TheNIHRecord x U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Malone Named NIH Acting Director Dr. Thomas E. Malone, Deputy Director, has been named Acting Director of NIH as of July I, 1981, by HHS Secretary Richard S. Schwei ker. Dr. Fredrickson Leaves 2&Year NIH Career Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson joined the Na- tional Heart Institute in 1953 as a clinical associate. From 1955 to 1961 he worked in the Labo- ratory of Cellular Physiology and Metabo- lism, where he was clinical director from 1961 to 1966. At the same time he continued his research as head of the Section of Mo- lecular Diseases, Laboratory of Metabolism, from 1962 to 1966. He was appointed Heart Institute Director in 1966, serving in that capacity for 2 years. He combined this executive responsibility with research as chief of the Molecular Dis- eases Branch, from I%6 to 1974, and as di- rector of intramural research, 1969 to 1974. He has spent 28 years of his career at NIH. Dr. Fredrickson's earliest research inter- ests centered on the metabolism of sterols. He focused on the structure of plasma lipoproteins, their importance in the trans- port of fats, and the genetic factors regulat- ing their metabolism and concentration in blood. It was during this early period that he dis- covered two new genetic disorders: Tangier disease (absence of high density lipopro- teins) and cholesteryl ester storage disease, a lysosomal enzyme deficiency. In 1965, Dr. Fredrickson and coworkers introduced a system of identifying and cias- sifying blood-lipid abnormalities based on plasma lipoprotein patterns. From this work came the recognition of previously undis- covered monogenic causes of hyperlipi- demia: type 3 and type 5 hyperlipoprotein- emia and a condition now termed familiar hypertriglyceridemia. The system received prompt acceptance by the World Health Or- ganization and is currently used widely by laboratories around the world. Other research findings by Dr. Fredrick- son and colleagues include their first learn- ing of several previously unknown apolipoproteins, and new knowledge describing the structure and function of various apoproteins. (See FRfDRlCKSON CAREER, Page 51 July 8 1981 Vol. XXXIII No. 14 National Institutes of Health Fredrickson NIH Years Yield Many Major Accomplishments and Program Initiatives In 1975, Dr. Fredrickson became Director of NIH, a position he held for the last 6 In this position, he gave biomedical re- years of his 28-year service at NIH. search direction and leadership in a society which has grown increasingly technological and rapidly changing in its social norm. The following is a summation of major ac- complishments and program initiatives during the "Fredrickson era." o Orienting NIH and the biomedical re- search community to contribute more ei- fectively to the national health effort. This included clarification of the boundaries of NIH's mission, particularly at the interface between research and health services and assumption of greater responsibility for technology transfer-identification, assess- ment and, where appropriate, the transfer of health research findings to health prac- tice. The latter was achieved through initia- tion of consensus development confer- ences, improvement in clinical trials, and increased efforts to disseminate informa- tion to the public and practitioners. o To assure the public of protection against hazards while permitting scientists to fully exploit research opportunities, guidelines were set for all government- supported and conducted research. And, a The FllH Record mechanism-the Recombinant DNA Advi- sory Committee- was developed to review o Gaining approval to begin construction on the Ambulatory Care Research Facility. Scheduled to open in October, the struc- and change the guidelines when necessary. ture is designed to provide optimum envi- ronment for study and care of patients in close proximity to clinical and basic scien- tists working in the Clinical Center. The fa- cility will accommodate about~300,OOO pa- tient visits each year, tripling the current number. o Implementing, after the self-imposed research moratorium by leading scientists * in 1975, the first code to guide research involving recombinant DNA. o Reviewing and revamping, where nec- essary, the NIH peer review system. o Following up on a 3-year study of the NIH system for reviewing grant applica- tions, changes were adopted to provide ap- plicants with fuller information on the cri- tiques of their proposals, to open the process for selecting members of review groups, and to increase the number of women and minority scientists on review groups, (See FREDRICKSON YEARS, Page -l/ July 8, 1981 TheNIHRecorc Published biweekly at Bethesda, Md.. bv the Editorial .Operations Branch; Division of'Publ/c I&rmation, for the information of employees of the National institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, and carculated by request to writers and to researchers in biomedical and related fields. The content is reprintable without permission. Pictures may be available on request. The NIH Record reserves the right to make corrections, changes, or deletions in submitted cow in conformitv with the policies of the paper and HHS. ' NIH Record Wk. Bldg. 31, Room 2B-03, Phone 496-2125 Editor +-ry aordon stsw Wrltws William B. Reinckens Joyce F. McCarthy Staff Comspondwtta CC,eVbMSfMkU%DCRT.~ti@aa;CPM,JUdyFlX&XDRQ SWMeMLWXDRR.EWbWMWliCk;DRS,AJthNF.Mme;FlC. Suw P. M; NCI, Pmda A Newman: NU. Mmdta Cubatt; NHIB BiUSandawNlAi~ NIAID, Jemm WlrwWc NIAMDD. Ads clog: NICHD, P.msk tltisd; NIDR. Sry WiUmrding; NIMS, +I@ J. Lea; NK%G, Wanda Wudddl; NIMH. Pvll Shwatka; NINCCX Diane Striar; NLM. Roger L. Ollkeaon. FAES Announces Schedule For 1981-82 Concerts The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences will present eight concerts n its 1981-82 Chamber Music Series, held an Sundays at 4 p.m. in Masur Auditorium. sold by subscription, tickets cost $56. Irriety of Artists to Appear Concert dates are: Oct. 4, Lillian Kallir, >iano; Oct. 18, Michael Hume, tenor, Fred icott, piano, and the Emerson String Quar- et; Nov. 8, Colin Carr, cello; Nov. 22, Uto Jghi, violin; Dec. 6, Richard Stolzman, clar- net, Walter Trampler, viola, and lee Luvisi, >iano; Feb. 21, Jean Phillips Collard, piano; tiar. 14, Trio di Trieste with Piero Farulli, vi- jla; Apr. 25, Gabrieli String Quartet. For further information, contact the FAES office, Bldg. 10, Rm. BIL-101, 496.5272. 