To: Community Representatives
From: Thomas Gallagher, Ph.D., Director
Office of Community Liaison
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Date: October 2003
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIAISON
Due to hurricane Isabel's devastating visit to the DC Metro area and to ensure safety for all Community Liaison Council (CLC) members, the CLC and the Office of Community Liaison (OCL) decided to cancel its September 18th meeting. The next CLC meeting will be held in Building 1's Wilson Hall on October 16th from 4 to 6 p.m. I sincerely hope that by the time you receive this newsletter, your electricity has been restored, your basements are dry, and everyone's family life has returned to a comfortable state of normalcy.
Although the cancellation of the September CLC meeting leaves me unable to provide you with comment regarding our discussions, I would like to take this time to inform you of the annual Share the Health event sponsored by OCL and usually held in the month of October. Besides the date change from October '03 to next spring, there are numerous changes being made to our community outreach health forum, and I think you will be interested in learning the details.
The Share the Health event, previously held at the NIH Natcher Conference Center, is moving off campus to Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2004, and its hours are tentatively set for 10 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m. Walter Mitton, from OCL, is working closely with our Palladian contractor, Terry LaMotte, and together they have charged the Share the Health planning committee members with creating a new event that is more interactive, child-centered, family-focused, educational and reaches out to an ethnically diverse audience. Since the new focus for Share the Health 2004 is child and family centered, we want to ensure that we effectively reach this particular target audience. Mr. Mitton is in contact with the science magnet teachers at both Takoma Park Middle School and Montgomery Blair High School and is meeting with them to discuss ways for the students not only to attend Share the Health, but also to participate and get excited about opportunities for future careers in scientific research. The discussions with the schoolteachers have been extremely productive and will lead to a successful Share the Health event, but more importantly, will spawn future NIH and local-school interactions.
Share the Health 2004 will offer numerous interactive exhibits, seminars and workshops that will attract people of all ages. Some of the event highlights are:
I have mentioned only a few of the several seminars, workshops and activities being planned for Share the Health 2004. More information will be added to the Share the Health Web Site at http://sharethehealth.od.nih.gov as it becomes available. If you would like to offer suggestions to the planning committee for seminar topics, workshops or activities, please contact Mr. Mitton at 301-496-3931. I highly recommend that you mark your calendars now and make plans to bring your family and friends to Share the Health 2004. I hope to see all of you at Montgomery Blair High School in April!
The Community Liaison Council will hold its next meeting on Thursday, October 16, at 4 p.m., in Wilson Hall, Building 1 on the NIH Campus.
NIH CAMPUS NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
NIH Names Dr. Jeremy Berg as New NIGMS Director
NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., recently appointed Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., as the new director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
(NIGMS). Dr. Berg is currently director of the Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences and professor and director of the Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He is also director of the Markey Center for Macromolecular Structure and Function and co-director of the W.M. Keck Center for the Rational Design of Biologically Active Molecules, both of which are at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Berg assumes his new position in early November.
"Dr. Berg is one of the nation's most distinguished basic [research] scientists," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "He has the strong scientific skills and vision to keep the institute's research and training at the cutting edge of established and promising new areas of science."
Dr. Berg replaces Judith Greenberg, Ph.D., who currently serves as NIGMS acting director following the departure of Marvin Cassman, Ph.D., in 2002.
As NIGMS director, Dr. Berg will oversee a $1.8 billion budget that funds basic research in the areas of cell biology, biophysics, genetics, developmental biology, pharmacology, physiology, biological chemistry, bioinformatics and computational biology. His own research focuses on the structural and functional roles that metal ions, especially zinc, have in proteins. His work has helped scientists understand how zinc-containing proteins bind to the genetic material, DNAor RNA, and regulate gene activity. This understanding has led to the design of metal-containing proteins that control the activity of specific genes, making this a valuable tool which could one day help regulate the genes in certain types of diseases.
Dr. Berg has served on the Johns Hopkins faculty since 1986. Prior to this, he was a postdoctoral fellow in biophysics at Hopkins. Dr. Berg received B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Stanford University in 1980 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University in 1985.
