NIDDK Director’s Update (July 2009)
Greetings from NIDDK! The first half of the year has been exciting and busy, and I would like to share with you some of the many activities from around the Institute and NIH.
As you are aware, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law in February. ARRA has afforded NIH an exciting opportunity to advance medical research, while providing economic stimulus to communities throughout the country. More about ARRA, including links to NIDDK ARRA funding information, follow.
The NIDDK has welcomed several new senior staff members including Deputy Director Gregory Germino, as well as a new Scientific Director and a new Communications Director. We also had four new members join our National Advisory Council. These individuals bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the Institute and I look forward to working with them to advance NIDDK's mission.
These are just a few of the many exciting events from around NIH and NIDDK. I am sure that the next six months of 2009 will be as exciting and dynamic as the first, as we continue to pursue the most compelling research to combat the many debilitating and costly chronic diseases facing the nation.
Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P.
Director
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
1. Features
NIH Distributes American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds
Germino Named NIDDK Deputy Director
NIH Issues Final Stem Cell Research Guidelines
NIH Director Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee
NIDDK National Advisory Council News
NIDDK Grantee News
NIDDK Intramural Researcher Jacobson Honored
NIDDK's Podskalny Earns AGA Research Service Award
NASPGHAN Honors NIDDK's Robuck
National Commission on Digestive Diseases Releases Research Plan
NIDDK's Recent Advances and Emerging Opportunities Released
New NIDDK Publication on Coordination of Federal Diabetes Efforts Released
NIH, CDC, and RWJF Join to Fight Childhood Obesity 2. NIDDK Staff Announcements
Levin Appointed NIDDK Scientific Director
Kranzfelder Named NIDDK Communications Director
Changes in NIDDK's Financial Management Office
People on the Move at NIDDK 3. On the Road
Health Messages Reach Local D.C. Community
Diabetes Awareness at Mississippi Health Forums 4. Around NIH
Office of Technology Transfer Launches Product Showcase Site
NIH Director’s Council of Public Representatives Meets 5. NIDDK Funding News
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Funding Opportunities
Grants and Contract Notices 6. Upcoming Meetings and Workshops
7. Recent NIDDK News Releases
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1. Features
NIH Distributes American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds
We are immensely grateful to Congress and the public for opportunities provided by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, and we have begun carefully investing NIDDK’s $445 million share of Recovery Act funds.
NIDDK’s staff has been working closely with the NIH and the DHHS to ensure that scientific merit and quality remain the highest priority while we meet Recovery Act goals to jump-start the U.S. economy, create or save jobs, and put a "down payment" on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.
As a result, we are already well on our way to using ARRA funds to support (1) recently peer-reviewed, highly meritorious research grant applications (R01 mechanisms and others) capable of making significant advances in two years; (2) targeted supplements to current grants to accelerate the pace of research; (3) supplements to current grants to support summer research experiences for teachers and students; and (3) new activities such as the NIH Challenge Grant program, which will focus new efforts on significant health and science problems where measurable progress can be expected in two years.
Most of the awards have been made or are being processed for about 200 NIDDK grant supplements supporting summer 2009 research experiences for students and teachers. Students and teachers can search by ZIP code to find NIH-funded host labs; see https://science.education.nih.gov/summerscience. We are encouraging grant recipients to include summer 2009 openings at www.grants.nih.gov/recovery/summer_opps_contacts.html; send an email to SummerResearch@mail.nih.gov to request posting instructions.
NIH has received more than 20,000 Challenge Grant applications. More than 1,600 of these grants were assigned to NIDDK for primary funding consideration and more than 1,600 additional Challenge Grant applications were assigned to NIDDK for secondary funding consideration. Proposals will undergo peer review this summer and grants will be awarded by September 30.
NIDDK received about 2,000 Administrative Supplement applications by the April 17 deadline. Proposals will be reviewed and funded based on their responsiveness to Recovery Act goals and their potential to accelerate the science. Awards will be issued by September 30.