0 Medicine and the Media `Play Ball' Again There's relief in sight for all of those sports fans who are suffering from a lack of baseball this summer. The remedy is the Sixth Annual Patient Emergency Fund Soft- 3all Game that will be held on Sunday, July 19, at noon, at Georgetown Preparatory )r. M. Grunberg-Manago tesumes FIG Scholarship Dr. Marianne Grunberg-Manago, profes- #or of biology, Institute of Biology, Paris, `rance, returned to NIH at the beginning of une to resume her FIC scholarship. She vi8 be in residence for 3 months, during vhich time she will collaborate with Dr. hressa Stadtman, laboratory of Biochemis- ry, NHLBI, Bldg. 3. Well-known for her work in microbiology nd especially in biochemical genetics, Dr. ;runberg-Manago will participate in the FIC cholars' discussions of contemporary epics in biomedical research. She will also ive a lecture (date to be announced) on Organization and Regulation of E. co/i ;enes Involved in Translation. Until the end of August, Dr. Grunberg danago's office will be in Stone House, 96.1147. cl School, 10900 Rockville Pike. Free parking will be available on the grounds for 250 automobiles. Press Made Challenge Medicine and the media will clash again when the "NIH Gashouse Gang" takes on "The One & Only TV-g" or the WDVM news team. The rivalry began when the Gas house Gang trounced the TV-9 team 74-l and 14-3 in 1979. News anchorman Mike Buchanan, captain of the TV-S'ers, immediately requested a rematch. Following tradition, Dr. Mortimer B. Lipsett, Clinical Center Director, will throw out the first ball. As in past years, there will be door prizes including tickets to Bullets, Capitals, Diplc mats and Orioles games. The Capitals and Diplomats have also donated an auto- graphed hockey stick and soccer ball. Other prizes include: an autographed football signed by Sonny Jurgenson, Chris Hanburger, and Joe Theismann. Also ticket to King's Dominion, the Charles Town Races and Wolf Trap Farm events will be presented. Hot dogs, and soda will be on sale, and all proceeds will be donated to the PEF. 0 CORRECTION Due to an inaccurate submission, the lo- cation of the weekly NIH Duplicate Bridge Club meetings was erroneously reported. Meetings are held at the Bethesda home of its director, D'Arcy Albertsen, on Wednes- days at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 6524217. 0 The common sense is that which judges the things given to it by the other senses.- Leonardo da Vinci (7452-1579) Cl The NIH Recreation and Welfare Association held its annual meeting on fune 10 in the Masur Auditorium. Several members were pre- sented plaques this year in appreciation of their efforts in organizing different activities. The recipients are: Rose Shreiber (Women's Golf); Louis Mecca (Bicycle Commuter Club); James Harrington (Men's Golf); Al Lewis (NIH Jogging Club-The Health's Angels); and Doren Vest (Softball). Those not shown are: Norman fones (Football) and ferry Moore (NtH logging Club). Jerry Stiller, R&W Associa- tion president, presented this year's Presidential Award to Agnes Richardson. As has been the custom over the years, the R&W Associa- tion presented a 53,000 check to the Clinical Center's Patient Emergency Fund. Page 2 The NIH Record July 8, 1991 Amanda McKerrow tied for first prize and a gold medal in the women's junior division at the Fourth Moscow International Ballet Competition, held at the Bolshoi Theater, June 25. She is the first American to win a gold medal in the Bolshoi competition. Her father, Alan H. McKerrow, recently retired as administrative officer for intra- mural research at the National Institute of Dental Research. He and his wife accom- panied their daughter to Moscow. Only American in Finals Amanda, a member of the Washington Ballet for the past year, was the only one of 13 Americans who'entered the competition to reach the finals. She competed among some of today's most accomplished young dancers representing 23 different countries. She has studied ballet since the age of 7. Now, at 17, she has fulfilled her long- standing dream of performing at the Bolshoi. Thirty-three judges, including 10 Soviets and 10 others from Eastern European coun- tries, convened in the Beethoven Hall of the Bolshoi to judge, over a 2-week period, the performances of more than 150 dancers. Amanda won her medal on the strength of flowing classical performances from passages from the Tchaikovsky "Sleeping Beauty," and the more modern `Les Sylphides." Soviet Press Complimentary * 2 * i: * it f? <' r * 2 I2 f * 2: * f a d I? d f? d * i; * 5: 72 ?A h G * -A * Q $2 ii A 72 Ms. McKerrow and her partner, Simon Dow, dance the pas de deux from "Sleeping Beauty." This was one of the selections chosen for the international ballet competition in Moscow. (Photo copy- right 1981 by James E. Strickland. Courtesy of the Washington Ballet. Dr. Strickland is an NCI re- search biochemist and the ballet's official photographer.) The Soviet news agency, Tass, described her dancing as marked by "spirituality, lyri- cism, and musicality." She is the first American-trained ballerina in many years to place so high in a major international competition. NIH Bike Day Race Results: Amanda is one of the 20 regular dancers and 6 apprentices who form the core of the Washington Ballet, which performs fre- quently at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. 0 Dr. Rail Named Acting Deputy Director for Science At the meeting of NIH employees on June 19, Dr. Fredrickson announced the selec- tion of Dr. Joseph E. Rail, director of the In- tramural Research Program, NIADDK, as NIH Acting Deputy Director for Science, beginning July 1. This position had been held by Dr. Robert F. Coldberger who left NIH on June 26 to :ake a position at Columbia University. It was also announced that Dr. John iberhart, retiring scientific director of \IIMH, will become Special Assistant to the \IIH Deputy Director for Science. I7 SAFETY FILM TO BE SHOWN WI Chief Receives Honors in Ohio Dr. Elizabeth K. Weisburger, chief, Labo- ratory of Carcinogen Metabolism, NCI, was named the national honorary member for 1981 of the Iota Sigma Pi, national honor so- ciety for women in chemistry, at a recent meeting in Cleveland. She was also awarded an honorary doctor of science de- gree from the University of Cincinnati. O The first annual NIH Bike Race had 25 bicyclists who brought their vehicles on campus to see how much fun they could have in the time it took them to pedal a 2.mile course that began and finished in front of Bldg. 1. The race was held in May. The following are the results and times for those who finished first: Senior Division (riders over 46 years of age): first-Robert Gordon (6:55); second-William