OCL Update

NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIAISON

Spring is almost here, and I am happy to announce that it will be a peaceful time around the NIH campus. There will be green grass, tall trees, blooming flowers and almost no NIH-related noise to penetrate the spring and summer nights. That's right; the noise that has been coming from the west part of the NIH campus will be a thing of the past by May. Yes, May of this year.

Immediately after concerned county residents notified NIH about the noise, we began the task of tracking the source and seeking the solution(s). After a thorough campus review, it was discovered that the air conditioning units of two buildings, the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center, known as the Porter building, and Building 37, were producing unexpected noises. According to Robert McDonald, the project manager for the new Neuroscience Research Center, "We did not account for the noise coming from the fans, and I apologize for the noise this building has been making."

Although the sound levels did not constitute a legal violation in Montgomery County, NIH officials recognized that the noise was a problem for the surrounding community and have taken action to correct this problem. The first step taken was to have building engineers measure the noise, evaluate the buildings and pinpoint the cause of the disturbance. Once the problem was identified, the engineers concluded that custom-made parts were necessary to muffle the noise. Those parts have now been fabricated and will be installed in April. Building engineers have also designed a sound-absorbent screen that will be wrapped around the fan housings. This wrap will further muffle the noise and eliminate the problem. The same steel structure and screen will also cover the tall stacks, blocking them from sight as originally planned. The contractors will begin this project any day now and will complete it sometime in early May of 2005.

According to Stella Serras-Fiotes, director of the Division of Facilities Planning in the NIH Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, the other noise problem, from the newly renovated Building 37, has been identified, and steps are being taken to correct the matter. This building also needs noise mufflers to eliminate the problem, and the parts have been ordered and will be installed as soon as they arrive. A noticeable improvement and conclusion to this issue can be expected by the end of April. Not quite yet exactly the "sound of silence," but big steps toward ending the annoying sounds have been taken. I am pleased and relieved to see this problem come to a good end.

A Farewell

Unfortunately, good things must also come to an end. I also have the bittersweet task of saying goodbye to all of you and to the NIH. I have loved working for the NIH and with the community. I've made lifelong friends, and hope I have made a difference that will be long remembered. I've been blessed with an extraordinary staff and with a wonderful community. Now I'm moving on to a great job opportunity and the best news of all, for my family and me, is that we will remain in Bethesda where I can continue my friendship with each of you. I want to thank all of you for what you have taught me and for all you have done to help me. I am forever in your debt.

NIH Appoints Elizabeth Nabel, M.D., as New NHLBI Director

NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., appointed Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., as the new director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NIH. Dr. Nabel, who previously served as the scientific director
of clinical research in the NHLBI intramural program, took over her new position last month.

"Dr. Nabel is a leading scientist and recognized expert in the development of novel genetic and cellular therapies for cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Zerhouni. "Her research on vascular biology and the regulation of smooth muscle cell growth has provided important insights into the development of heart disease."

In her new position, Dr. Nabel will oversee an annual budget of almost $3 billion and a staff of approximately 850 federal employees. NHLBI provides leadership for national research on heart, lung, blood and sleep diseases and disorders.

A board certified cardiologist, Dr. Nabel joined NHLBI in 1999 as the institute's scientific director of clinical research. In this role, she initiated a cardiothoracic surgery branch, a state-of-the-art training and research program in cardiovascular surgery, and she started a program to investigate genetic variation among patients with vascular diseases. While at NHLBI, Dr. Nabel served as the chief of the institute's vascular biology section, directing research on the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms that cause vascular disorders.

Dr. Nabel received her medical education at Cornell University Medical College before moving to Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University, where she completed an internship and residency in internal medicine and a clinical and research fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. She joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1987 as an assistant professor of medicine and rose through the ranks becoming director of the cardiovascular research center in 1992, professor of internal medicine and physiology in 1994 and director of the Division of Cardiology in 1997. While at the University of Michigan, she became known for her research in the field of vascular biology and molecular cardiology and for her gene transfer studies of the cardiovascular system.

Dr. Nabel has received numerous awards, is an editor to several medical journals and serves on numerous medical boards and committees.