Free NIH Medicine for the Public Lectures Series Concludes This Month
Don't miss the last three free lectures of the 2003 Medicine for the Public Lecture Series, sponsored by the NIH Clinical Center. This month features expert NIH physicians and scientists discussing topics on stem cell transplantation, alternative medicine and a disorder caused by too much iron in the blood. A detailed description and a schedule are listed below. Lectures are free and open to the public, at 7 p.m. on select Tuesdays in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. For more information, call 301-496-2563 or visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/mfp/current/index.html.
October 7
Stem Cell Transplantation: Promise in Cancer Treatments and Blood Disorders
by Michael Bishop, M.D., National Cancer Institute, NIH
Dr. Bishop will discuss current research efforts that focus on increasing the
application of stem cell transplantation to a broader patient population.
October 21
When Too Much Iron Is Bad: Hemochromatosis, the Silent Blood Disease
by Susan Leitman, M.D., NIH Clinical Center
Too much iron in the blood, which may have potentially serious effects, results
from a blood disorder called hemochromatosis. Untreated, this disease can cause
liver damage and premature arthritis. Dr. Leitman will give more information
about this treatable disorder and cover current research.
October 28
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: From Promises to Proof
by Stephen Straus, M.D., National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, NIH
As individuals turn to alternative means for treating their health concerns,
complementary and alternative medicine provides affordable and accessible, but
largely untested ways to treat diseases and health disorders. Dr. Straus will
discuss current research on which complementary and alternative practices work,
why and how they work and whether they are safe.
NIH Clinical Center Hosts 50th Anniversary Scientific Symposium
To celebrate 50 years of clinical research, the NIH Clinical Center is hosting a 50th Anniversary Scientific Symposium on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 to kick off this year's NIH Research Festival. From 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., key NIH officials are scheduled to discuss topics such as cancer therapeutics, cardiovascular disease, clinical applications in neuroscience, the molecular basis of disease, infectious diseases and the future of clinical research. The scientific symposium takes place in Masur Auditorium in Building 10 on the NIH campus. The NIH Research Festival, which includes mini-symposia, poster sessions on current scientific research, a postdoctoral job fair and an exhibit show, takes place October 14–16 in Masur Auditorium of Building 10 and in the Natcher Conference Center in Building 45 on the NIH campus. For more information on the symposium, visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/50th/50thscientificsymposium.shtml. For a complete schedule of events for the NIH Research Festival, visit http://festival03.nih.gov.
NLM To Hold Symposium on Visual Culture, Public Health
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) plans to explore the role of imagery in public health at a symposium, October 16–17, 2003 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. "Visual Culture and Public Health" is the second in a series of symposia sponsored by NLM's History of Medicine Division. The symposium, which is free and open to the public, explores the critical role that visual representation has played in educating the public about modern health crises. Distinguished speakers from the disciplines of medical history, scientific history, anthropology, sociology, geography, art history and visual and media studies are featured. The symposium takes place from 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 and from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday in NLM's Lister Hill Auditorium in Building 38A on the NIH campus. A reception follows. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/visualculture/index.html or call Meghan Attalla at 301-496-5405. Pre-registration is requested.
NIH Ski Club To Hold Benefit Dance for Special Love Charity
Join the NIH Ski Club as it raises money for kids with cancer. On Friday, November 7, 2003, from 8 p.m. to midnight, the ski club is sponsoring a benefit dance at the Gaithersburg Holiday Inn to help raise money for Special Love, Inc., an NIH charity that offers programs for children with cancer, enabling them to experience the normal activities of healthy children. Music will be provided by Retrospect, and dancers can enjoy a light buffet and participate in two auctions for trips, prizes and services. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased at the NIH Recreation & Welfare Association's Activities Desk in Building 31 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Proceeds from the dance will help sponsor two ski trips for the kids of Special Love to Bryce Mountain and Canaan Valley. For more information, call Bob Bingaman at 301-829-2079.
