NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH • OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR | VOLUME 22 ISSUE 2 • MARCH-APRIL 2014 Meet the Stadtmans A Life Collected Neat, Sweet, Unique Joseph Edward Rall (1920–2008) BY REBECCA BAKER (NIAID) AND L.S. CARTER BY HANK GRASSO AND MICHELE LYONS, OFFICE OF NIH HISTORY luca Gat tinoni (NCI) took his “first steps into science” as a toddler in the NIH Child Care Center when his par- ents were Visiting Fellows at NIH. Physi- cist Kandice Tanner (NCI) is drawn to motion, whether it’s from tumor cells migrating into new tissues or her own body hurtling through space while she’s skydiving. Developmental biologist Todd HANKGRASSO, HISTORYNIH OFFICEOF Macfarlan (NICHD) is intrigued with how viruses “are so intimately intertwined with our own evolution as a species.” Indeed, all 11 members of the 2011– 2012 cycle of Earl Stadtman Tenure- Track Investigators have a story to tell. They join 17 others in the Stadtman program—named for the legendary biochemist who worked at NIH for 50 years—that was launched in 2009 as an This terra-cotta bas relief of Joseph Edward “Ed” Rall (background) and David Platt Rall (foreground) was created by NIH-wide recruiting effort to attract sculptor Christian Peterson. These brothers each left an impression on biomedical research and NIH. Ed Rall served NIH as deputy director for intramural research from 1983 to 1991. David Rall was the director of the National Institute of Envi- outstanding scientists whose research ronmental Health Sciences (1971–1990) as well as the founding director of the National Toxicology Program. areas span the biomedical fields. And to continue with the introduc- When Joseph “ed” Rall’s daughter, Priscilla Rall, decided to share her tions… RNA biology is “very exciting” father’s history with the NIH Stetten Museum and the National Library of Medi- to Stavroula (Voula) Mili (NCI), who cine (NLM), she welcomed representatives from both to her home and amazed studies cancer and neurodegeneration. them with her family’s extensive historical collections. Pia Rall had painstakingly Sunni Mumford (NICHD) is investi- collected, organized, and preserved the evidence of her father’s life and work—his gating how lifestyle and dietary changes legacy—and was interested in returning some of these resources to NIH so that may improve male and female reproduc- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tion and fertility. When she’s not trying to figure out the neuronal basis of natural CONTENTS behaviors, Yeka Aponte (NIDA) is pre- FEATURES • |1| Meet the Stadtmans |1| A Life Collected: Ed Rall |6| Interview with paring elaborate meals for her friends. Tanzanian Researcher Julie Makani |9| The Myriad Decision Eye researcher Kapil Bharti (NEI) had DEPARTMENTS • |2| DDIR: Nourishing the IRP |3| NIH Alumni News: André Van Steirteghem dreamed all his life about becoming a |4|Training Page: Mentoring |4|Abbreviations |5, 7| News You Can Use: 3D Print Exchange; CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 New HR Systems |8| Research Briefs |13| NIH in History: Centennial Anchor |16| Colleagues: Recently Tenured |19| Announcements |20| Photographic Moment: Window Washers FROM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH Nourishing Intramural Research for the Long Term BY MICHAEL GOTTESMAN, DDIR Bob Dylan noticed it in 1963, and 50 committees of our NIH experts and out- Please send your best ideas to your sci- years later we scientists are seeing it side experts formulating a 10-year scientific entific director and me for further consider- again: “The times they are a-changin’.” vision for each of the ICs and determining ation by the IC-based review groups. Once The conduct of science is evolving even what will be needed to accomplish these these individual groups have assembled their though resources are restricted; barriers goals. These ideas will be discussed by the recommendations, we will identify common to turning innovative ideas into reality SDs and by a committee of institute direc- themes and goals. Before the end of the keep springing up while being torn down tors, and the common themes that emerge year, we will ask the Advisory Committee elsewhere. We all know about the many will be identified and integrated into a single to the Director, comprising outside advisors, contributions that the intramural research document. to review our efforts. program (IRP) has made to modern bio- My hope is that this process—beginning Think big. Think not what you could do medical research (and I hope you all have within the NIH with outside encouragement with one more postdoc or a few more dollars. your elevator speech ready in case someone and support—will inspire creative, farsighted Instead think of unrealized synergies and challenges you on this), but how can we thinking. I know that for some IRP scien- focused investments for