Announcements

NCCIH’S 6TH ANNUAL STEPHEN E. STRAUS DISTINGUISHED LECTURE (POSTPONED DUE TO SNOW)

January 26, 2015, 10:00–11:00 a.m. (postponed)
Masur Auditorium (Building 10)
For information: http://nccam.nih.gov/news/events/lectures/

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (formerly NCCAM) sponsors this lecture. The husband-wife team of Jerome Groopman, M.D. (Harvard Medical School), and Pamela Hartzband, M.D. (Harvard Medical School), will present “When Experts Disagree: The Art of Medical Decision Making.” They will present a new way to make the best medical decisions. They reveal that each of us has a “medical mind,” a highly individual approach to weighing the risks and benefits of treatment. To help us ascertain our unique medical minds, they will present probing questions. Are you a minimalist or a maximalist, a believer or a doubter; do you look for natural healing or the latest technology? Groopman and Hartzband explain how pitfalls in thinking and the way statistics are presented in pharmaceutical advertisements, the news media, and even scientific reports can mislead all of us. The talk will demonstrate the contrast between the role of population guidelines with the care of the individual, and it will explain the complexities of end-of-life care—all factors that contribute to a person’s “medical mind.” In their talk, they will weave vivid narratives from real patient experiences with insights from recent cognitive research to demonstrate how to arrive at choices that serve the individual best. The event will be videocast live on the Web. For questions, contact Prachi Patel (prachi.patel@patelpa.com or 301-275-4769).

FIRST ANNUAL ASSAY GUIDANCE MANUAL WORKSHOP

Friday, February 6, 2015, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Building B, Room 377
9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland

Assay development for a high-throughput screen or lead optimization can be a challenging, but rewarding, endeavor. Many of the methodologies used in such projects are “tribal knowledge” within the pharmaceutical industry and not readily found in the literature. Therefore it can be difficult to identify the best approach for a project. The editors of the Assay Guidance Manual (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53196/), an e-book that shares the best practices in quantitative biology and the development of robust assay methods throughout the drug-discovery community, will hold this workshop on assay development for NIH intramural researchers. To register, e-mail NCATS_AGM_Editors@mail.nih.gov. For questions, contact Nathan P. Coussens (coussensn@mail.nih.gov or 301-217-5465).

THE 11TH JEFFREY M. TRENT LECTURE IN CANCER RESEARCH

Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Masur Auditorium (Building 10)

Stephen J. Chanock, M.D., director of NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, will present “The Complexity of Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer.” Chanock is a leading expert in the discovery and characterization of cancer-susceptibility regions in the human genome. He has received numerous awards for his scientific contributions to our understanding of common inherited genetic variants associated with cancer risk and outcomes. NHGRI sponsors the lecture, which is named for Jeffrey Trent, NHGRI’s founding scientific director. This lecture is given by a prominent cancer researcher who brings the kind of energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to cancer research that Dr. Trent has exemplified throughout his career. Sign-language interpreters will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Nora Miralieva (nora.miralieva@nih.gov or 301-443-4404).

INDIAN HERBS (E.G., CURCUMIN) IN BRAIN HEALTH AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
Building 40, Room 1201/1203

A talk by Lal Hingorani, Ph.D. (Pharmanza Herbal Pvt Ltd, Ahmadabad, Gujarat). For information, contact Harish Pant (panth@ninds.nih.gov or 301-402-2124).

NEUROSCIENCE LECTURE

Monday, March 9, 2015, 12:00 noon–1:00 p.m.
Room 620/630
Porter Neuroscience Research Center (Building 35A)

Deanna Barch, Ph.D. (Washington University, St. Louis), will present “Neurobiological Mechanisms of Emotion Processing and Regulation in Preschool Onset Depression” as part of the Neuroscience Series. The event will be videocast (http://videocast.nih.gov). For more information, contact Dana Camak (dana.camak@nih.gov or 301-435-2232).

HISTORY OF MEDICINE LECTURES FOR 2015

2:00–3:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)
Lister Hill Auditorium (Building 38A)

The lecture series of the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) History of Medicine Division promotes awareness and use of NLM and other historical collections for research, education, and public service in biomedicine, the social sciences, and the humanities. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/hXappening/lectures/lectures_2015.html.

