Features

CONFIRMED: Bertagnolli Named Director

Monica M. Bertagnolli is the 17th director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nominated by President Biden, Bertagnolli was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 7 and sworn in on Nov. 9. She is the second woman and first surgeon to hold the position.

Fellows Vote to Unionize

NIH Fellows United Becomes First-ever Trainee Union in a Government Agency

Some 5,375 early-career NIH researchers have formed a union. The vote to establish the NIH Fellows United-UAW union was certified by the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority in December. This is the first union of its kind in the U.S. federal government.

This Is Your Heart on Stress

The Heart–Brain Connection, Multisystem Research, and Neurobiological Resilience

Precisely how does stress—intangible and omnipresent—infiltrate our very fabric, and how can we stop it? Ahmed Tawakol proposed some answers at the 2023 Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary Therapies, Dec. 6, sponsored by NCCIH.

Have You Heard? Hearing Aids Reduce Cognitive Decline

Frank Lin’s WALS Lecture on Hearing Interventions and Brain Health

Frank Lin presents his groundbreaking discoveries in otology and discusses the use of hearing aids to slow cognitive decline.

Eat Less, Age Better

Modest Calorie Restriction May Benefit Human Health

Sit down for a meal with an Okinawan elder and you might be told to mind your hara hachi bu, a Confucian-inspired Japanese concept to practice mindful eating and stop when you feel 80% full. With a reputation for longevity of life, the Okinawans might be on to something. Beyond extending lifespan, reducing food intake might also improve health span—the length of time a person is relatively healthy.

Breakthrough Research

A Showcase of 2023 NIH Scientific and Clinical Discoveries

Clinical and scientific breakthrough research presentations have become an end-of-year NIH Office of Intramural Research celebration.

NINDS's New Scientific Director: Jeffrey Diamond, Ph.D.

An Eye for Talent: Diamond will Foster Inclusivity, Mentorship

Jeffrey Diamond was named scientific director (SD) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in August 2023, after serving for one year as acting SD. He leads a program of approximately 50 PIs and hundreds of trainees and support staff, succeeding both Lorna Role, who was NINDS SD from 2019 to 2021, and Nina Schor, who served as an interim SD while deputy director of NINDS.

NIH Obituaries

Paying Tribute

Each year, The NIH Catalyst pays tribute in the January–February issue to NIH employees past and present who are no longer with us. Our condolences are with their friends, family, and colleagues who knew and loved them.