Batchelor. Women's: first-Wendy Aaronson (7:26). Slower Heat: first-Carl Frasch (6:20); second-William Vaughn; third- Carlton Coleman. Fast Heat: (4-mile course) first-Larry Schuette (11:13); second-Adrian Johnson; and third-Aaron Kirkemo. The event was sponsored by the NIH Commuter Club. This month, a 1%minute film on bicycle safety, mainte- nance, and theft prevention will be shown by the Occupational Medical Services at the following locations from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Monday, July 13, Bldg. 1, Wilson Hall; Tuesday, July 14, Bldg. 10, Masur Auditorium; Wednesday, July 15, Westwood Bldg., Conf. Rm. D; and Friday, luly 17, Federal Bldg., Rm. 119. Photo by L. Bass. July 8, 1981 The NIH Record Amanda McKerrow, Daughter of NIDR Administrator, Wins a Gold Medal at Bolshoi Ballet Competition Page 3 Laudatory Comments on Dr. Fredrickson Sent by Colleagues Throughout Nation Reactions to Dr. Fredrickson's resignation by former NIH officials, Nobel laureates, and professional colleagues have been re- ceived at The N/H Record office since the public announcement. Some of the comments are as follows: Dr. Philip Handler President of the National Academy of Sciences Dr. Fredrickson brought to NIH great administrative skill, a profound understand- ing of biomedical science, a nimble wit, and articulate voice. He has carefully protected the highest standard of quality in bio- medical research and research education while never losing sight of the principal goal of the NIH. He will be sorely missed. Dr. Joshua Lederberg President of Rockefeller University Rarely in history have we so benefitted from an illustrious career in these dimen- sions: basic scientific advance, broad clini- cal application, and scientific statesman- ship. Dr. Robert Berliner Dean of Yale Medical School Don Fredrickson has served the NIH long and well in many capacities. While I am sure that those inside the Institutes regret his decision to leave, much as do those of us who relate to the NIH from the outside, I think all will agree that he has done more than his share for biomedical research and the public it serves. Dr. James H. Sammons Executive Vice President of the American Medical Association Donald Fredrickson's outstanding leader- ship at the National Institutes of Health has provided great stability in the health care arena. His talent and expertise will be missed by all of us who know that the work of the Institutes is an important part of our country's health care fabric. We extend to him our very best wishes in whatever the future may hold for him. Dr. Paul Berg Don Fredrickson's creative and extraordi- Nobel Laureate; Willson Professor of narily effective leadership of the NIH de- Biochemistry, Stanford Medical Center serves the gratitude and respect of the en- tire biomedical community. His wisdom, forthrightness and courage during the recombinant DNA debate reassured those who feared that the victory won in the labo- ratory would be lost on the political front. Mary Lasker President of Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation I am sad he is resigning. I am happy he was head of the NIH at the time of the ma- jor development of gene splicing, which will result both in important new pharma- ceutical treatments for people, and a 1 revolution in agriculture. Page 4 Dr. Ronald W. Lament-Havers Director of Research Administration, Massachusetts General Hospital I learned of his resignation with great sadness and regret. It was a great relief when I heard of his acceptance as Director of NIH. He was the right individual to head NIH during a turbulent period. He led it with great tact and wisdom. We sincerely hope NIH will be as fortunate in the caliber of its next Director. Dr. John B. Slaughter Director of the National Science Foundation As the head of a scientific agency that has had much to do with the National Institutes of Health under the able leadership of Dr. Donald Fredrickson, I sincerely regret his departure from the science scene in Wash- ington. Don will be long remembered as an outstanding administrator, a superb scien- tist and a warm and supporting colleague. He will be missed by all of us who have had the opportunity to know and work with him. The National Science Foundation ex- tends its warmest wishes to Don and his family as they embark upon a new and ex- citing career. Dr. Theodore Cooper Executive Vice President of Upjohn Corporation, former HHS Assistant Secre- tary for Health NIH is losing an authentic giant. He has demonstrated a remarkable range of contri- butions to science, medicine, philosophy, and statesmanship. Dr. Julius Axelrod Nobel Laureate; Chief of the Section of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Clinical Science, NIMH I'm sorry that Dr. Fredrickson is leaving. Dr. Fredrickson is a distinguished scientist and effective research administrator with style, taste and good judgment. Because of the leadership of Dr. Fredrickson and the past director, James Shannon, the NIH is a great medical research institute. Dr. Fredrickson will be hard to replace. Dr. Fredrickson was a very articulate spokesman for the biomedical sciences and played an important role in maintaining our research efforts in a less supportive envi- ronment. His leaving NIH epitomizes the difficulties which we will have in attracting competent scientists in the NIH organization. Dr. John A. D. Cooper President of Association of American Medical Colleges Dr. Philip Leder Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, NICHD Don Fredrickson has provided those ele- ments of leadership and taste that have served to make the NIH the precious re- source it is. He will be greatly missed, not just as the respected scientist and physician FREDRICKSON YEARS Dr. Robert Q. Marston President of the University of Florida, former Director of NIH I have fond memories of my association with Don Fredrickson when he was Director and later scientific director of the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Thus I have fol- lowedwith pride his leadership of the greatest biomedical research institution in the history of the world. 