Follow our progress and receive updates, including any new opportunities or changes to ongoing programs, through NIDDK ARRA News. To subscribe to this new listserv, send an email to LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV with "subscribe NIDDK_ARRA_NEWS" (without the quotation marks) in the body of your email, not in the subject line. Do not include any other text. You may also find projects awarded by NIDDK using ARRA funds by searching NIH’s RePORT, the Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool, at http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm; be sure to select “NIH Recovery Act Projects: Show only projects support by NIH Recovery Act funds” and choose NIDDK in the “Agency/Institute/Center” field.
Finally, I want to give a virtual round of applause to NIDDK staff. On top of their usual workload and in just a short time--but over very long days and nights--scientific and administrative staff developed plans to use ARRA funds wisely and a system for receiving, reviewing, processing and paying unprecedented numbers of applications in response to ARRA funds!
ARRA summer research experiences: http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/summer_opps.html.
NIDDK Recovery Act Information: www2.niddk.nih.gov/Recovery/
NIH Recovery Act Funding Opportunities: www.grants.nih.gov/recovery
HHS Recovery Act Information: www.hhs.gov/recovery/overview/index.html
HHS Recovery Act Implementation Information: www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/index.html
U.S. Recovery Act Information: www.recovery.gov
Germino Named NIDDK Deputy Director
It is my distinct privilege to announce that Gregory G. Germino, M.D., became NIDDK’s deputy director on Tuesday, May 26. He came to us from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he held dual appointments in the Division of Nephrology and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
In addition to his world-class scientific expertise and his perspective as an NIH grantee, Dr. Germino’s management experience, commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers and work with professional and patient advocacy organizations makes him especially well-suited to help us advance the research and communicate with Congress and the public we serve.
Dr. Germino identified PKD1, the primary gene involved in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. He also developed novel methods for detecting altered genes and for characterizing the PKD1 protein and its role in cell signaling pathways and cell-cycle regulation.
After graduating summa cum laude in biology from Loyola University of Chicago, Dr. Germino earned his medical degree from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He served his internship and residency in internal medicine and completed a clinical fellowship in nephrology at Yale before spending a research year at Oxford University in England.
Dr. Germino had been an NIDDK grantee since 1994. He has over 70 peer reviewed publications and has authored more than a dozen book chapters. He has been a visiting professor and invited lecturer across the United States and around the world.
I am very pleased that NIDDK has been able to recruit such a highly qualified candidate, and I hope you will welcome Greg to the NIDDK family. You may contact him at: NIDDK, MSC 2560, 31 Center Dr., Bldg. 31 Rm. 9A52, Bethesda MD 20892; GerminoGG@niddk.nih.gov; and 301-496-5877.
NIH News Release: www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/niddk-26.htm
NIH Issues Final Stem Cell Research Guidelines
The NIH has published final “National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research.” These Guidelines implement Executive Order (EO) 13505 issued by President Obama on March 9, 2009. The Guidelines establish policy and procedures under which the NIH will fund such research and help ensure that NIH-funded research in this area is ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law. NIH published draft guidelines on April 23, 2009, and received approximately 49,000 comments from patient advocacy groups, scientists and scientific societies, academic institutions, medical organizations, religious organizations, private citizens, and members of Congress. The public comment period ended May 26, 2009.
NIH Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research: http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines.htm
NIH Stem Cell Information Page: http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp
Federal Register Notice Announcement for Final NIH Human Stem Cell Guidelines: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-15954.htm
NIH Director Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee
In March, I and several other Institute and Center Directors accompanied Acting NIH Director Dr. Raynard Kington to a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies to address NIH’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the President’s proposed budget request for the NIH for fiscal year 2010 (which had not yet been released in full), and the status of the National Children’s Study.
During the hearing, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) asked about hemoglobin A1C (A1C) testing in patients who have variant forms of hemoglobin, such as sickle cell trait. The A1C test provides information on blood glucose control over time and is a valuable tool to help many people monitor their diabetes. However, some methods used for testing A1C give inaccurate results in people who have hemoglobin variants and, therefore, can give an inaccurate of picture of diabetes control. Rep. Lee had posed a similar question at a previous hearing and was interested in an update on this issue. Rep. Lee’s question provided an opportunity for me to inform the Subcommittee about NIDDK’s campaign to educate patients and physicians about the importance of using an appropriate A1C testing method in people with hemoglobin variants and to promote the use of more reliable A1C testing methods in general. I also discussed the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program, which the NIDDK and the CDC are supporting to promote the use of reliable A1C testing methods that provide accurate readings regardless of whether a patient has a hemoglobin variant.
