Minority Programs Update

Fall 1997

The NIGMS Minority Programs Update is produced by the Public Information Office of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The material is not copyrighted and we encourage its use or reprinting.

Editor: Susan Athey
Public Information Office, NIGMS
Room 1AS.25
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 496-7301
Fax: (301) 402-0224
e-mail atheys@nigms.nih.gov

MBRS Announces New Programs

The Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Program recently announced major changes in its grant programs. The traditional MBRS grant mechanisms are being replaced by two new initiatives: Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) and Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE). The new programs join the existing MBRS Initiative for Minority Student Development (IMSD).

Dr. Ernest Márquez, MBRS director, said the changes are expected to "increase the number of participants in the program and the flexibility of student development activities, as well as to give greater accountability for research and student development accomplishments to the college or university. All MBRS programs will now include evaluation activities that require the institution to set its own specific goals and measurable objectives."

Support of Continuous Research Excellence

The SCORE Program replaces the faculty research component of the Traditional MBRS Program (S06) and the pilot research projects of the MBRS Program for Undergraduate Colleges (S14).

The program provides financial assistance to competitive research programs in all areas of biomedical and behavioral research at institutions with significant enrollments of underrepresented minority students. The program supports faculty-initiated, scientifically meritorious, biomedically relevant research projects, including pilot research projects. Support for faculty participating in pilot projects is preparatory to seeking more substantial funding from other NIH research grant programs (such as the MBRS SCORE research program, Academic Research Enhancement Awards, FIRST Awards, and R01 research grants).

The SCORE Program includes such allowable costs as faculty salaries (reimbursed according to percent effort), salaries for technicians, limited administrative support, consultant fees, equipment, research supplies, travel, and support for evaluation activities. Funds are also available for up to $40,000 in alterations and renovations. Applicants may request support for 1 to 20 research projects and 1 to 8 pilot research projects per program. An institution may hold only one active SCORE award and may not be currently receiving support from the IMSD Program.

Institutions currently funded through the traditional S06 or S14 programs are encouraged to apply for the SCORE Program, with a start date to coincide with the end of their current project period. In general, existing policies and provisions will remain in effect for S06 and S14 recipients until the completion of the noncompeting years of their current project period.

The receipt dates for new SCORE Program applications are October 1, February 1, and June 1.

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement

The RISE Program replaces and expands upon the student development component of the Traditional MBRS Program (S06) and the faculty and student enrichment portion of the MBRS Program for Undergraduate Colleges (S14).

The program seeks to increase the opportunities for underrepresented minority faculty and students to become acquainted with, and motivated to pursue, biomedical research careers. The program offers support for faculty and student development activities, which can include on- or off-campus workshops, specialty courses, travel to scientific meetings, and research experiences at on- or off-campus laboratories. Support is also available for evaluation activities.

The RISE Program also offers support for institutional development, which includes limited funds for the renovation or remodeling of existing facilities to provide space for an investigator to carry out developmental activities, limited equipment purchases, and the development of research courses.

Institutions currently funded for the student development category of the Traditional MBRS Program (S06) and the student enrichment portion of the MBRS Program for Undergraduate Colleges (S14) are eligible and encouraged to apply for a RISE Program award with a start date to coincide with the end of their current project period. In general, existing policies and provisions will remain in effect for current S06 and S14 recipients until the completion of the noncompeting years of their current project period. An institution may hold only one active RISE award and may not be currently receiving support from the IMSD Program.

The receipt dates for new RISE Program applications are October 1, February 1, and June 1.

Initiative for Minority Student Development

The IMSD Program has been in place since November 1996. The program expanded and replaced the MBRS Associate Investigator Institution category of support.

The IMSD seeks to encourage the development and/or expansion of innovative programs to improve the academic and research competitiveness of underrepresented minority students at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, and to facilitate their progress toward careers in biomedical research. Allowable costs include, but are not limited to, graduate student tuition remission; supplies; equipment; travel; other expenses; and salary, wages, and fringe benefits for students and faculty.

The application receipt date for the IMSD is February 1.

Questions and Answers

MBRS director Márquez has answered some of the questions that have arisen as a result of the grant program changes:

Do the changes in the MBRS Program require that separate applications for the SCORE and RISE Programs be developed, and can these applications truly be independent of each other?

Yes. There will be separate applications and they should be independent.

Do the new programs allow for the old category of Associate Investigator?

