I I z he Newsletter of the / NIH Alumni Association · Spring 1993 Vol. 5, No. 1 date NIHAA Presents Its First Liotta Recharting Public Service Award to Course for Intramural Chairman Natcher Research at NIH Citing his "active advocacy of bio­ Since he became NI H's new deputy medical research as a necessary nation­ director for intramural research in Jul y al i11 vestmen t"· the NIH Alumni Asso­ 1992, Dr. Lance Liotta has left his ciation (NIH AA) has selected Rep. imprint on virtually every facet of NlH William H. Natcher (D-Ky.). chairman campus research life- from paychecks of the House Appropriations to parking, and protocol review to poli­ Committee, to receive its first NLHAA cies on consulring. Public Service A ward. The award was "I've had a very good experience established in 1992 by the NJHAA here," notes Liona. ·'J want everyone to board of directors to recogni ze individ­ have that same experience." Liotta is a uals who have rendered outstanding 17-year veteran of NTI-£'s lntramurai service through strengthening public Research Progran1 (IRP). He has spent understandi.ng and support of biomed­ NIH director Dr. Bernadine Healy announces most of his scientific Hfe investigating ical research. her resignation at a press conference at how cancer cells metastasize and invade Chairman Na tc her, now in his 40th Stone House on Feb . 26. new tissue-the main cause of death in year as a member of Congress, has cancer patients. Liocta wants every NTH been a friend and champion of Nll-1 'Deeply Honored To Have Served' scientist to have what he enjoys him­ during his long tenure as a member of self-a stimulating, rewarding career at the appropriations commi11ee. Prior to Healy Announces Plans the cutting edge of modem science. (See Natcher p. 2) Liotta's highest pri ority in h.is new To Leave NIH by June 30 job is ··co protect and enhance the great­ est commodity we have-creative By Rich McMcmus (See Liotta p. 18) NLH director Dr. Bernadine Heal y announced, with clear reluctance, on Feb. 26 drnt she will resign her position In This Issue by June 30. "Before I wen!' to bed last night, I Bemhord Witkop's efforts IO have Percy Julian smmp issued prow: sm·c:css/11/ p. 3 looked out the window and hoped T'd Clinic(I/ Center m c1•h:bra11· see enough snow thai work would be 40ih a1111i1·cr.rnry in )11/y p.5 called off today," she told a gathering Calendar fl· 5 NJf/"s spirit lauded tl11ri11.~ 6th 11111nwl of reporters, OD staff and lCD direc­ re.1·ct1rch fest fro/ p. 6 tors at Stone House before reading a News/rem tmd about NIHl\A members and statement (see sidebar on p. 21) forei.~n clwprers p . •~ Science research updtues p. 12 announcing her resignati on. War 011 i11fectia11s tlise11ses 111us111' t As a snowfall too meager co cancel 11bt111•.mys Fauci t11 TB c<mgr.·ss p. 15 federal labors blanketed the campus. He11ryk £ise11bag reminisces abolll Bldg. 2 aftt•r the 11101•e w Bid.~. 5 fl. 16 Healy said it was made clear to her, in Bio~wr istics co11fere11ce dm111s conversarions wiU1 HHS Secretary tlisrir1guis/il!(/ 11/u11111i p.22 Donna·Shalala 2 weeks earlier, that NIH notes p.24 NIH rNrospectin:s p.10 Rep . William H. Natcher (D·Ky.) is the first President Clinton had other plans for Mail-in ballot for NINA.A rec ipient of the NIHAA Public Service NLH leadership. board ofdirectors p.31 Award. (See Healy p. 20) N I H A A UPDATE Natcher (cowi1111ed from p. I) Thank you to our friends his elcvalion to the chaim1anship of the The NIHAA warmly welcomes lhl! fol­ full appropriations commi 11 ee at the lowing organiza1ions 1ha1 joined in thl! ca1e­ opening of the curren t session of gory of "Friends" and wishes lo ;icknowl­ Congress, he had served 14 years as cdge its apprecia1ion for 1heir generous chairman of the approprimions subcom­ suppon: mittee concerned direc tly with ~I H American AsMwimion tif Retired funding. Persons First elected lo Congress in 1953. Unirt•1-.1·i1y <ifAlal)(Jma School of Natcher has served through 8 presi­ NIH director Dr. Bernadine Healy, then­ Medil'i11e al 8ir111i11glw111 American Cyanamid DHHS secretary Dr. Louis Sullivan, Rep. dents, 38 appropriations committees Boe!tringer lngelhei111 and 7 NIH directors. He has seen the Steny Hoyer (D .