Features

Chain Reaction

NIH Researchers Find Dynamic Ties among Epithelial Cells

BY SHARON REYNOLDS, NIDCD

A new finding from researchers at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD) has uncovered a never-before-seen method of intracellular physical communication among epithelial cells in the inner ear. The finding offers scientists a potential new pathway for developing ways to treat hearing loss and diseases in many different organ systems.

Diversity Course

Crucial Lessons for Scientists

BY IRENE AVILA, NIA

Participants stood silently in a circle, stepping forward in response to prompts that ranged from lighthearted statements about musical tastes—”I like rock and roll music”—to more serious ones—”I have more than five friends of a different racial or ethnic background,” “I or someone I care about is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered,” or “My parents paid for my college tuition.”

Wei Yang: Deciphering the Three Rs of DNA

BY JENNIFER SARGENT, NIAMS

Fifteen years ago, the scientific world was skeptical when structural biologist Wei Yang reported she had identified unexpected enzymatic activity in one of the proteins that played an essential role in maintaining genome stability. Other scientists attributed her findings to contamination during protein purification procedures.

U.S. Senator Harry Reid Visits NIH

Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) visited NIH on June 17, 2013, and met with Clinical Center Director John Gallin (left) and NIH Director Francis Collins (right) and others to tour the Clinical Center (model shown) and to learn about recent advances in NIH science.

Four Generations of Mentors and More

BY ROLAND A. OWENS, OIR

Great mentoring produces great scientists, great science, and more great mentoring. Nowhere is this adage more evident than at the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), where four successful mentors were recognized at its annual Poster Day and Mentoring Awards Ceremony, held on May 8, 2013, in Baltimore. And three of the awardees represent a line of four generations of mentors.