On behalf of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM), welcome to the Spring 2008 issue of NIH MedlinePlus magazine. We take pride in bringing you the most up-to-date and trustworthy information you need to keep you and your family healthy. In the pages that follow, you'll find the latest advice and research discoveries direct from the scientists and medical experts who work for you at the world's leading medical and health research organization, the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The FNLM is also working to promote and expand the availability of other important work carried out by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). One such program, GenBank—which has had a dramatic impact on medical research and health care—just celebrated its 25th year of advancing scientific discovery in April.
Scientists working to unlock our genetic code were slowed because they often didn't know what their colleagues around the world were discovering. That all changed with the creation of GenBank, the first publicly accessible worldwide database of gene sequences. This ability to share knowledge around the world played a crucial role in allowing scientists to complete the mapping of the human genome in 2003, years ahead of schedule.
The success of GenBank has helped create a whole new field of medicine, which has already led to new tests for breast cancer and holds great hope for preventing and better treating many of today's most deadly diseases. That is why we need your help to make sure that NLM programs like this are promoted and expanded. To join us in this effort, contact FNLM at the address below—and help us support the greatest medical library in the world.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Rogers, Chairman
Friends of the National Library of Medicine
Among those attending the NIH's 25th anniversary celebration of GenBank on April 7-8 were Nobel Prize winners Dr. Rich Roberts (left) and Dr. Sydney Brenner, pioneers in genetic research.
Photo courtesy of Michael Spencer, NIH
Dr. David Lipman (center), Director of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) was among the hosts for the two-day event. Seated with him are Dr. Bruno Strasser (left), Professor of History of Science and Medicine at Yale University, and Dr. Takashi Gojobori, Director and Professor at the Center for International Biology and DNA Data Bank of Japan.
Photo courtesy of Michael Spencer, NIH
How You Can Help the Library Extend Medical Knowledge
You can be a part of the Friends' mission to help educate the health, corporate, and public communities about NIH's many vital research initiatives.
If you or your company can help to support and expand the Library's efforts by providing sponsorship and other charitable donations for NIH MedlinePlus magazine's publication and distribution, many more thousands of Americans will gain valuable, free access to the world's best online medical library, www.medlineplus.gov.
For more information, please visit www.fnlm.org or call (202) 719-8094. Written correspondence may be sent to FNLM, 2801 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.
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