• Wednesday, January 28, 2015: “The Apotheosis of the Dissected Plate: Spectacles of Layering and Transparency in 19th- and 20th-Century Anatomy,” Michael Sappol, Historian, History of Medicine Division, NLM
• Wednesday, February 18, 2015: African-American History Month, “The History of Race in Randomized Controlled Trials: Ethical and Policy Considerations,” Laura Bothwell, Harvard Medical School
• Tuesday, March 17, 2015: Special Program, “A Tribute to Marshall Nirenberg,” Myrna M. Weissman, Columbia University; Frank Portugal, The Catholic University of America; David Serlin, University of California, San Diego. Special two-hour program, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 7, 2015: Special Program, “A History of the Food and Drugs Act Notices of Judgment–From the First Case of 1908 to the Digital Archive of 2014,” John Rees, Archivist and Digital Resources Manager, History of Medicine Division, NLM; Suzanne Junod, Historian, FDA History Office; John Swann, Historian, FDA History Office. Special two-hour program, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015: The 2015 James H. Cassedy Memorial Lecture, “Caring for Foreign Bodies: Healthcare’s Role in Immigrant Assimilation, 1890–1945,” Alan Kraut
• Tuesday, August 25, 2015: “Medical Identity and Ethnicity in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans,” Amy Wiese Forbes, Millsaps College

THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES AND OBESITY

March 2-3, 2015 (beginning at 8:30 a.m.)
Rodbell Auditorium
NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC
Web site: www.iom.edu/chemicalsandobesity

The Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine will host this workshop, which will explore the role of chemical exposures in the development of obesity through sessions focused on a lifespan view, possible biologic pathways and environmental influences, and effects of food additives and antibiotics. Speakers will make links between exposure to environmental chemicals and increased incidence of weight gain, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and aspects of metabolic syndrome in animal models and human studies. Two panels at the end of the workshop will provide a chance to discuss opportunities for new research and possible policy actions to address exposure to chemicals associated with the development of obesity. The workshop will be Webcast for those who are unable to attend in person. To register (for attendance in person or for the Webcast), obtain an agenda and other information, visit the Web site.

NIEHS RODBELL LECTURE WITH DR. LEROY HOOD

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 11:00 a.m.–12 noon
Rodbell Auditorium, NIEHS Campus
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

The Martin Rodbell Lecture Series Seminar, named for the former NIEHS scientific director and Nobel laureate, will be presented by Dr. Lee Hood, president of the Institute for Systems Biology and a pioneer in linking systems biology to personalized medicine. For more information, contact Kristine Witt at witt@niehs.nih.gov.

STADTMAN SEMINARS

Schedule: https://ccrod.cancer.gov/confluence/display/NIHStadt

The Earl Stadtman Investigator search will be hosting public seminars featuring its top candidates in 21 areas, from aging to virology. Check the Web site for schedule and locations.

CLINICAL CENTER GRAND ROUNDS

Wednesdays at Noon
Lipsett Amphitheater (Building 10)
For information: http://www.cc.nih.gov/about/news/grcurrent.html

Don’t miss the weekly Clinical Center Grand Rounds, which feature NIH clinicians and investigators who give presentations on their work. The lectures are videocast (http://videocast.nih.gov), too.

HHS AND NIH ENHANCE THE TRANSPARENCY OF CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes regulations to implement reporting requirements for clinical trials. The proposed rule clarifies requirements for clinical researchers for registering clinical trials and submitting summary trial results information to ClinicalTrials.gov. For more information, go to http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2014/od-19.htm. To read a summary of the proposed changes, go to http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2014/od-19_summary.htm.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (PRAT) PROGRAM

Accepting Applications
Deadline: March 17, 2015

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program is accepting applications through March 17. PRAT fellows conduct research in scientific areas within the Institute’s mission while in an NIH intramural research program (IRP) lab. Before applying, applicants must identify a potential preceptor in the NIH IRP and develop a research proposal. PRAT fellows receive three years of stipend support and additional benefits such as health insurance, a travel allowance, and professional-development training activities, including a monthly seminar series designed for fellows. For more information, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/Pages/PRAT.aspx or contact Jessica Faupel-Badger at badgerje@mail.nih.gov.

OFFICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS RESEARCH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Letters of Intent due May 4, 2015
Full applications due June 23, 2015
For information: http://ods.od.nih.gov/Research/Scholars.aspx

The Office of Dietary Supplements announces its 2015 Research Scholars Program for NIH intramural early-career scientists. The program is a one-year competitive scholarship opportunity to study the role of dietary supplements in health promotion and disease prevention. This program is targeted toward early-career scientists, including tenure-track investigators, early independent scientists, assistant clinical investigators, research fellows, staff fellows, and postdoctoral fellows with at least one year of postdoctoral research experience. Projects can request up to $100,000 in funds, which can be spent in fiscal year 2015 or 2016. For additional information contact Dr. Cindy Davis (davisci@od.nih.gov or 301-496-0168).