The NIH Catalyst Newsletter | NIH Intramural Research Program

An Old Virus Gets New Attention

Worldwide Outbreak Puts a Fresh Focus on Monkeypox Research

For decades, monkeypox has been exclusively endemic to parts of Central and West Africa. But in 2003, 3-year-old Schyan Kautzer of Dorchester, Wisconsin, developed flu-like symptoms and a painful rash of raised welts after being bitten by her pet prairie dog. She was the first person diagnosed with monkeypox in the Western Hemisphere, followed by more than 70 suspected or confirmed cases in six midwestern states reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the likely culprits? Infected Gambian pouched rats imported from Ghana.

From the Deputy Director for Intramural Research

Data: Not Just Another Four-Letter Word

The new Data Management and Sharing Policy (DMS Policy) will require every intramural and extramural investigator conducting NIH-funded research that will generate scientific data to prospectively develop and have an approved DMS plan.

News Briefs

New Directors Named for NCI and ARPA-H

Monica Bertagnolli is the new director for NCI; Renee Wegrzyn is the first director for ARPA-H.

The SIG Beat: COVID-19 Fauci

News From and About the Scientific Interest Groups

COVID-19 SIG: Anthony Fauci Outlines Lessons Learned

On September 15, 2022, the COVID-19 Scientific Interest Group hosted a virtual lecture by NIAID Director Anthony Fauci: “Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Lessons from COVID-19.”

How to Be an Antiracist

NIH Big Read Discussion with Ibram X. Kendi

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIH Big Read resumed its annual lectures on September 27, 2022, with a virtual presentation by Ibram X. Kendi, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller How to Be an Antiracist (2019).

From the Annals of NIH History

“Behind-the-Mask” Project

Real Stories About Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“Behind the Mask: Real Stories from NIH Staff About Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic” originated as a web portal in English and Spanish in the summer of 2020 in which NIH staff could reply to a series of questions and submit photos, videos, artwork, objects, and other materials that relayed their personal pandemic stories.

News You Can Use: CHI

CHI Reimagined: Call for Collaborative Study Proposals

Providing Advanced Technologies to Intramural Researchers

The NIH Center for Human Immunology, Inflammation, and Autoimmunity (CHI), which has been in existence for more than 10 years, provides advanced technologies to intramural collaborators who are studying the human immune system in health and disease. CHI has recently announced a call for proposals that intramural researchers from any institute or center (IC) may apply for.

The SIG Beat: Redox Biology SIG

News From and About the Scientific Interest Groups

Redox Biology SIG: A Reactive History of Redox Research at NIH

In the 1980s, NIH pioneers in redox biology launched transdisciplinary scientific groups—and even a national society— dedicated to understanding the role of oxygen, free radicals, reactive oxygen, and nitrogen species across the different fields of biology, physiology, and medicine. The earliest groups included oxygen clubs and the NIH Free Radical Research Scientific Interest Group (SIG), which was recently renamed the NIH Redox Biology SIG.

Colleagues: Recently Tenured

Meet your recently tenured colleagues: Yeka Aponte (NIDA, pictured), Haiming Cao (NHLBI), Marc Ghany (NIDDK), Stavroula (Voula) Mili (NCI-CCR), and Naoko Mizuno (NHLBI).

Research Briefs

Read about NIH scientific advances and discoveries by intramural scientists: mechanical properties of cancer cells influence their aggressiveness; proteins that restore hearing in zebrafish; medication to treat alcohol-use disorder; novel imaging reveals details of a rare eye disease; compounds that may reverse neurological disease; and vaccines to prevent reinfection with hepatitis C.

Independent Research Scholar Program

Expanding Workforce Diversity, Supporting Early-Career Independence

The Independent Research Scholar program was established in 2019 to address a key weakness within ongoing efforts to combat disparities in research: Representation of minority groups remains poor at the highest levels of the scientific enterprise despite recent inroads in attracting diverse trainees. Meet two of the scholars—Tasha Morrison (NIAMS) and Shahriar SheikhBahaei (NINDS).

COVID-19 Timeline at NIH (September-October 2022)

COVID-19 Research and Activities at NIH

Highlights of the COVID-19-related activities that were going on at NIH in September and October 2022.

Photographic Moment

Honoring Research Animals

NIH’s 6th Annual Animal Celebration and Reflection Ceremony, on September 21, 2022, was held (via videocast) to honor and express gratitude for the contributions research animals have made to exceptional biomedical research advances such as the discovery of insulin; the creation of viral vectors for improved gene therapy in sickle-cell disease; vaccine development; more effective pain therapies; and much, much more.

Announcements: Kudos

Congratulations to Mary Carrington who was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Diana Bianchi who was named to Forbes’ 50 over 50; Clifford Lane who received a Sammies career award; Nina F. Schor who received leadership award; and to NIDDK Green Labs Team for winning an honorable mention award.

Announcements

News about CHI’s request for proposals; reopening of the NLM Reading Room; lectures including WALS; fellowship opportunity—MPS in data science management; course registration; and UNITE’s progress report.

This page was last updated on Wednesday, November 9, 2022