NIH To Hold Premier Health and Fitness Expo on May 15, 2005

NIH is holding its sixth annual free health and fitness exposition, Share the Health, on Sunday, May 15, 2005, in Wheaton, Maryland. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., area residents can participate in exciting science activities for the whole family. The event features interactive exhibits, health screenings and physical fitness activities. Community members can also collect a wealth of free health information along with giveaways and prizes.

Sponsored by the NIH Office of Community Liaison, the event is intended to improve the health and wellness of the community. NIH, the nation's premier biomedical research institute, wants to reach out to the nation, one community at a time. Share the Health allows people of all ages to learn, experience and discover new ways to maintain or improve their overall health and level of fitness in fun and interactive ways.

This year's event is taking place at Westfield Shoppingtown, located at 11160 Viers Mill Road, in Wheaton. With information and activities for people of all ages, you won't want to miss this unique opportunity for your friends, family and neighbors to Share the Health!

For more information about this free event, call 301-496-3931 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or visit http://sharethehealth.od.nih.gov.

NIH Speeds Release of Research to Public, Establishes Online Public Archive

Last month, NIH announced a new policy that will accelerate the public's access to published articles resulting from NIH-funded research. The new policy—the first of its kind for NIH—calls on scientists to release research manuscripts to the public within 12 months of publication. Once available, these peer-reviewed research articles will be in a public Web-based archive managed by the National Library of Medicine for all to use.

"With the rapid growth in the public's use of the Internet, NIH must take a leadership role in making available to the public the research that we support," said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "While this new policy is voluntary, we are strongly encouraging all NIH-supported researchers to release their published manuscripts as soon as possible for the benefit of the public."

Beginning in May, NIH-funded scientists will submit their research electronically for publication. The research will then be made available through PubMed Central as soon as possible. PubMed Central, located at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov, is NLM's digital repository of full-text, peer-reviewed biomedical, behavioral and clinical research journals. This is a permanent, publicly accessible and searchable electronic archive.

For more information about the new policy, visit http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/index.htm.

NIH Launches 2005 Women's Health Seminar Series

The Women's Health Seminar Committee of the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) is launching its 2005 seminar series, Women's Health Research for the 21st Century, this month. The series, which is free and open to the public, features health topics of interest to women on selected dates, March through November. Seminars take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the dates listed below in Lipsett Amphitheater in Building 10 on the NIH campus in Bethesda. Topics include sleep disorders, depression and pain. Registration is not required, and sign language interpretation is provided. For more information, call the ORWH at 301-402-1770 or visit http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh.

March 31—Women and Sleep Disorders
June 16—Women and Depression
November 1—Women and Pain

NIH Holds Circus Night To Raise Money for NIH Charities

The NIH Recreation & Welfare Association is holding its annual NIH night at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Wednesday, March 23 at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. Don't miss your chance to attend this special premiere evening of The Greatest Show on Earth—and raise money for a worthy cause, the NIH Charities. Your ticket purchase will help NIH give a night of circus magic to patients and their families in the Children's Inn and Special Love/Camp Fantastic, local underprivileged children and their families and other children with special needs. This year's spectacle includes breathtaking high wire and trampoline stunts, acrobatic troupes, motorcycles, animal acts and more. Showtime is 7 p.m., but be there by 6 p.m. for the special pre-show party, the Three Ring Adventure. Discounted tickets range from $12.50 to $30 depending on seat location and can be purchased in any R&W store on the NIH campus. For more information or to purchase tickets via phone, call 301-496-4600.

NIH Hosts Red Dress Collection 2005 Fashion Show, Promotes Heart Disease Prevention Among Women

NIH and the New York fashion industry are unlikely research partners, but the two joined forces last month to help promote heart disease prevention among women. As part of The Heart Truth—a national campaign for women about heart disease—the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NIH hosted the Red Dress Collection 2005 Fashion Show in New York City. On National Wear Red Day, 26 of America's most influential designers and a star-studded cast of celebrity models, including Vanessa Williams and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, showed off the latest red dresses for 2005.

