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FDA Chapter of Sigma XI
The Scientific Research Society

Newsletter -- September 22, 2003



Meeting and event dates to remember:
  1. Thursday, October 16, 2003. This is a joint meeting between 3 Sigma Xi Chapters: D.C., UMD and FDA. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation at 7:30 p.m. The speaker is Dr. Ronald Rodriguez from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Brady Urological Institute in Baltimore, MD. The title of his talk is "The future of Gene Therapy for Prostate Cancer". The talk will be held on the University of Maryland, College Park campus in room 0408 in the Animal Sciences Building.

    Dr. Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Urology, at the Medical Oncology, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Rodriquez obtained a B.S. in Life Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and M.D. in Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the recipient of many awards, which include the McDermott Scholar in Science and Engineering from MIT, American Federation for Clinical Research Award for Research Excellence, Sigma Xi Award for Thesis Excellence in Biomedical Sciences, and the CaPCure Young Investigator Award. Dr. Rodriquez's primary clinical interest is in urological oncology including malignancies of the prostate, bladder and kidney. In addition, Dr. Rodriguez is a fully trained, basic scientist with an active research laboratory. He is currently involved in the development of experimental therapeutics for urological malignancies, such as the treatment of advanced prostate cancer with gene therapy vectors. Additional info on Dr. Rodriguez can be obtained from http://urology.jhu.edu/faculty/rodriguez/index.html

    Directions: From the Beltway, take the College Park, Baltimore Ave. exit (Exit 25, Rt.1 South). Travel approximately 3 miles and enter the UMD campus by turning right onto Campus Drive. Go to traffic circle with large "M" in flowers. Bear to the right (North) on Regents Drive past Animal Sciences Bldg. on right and Barns on left. Lot CC1 will be on the right and the Animal Sciences Bldg. is next to lot CC1. The map does not show the road, but Regents Drive does connect into Lots FF and 11, and there is also a road beside these lots that connects back to Paint Branch Drive. (Which means it is possible to enter Campus from University Blvd onto Paint Branch Drive from the North). Be sure to park in a lot that states "Welcome to park after 4:00 P.M.", such as CC1, FF, or 11.

    The Sigma Xi event will be in the Animal Sciences Bldg. (Building 142, grid E-2), NE Quad.

    Metro: Take Green line train to College Park, University of Maryland. Take the free red University of Maryland Shuttle marked College Park Metro to the Campus. Get off at the first stop on Campus at Campus Dr. and Regents Dr. near the traffic circle and Big "M". Walk down Regents Dr. past the Physics and Chemistry Bldgs. to Bldg. 142.

    University of Maryland, NE Quad, Map



    RESERVATIONS

    Please respond by October 10, 2003. Annual Meeting and Banquet, DC Chapter of Sigma Xi at 6:30 PM, Thursday, October 16 at the Animal Sciences Bldg., University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
    Member's Name: _________________________________________________________

    Phone Number: ____________________ E-mail: _______________________________

    Chapter Affiliation:   FDA Chapter

    Guest's Name: ___________________________________________________________

    Amount of check (at $15 per person): $_________

    Make check for $15 per person payable to DC Chapter of Sigma Xi. Send check with registration form to: Tina Gouin, 670 Swan Drive, Deale, MD 20751. Inquiries about the meeting can be made to Tina by telephone (301-504-5651) or by e-mail (gouinc@ba.ars.usda.gov).
    You can also access the information through the Sigma Xi web site: http://www.sigmaxi.org
    Select Chapters/Web Sites/DC Chapter; the event and registration are listed.

    Food: The meal will be catered by Three Brothers and will consist of Chicken Cacciatore, Egg Plant Parmesan, Baked Ziti, Caesar Salad, bread, a pastry and a drink.