FAES Announces 2003–2004 Chamber Music Series Schedule
The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) recently announced the 2003–2004 season of its Chamber Music series. Now in its 36th season, the series offers a schedule filled with renowned performers. Concerts take place at the Landon School's Mondzac Performing Arts Center at 4 p.m. on select Sundays throughout the year. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and fellows. The Landon School is located at 6101 Wilson Lane in Bethesda, Maryland. For more information or tickets, call 301-496-7976 or visit http://www.faes.org/music.htm. A complete schedule is listed below:
Oct. 12—Boris Pergamenchikov, cello, and Kirill Gerstein,
piano
Oct. 26—The Brentano String Quartet
Nov. 16—Stephen Hough, piano
Nov. 30—Imogen Cooper, piano
Dec. 14—Concertante
Jan. 11, 2004—Trio di Parma
Feb. 1—Viviane Hagner, violin
Feb. 15—The Takacs String Quartet
Feb. 29—Louis Lortie, piano
Mar. 28—Mihaela Ursuleasa, piano
Mobile Mammography Screening Available for NIH Staff, Families, Contractors
The George Washington University Breast Care Center is once again offering fall mammography screening for all NIH employees, their families and others associated with NIH, such as contractors, visiting scientists and volunteers. Screening dates and locations are listed below and take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. by appointment only. Female technologists conduct the screenings, and board-certified radiologists specializing in mammography interpret the films. The procedure takes about 20 minutes, costs $140 and is covered by most insurance companies. To see if your insurance is accepted or to make an appointment, call 202-741-3020.
October 29—Building 31, Lot TBD, NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
November 5—Building 10, Lot 10H, NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
November 12—Executive Plaza North and South, parking lot behind the complex, Rockville, MD
November 19—Rockledge, visitor parking behind RKL One, Bethesda, MD
November 26—Neuroscience Center, parking lot next to 6003 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD
December 17—Building 45, front of building, NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
R& W Sponsors Casino Night To Raise Money for NIH Charities
If you ever dreamed of making it big in Vegas, but were afraid to take the risk, the NIH Recreation & Welfare Association (R&W) has come up with a way for everyone to win. On Thursday, October 9, 2003, R&W is sponsoring a "Casino Night" from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Bethesda Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland. Now closet gamblers can roll the dice, spin the roulette wheel and play some blackjack all for a good cause—NIH children's charities. Tickets for Casino Night are $50 per person and include an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, music and $25,000 in "funny" money to play games of chance. Game winnings can then be used toward a variety of prizes. All are welcome to participate.
To purchase tickets, visit http://208.234.17.104/esra/tickets/ushop/index.cgi?code=3&cat=17 or call Julie Harris at 301-496-6061. Don't miss this fun opportunity to win for the NIH children's charities.
NIH CALENDAR OF EVENTS*
October 8—NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Imaging the Motions and Signals that Pattern Embryonic Development by Scott E. Fraser, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.
October 9—NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Effects of Separation on Children and Working Parents, noon–1 p.m., Conference Room 10, 6th Floor, Building 31-C, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call the Work/Life Center at 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
October 15—NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Interviewing Techniques for Hiring Officials: Becoming a Better Interviewer, 12–2 p.m., Conference Room 6, 6th Floor, Building 31-C, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call the Work/Life Center at 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
October 16—Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Lecture Series: The Walls of Jericho: Poverty, Work and Mothering by Laura Lein, Ph.D., University of Texas, 3–4 p.m., Room C, Neuroscience Building, 6001 Executive Blvd., Rockville, free and open to the public. For more information, call Ronald Abeles at 301-496-7859
October 22—NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: RNA-triggered Genetic Silencing Mechanisms by Andrew Z. Fire, Ph.D., Carnegie Institution of Washington, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.
NLM History of Medicine Seminars for 2003: Animal Protection Societies and the Passage of the 1966 Laboratory Animal Welfare Act by Dr. Bernard Unti, 2–3:15 p.m., Conference Room B, Building 38, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call the National Library of Medicine's History of Medicine Division at 301-594-5983.