Yes. The Associate Investigator may be included as a participating faculty member in the RISE Program.

Will there be a program director for the SCORE Program and another one for the RISE Program at each institution?

Each program will have a program director. Who that person is will be an institutional decision.

Under the SCORE Program, is the use of undergraduate and graduate students for technical support allowed?

Yes, but students may be supported only as technical staff, not as trainees.

Are salaries for faculty to carry out developmental activities an allowable cost in the RISE Program?

Yes. RISE will support salaries (based on percent effort) for faculty to carry out developmental activities, but not for activities that are within the usual expectations of faculty at that institution.

Will the changes in the program have the effect of cutting off faculty research at small colleges (former S14 institutions)?

No. These changes should be particularly suited to the needs of former S14 institutions.

Will the MORE Division set a dollar cap for grants in each program and will there be a target number of grants awarded each year?

The MORE Division does not favor dollar caps and does not have a target number of grants to be awarded per year. Applications will compete for available funds. Historically, MBRS applicants have had high success rates. We expect that to continue.

Will a specific evaluation process be suggested by MORE for use in a national database?

In part. Each institution is expected to set its own specific goals and measurable objectives. One size does not fit all. However, MORE will be asking for a minimum obligatory set of data from all programs. Furthermore, the MORE Division is planning to support a minicourse or workshop on program evaluation.

What is the difference between students in the MARC Program and those in the MBRS SCORE and RISE programs?

Student participants in the MBRS SCORE and RISE programs are salaried employees and those in the MARC Program are trainees supported by the National Research Service Award program. It is expected that the two programs will complement each other.

The complete announcements for MBRS' programs can be found at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-97-068.html (SCORE)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-97-067.html (RISE)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-97-013.html (IMSD)

For more information on the MBRS Program's initiatives, contact:
Dr. Ernest Márquez
Chief, MBRS Branch, NIGMS
Room 2AS.25
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 594-3900
Fax: (301) 480-2753
e-mail marqueze@nigms.nih.gov

W. Sue Shafer Named NIGMS Deputy Director

Dr. W. Sue Shafer was named NIGMS deputy director in July 1997. In this position, Shafer provides leadership in developing and executing NIGMS policies and allocating resources, and represents NIGMS in senior-level interactions with other NIH components and in dealings with other agencies and scientific organizations. In addition, she is continuing to serve as director of the NIGMS Division of Extramural Activities, a position she has held since 1989.

In announcing the appointment, Dr. Marvin Cassman, director of NIGMS, said, "Dr. Shafer is highly regarded within NIH and in the extramural community. She has performed many of the functions of a deputy director for some time, and this appointment just confirms her crucial role in the Institute."

Shafer came to NIH in 1974 as a health scientist administrator in the Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease Program of NIGMS. In 1978, she became chief of the instrumentation section of the NIGMS Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Program. Her section's mission was enlarged in 1980 to include biomedical engineering.

In 1983, Shafer joined what is now the NIH National Center for Research Resources as chief of the Office of Program Planning and Evaluation, and in 1987 she moved to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, serving first as deputy director of the Division of Basic Research and then as the division's acting director. She returned to NIGMS in 1989.

Shafer received a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a doctoral degree in developmental biology from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her postdoctoral work included serving as a research associate in the department of zoology at the University of Florida and as a lecturer at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

Throughout her government career, Shafer has had a strong interest in the instrumentation needs of the biomedical research community and has worked to increase the number of minority scientists engaged in biomedical research. She has also been a leader of and an active participant in a variety of training forums for scientists and administrators at NIH; the former Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; and academic institutions. Among her honors are a Department of Health and Human Services Executive Management Award, two NIH Director's Awards, and an NIH Quality of Work Life Award. She is a member of the Society for Developmental Biology and the American Society for Cell Biology, where she serves as chair of the Women in Cell Biology Committee.

MORE Division Communicates Via LISTSERV

by Danielle Wittenberg, Public Information Office, NIGMS

If you are interested in receiving the latest program announcement from the MORE Division, if you need to post a job vacancy, or if you just want to gather or disseminate information on MORE programs, then the MORE LISTSERV is for you.

The LISTSERV is an electronic mail service that facilitates the exchange of information between the MORE Division and the institutions, faculty, and students the division serves, as well as other interested individuals. According to Dr. Clifton Poodry, director of the MORE Division, there are approximately 150 subscribers to the MORE LISTSERV.