  2. Add this date to your calendar: Friday, November 7, 2003. Other local Sigma Xi Chapter Members and guests are cordially also invited to this meeting. Dr. Ted Rockwell will give a lecture and interactive discussion. The title of his talk is Facts and Myths about Ionizing Radiation and Nuclear Technology. The meeting and lecture be held in the Wiley Building auditorium at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Technology, College Park Maryland at 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Please note that Dr. Rockwell is a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer. It is FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi pleasure to bring this special lecturer to you. Dr. Rockwell has been involved with nuclear power for many years that ranges from working on the atomic bomb project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to developing designs for safe operation of nuclear powered naval vessels to the first commercial central station nuclear power plant. He is founding officer of the engineering firm MPR Associates, Inc. and of Radiation, Science and Health Inc, and international organization of independent radiation experts committed to bringing radiation policy in line with the best scientific data.

    Light refreshments will be served. The lecture is free. Just bring your questions and expect to interact with the speaker.

    New members to Sigma Xi and our Chapter will be formally presented at our November meeting:
    We have seven new members and many more who transferred into our Chapter this year. Please welcome the following new members: Margaret Kraeling, Douglas Chadwick, Angela Eppler, Robin Y. Woo, Yoshiyuki Tokiwa, and Malgorzata Garcja Mikolajczyk. Directions:

    Metro: Take Green line train to College Park, University of Maryland. Cross the street and enter the Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building. The lecture will be held in the Wiley Building auditorium.

    Driving: Address is 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park MD 20740.
    (for a map, enter the Street Address at MapQuest: http://www.mapquest.com).
    From Montgomery and Fairfax counties (West and South): Take the beltway (I-495) inner loop to exit 23, Kenilworth Ave (MD 201 South) and turn right on Paint Branch Parkway. The building is located at the intersection of River Road and Paint Branch Parkway.

    From the District. Take I-295/Kenilworth Ave north to Paint Branch Parkway. Turn left on Paint Branch Parkway. The building is located at the intersection of 51st Avenue and Paint Branch Parkway.

    From Alexandria, Annapolis & points east. Take the Beltway (I-95/I-495) outer loop to exit 23, Kenilworth Ave (MD 201 South). Proceed about a mile and turn right on Paint Branch Parkway. The building is located at the intersection of River Road and Paint Branch Parkway.

    Proceed to the Guards booth. Bring government or picture I.D. Park in Visitors Parking Area.
  3. Sigma Xi Annual National Meeting

    The Sigma Xi annual meeting will be held on November 12-16, 2003 in Los Angeles California at the Hyatt Regency Macy's Plaza. The theme of this year's forum is "Science and Engineering: Keys to Understanding". The meeting will include sessions on scientific outreach of global organizations, an opportunity to learn new strategies for chapter operations, or participate in Student Research Conference and attend workshops and lectures by leading scientists as well as interact with other Sigma Xi Chapter representatives and more. For more information, go to http://www.sigmaxi.org/meetings/forum/upcoming.shtml

  4. Sigma Xi and 2004 FDA Science Forum

    The FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi will again be responsible for the poster session associated with the FDA Science Forum. The theme for 10th Annual FDA Science Forum is "FDA Science: Rising to the Challenges in our Changing World". It will be held on May 18-19, 2004 at the Washington Convention Center, Mount Vernon Place, Washington D.C. For updates go to: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html

  5. Regional Science Fairs

    Jeffrey Yourick has agreed to be the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi regional science fair chairman. Please try to set four hours on one weekend in March and April to participate in judging one of the local science fairs. Each science fair winner receives not only a certificate, but also a $200 savings bond and is invited to our spring banquet. For a complete list of last years regional science fair winners please refer to our Chapter website http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html.

Remember for information about the national organization go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org

Submitted by: Paddy W. Wiesenfeld, Ph.D.
President, FDA Chapter Sigma Xi
(301) 827-8526
pwiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov

Sigma Xi, FDA Chapter  |  CFSAN  |  FDA
Last updated on 2003-SEP-25 by frf