in community projects at the ing inflammation. The case is still not rics and gynecology al Johns Hopkins Church of the Savior in Washington. until solved ... Dr. William A. Walter, Jr., 74, University Medical School and director of 1994 when she moved to Charles Town, W. retired physician and PHS captain who the Laboratory oflnfectious Diseases with Ya .... Dr. Moses 0 . Seton, 49, a radiolo worked for 30 years at NCI, died of cancer the Baltimore Health Department ... John gist and oncologist w110 had practiced at Aug. 11 at his home in Bethesda. He Hunton Moss, 73, a retired consultant who Howard University Hospital, died July 4 at retired in 1984 as deputy director ofNCl's specialized in medical issues, died of car Holy Cross Hospital after a heart attack. He extramural activities division. diac arrest June 2 at hi.s home in worked ar N1H in 199 1 and 1992. He was Kensington. In the mid- I970's, he joined very active in organizing aid 10 Liberia NIH and worked as science director of the where he had received his medical training. smoking and health program. He did con During the .1970's he had served as one of sulting from 1976 until retiring in l 989 ... three personal physicians to then-Liberian Dr. Thomas Benj amin Owen, who was at president William R. Tolbert ... Dr. Nahum NCI for 19 years, died of cancer May 19 at Raphael Shulman, 70, ch.ief of NIDDK's lf you are not a life mem Georgetown Uni versity Hospital. He Clinical Hematology Branch, died Apr. 10 moved to the Washington area in the l 960's of cancer at the Washington Home Hospice. ber, you received a due-s to hecome the vice president of Melpar lnc., Shulman was a pioneer in research on where he developed l11e "clean room" for immunohematology, blood coagulation and notice from NIHAA in May. recovery and examination of the astronauts. fibri nolysis, hepatitis, and the physiology Dues are an important source ln 1970, he joined NCI as a program direc a11d biochemistry of platelets. His clinical tor and retired in 1989 ... Louis J. Pecora, studies increased understanding of the of our income and we need 85, a research physiologist and grants mechanisms of autoimmune, alloimmune, your continued support. administrator at NIDR, died of skin lym and drug-dependent cytopenia and led to the phoma May 23 at home in Potomac. definition and treatment of post-transfusion Check your address label. If During World War U, be served in the Navy purpura. AL the time of his death, Shulman and studied high alritude flying. deep sea was studying mechanisms of immune-medi it says "please renew," do so diving and exposure to high heat at the ated cellular injury, specificjties of platelet promptly. Naval Medical Research Institute. After the specific autoanlibodies, and factors influ war, he joined the industrial hygiene group encing t11e regulation of plasma levels of of NIH. He left Nm in 1951 , but returned thrombopoietin, a newly characterized. in 1967 to work as grants administrator in growth factor ... Dr. James G. Sites, 72, a NIDR ... Dr. J. Kiffin Penry, 66, forn1er retired physician and medical professor who 22 SUMMER 1 9 9 6 remodeled side porch now serves as NIH Retrospectives NIHAA's office- see photo below]. ~...... ---··- -...- - - ·- The NIH Record ·--~ - Summer 1976 Summer 1956 Summer 1986 Metro construction that started a year ago is proceeding on schedule and Time Magazine paid glowing tribute A long-range construction program is Shaft #4 excavation is essentially com to NIH in a special editfon citing what under way at NIH. The project includes plete. Conventional tunneling will is best in America. NIH was described four new buildings, additions to three begin south from Pooks Hill Road in as "clearly a major factor in America's and U1e remodeling of several others ... about 3 weeks. Construction of this primacy in medical research," and the On July 11, 1956, NIH conveyed segment of Metro is scheduled for com articl.e agreed witll Dr. Lewis Thomas 25,000 feet of land to the Bethesda Fire pletion in January 1979 ... The when he called NIH "one of the Department, to build a secondary fire Foundation for Advanced Education in nation's great.est treasures" ... TI1e first station at Old Georgetown Road and the Sciences recently purchased the annual intramural NIH Research Day is Cedar Lane ... Leroy E. Burney, former Public Health Service Officers' Club at scheduled for Sept. 25. Intramural sci assistant surgeon general and deputy entists will be able to meet and chief, Bureau of State Se1vices, PHS, Old Georgetown Road and Cedar Lane to serve as an academic and social cen exchange ideas. It wi ll be a day filled was promoted to the post of surgeon ter. It has been redecorated and air with workshops, poster sessions and general on Aug. 8. He succeeded Dr. condjtioned and may be rented for symposia focusing on emerging fields Leonard Scheele, who resigned Aug. l. meetings or other functions. [The and topics under active investigation. Summer 1966 Dr. James A. Shannon, NIH director, received the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civiljan Service in a ceremony in the White House East Room June 15. This award, the highest honor llie government can give career employees, was presented to Shannon by President Johnson "with profound appreciation, high esteem and great personal satisfaction" ... A new portable clirucal facility for long-range clinical and epidemiological studies in artbritjs, diabetes and diseases of the The FAES Social and Academic Center is a large house on 1.6 acres of land, which was pur gasb·ointestinal tract was formally dedi chased in 1975, but officially opened on June 17, 1976, after redecoration and renovation. cated June 13 at Sacaton, Ariz., on the II is used for a variety of functions and activities. Since August 1988, the NIH Alumni Gila River Indian Reservation. Association's office has been in the side porch at right. 23