The main benefit of the service, according to Poodry, is that it enables subscribers to "read other people's postings on subjects they consider important and learn from others' questions and answers."

"The MORE LISTSERV is also a good way to get information out quickly," he added.

Poodry, who has posted various topics and questions on the MORE LISTSERV himself, said he is hopeful the service will expand, as its full potential has not yet been realized.

"The MORE LISTSERV has mainly been used by MORE program directors to send messages back and forth. The subscribership has yet to post discussion-probing questions."

Dr. Bharati Mehrotra, a MORE LISTSERV subscriber and director of the MARC program at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, said that although she does not use the MORE LISTSERV to post messages, she finds the information she receives via the LISTSERV helpful.

In the future, the MORE Division expects the MORE LISTSERV to be a key means of general communication, and it encourages interested individuals to subscribe to the LISTSERV. To subscribe, simply send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@list.nih.gov, leaving the subject line blank and typing Subscribe MORECC-L Your Full Name (Program) in the body of the message. Your full name should consist of your first name, middle initial, and last name, followed by Ph.D., M.D., or other title, as appropriate. The program should be listed as MBRS, MARC, Bridges, or any combination of the three. An example of a completed message is: Subscribe MORECC-L John M. Smith, Ph.D. (MARC).

For additional information on the MORE LISTSERV, contact:
Dr. Clifton Poodry
Director, MORE Division, NIGMS
Room 2AS.37
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 594-3900
Fax: (301) 480-2753
e-mail poodryc@nigms.nih.gov

MORE LISTSERV FAQ

Q. How do I send mail or post to the LISTSERV?

A. Address your e-mail message to MORECC-L@list.nih.gov.

Q. How do I stop my mail while I'm away from the office for an extended period of time?

A. Send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@list.nih.gov with the text set MORECC-L no mail in the body. To restart your mail, send the message set MORECC-L mail.

Q. How do I unsubscribe?

A. Send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@list.nih.gov with the text unsubscribe MORECC-L in the body.

Q. How can I receive less mail without unsubscribing?

A. Send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@list.nih.gov with the text set MORECC-L mail digest in the body. Your mail will be consolidated into a single, large message, usually once a day, allowing you to check for specific items of interest.

Q. How do I get additional technical assistance?

A. Send an e-mail message to owner-MORECC-L@list.nih.gov and ask for assistance.

Release Time and Research Productivity

by Dr. Robert M. Hoyte, State University of New York College at Old Westbury

As colleges and universities with substantial minority student populations seek to address the problem of underrepresentation of these groups in science by providing research experiences, a number of critical operational considerations become apparent that can determine the level of success of the effort.

The most obvious consideration is the availability of research funding. The minority-focused research and training programs at NIH, in general, and NIGMS in particular, are part of a national effort to provide such funding. Another major determinant of the success of research development at minority institutions is the availability of time for faculty to focus on scientific investigations. The long-term growth of an institution's research effort requires that faculty research be sustained over time and this, of course, requires continued funding. In times such as these when research funding is becoming more and more competitive, continued funding can only be achieved by demonstrating acceptable levels of productivity.

A serious hindrance to faculty research productivity at many minority institutions is the scarcity of time engendered by very large teaching loads. Loads of 18 to 24 contact hours per week are common at many of the smaller and medium-sized minority undergraduate colleges. These high loads have traditionally evolved as part of the teaching-intensive nature of these colleges. As these institutions seek to develop the capacity of faculty to conduct biomedical research and to train students in this activity, it is necessary that faculty interested in pursuing research be relieved of a significant portion of their classroom and instructional laboratory teaching and teaching-related activities, such as advising and committee work. Often, a promising research project does not reach fruition because the individual faculty member was not provided adequate release time to develop it.

What level of release time is sufficient to sustain a research effort? The answer depends on what is considered a "full load" at the institution. Rather than try to specify a level of release time, it may be more useful to suggest a maximum level of teaching load in weekly contact hours, beyond which research becomes a difficult objective.