0 fcontfnued irom Page 71 o Exploring mechanisms to improve rela- tionships among government, universities and private industry. During the past year, using the Director's Advisory Committee as a forum, NIH has begun to examine issues related to the patenting of biological inventions, industry support for developmental health research, and the possibility of expanded industrial funding of basic research at universities. o Maintaining the level of national re- search capabilities in a time of limited re- sources and shifting national priorities. This included a new taxonomy using SATT (sci- ence base, applications, technology trans- fer, and training) to portray the broadest breakdown of NIH research support and to focus planners and budget experts on all the important components of the NIH mission. The "stabilization" effort was one of the major initiatives of the Fredrickson era. This called for an annual floor of 5,000 new and competing investigator-initiated research project grants, as the most critical element in sustaining the science base. o Enhancing the NIH central planning process. This entails a systematic set of an- nual meetings to provide a forum for inter- action and decisionmaking between the NIH Director and individual NIH Institute Directors. The reviews focus on each Insti- tute's plans, opportunities for research progress, proposed allocation of resources, legislative proposals, and major program is- sues, and culminate in a refined program plan and planning budget level for the coming year. Clearer Definition Needed In reviewing these programmatic changes during his tenure as NIH Director, he im- plied that the work set in motion is not yet completed. In a recent speech, he said, "There is a need to define more clearly the appropriate position of NIH-and the biomedical research community-with re- spect to the remainder of the health contin- uum; also, to close existing gaps between :he research and health care communities when possible without weakening the Na- :ion's biomedical research effort and `inally, to maintain national research capa- Jilities in a time of limited resources and Ihanging national priorities. C le is, but as a wise conservator of a great nstitution. The NIH Record July 9, 1981 NIH Biomedical Research Advances Achieved Under Fredrickson Leadership 1 1 l! ?he following are just a few of the re- ported major research advances made since 1975 by NIH scientists and grantees: 1975 NIH scientists working on virus-caused cancer in animals provided concrete evi- dence that virus genes become incorpo- rated into a normal cell's gene profile and then direct production of abnormal DNA. This finding was of great value in under- standing human cancer and virus diseases among humans. Based on years of fundamental work, NIH grantees found a way to identify breast can- :er victims who may respond well to hor- none therapy. The assay, performed to find 3reast tumor tissues which contain estro- Zen receptors, helps physicians set a course Jf therapy which may circumvent the need .or surgery or radiation. 1976 A new, effective treatment utilizing 13-1~;s `etinoic acid was developed for patients vith severe, pustular, intractable acne- which previously almost invariably led to jermanent disfigurement of the face. Basic research by NIH grantees and intra- nural scientists using recombinant DNA echniques helped to lay the foundation for he subsequent production of man-made nsulin and human growth hormone from genetically engineered bacteria. These sub- tances are currently being used in clinical rials with Datients with diabetes and certain ypes of dwarfism. NIH intramural scientists proved that a iral agent, HRVL, is the major cause of se- ere diarrhea in infants and young children luring the winter months. Sporatic infantile astroenteritis is an important disease lroughout the world and may require hos- litalization and intravenous feeding. Identi- Ication of the causative agent was a first tep toward vaccine development. Based on the work of NIH grantees, hay ever sufferers can look forward to being lesensitized with fewer and safer injec- ions. Scientists developed a polymerized arm of ragweed antigen E-the major cul- lrit in hay fever-that, when injected, af- 3rds the same benefits as the standard pol- :n extract in about one-third the time and fith less risk to the patient. 977 NIH-supported studies led to the devel- pment and licensing of a vaccine against neumococcal pneumonia which accounts )r a major portion of the 250,000 deaths lat occur annually in the U.S. from pneu- lonia. The vaccine should be particularly seful for the elderly and those with serious hronic diseases-the group at high risk of ying from pneumonia. A major advance in the fight against viral iseases, the first successful drug treatment f patients with herpesvirus encephalitis, `as announced. A drug Ara-A, used intra- enously, was shown to reduce both brain amage and death due to this highly fatal rain infection. An NC1 study showed that survival rates July 8, 1981 for 6 of the 10 most common forms of can- cer in the U.S. had gradually improved since the early 1960's. Increased survival was found for patients with cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, prostate, rectum and uterine corpus. In a collaborative study supported by NIH, a vaccine to prevent bacterial menin- gitis caused by group A meningococci was shown to be effective in infants and young children. NIH grantees showed that the drug cimetidine, taken orally with a normal meal, safely and effectively inhibits gastric acid secretion in patients with certain ulcers. 1978 NIH grantees found that venom from stinging insects provides superior immuno- therapy for insect bite victims and that the extracts from whole bodies of insects- which have been routinely used- may pro- vide little or no protection. As a result of this work, insect venoms are believed safe and effective in preventing life-threatening allergic reactions and are recommended for treatment for the hundreds of thousands of patients currently at risk. NIH grantees reported that certain human cancer-cells can induce high levels of interferon when in contact with white blood cells. This finding supported the theory that interferon-a naturally pro- duced antiviral substance-may be one of the body's defenses against cancer. 1979 NIH funded research on an exciting new technique using a radioisotope and a scanning device that allows neuroscientists to watch the human brain in action. Known as PETT, positron emission transverse to- mography, this scanner-used for research purposes rather than diagnostic ones- should enable scientists to evaluate brain chemistry before, during, and after a stroke; determine the response of a brain tumor to drug treatment; and allow for the probing of biochemical abnormalities in disorders such as Huntington's or Alzheimer's disease. NIH grantees, using recombinant DNA techniques, succeeded in the molecular cloning of tumor viruses. This achievement, coupled with new techniques for identi- fying the proteins responsible for transfor- mation, provides scientists with an unprec- edented opportunity to understand the basic mechanisms of cancer and provide in- sights into the most fundamental aspects of tumor biology. Intramural researchers developed a test that may ultimately help pathologists diag- nose the spread of even a few breast cancer cells to adjacent lymph nodes. Because therapy differs for various types of cancer, quick identification of the source or sus- pect cells is valuable. 