The SIG Beat

News From and About the Scientific Interest Groups

BY THE NIH CATALYST STAFF

Six new NIH Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) were (re)created in 2024.

Artificial Intelligence Interest Group

In case you missed it, biomedical science is in the midst of a technological revolution driven by artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL) neural network architecture, and a burgeoning availability of computational power. Cutting-edge AI-based techniques are being applied to every subfield of the biological sciences to produce novel, ground-breaking advancements.

The Artificial Intelligence Interest Group (AIIG), previously called the Deep Learning and AI in Biomedical Sciences Interest Group, aims to promote the awareness, understanding, and adoption of AI and DL approaches across the NIH. No experience is required to join. The group is intended for experts and novices alike to discuss a wide range of topics in this rapidly expanding field.

Login to the weekly AI Journal Club and Seminar Series, where AIIG members from various scientific backgrounds take turns leading a session on a topic of interest. Take part in a new yearly event, the NIH Artificial Intelligence Symposium, at which researchers across NIH can gather to learn and share their AI-related research. For more information, contact Ryan O'Neill at ryan.o'neill@nih.gov.

Visit the webpage here.

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Malaria Interest Group

The Malaria Interest Group (MIG) brings together scientists, professionals, and trainees who share an interest in global prevention and control of malaria. The MIG aims to share ideas, expertise, and findings pertinent to malaria research from laboratory and field investigations, and disseminate knowledge of novel detection technologies and strategies, vaccines, and other preventive and therapeutic interventions, including malaria parasite vector control.

Expect virtual or hybrid meetings every three months and an annual in-person meeting and mini-symposia. MIG is housed at the NIH, but is open to all government scientists, professionals, and trainees who share an interest in use-inspired research and programmatic approaches relevant to malaria control and prevention. For more information, contact Patrick Duffy at patrick.duffy@nih.gov.

Visit the webpage here.

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Small Molecule Therapeutics Interest Group

Less is more when it comes to targeting disease. The Small Molecule Therapeutics SIG aims to have discussions and seminars and to provide a platform for collaboration on interdisciplinary research that results in the identification of potent, safe, and pharmacokinetically desirable chemical entities as therapeutics against different disease areas. Discovery of small molecule therapeutics, defined as those with a molecular weight less than 750 Daltons, involves collaboration from scientists with expertise in target protein identification and validation, assay development, screening, and lead molecule identification and optimization. Scientists with expertise in biology, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, cheminformatics, and computational chemistry (just to name a few) are invited to engage in this endeavor. For more information, contact Debananda Das at dasd@mail.nih.gov.

Visit the webpage here.

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Spatial Biology Interest Group

The functions of biological systems rely on well-organized, spatially orchestrated cells. Recent advances in spatial molecular profiling offer a unique opportunity to understand the spatial landscape of cells and their interaction dynamics in both health and disease. Cutting-edge imaging and sequencing-based spatial profiling technologies have been implemented at the NIH. The question remains of how to unlock the full potential of the spatial data to understand fundamental biological questions. The Spatial Biology SIG aims to engage researchers in the spatial biology community, ranging from spatial biology, computational method development, and technology advancement, to promote interactions among NIH scientists and facilitate new scientific discoveries. Expect a monthly seminar series presented by both intramural and extramural experts in the field. A scientific symposium will be a potential future event. For more information, contact Lichun Ma at lichun.ma@nih.gov.

Visit the webpage here.

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Structural Biology Methods Scientific Interest Group

The NIH Structural Biology Methods SIG aims to facilitate the sharing of the latest technological and research advances with researchers of the NIH IRP who are interested in using cutting-edge structural biology methods to study the 3D structure and function of biological macromolecules and assemblies. Structural biology has undergone rapid, transformative changes and technological advances in recent years, which now allow scientists to pursue answers to challenging biological questions without being limited to single experimental techniques. This new group replaces the longstanding X-Ray Diffraction Interest Group.

The Structural Biology Methods SIG publishes a newsletter that contains practical tips, highlights of new technological and experimental methods, discussion topics, an update of recent publications of SIG members, and links to a variety of programs and servers that are commonly used in structural biology research. Through the newsletter, the SIG hopes to communicate the research advances of the SIG members in order to facilitate discussion and possible collaborations among its members. For more information, contact George Lountos at lountosg@mail.nih.gov.

Visit the webpage here.

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Adherence Research Network Scientific Interest Group

“Drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them,” Surgeon General C. Everett Koop once quipped. The Adherence Research Network, an established SIG, is reinvigorating its efforts to bring attention to this group and to grow membership, both intramurally and overall. The Adherence Research Network is a transdisciplinary consortium of extramural and intramural staff from NIH institutes, centers, and offices who provide leadership, vision, and support for NIH adherence research. “Adherence” generally refers to the extent to which a person’s health behaviors, including taking medications and executing lifestyle changes, align with recommendations or guidelines from health care clinicians. To advance the field of adherence research, the Adherence Research Network SIG evaluates the state of the science and disseminates scientific information and NIH research priorities through conference symposia, meetings, and white papers. The SIG holds a monthly virtual meeting.

Visit the webpage here.

LISTSERV: To be added to the list, contact Michael Stirratt (stirrattm@mail.nih.gov) or Maureen Monaghan Center (maureen.center@nih.gov).

Compiled from SIG webpages.