It is the opinion of this writer (and of the members of the MBRS Review Subcommittee) that classroom and instructional laboratory teaching loads of faculty engaged in sponsored research should not be greater than 9 contact hours per week. Colleges with larger class enrollments should consider even lower loads. Teaching-related activities of faculty at colleges with larger class enrollments should also be lowered in similar proportion. Institutions and faculty applying for research grants should request, and justify, appropriate release time reimbursement for this purpose. Since one size does not fit all, funding agencies such as NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF) must allow different institutions to define their own release time funding needs and judge the merit of each case. To ensure that faculty have sufficient time to develop and maintain productive research, it should be expected that these agencies will monitor institutions and hold them accountable for the use of funds provided for release time. Faculty research efforts at minority institutions will benefit from a balanced partnership among the institution, the faculty investigator, and the funding agency. Ensuring that faculty have the time necessary to conduct research will demonstrate, in large part, the institutional commitment to research development.

Editor's Note: This article was developed out of discussions held during the open session of the MBRS Review Subcommittee meeting in March 1997. Dr. Hoyte was chair of the subcommittee at the time of the meeting. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

Profile: Dr. David Grandison

This special section profiles former MARC and MBRS participants who have excelled in their fields. We hope that the profiles will give students an idea of the types of careers available with science degrees, and the paths others have taken to achieve those careers.

Dr. Grandison, a former MARC faculty predoctoral fellow at Wayne State University in Detroit, is now vice president, worldwide medical affairs, for DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company in Wilmington, DE. In his position, he has responsibility in such areas as product safety and liability, clinical trials, labeling, promotions, and planning and coordinating new drug applications. He joined DuPont in 1989 as a group medical director of cardiovascular research. Prior to that, he worked for the Warner Lambert/Parke Davis and later Bristol-Myers pharmaceutical companies, and held various health care and academic positions. Grandison received his B.A. in biology from Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL; his M.A. in genetics and biology from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI; his Ph.D. in cardiovascular physiology from Wayne State University; and his M.D. from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He has received numerous honors and awards, including citation as a distinguished alumnus from the president of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the executive vice president's award from DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company. He is a member of the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Black Cardiologists, and the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians.

HOW I BECAME INTERESTED IN SCIENCE: My high school academic experience was less than stellar, despite my father's attempts to encourage my performance. My interest and proclivity for science were awakened [during my undergraduate years] at Oakwood College. Challenging and nurturing biology and chemistry professors removed the blinders from my eyes and helped stretch my vision of academic potential far beyond the walls imposed by my unmotivated high school performance. Science became exciting, captivating, and real in this reinforcing and competitive environment. I will always cherish the Oakwood College experience as the source of my scientific awakening.

HOW THE MARC/MBRS PROGRAM HELPED ME: After completing my Master of Arts degree in genetics and biology, I returned to Oakwood College as an instructor in biology, subsequently becoming the chairman of the Department of Biology. I was honored and privileged to be among the first recipients of a MARC faculty predoctoral fellowship in 1972. I attended Wayne State University and completed my Ph.D. in cardiovascular physiology in 1974. The MARC fellowship provided me with the unique opportunity of obtaining a graduate school education and research training without having to worry about employment. It provided funding for research expenses, which reduced the need to compete for departmental research funding, and assisted me in achieving my goals. The MARC funding made me feel special and it made my graduate professor feel he was making a real contribution to increasing the opportunities for minorities in research.

WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT SCIENCE: The primary aim of science is continuous learning and problem solving using the scientific method. Knowing how to apply the scientific method in solving problems of life and daily living gives you an advantage and provides some degree of order to your life.

MY ROLE MODEL: My first and foremost role model was my father, who taught me the value of hard work and continuous education. From a scientific perspective, Dr. Emerson Cooper, professor emeritus of chemistry at Oakwood College, was another important role model in my life. His influence on me was profound. Dr. Cooper has committed himself to science and academic excellence. He exemplifies what a scientist should be. He has influenced many minority students in science to dream impossible dreams and to make their dreams a reality.

MY ADVICE TO STUDENTS ENTERING/CONSIDERING SCIENTIFIC CAREERS: Learn as much as you can about as many different things as you can. Dream impossible dreams and don't ever give up on yourself or your dreams.

If you know an outstanding former MARC or MBRS participant who has excelled professionally and you would like to nominate that person as a future Update profile subject, please let us know. Your suggestions are always welcome.

Former MBRS Review Member Barraco Dies

Dr. I. Robin Barraco, a former member of the MBRS Review Subcommittee and a long-time participant in the MBRS program at Wayne State University in Detroit, died of cancer on August 28, 1996. Dr. Barraco was highly committed to developing and sustaining research excellence in minority programs supported by NIH, NSF, and other institutions, societies, and foundations.