1980 NIH grantees were able to reverse dia- betes in mice by transplanting into them normal islet cells from healthy rats. Al- though several obstacles need to be over- The NW Record come before this type of transplantation can be attempted in humans, this repre- sents a major advance not only in the treat- ment of diabetes but also in overcoming the immunologic barriers to transplantation be- tween species. NIH scientists developed a procedure that may offer an alternative to in vitro ferti- lization for women with irreparable tubal damage. Using monkeys whose reproduc- tive systems are similar to humans, the re- searchers removed an egg-shortly before the anticipated time of ovulation-from the ovary of each animal whose fallopian tubes had been surgically blocked. The egg from each animal was then injected into her fal- lopian tube near the uterus, beyond the blockage. After mating, 16 percent of the animals became pregnant and delivered ap- parently normal infants. Additional animal studies and eventual trials in women are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of this technique. An NCI study has shown that patients with Hodgkin's disease, even in advanced stages, can be cured using a multidrug ther- apy. This disease-until now almost always fatal-strikes approximately 7,000 persons a year in the U.S. NIH grantees and others conducted clini- cal trials which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a hepatitis B vaccine. Mass im- munization programs based on this success may ultimately affect not only the incidence of acute hepatitis B (now at about 100,000 cases per year in the U.S.) and the pool of chronic carriers (now at about 800,000 in the U.S.), but may also reduce morbidity and mortality from chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and a certain liver cancer. 0 FREDRICKSON CAREER fCont/nued from Page 7) His research achievements have won him many honors and awards. He is a member of numerous professional societies In addi- tion to the NAS and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1978 he received the Galrdner Award, his most recent honor. He is also the recipi- ent of several honorary degrees, including doctor of medicine from the Karolinska lnstitutet (1977), and doctor of science from Georgetown University School of Medicine (1981). Born in Canon City, Colo., in 1924, Dr. * Fredrickson received both his B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of Michigan, and was certified by the Ameri- can Board of Internal Medicine in 1957. He did postgraduate work at Peter Bent Brigham and Massachusetts General Hospi- tals and the Harvard Medical School prior to coming to NIH in 1953. Internationally known for his expertise on lipid metabolism and its disorders, he be- came NIH Director July 1, 1975. Prior to this appointment, he had served for 1 year as president of the Institute of Medicine, Na- tional Academy of Sciences. Dr. Fredrick- son is returning to NAS as a visiting scholar upon departing NIH, June 30. C Page 5 THE FREDRICKSON ERA- in 1965, Dr. Fredrickson, who was with the then National Heart Institute, accompanied Presi- dent Lyndon B. Johnson on his tour of the Clini- Ear/y Days President Jerry Ford attended Dr. Fredrickson's swearing-in ceremony in 1975. His oath of office was administered by then HEW Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger. Mrs. Fredrickson also participated. cal Center. Administrative Duties Dr. Fredrickson confers with former NIH Director Dr. James A. Shannon. Over the years, Dr. Fredrickson and the NIH Directors have appeared at many Congressional hearings to give expert testimony. Dr. Fredrickson fc) discusses lipid research during a 1973 visit with Sovi- et professors Anatoli Klimov (1) and Helena Cerosimova (rear), and with Dr. Robert I. Levy, NHLBI. Dr. Fredrickson was a principal figure in coordinating the two-country research project. Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Fredrickson al- ways found time to greet visitors such as the poster children from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Page 6 The NJH Record July 6, 1981 Physician, Researcher, and NIH Director NIH Directorship The new Ambulatory Care Research Facility is a "new Rauhaus" where many research disci- plines can work for the Rood of patients, says In fuly 1979, Dr. Fredrickson and other dignitar- br. Fredrickson. es appeared for the "topping off" ceremonies rt the ACRF. Hundreds of reports had to be studied and evafuated in-between trips across the Nation, and foreign visits to the USSR, China, and Africa. Air Force One took President Carter rnd Dr. Fredrickson to inspect the tamage from the Mount St. Helens eruption. Dr. Fredrickson (c) joins NIH Nobel laureates Drs. Marshall Nirenberg (I) and fulius Axelrod (r) in congratulating Dr. D. Carleton Cajdusek upon learning of his selection as a Nobel Prize recipient in 1976. `he world scientific community also sought Dr. Fredrickson's ,ounsel. Dr. Hafdan Mahler (I), Director General of the World iealth Organization, and Dr. Hector R. Acuna (second from r), Director of the Pan American Union, visited NIH to discuss joint esearch projects. fapan's Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi learned about NIH in 1978. Fare well A capacity crowd of scientists and administra- tors heard Dr. Fredrickson's farewell address in the Masur Auditorium. July 8, 1981 The NIH Record Page 7 Enzyme Believed To Trigger Cataracts in Diabetes A major advance in cataract research is the identification of aldose reductase, an enzyme which triggers the formation of a certain type of cataract associated with dia- betes. This finding, according to National Eye Institute intramural investigators, may have far-reaching implications because the enzyme could be involved in more serious complications of diabetes. Aldose reductase in the eye lens, con- verts excess blood sugars to sorbitol (sugar alcohol) or polyols. Unable to move freely through cell membranes, the polyols accu- mulate and osmotically draw water into the legs cells. These cells eventually