To: Community Representatives
From: Thomas Gallagher, Ph.D., Director
Office of Community Liaison
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Date: October 2004
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIAISON
Many of you are probably wondering about the new structure you see on the NIH campus as you drive south on Wisconsin Avenue. You are seeing the new Multi-level Parking Garage, known as MLP-10. This structure is located near the northeast corner of the Bethesda campus and has 1,250 spaces.
The parking structure became available for employees only on Tuesday, August 31, weeks ahead of its scheduled opening date. During the previous 14 months, parking had been difficult to locate around campus due to several ongoing construction projects. Temporary gravel lots were opened in various areas around campus as a means to alleviate the parking crunch. These lots will remain open for a short time, and then in accordance with the NIH Master Plan, they will revert back to their original intended purpose as grassy knolls.
The 8-level MLP-10 garage houses 3 elevators, 50 reserved spaces, 50 designated handicap-permit spots, 30 carpool spaces, 75 designated "red-permit" spaces, and the remaining 1,050 spaces may be used for general employee parking. Motorcyclists were also considered in the plans, and each level will offer corner parking especially for their needs.
The MLP-10 structure was designed with user safety in mind, with a 24-hour lighting system equipped with energy-saving features for off hours. Also included are security cameras mounted on each level, strategically located emergency phone boxes, and highly visible emergency exit directional arrows. The garage is also equipped with innovative "green screens." These community-friendly devices are designed to shield the 24-hour lighting system in the garage from Building 31 and, more importantly, the Cedar Lane neighborhood directly across from the site.
The opening of the new parking garage means that other changes are in store for NIH employees and the neighboring communities. One example can be viewed along the perimeter of the campus. The parking lots along Wisconsin Avenue are now closed and will become the site of the new commercial-vehicle inspection checkpoint. All delivery vehicles will be processed at this location prior to being granted access to the campus.
The main vehicle access to the garage is from North Drive at Rockville Pike. There will be no vehicle access to the garage from Cedar Lane. Access is also available through the campus, past Building 31, to Center Drive. Employees may still enter the campus on foot or by bicycle through the pedestrian gateway located at what once was the Garden Lane entrance. Here, an arc-shaped driveway has been created as a drop-off location for those who choose either of these methods of transportation.
Several other construction projects are still ongoing at this time. One of them is Building 33, located in the same northeast quadrant of the campus as the new parking garage. Once construction has been completed on Building 33, experts will begin a landscape design that will create new green areas in the buffer area.
As the NIH grows and evolves, so does our need for campus efficiency and our resolve to make this campus and its surrounding areas as beautiful as possible. I hope that each of you will enjoy the results of our efforts to improve NIH's infrastructure while maintaining the natural beauty of the campus.
The Community Liaison Council will hold its next meeting on Thursday, October 21, at 4 p.m., in Conference Room D, Natcher Conference Center, Building 45 on the NIH campus.
NIH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
NIDA-Sponsored Exhibit on Drugs and Terrorism Opens in New York City
Last month, just before the anniversary of September 11, federal drug officials opened a powerful new exhibit in New York City that traces the historic and contemporary connections between global drug trafficking and terrorism. Target America: Drug Traffickers, Terrorists and You is a traveling exhibit sponsored in part by NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse. Beginning with the horrible events of September 11, 2001, the exhibit takes you back in time to the ancient Silk Road, allowing you to explore the global and historical connections between drugs and terrorist activities. It also takes a hard look at drug-related costs to society, particularly to children, to the environment and the human body. Created and designed by the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum and Visitors Center, with help from other federal agencies, the exhibit concludes with actions that you can take to help break the cycle of drug abuse and drug-related violence. Target America is now on display through January 31, 2005, at One Times Square in New York. The exhibit is free and open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.targetamerica.org or call 212-337-1265.
NIH Announces Strategy To Fight Obesity Epidemic
In August, NIH released a multi-dimensional plan aimed at coordinating NIH's obesity research and developing new research in the areas of greatest scientific opportunity. Building on scientific advances from previous NIH-supported efforts, the Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research seeks to maximize collaboration among the NIH institutes, centers and offices and to capitalize on their expertise and interest in developing obesity research initiatives.