October 23—NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Effective Family Caregiving, noon–1 p.m., Conference Room 10, 6th Floor, Building 31-C, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call the Work/Life Center at 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
Office of Research on Women's Health 2003 Women's Health Seminar Series: Alcohol: A Women's Health Issue, 1–3 p.m., Lipsett Amphitheater, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-402-1770.
October 29—NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Effective Communication for Managers, 1–4 p.m., Conference Room 6, 6th Floor, Building 31-C, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call the Work/Life Center at 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces. asp.
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Environment and Society Since 1900: A Global Perspective by John R. McNeill, Ph.D., Georgetown University, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME is credit available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.
*Calendar items subject to change. Call to confirm your event.
OTHER NEWS AND ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST
Bethesda Sponsors Two Art Events in October
Bethesda is hosting two art events this month in the downtown area—the Bethesda Artist Market and the Bethesda Row Arts Festival. On October 12, the city will host the first Bethesda Artist Market where local, regional and national artists can display and sell their creations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free and takes place in the Bethesda Place Plaza at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue. On October 18 and 19, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival brings high-end visual arts to the residents of Bethesda. Fine arts and crafts along with strolling musicians and food vendors are featured from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. This free festival takes place on Woodmont Avenue between Elm and Bethesda Avenue. For more information about these two events, call the Bethesda Urban Partnership at 301-215-6660 or visit http://www.bethesda.org.
New "Ask Me" Team Helps Residents and Visitors Navigate Downtown Bethesda
If you've been to downtown Bethesda recently, you may have noticed something new—a dedicated team of people helping others find their way, locating businesses or responding to emergency situations. The "Ask Me" Team is a new evening and weekend resource in downtown Bethesda to field questions about the community. Team members wear red shirts that say "Ask Me" and rove around the Woodmont Triangle, Wisconsin Avenue and Bethesda Row areas from 3: 30 p.m.–midnight Wednesday through Saturday, and from 11: 30 a.m.–8 p.m. on Sundays. Each "Ask Me" professional is equipped with copies of a guide to Bethesda's business, restaurant and services resources to better aid visitors. Sample services provided by the team include:
Keep your eyes out next time you're in downtown Bethesda and give the new service a try. For more information, call 301-215-6660 or visit http://www.bethesda.org.
Holy Cross Hospital Offers Free Cancer Workshop, Cancer Health Fair
Holy Cross Hospital is offering two free health events this month focusing on cancer prevention, screening and education. On Wednesday, October 15, 2003, the hospital presents "Hot Topics in Women's Health," an evening workshop and dinner with expert speakers on women's cancer. Hosted by WUSAnews anchor Andrea Roane, the workshop covers issues including the importance of pap smears, genetic risks of ovarian and breast cancers, hormones and new methods of detecting, preventing and treating breast cancer. The workshop takes place from 6–9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 8777 Georgia Ave., in Silver Spring, Maryland. Registration is limited; call 301-754-8800 to register or for more information.
On Saturday, October 18, Holy Cross Hospital is holding a cancer education and screening health fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hospital grounds. Pap tests, breast examinations, skin exams, prostate blood tests and examinations, oral health screenings and genetic risk factors are just a few of the screenings offered. Limited vouchers for a free mammogram are available for women who are medically uninsured or underinsured. To register for the screenings, call 301-754-8800.
Last Chance for Fresh Produce at Bethesda Farmers' Market
Now might be your last chance to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables grown by local farmers. Once the growing season comes to an end, the Bethesda Farmers' Market will end its stay in downtown Bethesda. But until then, area residents can enjoy a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and baked goods from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays through the end of the month. The market is located at the corner of Auburn and Norfolk Avenues in downtown Bethesda. For more information or a map of the location, visit http://www.bethesda.org or call the Bethesda Urban Partnership at 301-215-6660.