burst, gradually causing the opacity known as diabetic cataract. AR Role Elucidated The so-called polyol theory explaining the biological role of AR was elucidated by Dr. Jin Kinoshita, formerly chief of the Labora- tory of Vision Research and now NEI scien- tific director. He found that the formation of diabetic cataract could be delayed or even prevented in animals by blocking the enzyme with specific inhibitors. Microscopic studies of the lenses of dia- betic rats, which are ordinarily clouded by cataract within 4 to 6 months of onset, re- vealed no difference between the lenses treated with potent AR inhibitors and the lenses of nondiabetic control rats. The mi- croscopic studies were conducted by Dr. Manuel Datiles, an NEI visiting scientist from the Philippines. Recently, several new classes of AR inhib- itors have been discovered by Dr. Peter Kador, NEI reseirch chemist. These inhibi- tors are related to antiallergy compounds, man-made chemicals which interfere with mediators of allergic reactions. Dr. Kador found that not all AR inhibitors are equally potent in inhibiting AR from different tissues of the body. For example, a certain inhibitor was found to be highly effective in inhibiting AR activity in human and rat lens tissue, while less potent in human placental tissue. Evidently, several specific inhibitors are needed to counteract the AR activity in dif- ferent parts of the body. Some AR inhibi- tors are now being tested in juvenile dia- betic patients to find if the lens swelling which frequently accompanies the disorder can be blocked. Preliminary data from other related re- search indicate that AR may be involved in the eye's healing process. During certain types of surgery, a portion of the cornea's outer layer, the epithelium, is removed. Normally, in nondiabetic patients, this tissue regenerates. Cornea1 Healing Delayed In diabetics, however, cornea1 healing is often delayed and complications frequently arise, AR inhibitors used in diabetic animals have improved the healing of cornea1 epithelium following surgery. Research on aldose reductase and cata- ract formation has led to a better under- standing of the basic mechanisms responsi- ble for other, more serious diabetic complications, Dr. Kinoshita noted. For instance, a study of 36 diabetic per- sons recently showed that administration of an AR inhibitor significantly reduced symp- toms of diabetic neuropathy, a motor nerve disorder. The inhibitor reversed impaired nerve conduction velocity in diabetic pa- tients during the 27-week study, which sup- ports the aldose reductase or polyol theory of neuropathy development in diabetics. Researchers are also considering aldose reductase in the role it may play in diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of visual impairment among middle-aged Americans. 0 Dr. Kador Wins Rohto Award for Diabetic Cataract Research Dr. Peter Kador, a National Eye Institute research chemist, received the first interna- tional Rohto Award for cataract research by young investigators. The presentation will 3e made annually by the Rohto Pharmaceu- ical Company of Japan. Dr. Kador received the award for his re- search on inhibitors of aldose reductase, an enzyme which initiates the development of diabetic cataracts. Through basic studies on he enzyme, the mechanism of inhibitor ac- Ion, and their interrelationships, several lew classes of AR inhibitors have been leveloped. ducation Noted Aldose reductase, present in other body issues, may also be involved in the devel- A plaque and $l,ooO were presented to Dr. lpment of additional more serious compli- Kador, for his research, during the recent Asso- ations suffered by diabetics. ciation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmol- A native of Columbus, Oh., Dr. Kador ogy annual meeting in Sarasota, Fla. las been with NEI since 1976. He received He is a member of the Association for Re- lis Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from Ohio search in Vision and Ophthalmology, the tate University in 1976, and his bachelor's American Chemical Society (the medicinal egree from Capital University in Columbus chemistry section), Sigma Xi, and Rho Chi, 1 7972. a pharmacy honorary society. Cl Drs. Datiles, Kador, and Kinoshita (I to r) of the NEI, review their new data on the enzyme, al- dose reductase, which triggers the formation of diabetic cataracts, and is implicated in other se- rious complications of diabetes. Fed. Credit Union To Open Bldg. 31 Offices July 20 On Monday, July 20, the NIH Federal Credit Union will have the grand opening of their new quarters in Bldg. 31, Rm. IA-IO. In that office, Loretta Rinker, branch manager, will supervise the loan depart- ment, member service for new accounts, share drafts, and certificates. Approximate- ly 12 to 13 staff members will be employed there, in addition to 7 tellers. Personal unsecured loans are being of- fered again at 18 percent interest. Used car lo?ns are at 17 percent and new car loans are being offered at 15 percent. Student ed- ucation loans are also being offered for both Federal and Maryland State programs. Share secured loans are currently set at 9% percent, enabling a member to borrow up to the amount held in a regular share ac- count. Certificates are still offering higher interest rates than regular share accounts. The 6-month $10,000 money market share certificate rate is set every Tuesday morning as determined by the U.S. Treasury Depart- ment the previous evening. Regular $1,000 share certificates held to maturity for 6 or 12 months, yield 9.9 per- cent interest; the 24- to 30-month certifi- cates yield 12.75 percent. Regular share ac- counts are now at 6'/2 percent interest, compounded quarterly: share draft ac- counts are compounded daily at 5% percent. In the future, the NIHFCU hopes to ob- tain additional space in the Bldg. 13 area. At present, the space is still being negotiated, but the plan has provisions for employing one loan person, a supervisor, and four to five tellers. The Old Georgetown Road facility now loIds the space management section on the ;econd floor, and the rest of the building is lccupied by the administrative functions of he NIHFCU. @ The Ghost Train' Is Coming! The NIH R&W Theatre Group needs car- lenters, painters, stage crew, electricians, :tc., to help with their upcoming play, The ;hosr Train, scheduled to open July 31. \nyone interested may call Loren Ziller, 196-6385. 