Barraco received his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and his Ph.D. in physiology from Wayne State University. He was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Physiology at Wayne State in 1972, and became a full professor in 1987.

News and Notes

We are always interested in hearing about NIGMS minority program faculty, alumni, and students. Photographs of your students, research labs, and activities are also welcomed and encouraged. Please send information to:

Editor
NIGMS Minority Programs Update
Room 1AS.25
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 496-7301
Fax: (301) 402-0224
e-mail atheys@nigms.nih.gov

Selected Publications by MARC and MBRS Faculty and Students

(listed by institution)

Alabama State University
Singh SP, Miller S, Williams YU, Rudd KE, Nikaido H. Immunochemical structure of the OmpD porin from Salmonella typhimurium. Microbiology 1996;142:3201-10.

Arizona State University
Pena MR, Velarde S, Urbina J. Synthesis of a central portion of cycloviracin. J Org Chem 1996;61:9541-5.

California State University, Fullerton
Linder MC, Hazegh-Azam M. Copper biochemistry and molecular biology. Am J Clin Nutr 1996;63:797S-811S.

Linder MC, Schaffer KJ, Nagel GM. Serum ferritin: does it differ from tissue ferritin? J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1996;11:1033-6.

Wooten L, Shulze RA, Lancey R, Lietzow M, Linder MC. Ceruloplasmin is found in milk and amniotic fluid and may have a nutritional role. J Nutri Biochem 1996;7:632-9.

California State University, Long Beach
Perez A. Screening for mutant pSp6Vp1 plasmids: restriction digest analysis. Showcase: Academic Affairs Digest, California State University, Long Beach. Spring 1997;17-9.

California State University, Los Angeles
Fratiello A, Kubo-Anderson V, Wong K. A direct carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR study of europium (III)-isothiocyanate complex formation in aqueous solvent mixtures. J Solution Chem 1997;26:163-82.

Phinney JS, Cantu CL, Kurtz DA. Ethnic and American identity as predictors of self-esteem among African American, Latino, and White adolescents. J Youth Adolesc 1997;26:165-85.

Phinney JS, Devich-Navarro M. Variations in bicultural identification among African American and Mexican American adolescents. J Res Adolesc 1997;7:3-32.

Ramirez RJA, Karamanukyan L, Ortiz S, Gutierrez CG. A much improved synthesis of the siderophore enterobactin. Tetrahedron Lett 1997;38:749-52.

Zhao DS, Gomez FA. Enzyme-catalyzed microreactions using capillary electrophoresis: a quantitative study. Chromatographia 1997;44:514-20.

Clark Atlanta University
Chiang CF, Tenenbaum SA, Verret CR, Leissinger CA, Garry RF. Activity of granzyme A, a serine protease in the killing granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, is reduced in cells from HIV-infected hemophiliacs. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 1996;12:235-9.

Kelavkar U, Abel K, Miller D, Murtagh J, Shah K. Identification and mapping of a putative bombesin receptor gene on human chromosome 17q21.3+. Genet Anal Tech Appl 1996;13:99-103.

Mariam YH, Sawyer A. A computational study of the relative reactivity of reductively-activated 1,4-benzoquinone and its isoelectronic analogs. J Computer-Aided Molecular Design 1996;10:441-60.

Pratt LM, Khan IM. A computational study of mixed aggregate formation in lithio azaallylic systems. J Mol Struct 1996;367:33-40.

Pratt LM, Khan IM, Hogen-Esch TE. Anionic polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine: a computational study of solvent effects on polymerization stereochemistry. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 1996;197:3555-66.

Sawyer A, Sullivan E, Mariam YH. A semiempirical computational study of electron transfer reactivity of one- vs. two-ring model systems for anthracycline pharmacophores. A rationale for model of action. Journal of Computational Chemistry 1996;17:204-25.

Kentucky State University
Kochhar TS, Howard W, Hoffman S, Brammer-Carleton L. Effect of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic in causing chromosome alterations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Toxicol Lett 1996;84:37-42.

New Mexico State University
Bagga S, Rochford J, Klaene Z, Kuehn GD, Phillips GC. Putrescine aminopropyltransferase is responsible for biosynthesis of spermidine, spermine, and multiple uncommon polyamines in osmotic stress-tolerant alfalfa. Plant Physiology 1997;114:445-54.