collaborative science best mold the future to assure its continued tists, planning of this sort generates angst. to take on major scientific questions. success? In the words of Lewis Thomas, I have detected that some of you don’t feel “The National Institutes of Health [IRP] included in the process. And yet this is an “Elevator Speech” Excerpt is not only the largest institution for bio- inclusive process that will flounder without medical science on earth, it is one of this broad input. So, inclusive planning was the VISITOR: What’s so great about the IRP? nation’s great treasures. As social inven- main topic for the 2014 IC Directors’ and IRP SCIENTIST: Remember Marshall Niren- tions for human betterment go, this one SDs’ retreats. Collins opened both discus- berg and the genetic code, Julius Axelod is a standing proof that, at least once in a sions and, in short, asked us to focus on the and humoral transmitters? Fluoride for tooth while, government possesses the capac- types of science that we do best. He charged decay; lithium for bipolar mental illness; ity to do something unique, imaginative, us to articulate visionary goals and identify blood tests to detect HIV and hepatitis; the useful, and altogether right.” barriers to achieving these goals. He stressed first AIDS drugs; the first vaccines against For the past nine months, I have been the enthusiastic Congressional interest in the hepatitis, Hemophilus influenza, and human meeting with NIH leadership to discuss value and benefits of our research. He spoke papillomavirus? That’s the IRP. We’ve had how to prepare ourselves for the future. In eagerly of exciting scientific opportunities 20-some Nobel Prize winners and 30-some January, I discussed a proposal for long-term that have emerged in the past few years. Lasker winners. planning for the IRP at the Leadership This 10-year vision is just the begin- VISITOR: But has the IRP done lately? Forum of Institute Directors. In February ning. We encourage all NIH scientists to IRP SCIENTIST: Ketamine to reduce suicidal the NIH scientific directors (SDs) met for contribute innovative ideas about how we tendencies; immunotherapy to cure cancer; their annual retreat—in the new FAES can continue to use the valuable resources discovery of genes involved in stuttering and conference center in the Clinical Center— of the IRP in laboratory science, clinical countless other disorders; world’s leader in sleeves rolled up and ready to work. With resources, and population-based programs to MRI technology; Undiagnosed Diseases the encouragement of NIH Director Fran- advance basic biomedical research and clini- Program; world’s largest hospital dedicated cis Collins, we have worked out a plan to cal applications. You are in a unique position to clinical studies… develop a blueprint for the future of the IRP. to provide a bold vision for the future of the Continue the ride at http://irp.nih.gov/ The planning process will begin at the NIH IRP, with your keen insights into the our-research/accomplishments. level of our institutes and centers (ICs) with special characteristics of this place. 2 THE NIH CATALYST MARCH-APRIL 2014 FROM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH NIH ALUMNI NEWS What’s Past Is Prologue Reflections on NIH Alumnus André Van Steirteghem BY ALAN N. SCHECHTER, NIDDK As my fiftieth anniversary as an minted protein chemist—having worked for NIH scientist nears in this period of stress a decade with Christian Anfinsen (who for NIH and its Intramural Research Pro- was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in gram (IRP), I am reminded of how fortu- Chemistry in 1972 for his work on protein nate I have been to be on the staff of this folding)—on top of my medical training. I institution. I am also optimistic that the found André space in my lab and we started past can continue to be prologue to the some classical, but inelegant, purification future. I realize that little of what we do is procedures. predictable and that, often, our contribu- When André returned to Brussels tions are from unanticipated developments. in 1977, the physicians in his university’s The recent visit ofAndré Van Steirteg- obstetrics and gynecology department were hem, one of the leaders in the field of in happy with his new expertise and hired him vitro fertilization (IVF) and now an emeritus to develop radioimmunoassays for use in professor of embryology and reproductive fertility studies. biology at Vrije Universiteit (the Free Uni- In July 1978, Robert Edwards and Pat- André Van Steirteghem, one of the leaders in the field of versity) in Brussels, was such an occasion. In rick Steptoe in England announced the first in vitro fertilization and an NIH alum, visited NIH recently. December 2013, he came to NIH to deliver successful use of IVF that culminated in the a lecture in which he recounted his work in birth of a healthy infant—Louise Brown.