0 Page 8 The NIH Record July 8, 1981 Dr. Gerald D. Aurbach Given Award For Bone and Mineral Research Dr. Gerald D. Aurbach, chief of the Meta- bolic Diseases Branch, NIADDK, was re- cently named the first recipient of the William F. Neuman Award for distinguished achievement in the field of bone and mineral research. The Council of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research honored him at its annual meeting in Cincinnati. Dr. Neuman, who died earlier this year, was a world renowned expert in bone and mineral metabolism. The award was estab- lished to honor individuals who share the scientific creativity, outstanding record of training, and openness and interest in people that he exemplified. Dr. Aurbach's achievements have been in the endocrinological aspects of bone and mineral research. He was the first to isolate parathyroid hormone in its pure form and is a world leader in the study of the hormonal control of calcium metabolism. The secretions of the endocrine system, such as parathyroid hormone, help to regu- late levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Various disorders of bone are re- lated to errors in metabolism of parathyroid hormone and the related hormone, calci- tonin, and are now being studied as a result of Dr. Aurbach's aggressive and pioneering research. His work on the chemistry, physiology, regulation of secretion and mechanism of action of these active hormonal agents has aided substantially the current research on many clinical disorders of bone. Dr. Aurbach's original isolation of para- thyroid hormone led to the understanding of its structure and synthesis of the hor- mone. This was a collaborative project with Dr. John T. Potts' group, initially at NHLBI, then later conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He, together with an associate, Dr. Lewis Dr. Aurbach conducts assays as part of his research on hormone mechanisms of action. Chase, also discovered that the mechanism of action of the hormone was mediated through cyclic AMP. With his colleagues in the Metabolic Dis- eases Branch, Dr. Aurbach characterized the physical properties of calcitonin and identified and described its receptors. Other important studies have ranged from mechanisms regulating parathyroid hor- mone secretion to interaction of active vita- min D metabolites with their receptors. Of current interest to Dr. Aurbach is the role of impaired hormone receptor function in clinical problems of calcium metabolism, most recently pseudohypoparathyroidism. He joined NIADDK in 1959 as a research associate. In 1973, he was appointed to his present position as chief of the Metabolic Diseases Branch. Since I%6 he has been a medical director in the U.S. Public Health Service. 0 Applications Invited for PHS Medical Epidemiology Training The U.S. Public Health Service invites ap- plications for a proposed extension of a training program in medical epidemiology. Up to 12 persons per year, who already have an M.D., a doctorate in an allied health profession, or Ph.D in a biomedical or behavioral science, may be accepted as staff fellows of the USPHS for a 3-year peri- od of duty. Applications received by Sept. 15 may be considered for service to begin on or about July 1, 1982. During the first year, each suc- cessful applicant will attend a university at government expense as a candidate for the M.P.H. or equivalent degree. During the subsequent 2 years, individu- als will work in research studies in associa- tion with senior epidemiologists in the participating agencies. They are Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Men- tal Health Administration; Centers for Dis- ease Control; Food and Drug Administra- tion; and the National Institutes of Health. A matching procedure similar to the na- tional intern matching will be employed to assure that each individual is assigned to a preceptor whose area or expertise is of in- terest to the trainee, and consistent with his or her career plans. Salaries will be provided according to the scale in effect for staff fellows in intramural research at NIH. Presently, the remunera- tion for a physician is $30,000 per annum for the first year, with a $2,000 increase annual- ly for the second and third years. Educa- tional costs for the first year are provided in addition. Other basic requirements include 1 year of postdoctoral training or experience as of July 1, 1982; U.S. citizenship; and accepta- bility to an accredited university offering an M.P.H. or equivalent degree. Further details of the program and appli- cation forms may be obtained from Dr. Robert S. Gordon, Jr., Special Assistant to the Director, NIH, Bldg. 1, Rm. 238. 0 Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.--E. W. Howe 0 July 8, 1981 The NIH Record Savings Bond Campaign Nets Large 1981 Increase This year's NIH U.S. Savings Bonds cam- paign netted more than a 300 percent in- crease in employee participation as com- pared with the 1980 drive. Fifteen percent of all NIH employees were enrolled in the program by the campus-wide bond coordinators and canvassers. Coordinated by the Division of Research Grants, the bond campaign was termed a success this year because of the higher in- terest rate available, a larger number of canvassers, R&W prizes, and the absence of parking fees. Dr. Carl D. Douglass, DRG Director, drew the three raffle tickets for the R&W-spon- sored lottery called "Be a Double Winner." Free lottery tickets were given to each em- ployee who bought a new savings bond, or increased their allotment on previously issued bonds. Lottery Winners The winners were: 1st prize: Thelma Jones, DRR, who won a $50 U.S. Savings Bond; 2nd prize: Cida Hessing, CC, who won a Sony AM/FM portable radio; and 3rd prize: Florine Matthews, NIDR, who won a Sanyo pocket calculator. A prize was also given to Bob Smith, CC, who sold more bond purchase pledges than any other canvasser in the drive. He was awarded two tickets to the Joffrey Ballet at Wolf Trap. 0 Assert Yourself! Rachelle Selzer, chief mental health counselor, Employee Assistance Program, will present a 4-week assertiveness training workshop which is open to all interested employees. The l-hour workshops will be held on Mondays, July 20, 27, and August 3, and 10, from noon to 1 p.m., in Bldg. 31, Rm. B2C-07. The group is limited to 15 participants. For an interview, call 496-3164. 