Biles CL, Kuehn GD, Wann EV. Characterization of chile pepper fruit peroxidases during ripening. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 1997;35:273-320.

Tougaloo College
Apostol E, Ecelbarger CA, Knepper MA. Reduced renal medullary water channel expression in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrotic syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol 1997;8:15-24.

University of Michigan
González JC, Peariso K, Penner-Hahn JE, Matthews RG. Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase from Escherichia coli: a zinc metalloenzyme. Biochemistry 1996;35:12228-34.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Loshon CA, Kraus P, Setlow B, Setlow P. Effects of inactivation or overexpression of the sspF gene on properties of Bacillus subtilis spores. J Bacteriol 1997;179:272-5.

University of Southern Colorado
Druelinger ML, Shellhamer DF, Youngstrom CR. Addition reactions of alkenes with electronegatively substituted alcohols in the presence of xenon difluoride. J Chem Soc (London) 1997;4:787-94.

Diawara MM, Kulkosky P, Williams DE, McCrory S, Allison TG, Martinez LA. Mammalian toxicity of 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen, two compounds used in skin photochemotherapy. Journal of Natural Toxins 1997;6:183-92.

Virginia Union University
Kimbrough TD, Archer PW. Key Concepts of Physiology. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1997.

Send in your references for inclusion in Selected Publications. We would appreciate your contribution to this section in order to represent as many MARC and MBRS programs as possible. Complete bibliographical citations can be phoned, faxed, mailed, or e-mailed to the Editor.

Recent Awards and Fellowships

Predoctoral Fellowships for Minority Students

(listed by fellow and graduate institution)

Eric K. Adeeku, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Annie D. Alexander, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
John A. Barnes, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.
Compton Benjamin, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Nikki J. Berryman, New York University Medical Center.
Cecilia J. Bonangelino, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Claudia M. Cardona, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
Carlton R. Cooper, Mississippi State University.
James A. Cooper, Jr., Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Guillermo S. Cortez, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Diana Ensenat, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
Jan Y. Evans, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Sosimo Fabian, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Judy M. Ford, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Noe D. Gomez, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Darlene A. Hastings, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Lisa M. Henry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Robyn P. Hickerson, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Knashawn R. Hodge, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Michelle R. Johnson, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Ross S. Johnson, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Nelson Lopez-Hoyo, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Albert V. Mesa, University of California, Los Angeles.
Karl M. Miletti, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway.
Horacio G. Murillo, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN.
Karama C. Neal, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Teresa L. Pena, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Tamara E. Perry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Johanna M. Porter, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Marquita M. Qualls, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Rosa E. Rivera, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Maria M. Rubio, University of California, Riverside.
Patricia V. Sanchez, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Alfredo R. Sancho, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Osvaldo D. Santos, New York University.
Laura E. Strong, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Kim-Sue RS Tudor, University of Cincinnati, OH.
Robert M. Turner, Jr., Yale University, New Haven, CT.

MARC Faculty Fellowships

(listed by principal investigator and institution)

Regina S. Robinson, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport.
Karen Woolcock-Rodriguez, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan.

MORE Faculty Development Awards

(listed by principal investigator and institution)

Sacha Bunge, San Francisco State University, CA.
Purushottam G. Kale, Alabama A&M University, Normal.

Education Projects

(listed by principal investigator and institution/organization)

Roger D. Bauer, California State University, Long Beach.
James B. Blair, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
Carl O. Clark, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.
Terry Cluck, East Central Oklahoma State University, Ada.
Elaine T. Eatman, Hampton University, Hampton, VA.
Catherine C. Fenselau, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Joseph S. Francisco, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Donald T. Frazier, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Henry T. Frierson, Jr., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Michael S. Gaines, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
Ernest R. Greene, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas.
Margaret J. Griffiths, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
Carole L. Grover, Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA.
Carlos G. Gutierrez, California State University, Los Angeles.
Damon C. Herbert, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
M.A. Himaya, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA.
Bruce V. Hofkin, University of Albuquerque, NM.
Fred Jones, Jr., Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Linda S. Lamont, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Michael J. Leibowitz, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway.
Richard McGee, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN.
Thoyd Melton, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Thomas W. North, University of Montana, Missoula.
Jude C. Nwoga, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee.
Pamela T. Reid, City University of New York Graduate School and University Center.
Marc A. Rott, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Warren I. Schaeffer, University of Vermont, Burlington.
Herbert B. Silber, San Jose State University, CA.
Lynda L. Uphouse, Texas Woman's University, Denton.
Luis P. Villarreal, University of California, Irvine.
Richard L. Weiss, University of California, Los Angeles.
Maureen C. Whalen, San Francisco State University, CA.
John S. Williamson, University of Mississippi.
Leonard Wilmer, Wiley College, Marshall, TX.