Hemoglobin Variants and HbA1c Testing Information: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/traita1c/index.htm
NIDDK National Advisory Council News
New Advisory Council Members Welcomed
Four new members joined NIDDK’s National Advisory Council in 2009: Dr. Christopher Glass, Ms. LaVarne Burton, Dr. Robert Flanigan, and Dr. John Sedor. Dr. Glass, who joins the Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Subcouncil, is a professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Dr. Glass’s research focuses on the regulation of macrophage gene expression.
Ms. Burton, Dr. Flanigan, and Dr. Sedor join the Kidney, Urology and Hematology Subcouncil. Ms. Burton is president and chief executive officer of the American Kidney Fund, which educates patients and the public about kidney disease and provides direct financial assistance to help kidney patients maintain health insurance and health care.
Dr. Flanigan is chair of urology at Loyola University. His research focuses on clinical urology, especially urologic oncology.
Dr. Sedor is professor of medicine and physiology at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and vice president for research on the MetroHealth System Campus at CWRU. Dr. Sedor’s research spans basic and clinical nephrology, with a particular focus on understanding genetic mechanisms of progressive kidney disease, including diabetic nephropathy.
On behalf of the NIDDK, I welcome all four new members and thank them for taking the time from their busy schedules to provide essential peer review advice to NIDDK.
Monahan Designated Attending Physician for Congress
NIDDK Advisory Council member Dr. Brian Monahan, who holds the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, has been designated the Attending Physician for Congress. The Office of the Attending Physician was established in 1928 and provides medical care and medications to the 435 members of the House, the 100 members of the Senate, and the nine Supreme Court justices. As Attending Physician for Congress, Dr. Monahan will be instrumental in security planning, working hand-in-hand with the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate, Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Capitol Police and other congressional officials to ensure medical support during contingency operations.
Congratulations to Dr. Monahan on his promotion. We wish him well as he takes on this exciting new challenge.
Members Elected to Institute of Medicine
NIDDK Advisory Council members Drs. Juanita Merchant and David Perlmutter and former Council member Dr. Jeffrey Gordon have been elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM). As you know, election to the IOM is one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
NIDDK has an outstanding Council and we are very proud of our members. I want to congratulate Drs. Gordon, Merchant, and Perlmutter—membership to the IOM is an exceptional honor.
Lazar Honored by the American Society for Clinical Investigation
NIDDK Advisory Council member Dr. Mitchell Lazar has received the 2009 American Society for Clinical Investigation’s Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award. Dr. Lazar was recognized for outstanding contributions to understanding the transcriptional regulation of metabolism. Dr. Lazar’s discoveries of several thyroid hormone and orphan nuclear receptors and their gene expression silencing mechanisms have been transformative. In addition, his discovery of resistin as a novel adipocyte hormone that impairs insulin action created a new view of the connection between obesity and insulin resistance.
I want to congratulate Dr. Lazar on his outstanding scientific contributions and this well-deserved honor.
NIDDK Grantee News
MacCoss Wins 2007 PECASE Award
I am pleased to announce that NIDDK grantee Michael J. MacCoss, assistant professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, received a 2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Government to outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. Each year the White House confers the awards—which both honor and support the awardees—based on recommendations from eleven participating federal agencies. The award is five years in duration and the selection criteria and processes are specific for each participating federal agency.
Dr. MacCoss was one of the 12 PECASE Awardees who were nominated by NIH and honored at a ceremony on December 18, 2008, here on the NIH Campus, the day before the White House ceremony. Dr. MacCoss received his award for the development and application of mass spectrometry and stable isotope-based technologies for the high throughput measurement of dynamic changes in the proteome and for his mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. MacCoss on this tremendous achievement.