"We welcome the powerful support from the fashion and entertainment industries—as well as individual celebrities from the arts, theater and sports—in advancing the fight against heart disease among women and sharing The Heart Truth with millions of American women," said NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D. "The debut of the Red Dress Collection 2005 delivers an urgent reminder for women to care for their hearts and to take action against heart disease, still the number-one killer of women."

The Red Dress Collection 2005 Fashion Show featured red dresses created exclusively for The Heart Truth to warn women of their number-one health threat. Modeling these one-of-a-kind designs were some of the world's most recognized stars, including Sheryl Crow, Venus Williams, Christie Brinkley, Paula Abdul, Debi Mazar, Rachel Hunter and Elettra Rossellini, among others.

"I participated in this outstanding event last year and am thrilled to serve as host, as well as to walk in the show this year, because The Heart Truth is that heart disease is the number-one killer of women in America," said Vanessa Williams. "Tragically, heart disease is also the number-one killer in my family. I am committed to helping women everywhere learn more about how to reduce their risk."

Participating designers in the 2005 Collection included: Alia Khan, Baby Phat, Badgley Mischka, Betsey Johnson, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc Valvo, Carolina Herrera, Catherine Malandrino, Cynthia Rowley, Cynthia Steffe, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Esteban Cortazar, Kenneth Cole, Luca Luca, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Nicole Miller, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Richard Tyler, Shannon Stokes, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang and Zac Posen.

Since 1984, heart disease has killed more women than men, though recognition of this important health issue among women has remained low for decades. NHLBI launched The Heart Truth to raise awareness of the toll that heart disease takes on women.

NIH Offers Spring Mini-Med School Program on the Future of Aging

Have you ever wished you had paid more attention in your high school biology classes? Would you like to increase your understanding of the scientific topics that you hear about every day in the news? If your answer is yes, you will want to sign up now for the Spring 2005 Mini-Med School—a six-week, public science education program sponsored by Smithsonian Associates and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Office of Science Education (OSE) at NIH.

Entitled Aging Under the Microscope, this program teaches students in an informal and relaxed atmosphere about NIH-supported research that is exploring the basic science of the aging process. Topics will include longevity research, genetics, biochemistry and aging, hormones and aging, the aging body and the future of aging. Mini-Med School will run for six consecutive Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m., April 21 through May 26, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Because each lecture builds on the previous, Mini-Med students are expected to attend all six sessions. Students will "graduate" and receive a personalized certificate of completion.

This popular program fills up quickly. Be sure to register soon. The program costs $57 per person. For more information or to register, call 202-357-3030 or visit http://residentassociates.org/com/mini_med.asp.

March 7
The Manchester String Quartet: Dvorak Viola Quintet in E Flat Major, 12:30 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call Sharon Greenwell at 301-496-4713.

March 8
ORWH Special Event: International Women's Day, 3:30–5 p.m., Wilson Hall, Building 1, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information call Vicki Malick at 301-402-1770.

March 9
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Organization and Function of the Synapse Proteome: A Cognitive Machine by Seth G.N. Grant, M.B., B.Surg., Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Continuing medical education (CME) credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.

National Library of Medicine Special Program:
Women's History Month Lecture, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Main Auditorium, Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call James Cassedy, Ph.D., at 301-594-0992 or visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/happening/seminars/seminars_2005.html.

March 11
NIH Director's Seminar Series: Cell Surface Proteolysis: The Cutting Edge by Thomas Bugge, Ph.D., National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, noon–1 p.m., Wilson Hall, Building 1, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call Colleen Crone at 301-496-1921.

March 14
NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Seminar Series: Motivational Interviewing and Health Behavior Change by William R. Miller, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 9–10 a.m., Room C, Neuroscience Building, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, free and open to the public. For more information, call Ronald Abeles at 301-496-7859 or visit http://obssr.od.nih.gov/BSSRCC/BSSRLectures_Winter05.htm.

March 16
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: What Is Human Stereopsis Good For? by Suzanne McKee, Ph.D., Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.

National Library of Medicine History of Medicine Seminar Series: "Challenge: Science Against Cancer" (1950); Cancer Research and the Publication Movie in the 1950s by David Cantor, Ph.D., National Library of Medicine and National Cancer Institute, NIH, 2–3:15 p.m., Lister Hill Auditorium, Building 38A, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call James Cassedy, Ph.D., at 301-594-0992 or visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/happening/seminars/seminars_2005.html.

