I am Intramural Blog

Coming Soon! Postbac Poster Day

One of the best parts of a new idea is being able to share it! Research is certainly no exception. On Thursday, April 30th, the postbacs of NIH will be sharing their ideas and findings at Postbac Poster Day.

Lucy Bauer at NIH Poster Day

Honoring a "Distinguished Intellect" this Earth Day

We honor Dr. Hans L. Falk (1919 -1985) this Earth Day (April 22, but celebrated today, April 23, at NIH) for his significant contributions to the field of environmental health science as both a scientist and an administrator.

Hans Falk

Next Big Thing in Genome Modification: the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Ever since the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA, scientists have sought ways to edit the genome. Altering gene expression partially and transiently via small interfering RNA has come a long way, and the progress has been spectacular. However, achieving complete and sustained modification of gene expression in a cell remains a tedious procedure that is often costly and time-consuming. For molecular biologists working with cell lines, quick and efficient knock out of one or more genes would provide a powerful tool for their studies. The CRISPR technology arrived two years ago to potentially fulfill that need.

CRISPR genome editing

From Flowers to Medicine to Alleviate Pain

Countries that grow poppies used to hold a monopoly on the ingredients to the main opiate painkilling drugs. Then in 1979, Dr. Kenner Rice of NIDDK’s Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (he is now at NIDA) discovered the critical chemical reaction enabling large-scale production of totally synthetic morphine, codeine, and thebaine, the three basic raw materials in opium.

Kenner Thebaine Jar

LabTV: Young Scientist Curious About The Immune System

Welcome to LabTV! If you haven’t already, take a look at this video. I hope you will enjoy meeting the first young scientist featured in this brand new series that I’ve chosen to highlight on my blog. The inspiration for LabTV comes from Jay Walker, who is the founder of PriceLine, and curator and chairman of TEDMED, an annual conference focused on new ideas in health and medicine.

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Exploring the Body’s Microcosmos

Monitoring cell movement. Examining the microenvironment of a tumor. Mapping a gene. Scientists at the NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR)—the intramural research program at the National Cancer Institute—use a wide variety of microscopy techniques to observe and probe the otherwise invisible processes that drive cancer at the molecular level

Breast cancer cells

Judge This Book By Its Cover

The cover is stained, the binding is broken, and the edges are burnt from use at a laboratory bench. Practical Pathology by Sir German Sims Woodhead, 3rd ed., 1892, belonged in the library of the original Hygienic Laboratory, which became the NIH in 1930. Although it has seen hard use in its 123 years, this book is now in the NIH Stetten Museum collection and begins a month showcasing some of our recent accessions.

Practical Pathology book

We Appreciate Postdocs

Postdocs help power aging research. They receive NIA funding for training. They work with and for NIA grantees. In-house at NIA, they are a critical component of research conducted in NIA labs, which we call “intramural” research. Across the research community, postdoctoral research fellows contribute the long hours necessary to organize and implement research activities. I know this because I am one of them, and colleagues, I see how hard you work!

A headshot of Dr. Erez Eitan. He wears a grey sweater. A headshot of Dr. Sarah Mitchell, in front of a photographic backdrop. She is smiling, and wearing an orange and white shirt with a necklace. And a headshot of Dr. Peter Sykora. He wears a yellow and blue striped polo shirt.

Lab Safety and Biospecimen Inventory in Focus

The winning entry from the 2014 “In Focus! Safe Workplaces for All” photo contest is entitled “Biospecimen Inventory." It not only highlights the importance of proper gear, but also that of maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory of biospecimens.

NIH Biospecimen Inventory, Diane Poole and Amanda Vandeveer

This page was last updated on Friday, January 14, 2022