Rockville Hosts Halloween Happenings
The City of Rockville is hosting a variety of events in honor of Halloween,
so gather your goblins and witches and plan for some costumed fun. Events include
spooky cemetery tours, glow-in-the dark rock climbing, pumpkin decorating and
costume contests to name a few. Listed below are some of the areas scheduled
events:
October 24
Haunted Happenings Drive-in Movie Fest—family fun and films from
6–9 p.m. with a late show at 10 p.m. at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603
Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Featured events include drive-in movies, tours of
Rockville Cemetery, tours of Croydon Creep Nature Center, glow-in-the-dark rock
climbing, haunted mansion tours and more. Three movies are planned:
7 p.m.—It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
7:30 p.m.—Casper (rated PG)
10 p.m.—John Carpenter's Halloween (rated R)
For more information, visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov or call 240-314-8605.
October 25
Fall Spooktacular—Free Halloween arts and crafts, carnival
games, moonbounce, prizes and entertainment are featured from 1–3 p.m.
at the Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, located at 12920 Twinbrook Parkway.
Come in costume and bring clothes and pantyhose to make your own scarecrow.
For more information or to register, call 240-314-8830.
November 2 Montgomery County Road Runners Club Halloween Young Run—a fun kids' run beginning at 9 a.m. in Rockville for children 12 and under. Kids can pick from three distances: .25 mile, .5 mile or 1 mile. Contact your local school's physical education department for entry forms or visit http://www.mcrrc.org. For more information, call the Montgomery County Road Runners Club at 301-353-0200.
Rockville Holds Antique and Classic Car Show
Car enthusiasts can enjoy some of the classiest cars of yesteryear at the city of Rockville's annual Antique and Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 18, 2003. This year's event, which is free for spectators, features a special display honoring 100 years of Ford—one vintage car from each year Ford has been in business. With more than 400 vintage vehicles, entertainment by the Rockville Concert Band, food and children's activities, this fun event promises something for everyone. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive in Rockville. In the event of rain, the event will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2003. For recorded information, call 240-314-5022 or visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov.
TRY THIS WEB SITE
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) recently debuted a new consumer Web site, called the Genetics Home Reference. Designed for a lay audience, the site is intended to help the public understand genetics, learn about the conditions that can be based on genetics and learn about the genes that affect these conditions. For example, if you have a question about Alzheimer's disease, you can type that into the search feature and find out how the disease is inherited, what the symptoms are and how it is treated. A geographic listing of genetic counselors is also featured as well as information for caregivers. The site has a glossary of genetic terms, links to clinical trials and more advanced genetic information. Links to more information about the disease or condition are also available.
Healthy Female Volunteers Wanted
Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health are seeking healthy women between the ages of 40 and 50 to participate in longitudinal studies of perimenopause. Volunteers must have regular menstrual cycles and be medication free. Periodic hormonal evaluations, symptom rating completion and occasional interviews will be performed. Study participants will be paid. For more information, call Linda Simpson-St. Clair at 301-496-9576.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Dystonia Study
Researchers at NIH are conducting a study to determine if amlodipine can improve the effects of botulinum toxin injections for individuals with cervical or focal hand dystonia. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, TTY: 1-866-411-1010.
Type III Gaucher's Disease?
People with type III Gaucher's disease may be eligible to participate in an NIH study. The study is evaluating the drug OGT 918. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, TTY: 1-866-411-1010.
Women Volunteers Needed for Depression Study
The National Institute of Mental Health is looking for women volunteers who have had past depression to participate in a study that examines the role of hormones in depression. Participants should not be currently depressed, be between the ages of 18 and 45, be medically healthy and not taking any medications including birth control pills. The study includes medical and psychiatric evaluations. Financial compensation and transportation reimbursement is available to study participants. For more information, call Linda Simpson-St. Clair at 301-496-9576, TTY: 1-866-411-1010.
If you would rather view a printed version of this document, please contact the OCL office at 301-496-3931. If you would like to list an upcoming event of interest to the local community, call Terry LaMotte at Palladian Partners, OCL support contractor, at 301-650-8660, or send her an e-mail at tlamotte@palladianpartners.com.