Earl Stadtman, renowned NIH biochemist and mentor to two Nobel laureates and many elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, loved to cultivate his gardens. He was a serious horticulturist who had an azalea named after him—the yellow Stadtman azalea (Rhododendron ‘Stadtman’). He also mulched, pruned, watered, and fertilized the intellects of two generations of students and fellows who remember with gratitude “the Stadtman way” of doing rigorous, creative research.

NIEHS: BACTERIAL PROTEIN IN HOUSE DUST TRIGGERS ASTHMA

Household dust typically contains many allergens including those derived from dust mites, cockroaches, and animal dander. A bacterial protein called flagellin in the dust may worsen allergic responses to indoor allergens, according to research conducted by NIEHS and Duke University (Durham, N.C.) scientists. The finding is the first to document the presence of flagellin in house dust, bolstering the link between allergic asthma and the environment.

AAAS WEBINAR

Between Thought and Therapy: Translating Neurobiology Research into Treatments
Taping: Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; Wilson Hall (Building One)
Broadcast: Wednesday, February 13, 2013, noon–1:00 p.m.

All are welcome to attend the taping of the second Science/American Association for the Advancement of Science Webinar. This year’s panelists—NEI’s Anand Swaroop (age-related macular degeneration), NHGRI’s Ellen Sidransky (Gaucher’s disease), and NIMH’s Carlos Zarate (depression)—will share their experiences of applying basic research at the bedside; discuss the best environments for conducting translational research; provide advice on working in new experimental systems such as stem cells; and answer questions submitted by the audience at the taping. No latecomers can be admitted once the taping is in progress.

Reconnecting with NIH Alumni

Staying in Touch With Fellows from Japan

BY GEORGE MARTIN, NIDCR

A recent trip to Japan left me appreciating the rich experience that fellowships in the NIH intramural program provide for scientists from other countries and those of us who work with them. In particular, it got me thinking about the many Japanese fellows we hosted in the NIDR (now NIDCR) Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Anomalies (now the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology).

Read about your recently tenured colleagues:

James Anderson (NHLBI), Jeffrey Gildersleeve, (NCI) Dax Hoffman (NICHD), Leping Li (NIEHS), and Deborah Merke (CC)

Safety First

Wes Hickman (NIAID) won first place in the second annual “In Focus Safe Workplaces for All” photography contest for this surrealistic vision of a masked, goggled, gloved, and lab-coated colleague (Towanda Carroll) who is protected in a world of biological and chemical surroundings. Sponsored by the Division of Occupational Health and Safety in the Office of Research Services, the contest challenged anyone with a passion for photography to use their imagination and creativity to capture an image of workplace safety and health and share it with the NIH community.

SPECIAL ESSAY

Goldilocks and Science Writing

BY HEATHER DOLAN, SPECIAL TO THE NIH CATALYST

Despite my childhood aspirations to become a writer, I arrived at the NIH with a B.S. in chemical engineering. A reluctant scientist at best, I struggled to fit into the research scene as a post-baccalaureate trainee. Fortunately, I transitioned midyear from bench work to interning with the NIH Catalyst. At last, I was able to use my technical background to do something I truly enjoy—writing.

News from and About the NIH Scientific Interest Groups

Read about the Translational Research and Proteostasis Interest Groups.