The new strategic plan calls for multidisciplinary research teams to study the behavioral and environmental causes of obesity along with the genetic and biologic causes. Scientists believe that lifestyle interventions could be improved by more knowledge of the genetics and biology of obesity and, conversely, that better lifestyle interventions could lead to more understanding of the genetics and biology. Treatment and prevention might also be improved with a combination of behavioral, environmental and medical approaches in highly susceptible individuals.
The plan calls for intensifying efforts in the following areas:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimates that 65 percent of U.S. adults nearly 130 million people—are either overweight or obese. In addition to decreasing quality of life and increasing the risk of premature death, obesity and overweight cost the nation nearly $117 billion in direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost wages due to illness.
The plan, which can be viewed online at http://obesityresearch.nih.gov, was developed by the NIH Obesity Research Task Force in the spring of 2003 and is intended to intensify basic and clinical research on obesity and to increase coordination of this research across the NIH.
NIH Office of Community Liaison Launches Redesigned Web Site
Last month, the NIH Office of Community Liaison (OCL) officially launched its redesigned Web site: http://ocl.od.nih.gov. The site gives members of the community access to a variety of useful and new information. Visitors to the site can learn about NIH's community resources, discover how to navigate the NIH campus effectively and how to participate as a community member through the Community Liaison Council (CLC)—NIH's key connection to its neighbors. Information is geared to the lay public and is organized to make finding it easy. Current news affecting the community is posted in the "What's New" section along with information on the CLC's next meeting and the current issue of the OCL Update. The site also has information on current research and lectures open to the public, volunteer and job opportunities, free community events and festivals, and health and visitor information. Details on residential parking and current construction projects are also featured.
OCL wants your feedback on the new site. Check out the new features and offer your suggestions and comments through the comments and questions page online. For more information or questions about the site, contact Walter Mitton, community relations specialist, at mittonw@mail.nih.gov or call 301-496-3931.
Diabetes and Eye Web Sites Win Awards
Two NIH-supported Web sites received awards this year. The redesigned Web site of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)—a joint program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—was recognized as one of the Most Improved Web and Intranet Sites of 2004 by the Apex Awards for Publication Excellence. Apex, which reviewed more than 5,000 entries and honored 100 winners in several major categories, recognizes organizations whose work achieves communication excellence. NDEP's award-winning site, http://www.ndep.nih.gov, features improved access to diabetes information, easier navigation capabilities and a more user-friendly format.
Top honors were also bestowed upon NIH's National Eye Institute for its Web site: http://www.nei.nih.gov. Recently winning two World Wide Web Health Awards, the site earned a Merit Award for Patient Information and a Bronze Award for Miscellaneous/Professional Information. The World Wide Web Health Awards recognize the best health-related Web sites for consumers and professionals. Developed by the Health Information Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for consumer health information, the awards are given to provide "a seal of quality" for electronic health information. Congratulations NDEP and NEI!
NIH To Hold Alternative Medicine Lecture on Reverse Herbology
On October 26, 2004, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH is holding a free lecture on preventing adverse herb-drug interactions. One of the Distinguished Lectures in the Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, this talk focuses on recent research with herbs such as St. John's wort to better predict and prevent harmful interactions between prescription drugs and herbs. Steven A. Kliewer, Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, will discuss these findings and show how St. John's wort promotes the metabolism of many HIV- and cancer-treatment prescription drugs, which can reduce their concentration and effectiveness. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in Masur Auditorium in Building 10 on the NIH campus in Bethesda. For more information, visit http://www.nccam.nih.gov/news/lectures/index.htm or call Kate Haessler at 301-984-7191.
NIH Launches New Prostate Study To Compare Surgery and Drugs
In August, researchers at the NIH launched a new prostate study, which will compare the long-term benefits and risks of two types of minimally invasive surgeries to a drug regimen. Sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the study seeks to recruit more than 700 men, aged 50 and over, to participate in a study of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—a term used to describe an enlarged prostate. This condition can block the urethra making it difficult to urinate. Members of the Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies (MIST) Consortium for BPH will carry out the study at various locations nationally.