-Md.) and Rep. Natcher (I Boehringer Ma1111!tt!im NIH budget grow from $73 million to r) share a few moments before the Unirersily ofSout!tem Ca/ifomia when he entered Congress to nearly $9 groundb reaking ceremony. Sc:!wol <ifMedirim• Florida Cliniu1/ Practice Associmio11. billion in 1992. William H. Natcher Bldg. on Sept. 11. Inc. In presiding over the annual budget 1992. the honoree·s 83rd birthday. Hmwml Unfrt•rsily Sc/tool ofDe111ul hearings, he has clemonstrn ted consis­ At Lhe groundbreaking ceremony. Medicine tently his arcle111 interest in biomedical th en DHHS secretary. Dr. Louis Unfrersity ofIowa Colle.rw of research and rare understanding of its Sullivan, predicted. " This building cer­ Medicine R. IV. Jo/111.wm Pl1t11·111t1ce111ical long-term implications for better tainly will be beacon of enlighten­ a Research ln.wi1111c' health. melll and of hope and of great activity. lvlarion Merrell Do11· Rl'searclt /11sti1111t• His Congressional col leagues took nol only for 1his campus bu1 also for Mehon:v M edical CfJlle,qt• official notice of his stron g support for our whole nation's biomedical research Miles.Inc. NIH by naming in his honor a large enterprise." The Natcher Bldg., he U11il'ersi1y ofMi1111es()fa Program in Critical Care Surgery new faci lity that will accommodare on continued, "will go a long way toward U11iwrsi1y ofNonft Carolina SC'ltool of campus the large number of extramural quickening and improving the process Medicine staff now housed in leased space of health research... Parke-Dm·is Pharmaceutical Researc/1 throughout lhe area. It will also have a The NI HAA Public Service Award Penn S101e U11irersity College of 1,000-seat auditorium and conference will be presented to Rep. Natcher in a Medicine & U11i1wsity Hospiwl Medicul Colle.~e ofPe1111sylrn11ia ce111er. Ground was broken for the ceremony this spring. SmitltK!ine Beecltam Unil'ersity ofTe1111essee College 11f oca p . Dentistry to1ect Oft Wyet!t-Ayerst Clyde Mes s er l~ Phone· 30l-49S . We also would like 10 thank Glaxo Inc.. DES Emergency -• Sandoz Research lnslilllle and lhe Upjohn ione: 108 Company for bearing theconsidemblc expense of underwriling NIHAA U11dt11e. The Foundaiion for Advanced Educaiion in the Sciences (FAES) hasgenerously and continually supported NCHAA. We would also like 10 express our deep apprecia1ion to 1he following con1ribulon. 10 NIHAA-sponsorcd events in 1992: C!tarles Rfrer La/}(Jratories Nmio11al Fm111dt11io11fnr/11fec1io11s Diseases Peptide Tec/1110/nxy Limited Takaro S/111:0 Co.. Lui. \Vamer·La111bert/Parke-Da1·is Al the groundbreaking cerem ony at NIH on Sept. 11 , 1992, Natcher stand s before a drawing Pltarma<'t'llfic(I/ Research of the building named for him. 2 SPRING 1 9 9 3 Move Over Elvis Update NIH'er Bernhard Witkop's Efforts To Have Percy Julian Stamp Issued Prove Successful The Nl/-IAA Update is 1he news/el/er of~he By Carla Gamel/ NIH Alumni Associmion. The N/HAA ojjice is al 9101 Old George10 1vn Rd., Be1hesda. ln the mid-l 930's in Munich. 20­ MD 20814. (301) 530-0567. year-old college student Bernhard Editor's Note Witkop came across some "exciti ng" The NIHAA Upda1e welcomes leuers and research published by a budding newsfrom readers. We wish nm only to American chemist. So interested and bring alumni news abo111 N':1-1. but also t.o serve as a meansfor reporlmg ll!formmton impressed was he by the Ameci can 's abo111a lumni-their concerns. i11for111a1io11 research that he initiated what would 011 rece111 appoi111me 11ts. honors. ':1.oaks p11/J ­ become a 38-year correspondence and lished and other developmcms of 1111erest to their colleagues. If you have news a/JOI/I friendship with the chemist., Dr. Percy yourselfor abo111 Ql/ter alumni. or:mgges· L. Julian. 1ions. please drop a 11~ 1 e 10 t it ~ ed11or. We DlLI'ing those years. years in which reserl'e the right 10 edtt matenals. the battle for civil rights- Jul ian was Edif1>r: Harriet R. Greenwald Black-became entangled with the usu­ NfHAA Newsfe/ter Editorial A<ilri$ory Commiltee ally p1is1ine pursuits of science, Witkop Rnh1•rr (i. M11r1i11 . Clioim1(m Li11d11./. Brown Michael M. Go11e.mu111 became Ju lian's friend and unofficial .femme G. Green flarrit't R. Greeul\'a/d champion . \lictoria A. flare/en Coll<•eu fle11richse11 Harvey Klein r\ lm~r l_ouis Nmki11s This is a Black history tale tliat Lois A. Sal: 111a11 P/11 /tp E. Sc//(/111bra comes long before Black history The Percy Julian Commemorative Stamp Eli:a/Jcth H. Singer Ric/um/ G. Wya11 month. but more. it is the story of one issued on Jan. 28, 1993, by the U. S. Post NIHAA Newsletter Board ofCo11tribllli11g Editors distinguished scientisr's unselfish Office. Gio r~io Bemardi 11. Franklin 8111111 efforts on behalf of one of his col­ Bem;1rd D. Davis Rt>!icr 0. Egeberg color. In 1973. the 5-year campaign He111:11k Eisenberg Donald S. Fredrickson leagues. Certai nl y, whenever he could proved successful. Lars A. Ha11so11 \Valtc•r W. Holland advance Julian 's mm1e and research, George Kit'i11 Ricltard M.