Celebrating the Global Community of Scientists at the NIH
BY MICHAEL GOTTESMAN, DDIR
The United States has benefited from a huge influx of highly educated and talented biomedical researchers from other countries. Their desire for an outstanding research experience is matched by our open and inclusive attitude towards our international colleagues in providing opportunities (including salary and research support) to pursue important research. The NIH intramural research program is perceived as being one of the top research facilities in the world.
Hynda Kleinman, who worked at NIH from 1975 to 2006, revolutionized cell-culture research when she co-invented Matrigel at NIH in the 1980s. Until then, scientists mainly grew cells in a flat layer in plastic culture dishes, but Matrigel made it possible to grow cells in a three-dimensional matrix that closely resembles the natural environments in which most mammalian cells grow. In a recent interview with the NIH Catalyst, Kleinman shared some of the secrets of her success, including how she came to be listed in the credits of a classic movie.
Tee L. Guidotti, a former clinical associate in the National Institute of Metabolism and Digestive Diseases (1977 to 1979) who is considered a thought leader in the field of occupational and environmental medicine, was recently awarded the William S. Knudsen Award for Lifetime Career Achievement in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Do you blog and tweet for work? NIH Director Francis Collins does both: On his NIH Director’s Blog, he highlights new discoveries in, and fascinating facts about, biology and medicine; you can also follow him on Twitter as he tweets about biomedical research and health. Several institutes and centers (ICs) are also using social media as a part of their overall communication strategy. Have you considered blogging about your research? Here are a few things you need to know.
NIH announced recently that it plans to substantially reduce the use of chimpanzees in NIH-funded biomedical research and to designate for retirement most of the chimpanzees it currently owns or supports. In addition, NIH researchers report on such discoveries as how HIV kills immune cells; the link between allergic and autoimmune diseases; how anti-smoking medication may help treat alcohol dependence; and more.
FROM THE OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION
The NIH Academy
BY CASEY LYONS, FDA
For the past eight months, I have been one of more than 100 postbacs who attend the NIH Academy’s weekly meetings to wrestle with the hottest topic in public health: health disparities. The term “health disparities” refers to inequalities in vulnerable populations in rates of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality.