NIH News Release: www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2008/oer-19.htm
NIH Record Story: http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/2009/01_09_2009/story9.htm
Ley Wins Mentoring Award
NIDDK grantee Dr. Timothy Ley of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has received the 2008 American Society of Hematology Mentor Award (Basic Science). The award recognizes and rewards outstanding role models in the hematology community. Dr. Ley’s nomination recognizes his personal integrity, scientific rigor, commitment to his trainees, and his advocacy of scientific education. Dr. Ley has been an NIDDK grantee since 1987 and presently has support from both NIDDK and the National Cancer Institute.
Mentoring our young investigators is critical to advancing scientific discoveries, and I want to thank Dr. Ley for his efforts in this area. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor.
NIDDK Intramural Researcher Jacobson Honored
I am very pleased to inform you that Dr. Kenneth Jacobson, chief of the Molecular Recognition Section and acting chief of the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry at NIDDK, has received the 2009 Pharmacia-ASPET Award in Experimental Therapeutics. This award is given annually to recognize and stimulate outstanding research in pharmacology and experimental therapeutic—basic laboratory or clinical research—that has had or potentially will have a major impact on the pharmacological treatment of disease. Dr. Jacobson was honored for his major contributions to the pharmacology of cell surface receptors, in particular purinergic receptors. His research has led to agents in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis, cancer, cardioischemia, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and asthma. Dr. Jacobson was honored on April 18, 2009, at Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans.
In addition, for his exemplary work in the field of pharmacology, Dr. Jacobson has received the 2008 Sato Memorial International Award of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. The award is bestowed every two years to a leading U.S. scientist who has made significant contributions to the fields of pharmacology, therapeutics and pharmaceutical sciences. Established by the Yoshio Sato Memorial Fund, the award is jointly administered by the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences and the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
I congratulate Dr. Jacobson for his exemplary work and these honors.
NIDDK’s Podskalny Earns AGA Research Service Award
Dr. Judith Podskalny, a program director in the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, recently received the 2009 Research Service Award from the American Gastroenterological Association at its annual meeting in Chicago. She was recognized for significant contributions to gastroenterological research.
Dr. Podskalny manages grants programs for career development, research fellowships, and digestive disease research centers. She also oversees minority supplements for training grants within DDN and represents NIDDK on the NIH Training Advisory Committee.
Recognized for her tireless commitment to nurturing young gastroenterological researchers, Podskalny also partners with colleagues from NIDDK’s Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases to organize a “New Investigator” workshop about every 18 months for NIDDK Career (K) awardees. Career award recipients attend the workshop once during the period of their K award.
Congratulations to Dr. Podskalny on this well-deserved honor.
NASPGHAN Honors NIDDK’s Robuck
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Patricia Robuck, director of the Clinical Trials Program in NIDDK’s Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, who recently was recognized by the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). Dr. Robuck is the first recipient of the NASPGHAN Pediatric Research Advocacy Award in recognition of her ongoing support for research to address the numerous conditions affecting the liver and gastrointestinal tract of children.
National Commission on Digestive Diseases Releases Research Plan
The National Commission on Digestive Diseases has released its long-range research plan, entitled “Opportunities and Challenges in Digestive Diseases Research: Recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases” to spur future research. The Commission was established by former NIH Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, based on a common interest among the NIH, Congress, and the digestive diseases community, in addressing this disease burden through research.
The Commission’s research plan reflects broad stakeholder input from the academic research, healthcare, and patient advocacy communities, as well as from across the NIH and other Federal agencies with an interest in supporting digestive diseases research. The NIDDK provided leadership and support for the Commission. The research plan is available in both electronic form and hard copy by request through the following website: http://NCDD.niddk.nih.gov . As the research plan is implemented, it will guide the NIH and other partners in pursuing promising research opportunities to ultimately improve the lives of those affected by digestive diseases.
NIH News Release: www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2009/niddk-02.htm
NIDDK’s Recent Advances and Emerging Opportunities Released
The Institute’s annual publication “NIDDK Recent Advances and Emerging Opportunities” is now available and was presented to the NIDDK Advisory Council at the February 18, 2009, meeting. Now in its ninth year, this compendium highlights examples of major research advances within the past year, made possible with NIDDK support. In addition, the compendium includes “stories of discovery,” which trace research progress in specific areas over a longer period of time; summaries of scientific presentations that were made by eminent researchers during the past year; and patient profiles, which recount the perspectives of patients who are grappling with serious diseases and the hope that they find through research. The publication also includes snapshots of the NIDDK’s patient education and outreach efforts.