March 17
NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: The Truth About Consequences: Effective Discipline Without Punishment, noon–1:30 p.m., Conference Room 6, C-wing, 6th Floor, Building 31, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.

March 23
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Quality Control of Transmembrane Proteins by Hugh R.B. Pelham, Ph.D., Medical Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.

NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Keeping Sane in the Sandwich Generation, noon–1:30 p.m., Room 1227/1233, Building 50, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.

March 28
The Manchester String Quartet: Shostakovich Piano Quintet, Opus 57, 12:30 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. For more information, call Sharon Greenwell at 301-496-4713.

March 29
NIH Work/Life Center Faces & Phases of Life Seminar Series: Creating a Great Federal Résumé, noon–2 p.m., Conference Room 6, C-wing, 6th Floor, Building 31, NIH campus, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call 301-435-1619 or visit http://wflc.od.nih.gov/faces.asp.

March 30
NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series: Biotechnology and Nanotechnology: Two Overlapping Health Revolutions by Ray Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies, Inc., 3–4 p.m., Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH campus, free and open to the public. CME credit is available. For more information, call Hilda Madine at 301-594-5595 or visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm.

*Calendar items subject to change. Call to confirm your event.

New Music Center Opens at Strathmore Hall Arts Center

Strathmore debuted its brand new Music Center on February 5, with performances by the Washington Performing Arts Society, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and sopranos Harolyn Blackwell and Janice Chandler-Eteme. Located on expansive grounds in North Bethesda, the $100 million Music Center at Strathmore allows the important local arts center to expand its programming. William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. designed the new center, in collaboration with Kirkegaard Associates, Acousticians, and Theater Project Consultants. It seats nearly 2,000 patrons in its concert hall and comprises 190,000 square feet of space.

"The Music Center at Strathmore is designed to be welcoming, both as a civic and a cultural building," said architect William Rawn. "As visitors move through the building, large glass walls link to the rolling and steep hills of the Strathmore landscape. Inside, the concert hall creates a sense of intimacy that I hope will celebrate the audience coming together as a community."

The interior atrium above the Discovery Grand Foyer staircase features a sculpture by artist Meryl Taradash. The Music of Light (2004), a suspended work made of shaped acrylic prisms, curved metal supports and reflected light, spans more than 96 feet of open vertical space and will be a focal point for visitors as they enter the building. Commissioned by Strathmore for the new Center, Taradash's sculpture was chosen in a juried competition and is the first of two works that will adorn the Music Center at Strathmore.

Strathmore officials have planned a series of new events in the space. For more information, visit http://www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5200.

County Historical Society Holds Special Presentation on Civil War Medicine

Civil war buffs, particularly those who are also interested in medicine, won't want to miss an afternoon with the Montgomery County Historical Society. On Sunday, March 13, from noon to 4 p.m., with a special presentation at 2:30 p.m., reenactors will portray Dr. Edward E. Stonestreet and nurse Clara Barton, bringing to life the medical realities of the period. "Dr. Stonestreet" will make pills and show visitors how to remove a bullet. "Clara Barton," the Civil War heroine who risked her life to save others, will discuss the obstacles she overcame and how she founded the American Red Cross. Visitors can make their own smelling salts. This free program takes place at the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, 103 West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville. For more information, visit http://www.montgomeryhistory.org or call 301-762-1492.

Bethesda Library Holds Spring Book Discussion Symposium

The Friends of the Bethesda Library is sponsoring a spring book discussion symposium, called American Voices, on select dates now through May. Scholar Karen Arnold leads a series of discussions on selected works on the dates listed below. All discussions take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Bethesda Library's meeting room. Registration is requested. Leave a message at 240-777-0937.

March 17—The Awakening by Kate Chopin
April 21—Winesburg Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
May 19—Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

The library is located at 7400 Arlington Road in Bethesda. For more information, call 240-777-0937 or the Bethesda Regional Library at 240-777-0970.