The study compares the benefits and risks of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) and transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) to a regimen of the alpha-1 inhibitor alfuzosin and the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride. Men aged 50 and over who have not had surgery for BPH and who do not have a serious medical condition may participate in the study.
Early studies of TUNA and TUMT, which use heat to destroy part of the enlarged prostate, suggest that these procedures have fewer negative side effects than more traditional surgery. A recent study of the drug therapy showed that finasteride and doxazosin prevent progression of BPH in a significant percentage of symptomatic men.
For more information about the study, visit http://www.mistbph.org.
NIH CALENDAR OF EVENTS*
October 12
Medicine for the Public 2004 Lecture Series: Through the Looking Glass:
The Future of Medicine and the Building of the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research
Center by Robert Frasca, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership and John I. Gallin,
M.D., NIH Clinical Center, 7 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus,
free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-496-2563 or visit
http://www.cc.nih.gov/about/news/mfp.shtml.
October 13
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Life Cycle of Human
Papillomaviruses in Differentiating Epithelia by Laimonis A. Laimins, Ph.D.,
Northwestern University Medical School, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building
10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Continuing Medical Education (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 14
NIH Work/Life Center Faces and Phases of Life Seminar Series: Respectful
Communication, noon–1:30 p.m., Conference Room B1/B2, Neuroscience
Center, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, free and open to the public. Pre-registration
is required. To register or for more information, call 301-435-1619 or visit
http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
October 19
NIH Work/Life Center Faces and Phases of Life Seminar Series: The Career
Management Style, noon–2 p.m., Room 1227/1233, Building 50, NIH campus,
free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. To register or for
more information, call 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
Medicine for the Public 2004 Lecture Series: Evidence-Based Education: Preventing Reading Failure in America by G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D., National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, 7 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-496-2563 or visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/about/news/mfp.shtml.
October 20
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: The Structure, Origin
and Mechanism of the Nuclear Pore Complex by Michael P. Rout, Ph.D., Rockefeller
University, 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 21
NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Lecture Series: Culture and
Point of View by Richard E. Nisbett, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 3–4
p.m., Conference Room C, Neuroscience Building, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville,
free and open to the public. For more information, call Ronald Abeles at 301-496-7859
or visit http://obssr.od.nih.gov/bssrcc/BSSRLectures_
Fall04.htm.
October 26
Medicine for the Public 2004 Lecture Series: The Biomechanics of Human
Movement: Could Leonardo da Vinci Fly? by Steven Stanhope, Ph.D., National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, 7 p.m., Masur Auditorium,
Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information,
call 301-496-2563 or visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/about/news/mfp.shtml.
October 27
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Ion Channels: Life's
Electronic Hardware by Roderick MacKinnon, M.D., Rockefeller University,
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.
NIH Work/Life Center Faces and Phases of Life Seminar Series: Working with Difficult People, 1–4 p.m., Conference Room 10, 6th floor, Building 31-C, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, call 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.
*Calendar items subject to change. Call to confirm your event.
OTHER NEWS AND ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST
Strathmore Hosts Comcast Family Toon Day
Come and meet your favorite cartoon characters on Sunday, October 10 at Strathmore Hall Arts Center's 12th annual Comcast Family Toon Day in North Bethesda. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy a day filled with family-style entertainment. Climb aboard fire trucks, step along with local marching bands, play games, listen to live music and, of course, meet Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, the Power Puff Girls and many more of your favorite cartoon characters. Parents and children alike can enjoy performances by Tappers with Attitude and local gospel brass band Sweet Heaven Kings. A cartoon parade, amusement rides, arts and crafts and miniature golf are also featured. Discovery's Animal Planet gives kids the opportunity to see live reptiles, birds and other wild creatures. Strathmore Hall Arts Center is located at 10701 Rockville Pike. Metro use is encouraged. Strathmore is located on the Red line at Grosvenor-Strathmore. For more information, call 301-530-0540 or visit http://www.strathmore.org.
