Nine Complete NIGMS's PRAT Program

Nine postdoctoral fellows recently completed the NIGMS Pharmacology Research Associate (PRAT) program. PRAT supports training at NIH or FDA laboratories for individuals with backgrounds in the basic or clinical sciences who wish to obtain advanced experience in an area of pharmacology, or for those who are already pharmacologists to gain experience in new fields.

Recent PRAT graduates include (from l) Dr. Jennifer Swisher, Dr. David Williams, Jr., Dr. Benjamin Kagan and Dr. Kate Prybylowski

This year's graduating fellows and the institutes in which they worked are: Dr. Frank I. Comer, NCI; Dr. Kristi A. Egland, NCI; Dr. Benjamin L. Kagan, NIDDK; Dr. Daniel E. Kolker, NICHD; Dr. Franklin W. Outten, NICHD; Dr. Kate L. Prybylowski, NIDCD; Dr. Byrn B. Quimby, NICHD; Dr. Jennifer F. Swisher, NIDCR; and Dr. David C. Williams, Jr., NIDDK.

NCI Launches Nanotechnology Seminars

The National Cancer Institute will host a new lecture series featuring innovative perspectives on current research and development efforts in nanotechnology applied to cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention, presented by leaders from both the cancer and nanotechnology research communities.

The inaugural lecture, to be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, will feature Dr. Esther Chang, professor of oncology and otolaryngology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her lecture, titled "Tumor Targeting Nanodelivery Systems: Expanding the Potential for Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis," will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. in balcony B, Natcher Bldg. The presentation will also be webcast at http://videocast.nih.gov. Sign language interpreters will be provided. For more information on the lecture, visit http://nano.cancer.gov/events_nanotech_seminar_series.asp.

NINR Introduces New Web Site

The National Institute of Nursing Research has launched a new web page that highlights the work of its Division of Intramural Research. The site focuses on the division's two principal intramural areas of interest: the Symptom Management Laboratory and Research Training. Visitors can learn about NINR's unique symptom management laboratory and its program of basic, clinical and translational research in that field. Also, present and future nurse scientists will find cutting-edge research training opportunities at this site. The new pages can be accessed at http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr/.

NIH Paddling Club To Start

R&W is helping organize a new NIH Paddling Club to promote paddling sports at NIH, both for competition and leisure. The club plans a boat racing team with 20 paddlers, a steerer and a drummer to provide stroke rhythm. The club also offers chances to learn how to kayak, row, canoe and paddle outrigger canoes. Members will be able to learn how to build their own canoes and kayaks. An organizational meeting is planned for late February. For more information, contact David Winter at dwinter@niaid.nih.gov.

Attention Female Baseball Players

The Recreation and Welfare Association is starting a Women's Baseball Club to promote and support baseball-playing opportunities for women. The new club would field a team in the Eastern Women's Baseball Conference. Players range in age from 15-55 with most of the players in their 20s to 40s. Many previously played slow-pitch softball and have made the transition to baseball.

Each EWBC team plays one game per weekend, early May through September. All teams have pre-season practices and scrimmages in the spring; some practice once a week during the season. We are looking for 15-20 players to field a team; coaches/managers (of either gender) are also needed. If interested contact Susan McCarthy at (301) 594-8785 or mccarths@mail.nih.gov.

R&W Invites Leader/Members

The R&W Association, soon to mark its 60th year of service to employees, recently changed its bylaws, eliminating its executive council and replacing it with an advisory council. The change is intended to increase broader leadership from its membership. The advisory council will meet four times a year, with the main objectives of informing employees of R&W programs and assisting at some events as volunteers. If you would like to participate, email your name, work address, work affiliations and phone number to either Randy Schools at schoolsr@ors.od.nih.gov or the R&W Association at nihrw@ors.od.nih.gov.

NIH Opens 'Learning Portal'

NIH is in the process of adopting and implementing a new learning management system called the HHS Learning Portal. The Learning Portal is a joint initiative between HHS University and the Office of Personnel Management to implement the GeoMaestro training software package for all of HHS. This will help the department support and manage training and education via the Internet.

Some of the benefits are: training opportunities in a variety of media such as web- and computer-based training, traditional classroom training, self-paced/self-study courses, group learning sessions; online registration for courses and automated approval process.

The biggest advantage of the Learning Portal is having access to its vast library of free online courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All you need is Internet access and you can search through and take over 2,000 courses. Visit the site at http://learning.hhs.gov.

R&W Scuba Club Is Organizing

The first meeting of the R&W Scuba Club will take place Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in the FAES House at the corner of Cedar Ln. and Old Georgetown Rd. The club will promote safe diving and offer opportunities to develop a network of dive buddies. The club will also sponsor classes, seminars and dive trips to sites both local and exotic. An online bulletin board is also planned. Beginning classes will form for those interested in trying the sport. Also foreseen are lessons in underwater photography, diving medicine, fish identification and dive travel. For more information, contact Jane Spencer, (301) 910-1916.

Curious About Art Therapy?

Whether you're interested in working toward a degree in art therapy or just adding to your repertoire, you might be interested in taking Art Therapy Techniques, a 2-credit course taught through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences. The class is taught by Leslie Milofsky, a board-certified art therapist who works at a Washington, D.C., public school special education center and teaches at George Washington University and Maryland College of Art and Design. Classes are held Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jan. 25 through May 10. For more information, Milofsky can be reached at (301) 270-3063 and the registrar can be reached at (301) 496-7976.

Wednesday Afternoon Lectures

There will be a special Thursday lecture on Jan. 27 when Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, gives the James A. Shannon Lecture (see story05).

On Feb. 2, Dr. Richard J. Davidson, William James professor and Vilas research professor of psychology and psychiatry, and director, W.M. Keck laboratory for functional brain imaging and behavior, University of Wisconsin, will lecture on "The Pervasive Import of Affect: Gleanings from Affective Neuroscience."

For more information or for reasonable accommodation, call Hilda Madine, (301) 594-5595.

NIH Chamber Singers Hold Auditions

Presentation on Well-Being, Feb. 4