MBRS Awards

(listed by institution and principal investigator)

S-06
Alabama State University, Montgomery, Shiva P. Singh.
Alcorn State University, Lorman, Alice M. Powell.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, Donald F. Hoyt.
California State University-Dominguez Hills, Carson, Laura J. Robles.
California State University-Hayward, Maria C. Nieto.
Chaminade University of Honolulu, HI, Ellen Shimakawa.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, Samuel J. Shacks.
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, K. Ken Redda.
Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, Nathan H. Cook.
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Aderemi R. Oki.
New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, Ernest R. Greene.
North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, Alex N. Williamson.
Prairie View A&M University, TX, Vasant M. Doctor.
San Jose State University, CA, Robert A. Hicks.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, Jack L. Robinson.
Tougaloo College, MS, Asoka Srinivasan.
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Adriana Baez.
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Pedras, Rafael Arce Quintero.
University of the District of Columbia, Norman S. Kondo.
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, John T. Sullivan.

S-14
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL, Jarnail Singh.

MARC U*STAR Awards

(listed by institution and principal investigator)

Howard University, Washington, DC, Arthur L. Williams.

MARC Ancillary Training Activities Awards

(listed by principal investigator and institution/organization)

Lloyd J. Edwards, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Marion Ehrich, Society of Toxicology.
Sarah Hitchcock-Degregori, Biophysical Society.
Bertha G. Holliday, American Psychological Association.
Roosevelt Y. Johnson, GEM Consortium.
Thomas D. Landefeld, Endocrine Society.
Marsha L. Matyas, American Physiological Society.
Marvin Snyder, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
William Y. Velez, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.

Upcoming Meetings

November 20-23, 1997
American Indian Science and Engineering Society, 19th National Conference, George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Houston, TX. Contact: AISES, 1630 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80301; phone (303) 939-0023.

December 4-7, 1997
Society for Leukocyte Biology, Annual Meeting, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. Contact: Office of Scientific Meetings and Conferences, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998; phone (301) 530-7010; e-mail mmiller@osmc.faseb.org.

December 13-17, 1997
American Society for Cell Biology, 37th Annual Meeting, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. Contact: ASCB, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3992; phone (301) 530-7153; e-mail ascbinfo@ascb.org.

February 22-26, 1998
Biophysical Society, Annual Meeting, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, MO. Contact: Meeting Coordinator, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998; phone (301) 530-7114; e-mail society@biophysics.faseb.org.

March 1-5, 1998
Society of Toxicology, Annual Meeting, Washington King County Convention Center, Seattle, WA. Contact: Trish Armstrong, Society of Toxicology, 1767 Business Center Drive, Suite 301, Reston, VA 22090; phone (703) 438-3115; e-mail sothq@toxicology.org.

March 29-April 2, 1998
American Chemical Society, 215th National Meeting, Dallas, TX. Contact: ACS Meetings Department, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 872-4396; e-mail natlmtgs@acs.org.

April 18-22, 1998
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Experimental Biology '98, Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA. Contact: Office of Scientific Meetings and Conferences, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3996; phone (301) 530-7010; e-mail eb@faseb.org.

May 17-21, 1998
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Annual Meeting, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. Contact: Office of Scientific Meetings and Conferences, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998; phone (301) 530-7010; e-mail http://www.faseb.org/asbmb/.

May 17-21, 1998
American Society for Microbiology, 98th General Meeting, Atlanta, GA. Contact: ASM Meetings Department, 1325 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-4171; phone (202) 942-9254.

Acronyms Used in this Issue

CANCAS - Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Science
IMSD - Initiative for Minority Student Development
MARC - Minority Access to Research Careers
MBRS - Minority Biomedical Research Support
MORE - Minority Opportunities in Research
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NIGMS - National Institute of General Medical Sciences
NIH - National Institutes of Health
NSF - National Science Foundation
RISE - Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
SCORE - Support of Continuous Research Excellence