NIDDK Recent Advances and Emerging Opportunities: www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/ResearchAndPlanning/Advances/FY2009/default.htm
New NIDDK Publication on Coordination of Federal Diabetes Efforts Released
The Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DMICC), chaired by the NIDDK, has released a new booklet entitled “DMICC: Coordinating the Federal Investment in Diabetes Programs To Improve the Health of Americans.” The DMICC plays a key role in facilitating cooperation, communication, and collaboration among federal departments and agencies that conduct or support diabetes-related activities. The booklet includes: the history, goals, and membership of the Committee, including mission statements related to diabetes efforts of the 35 DMICC member organizations within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Veterans Health Administration; many examples of federal diabetes efforts coordinated by organizations in the DMICC, such as the National Diabetes Education Program and the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program clinical trial; and examples of major areas of successful collaboration, such as diabetes efforts in special high-risk populations and strategic planning for diabetes research. The new booklet is available on the DMICC website.
Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/CommitteesAndWorkingGroups/DMICC/
DMICC: Coordinating the Federal Investment in Diabetes Programs To Improve the Health of Americans: www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/CommitteesAndWorkingGroups/DMICC/DMICC_Booklet.htm
National Diabetes Education Program: www.ndep.nih.gov
NIH, CDC, and RWJF Join Together to Fight Childhood Obesity
In February, NIH joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to establish the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) to accelerate progress on reversing the epidemic of overweight and obesity among U.S. youth. Through the collective efforts of these organizations, NCCOR aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research on childhood obesity. The Collaborative will focus on efforts that have great potential to benefit children, teens and their families and the communities in which they live. It will put a special emphasis on the populations in which obesity rates are highest, including African-American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander children, and children living in low-income communities. Some of NCCOR’s preliminary projects include developing a catalog of childhood obesity-related monitoring systems, identifying promising and effective interventions and programs, and creating guidance for evaluating naturalistic experiments.
National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research: www.nccor.org
2. NIDDK Staff Announcements
Levin Appointed NIDDK Scientific Director
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ira Levin as NIDDK’s scientific director. He had been acting scientific director for the past year, a position he also held from 1999 to 2001. As scientific director, Dr. Levin is responsible for planning and overseeing the Division of Intramural Research (DIR); evaluating research efforts and establishing program priorities; allocating funds, space, and personnel ceilings and integrating new research activities into the program structure; directing the training of pre- and postdoctoral and clinical fellows; collaborating with other NIH institutes, centers and programs; staying abreast of national research efforts related to NIDDK’s programs; and advising me and institute staff on the division’s activities.
Dr. Levin has been at NIH for 45 years. In 1994 he became deputy director of the DIR while he was also chief of the Molecular Biophysics Section of NIDDK’s Laboratory of Chemical Physics. Dr. Levin has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from Brown University, both in chemistry.
I look forward to my continued working relationship with Dr. Levin, and the leadership and guidance he provides to the DIR.
Kranzfelder Named NIDDK Communications Director
I am also pleased to announce that Ms. Kathy Kranzfelder is the new director of the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, replacing Betsy Singer, who retired in January. In her new position, Ms. Kranzfelder is a member of the Institute’s senior leadership team, providing us with advice and guidance on external communications.
Ms. Kranzfelder came to the NIDDK in 1989 as a writer covering our intramural research program. She went on to co-develop and manage NIDDK’s first website and will continue to direct NIDDK’s information clearinghouses until a replacement is found.
Over the years Ms. Kranzfelder has gained expert knowledge of techniques and practices in health education, mass media, and social marketing. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in French and economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Master’s Degree in journalism from Michigan State University in Lansing.
I look forward to working with Ms. Kranzfelder to lead NIDDK’s communications program. I would also like to this opportunity to thank Ms. Mary Harris for serving as Acting Director while we conducted our search.