Volunteers Wanted for County Community Service Day
Ignite your volunteer spirit and team up with many others throughout Montgomery County, Maryland, for the 18th Annual Community Service Day on Saturday, October 23. Thousands of projects are available, and student volunteers can earn Student Service Learning credits. You can help clean up a park, paint a shelter, plant a garden, collect supplies for the needy and more. A festive rally and civic action fair kick off the day in downtown Rockville at 8:30 a.m. before volunteers begin work on their projects. During the rally, volunteers can eat a complimentary breakfast, meet special guests and collect county information. The rally takes place on the cafeteria level in the Executive Office Building, located at 101 Monroe Street. To volunteer or for more information, visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteer or call the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.
Arts and Humanities Celebration Planned for October 9
Local residents who enjoy art and culture won't want to miss Magical Montgomery—a free festival of the arts and humanities in Montgomery County, Maryland—on Saturday, October 9. Held in downtown Silver Spring from noon to 6 p.m., the event showcases the county's rich and diverse cultural heritage through the creative arts. Peruse works of art for sale, enjoy live entertainment on two main stages and eat great food. Children can participate in drum circles, puppet making, stage fencing and art projects. The festival takes place along Ellsworth Drive between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street. For more information, call 301-565-7300 or 301-565-3805.
Nominations Needed for Outstanding Montgomery County Women; Anniversary Gala Set
In preparation for its 25th anniversary, the Montgomery County Women's Fair Committee is now seeking nominations for three prestigious awards in a number of categories to recognize women's contributions to our community. The fair, which will be held in Rockville on April 16, 2005, provides an opportunity for County women to network and learn about issues affecting women. Nominations for 2005 are sought for the following three awards:
The Pioneer Award is presented to a woman resident, past resident or an organization based in Montgomery County. This person or organization must have made a major contribution to the professional field either through volunteer efforts or through establishment of a program benefiting women.
The Alpha Award is given to a woman who lives/has lived in or works/has worked in Montgomery County, who has achieved a "first" for women.
The Financial Award is presented to a private, non-profit service organization providing educational, health, welfare or social services, singularly or in any combination, to women and families in Montgomery County.
If you know of someone making Montgomery County a better place and whose work or service might fit one of these categories, follow these procedures. To be considered for an award, complete a nomination form, including a statement of justification with supporting documentation, and send to: 2005 Awards Team Leader, Montgomery County Women's Fair, 13106 Parkland Drive, Rockville, MD 20853. Nomination forms are available from the Women's Fair Web site at http://www.mcwomensfair.org. The deadline for nominations is November 30, 2004. For more information, call 301-564-0618.
City of Rockville To Show Off Antique and Classic Cars
Are you fascinated by the great-looking cars of yesteryear? If so, you won't want to miss the city of Rockville's annual Antique and Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 16. This year's event, which is free for spectators, celebrates the 100th anniversary of Rolls Royce and the 40th anniversary of Mustang. Check out hundreds of your favorite antique and classic cars displayed on the grounds of Glenview Mansion, visit car clubs, meet auto collectors and other car enthusiasts and enjoy good food and entertainment. The event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is sure to be fun for all who love cars. The show is located at the Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive. For more information, call the Special Events Office at 240-314-8606 or visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov.
Montgomery County News Update
Household Hazardous Waste Collections Set
County officials announced two fall household hazardous waste collection events. Residents can bring their household hazardous waste, such as mercury thermometers, batteries, paints, cleaning products, oil and more to the sites on the dates listed below. For more detailed information about the types of waste collected and their proper transportation, visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov, click on Residents and then click on Household Hazardous Waste. Collections are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the locations listed below. Material can also be delivered to the Shady Grove Solid Waste Transfer Station in Rockville, four days a week.