Round House Theatre Bethesda Premieres Life x 3

The Round House Theatre in Bethesda is premiering an original new play, Life x 3, created by Yasmina Reza, the author of 'Art'. Theater goers can enjoy a dinner party with a nervous astrophysicist, his wife, the womanizing boss and the boss's insignificant other. With three different outcomes, the play takes some interesting turns. Tickets are available beginning March 1. The play runs March 30–May 1. Round House Bethesda is located at the intersection of East-West Highway and Waverly Street in downtown Bethesda. For more information, visit http://www.round-house.org or call 240-644-1100.

Suburban Hospital Offers Free Community Health Workshops in March

Suburban Hospital is offering a series of free health workshops for community members. Topics this month include sports and the older athlete, ways to avoid skin cancer and wrinkles, colon-rectal cancer prevention and more. The workshops take place at various times and locations throughout Montgomery County, Maryland. Dates and locations are listed below. For more information or to register for these events, call 301-896-3939.

March 9, 1 p.m.
Sports and the Older Athlete
Friendship Heights Community Center,
4433 S. Park Avenue, Chevy Chase

March 9, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Colon-rectal Cancer Prevention: Early Detection and Proper Nutrition
Suburban Hospital,
8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda

March 14, 1:15 p.m.
Avoiding Skin Cancer and Wrinkles
Holiday Park Community Center,
3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton

March 17, 1 p.m.
What You Should Know About Your Blood Vessels*
Rockville Senior Center,
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville
*Call 240-314-8810 to register for this workshop.

TRY THIS WEB SITE: http://ncilistens.cancer.gov

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) along with the NCI Director's Consumer Liaison Group (DCLG) recently launched the NCI Listens and Learns Web site to facilitate better communication among NIH, the cancer advocacy community and the general public. The site provides a forum in which NCI and DCLG can discuss key cancer-related topics on a monthly basis with the public. Each month, the NCI will post a new question on a timely policy or research topic and solicit public discussion. The received input will then be summarized and posted, allowing the public to comment further. The NCI will respond with its own comments and suggest how it will use the feedback it has gained. Visitors to the site can read the ongoing dialogue but must register to participate. NIH hopes to increase the amount of high-quality input it receives from advocacy organizations and the public on NCI's strategic plans and initiatives.

Osteoarthritis Study Needs Men

Researchers at NIH are evaluating hormones in men with osteoarthritis pain and in healthy men. You may be eligible if you are a man between the ages of 30 and 65 and in general good health. All study-related tests and medicines are provided free, and study participants receive financial compensation. Please refer to study 04-AT-0239. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, TTY: 1-866-411-1010.

Healthy African-American or African Volunteers Needed with Low White Blood Cell Count

Your blood may tell us a story. At NIH, we want to know if you are healthy and have been told that you have a low white blood cell count. Please call us if you are African American or African and a healthy adult with a low white blood cell count. Your participation in this research might help find an answer to the question, "Why do some people have low white blood cell counts and remain healthy?" Call us and refer to study 03-DK-0168. Compensation is available. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, TTY: 1-866-411-1010.

Health/Employment Benefits Study

Researchers at NIH invite healthy volunteers to participate in a clinical study for a health/employment benefits survey. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who are employed and able to participate in a health and employments benefits survey are asked to call 240-353-7238, TTY: 1-866-411-1010 or visit http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov. Compensation is available for participation. Please refer to study 05-CC-0008 when you call.

Tune Deafness Study Need Volunteers

NIH invites volunteers to participate in a clinical study of tune deafness and the inherited factors that cause this inability to recognize wrong notes in a popular melody. You could be eligible to particpate if you are between the ages of 15 and 65 years old and have trouble telling one song from another, but your hearing is normal and you were raised in the United States (for song familiarity). All study-related tests are provided at no cost, and compensation is available. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, TTY: 1-866-411-1010 or visit http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov. Refer to study 00-DC-0176.

OCL Update

Published monthly by the Office of Community Liaison, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Office of Community Liaison
National Institutes of Health
Building 1, Room 259
One Center Drive, MSC 0172
Bethesda, MD 20892-0172
Phone: 301-496-3931
Fax: 301-594-2592
URL: http://ocl.od.nih.gov