Changes in NIDDK’s Financial Management Office
We wished a fond farewell to Mr. Charles Zellers, NIDDK’s long-time financial management officer, who retired in June after a career at NIH that spanned 30 years. Mr. Zellers was appointed NIDDK’s financial officer in 1994 and was a key member of NIDDK’s senior leadership team for the past 15 years. He first came to NIH in 1977 as a Management Intern. After completing the program, he became a program analyst in the office of the NIH Director in 1978, and in 1980 he moved on to become a budget analyst at NIDDK.
Mr. Zellers’ encyclopedic knowledge of NIDDK’s budget, as well as his deep interest in the science, has been a tremendous asset to the Institute. He will be missed. I am certain that his wide-ranging interests will provide for a rewarding retirement.
Thomas Klausing assumed the position of NIDDK financial management officer on Monday, July 6. As the budget officer of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) for the past 10 years, Mr. Klausing led a staff that was responsible for planning, reviewing, developing, justifying, presenting, executing and reporting on the NIST budget and annual performance plan to the Department of Commerce, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress.
Before joining NIST, Mr. Klausing was chief of the Budget Review and Coordination Branch at the Immigration and Naturalization Service and a senior budget analyst at the U.S. Department of Justice. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from West Virginia University, and a Master’s in Public Management & Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University. I look forward to working with Tom and hope you will join me in welcoming him to NIDDK.
We are grateful to Mr. Chris Porter, who is doing an outstanding job as acting financial management officer until Mr. Klausing’s arrival.
People on the Move at NIDDK
Division of Intramural Research
Two scientists are now tenured—Dr. Daniel Appella in the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Dr. Will Prinz in the Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Biology. Dr. Appella’s research focuses on the development of new classes of synthetic molecules able to selectively bind and disrupt interactions between nucleic acids and proteins and the development of biomedical applications for these molecules. His lab is currently focusing on molecules that are targeted either to interfere with replication of HIV or halt the progression of cancer. Dr. Prinz’s research focuses on organelle biogenesis and intracellular lipid trafficking. Specifically, his laboratory studies how the shape and lipid composition of organelles is maintained and how defects in these processes contribute to a number of diseases.
Dr. Sunita Agarwal is now a tenure-track investigator in the Metabolic Diseases Branch. Dr. Agarwal’s research focuses on understanding processes involved in the initiation and progression of endocrine tumorigenesis. The lab is currently investigating transcription factors and cell cycle regulators in endocrine cells and in neoplasia.
I am pleased to offer my congratulations to these outstanding Intramural scientists.
Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases
Dr. Catherine Meyers, former senior scientific officer and director of the Inflammatory Renal Disease Program in NIDDK’s Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (KUH), has joined the NIH’s National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), where she directs the Office of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. We wish her well in her new position.
Dr. Paul Kimmel returns to NIDDK as a senior scientific officer in the KUH division, where he is overseeing acute kidney injury and renal genetics research programs. Dr. Kimmel’s clinical interests include diabetic nephropathy, cytokine biology in chronic kidney disease, psychological adaptation to chronic kidney disease and HIV-associated renal diseases. Dr. Kimmel had worked at NIDDK from 1998 to 2001 before becoming director of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at George Washington University in the District of Columbia. We are fortunate to have him back.
Office of the Director
Cindy Fuchs is the new director of the Office of Technology Transfer and Development. Before joining NIDDK, Ms. Fuchs was chief of the Extramural Technology Development and Transfer Branch at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. At NIDDK Ms. Fuchs is responsible for helping facilitate the formation of collaborations and the transfer of materials, information, and data between investigators at NIDDK and investigators at companies, in academia, and in other federal laboratories. We welcome Ms. Fuchs to NIDDK.
3. On the Road
During the first several months of 2009, I had the privilege of attending meetings of professional societies, including the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Urological Association (AUA). I also met with representatives and colleagues at Digestive Diseases Week and the American Diabetes Association's 69 th Scientific Sessions. It is always a pleasure to discuss programs and projects at these meetings, and I look forward to our continued work together.
Health Messages Reach D.C. Community
For the past year, I have been able to promote evidence-based health information and education messages during 60-second spots on WMMJ (Majic 102.3 FM), a D.C.-area affiliate of RadioOne. The “Healthy Moments” weekly reports offer tips on preventing and controlling diseases that are within NIDDK’s mission. This year we have expanded our reach to Baltimore’s WWIN (Magic 95.9 FM) and D.C.’s WKYS (93.9 FM).