Saturday, October 23
Silver Spring Intermediate School
313 Wayne Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Saturday, November 6
Westland Middle School
5511 Massachusetts Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20816
New Parking Store in Bethesda Sells Cash Keys/Parking Permits
A new parking store opened in Bethesda this summer to provide customers with cash keys (a key wand that stores money on it for easy use at County parking meters instead of change), a variety of parking permits and a place to pay for parking tickets. Located in the Cheltenham Garage at 4720 Cheltenham Drive, the office provides services from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 240-777-8770.
County Needs Election Judges, Spanish Speakers
Montgomery County Board of Election officials are looking for volunteers to serve as election judges at various polling places on November 2, 2004. Volunteer judges must be registered to vote in Maryland, speak, read and write the English language and not hold or be a candidate for public or party office. Bilingual judges in Spanish are also needed. Training will be provided and all judges will be compensated for Election Day. To apply or for more information, call 240-777-8543.
Rockville Plans Haunted Drive-in Movie, Creepy Activities for Halloween
In honor of Halloween, the city of Rockville is planning a haunted extravaganza of creepy but safe family fun on Friday, October 22. From 6 to 9 p.m., your ghosts and goblins can come in costume and go on a spooky cemetery tour, climb a glow-in-the-dark rock wall and visit the Croydon "Creep" Nature Center filled with arts and crafts, touch-and-feel activities and more. At 7 p.m., families can watch ET, the Extra-Terrestrial, on a 25-foot screen while listening in the comfort of their own cars. Concession stands with popcorn, candy and drinks will be available. Admission is $5 per vehicle for field parking. Haunted Happenings takes place at Rockville Civic Center Park at 603 Edmonston Drive in Rockville. For more information, call 240-314-8605 or visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov.
TRY THIS WEB SITE: http://health.nih.gov
NIH recently launched an expanded version of its own health information Web site to provide the public with better access to its vast resources, to highlight important health topics and to showcase its cutting-edge science and interactive features. Visitors to the site can test their health knowledge, search an alphabetical listing of health topics or look at categories of health topics and browse key health databases such as Clinical Trials, MEDLINEplus and PubMed.
The redesigned site now features three colorful new sections. Healthy Lifestyles highlights links to popular topics such as seasonal health concerns, nutrition and weight loss. Research In Action connects users to cutting-edge research on topics such as stem cells and genetics. It also allows visitors to the site to meet scientists. Now Online showcases the site's interactive features such as the Portion Distortion Quiz, the Household Products Database and the Milk Matters campaign.
Another new feature is the "Take a Quiz" challenge. Visitors to the site can test their health knowledge with a series of rotating true/false questions on current hot topics such as diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer prevention and heart disease.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Type 1 Diabetes Study
Have you been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes? If so, you may be eligible for a new study at the NIH if you are between the ages of 18 and 60. NIH researchers are testing a new approach to managing type 1 diabetes for individuals currently taking insulin. Call 1-800-411-1222 or TTY: 1-866-1010 for more information or to participate.
Follicular Lymphoma?
Patients who have not had chemotherapy may be eligible for a study that will evaluate the effectiveness of an experimental cancer vaccine for lymphoma. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222 or TTY: 1-866-411-1010 and refer to study number 00-C-0050.
Healthy Women Needed
Doctors at the NIH are recruiting healthy women between the ages of 18 and 55 to participate in a rheumatoid arthritis study. Healthy volunteers enrolled in this study will be interviewed about their health status and will fill out questionnaires on diet and general physical function, including fatigue, energy and well-being. In addition, they will be hospitalized once at the NIH Clinical Center for 24-hour blood sampling and will visit Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore for a brachial artery reactivity study. Compensation will be provided. Call 1-800-411-1222 or TTY: 1-866-411-1010 for more information and refer to study number 02-AR–0170.
Muscular Leg Pain?
NIH researchers need individuals who have muscular leg pain. If the pain is caused by blocked arteries and it occurs with activity but improves with rest, then a new NIH study may be for you. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222 or TTY: 1-866-411-1010.
The OCL Update is available on our Web site at http://ocl.od.nih.gov. If you would rather receive 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.