0 5ven E. Rodenbeck (I), environmental engineer at the NIH Division of Safety, was recently awarded a plaque for outstanding performance with the Public Health Service at the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation Service Unil in Montana. Mr. Rodenbeck, who worked at the reservation /or 2 years before joining NIH this February, was commended for his management of 11 con- struction projects, totaling 51.3 million, to pro- vide sanitary facilities at the reservation. Dr. W. Emmett Barkley, division director, presented the award on behalf of the Billings area office of Ihe Indian Health Service. Page 9 Dr. W. Kincj Engel Leaves NINCDS in July Dr. W. King Engel, chief of the Neuro- muscular Diseases Section, NINCDS intra- mural program, is leaving in July to become chief of the division of neuromuscular dis- eases and professor of neurology and pa- thology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles He will also be director of the Center fo Neuromuscular Diseases at USC's Hospital of the Good Samaritan and director of the USC Muscular Dystrophy Association Clin- ic. Dr. Engel is a world authority in clinical and basic research involving diseases of m&cle, neuromuscular junctions, periph- eral nerves, and upper and lower motor neurons, and in the clinical management a hose diseases. Dr. Engel and his wife and colleague, Dr. Valerie Askanas, are leaving NIH for Los Ange- les. Over the years, Dr. Engel has trained more than 100 neurologists in the field of neuromus. cular diseases. An NINCDS staff member since 1956, he has authored or coauthored over 350 publi zations. He has been investigating patho- ;enic mechanisms as well as new treat- nents for such diseases as polymyositis, nyasthenia gravis, and dysimmune leuropathies. His research studies also include amyo- rophic lateral sclerosis, the muscular dystrophies and other myopathies, and rarious peripheral neuropathies. One of Dr. Engel's most recent efforts has nvolved the treatment of polymyositis, my- lsthenia gravis, and dysimmune neuro- jathies with a technique known as total )ody irradiation. Dr. Engel is a clinical professor of neurol- )gy at the George Washington University chool of Medicine and a medical director 1 the PHS. In 1962 he was presented the S. Veir Mitchell Award of the American Acad- my of Neurology, and in 1971 was awarded 7e Public Health Service Meritorious Serv- :e Medal. U ;ive me the benefit of your convicfions, if XJ have any, but keep your doubts to aurself, for I have enough of my wn.-Goethe 0 Retires After 24 Years Dr. John Z. Hearon, NIADDK Mathemati- cal Research Branch, recently retired from Federal service after serving as branch chief since 1961. Dr. Hearon directed research on the mathematical and theoretical aspects of bi- ological problems. His own particular re- search interests included compartmental analysis, and problems in linear algebra and matrix theory arising from kinetic problems in biology. He came to NIH as a senior research fel- low in 1946. From IV48 to 1957, he was assistant professor of physiology at the Uni- versity of Chicago, then senior mathemati- cian at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and later, analysis counselor to the techni cal director at the Naval Medical Research Institute. He rejoined NIH in 1957 as chief, NIADDK Office of Mathematical Research. Dr. Hearon, a charter member of the So- ciety of Mathematical Biology, has served on the society's board of directors. He is the author of more than 75 pub- lished papers and has participated exten- sively as a referee for most of the promi- nent journals in his field. He has also been 3n associate editor for Mathematical Sioscience and Computers in Biology, and ; member of the publication board of the Bulletin of Mathemafical Biology. A native of Sumter, S.C., Dr. Hearon re- :eived a B.S. in pre-med from the Citadel in 1941. He received an M.S. in biochemistry n 1942, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 194` `ram the University of Michigan. He was tht second person ever granted a Ph.D. in nathematical biology from the University 01 Chicago, awarded in 1950. Dr. Hearon will be returning to Sumter, ???? O ??????*? ????*???? program Participants ponsored by Fogarty Internal'/ Center `l-Dr. Abdur Razzaque, Bangladesh, Labo- atory of Molecular Carcinogenesis. Sponsor: Ir. Andrew Peacock, NCI, Bg. 37, Rm. 3DlO. II-Dr. Nobukuni Terata, Japan, Laboratory of nmunobiology. Sponsor: Dr. Herbert J. Rapp, ICI, Bg. 37, Rm. 2820. `l-Dr. Celina Tsang, Hong Kong, Clinical harmacoloyy Branch. Sponsor: Dr. Michael oyd, NCI, ag. 10, Rm. 6Nlll. `5-Dr. Jacques Treton, France, Laboratory of ision Research. Sponsor: Dr. Joram iatigorsky, NICHD, Bg. 6, Rm. 222. `8-Dr. Sylvia Fargion, Italy, Pediatric Oncolo- y Branch. Sponsor: Dr. Arthur Levine, NCI, g. 10, Rm. 3812. `8--Dr. Hiroki Namba, Japan, Laboratory of erebral Metabolism. Sponsor: Dr. Louis >koloff, NIMH, Bg. 36, Rm. lA27. 15-Dr. Chen-ting Chen, China, Laboratory of entral Nervous System Studies. Sponsor: Dr. arleton Gajdusek, NINCDS, Bg. 36, Rm. 5625. 15--Dr. Peter Van Bladeren, The Netherlands. tboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry. Sponsor: r. Donald Jerina, NIADDK, Sg. 4, Rm. 214. 17-Dr. Toshio Hattori, Japan, Laboratory of Imunodiagnosis. Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Hoff- an, NCI, Bg. 10, Rm. 8803. Dermatology Grow Discusses Skin-Related Reseirch The second annual Ad Hoc Interagency Dermatology Working Group, chaired by Dr. Laurence Miller, Skin Diseases Program director, NIADDK, recently met at NIH to share highlights of skin-related research supported by Federal agencies. Representatives from DRR, FDA, NCI, NIADDK, NIAID, and NIEHS discussed clini- cal research on primary skin disease and on systemic disease with secondary skin mani- festations, as well as basic studies on skin as a model for cell biology and as a tissue organ from toxicity testing. Heinz Eiermann, director of the Division of Cosmetic Technology, FDA, told mem- bers that dermatoxicology--the study of disease induced by exposure of the skin to toxic agents-is the "toxicology of the fu- ture." In the past, he noted, more emphasis has been placed on research on the toxic ef- fects of ingesting foods containing sub- stances such as nitrosamines. Concern is developing in the medical community, how- ever, about the systemic effects that these substances, which are contained in higher concentrations in cosmetics, may have when they penetrate the skin. He said more research is needed on how substances penetrate the skin because the effect of certain additives, some of which are carcinogenic, is cumulative. As an ex- ample, he cited the widespread and long- term use of cosmetic preparations containing safrol. Mr. Eiermann emphasized that FDA sup- ports research on the safety, not the effica cy, of cosmetic preparations. Citing FDA- supported studies by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, Mr. Eiermann