Recently, I also had the opportunity to take part in Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. This well-attended local health fair was co-sponsored by WMMJ to encourage African Americans to look after their health. During the event I was interviewed by WMMJ host Olivia Fox about kidney disease and its risk factors, including diabetes . This was an excellent opportunity to promote NIDDK’s science-based health messages, and NIDDK materials were distributed at adjoining booths for NIH and NIDDK’s National Kidney Disease Education Program.
Healthy Moments Series: www2.niddk.nih.gov/HealthEducation/HealthyMoments/
National Kidney Disease Education Program: www.nkdep.nih.gov
NIDDK Health Education Information: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/HealthEducation/
Diabetes Awareness at Mississippi Health Forums
I want to thank Dr. Saul Malozowski, who traveled to Mississippi Valley State University in January to speak at two diabetes forums—one for health professionals and one for patients and other members of the community. The forums were part of “On the Road to Better Health,” a quarterly health information series launched in 2008 by the Jackson Medical Mall in Jackson and the NIH. The series and the medical mall provide local residents with information on diabetes, stroke, hypertension, asthma, and mental health and NIH research efforts. The health series also includes quarterly continuing medical education presentations for health care professionals.
NIH News Release on Health Forum Launch: www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2008/nichd-23.htm
4. Around NIH
Office of Technology Transfer Launches Product Showcase Site
The NIH Office of Technology Transfer has launched "Product Showcase," a website to highlight NIH intramural research program inventions that have been licensed to companies for commercial development and now are on the market. Products highlighted in Showcase are used every day to detect, treat or prevent disease or help researchers as they continue to explore ways to develop newer and more effective health care products and procedures.
Showcase currently features 35 out of over 400 products that could be highlighted. Some products in Showcase are FDA-approved and some do not need FDA approval, but all have made important contributions to public health or the advancement of science. While there may be multiple inventors on any product, some of whom may not be NIH employees, the primary purpose of this showcase is to highlight NIH's contributions. Additional product images and features, such as enhanced sorting and filtering, will be added over time.
NIH hopes Showcase will illuminate the vital role the NIH Intramural Research Program has played in the effort to protect and improve health.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer: www.ott.nih.gov
Office of Technology Transfer Product Showcase: www.ott.nih.gov/productshowcase/
NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives Meets
The NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) met April 17, 2009, to advise the NIH Director on public participation in NIH activities, outreach efforts, and other matters of public interest. The Council is made up of 21 people from across the country who have been chosen to represent the public through an open nomination process. They are patients, family members of patients, health care professionals, scientists, health and science communicators, and educators. NIH selects new COPR members every year, to serve an average of four-year terms.
Council of Public Representatives: http://copr.nih.gov/
5. NIDDK Funding News
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Recovery/
Funding Opportunities: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/FundingOpportunities/
Grants and Contract Notices: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/FundingOpportunities/Notices
6. Upcoming Meetings and Workshops
Upcoming Meetings and Workshops: http://www3.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/conferences.shtml
7. Recent NIDDK News Releases
June 26, 2009
Gregory G. Germino, M.D., Named Deputy Director of NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases June 23, 2009
NIH Expands Human Microbiome Project; Funds Sequencing Centers and Disease Projects June 01, 2009
Wilson Disease and Excess Copper Are Focus of New NIDDK Publication May 26, 2009
Birth Defects of the Kidney Explained in New NIDDK Fact Sheets May 21, 2009
Combination of Aspirin and an Anti-Clotting Drug Reduces Risk of Dialysis Access Failure April 02, 2009
NIH Releases the First Research Plan to Reduce the Burden of Digestive Diseases March 11, 2009
Statement of Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day February 03, 2009
Study Tests Anti-Inflammatory Drug for Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes January 28, 2009
Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Women Reduces Urinary Incontinence January 26, 2009
New Survey Results Show Huge Burden of Diabetes January 21, 2009
Measurement of Kidney Function in Children with Kidney Disease Improved
EDITOR'S NOTES:
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Page last updated: July 10, 2009
