Diabetes Dateline
Winter 2007

NIDDK News

NIDDK Scientist Honored by White House

Daniel Appella, Ph.D., an investigator with the laboratory of bioorganic chemistry at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), was among 56 researchers who received 2005 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the nation’s highest honor for professionals at the outset of their independent research careers.

Honorees, including two intramural scientists and 10 grantees, were recognized at a ceremony presided over by John H. Marburger III, science adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The other intramural scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) honored at the ceremony was Sohyun Ahn, Ph.D., principal investigator in the unit on developmental neurogenetics, laboratory of mammalian genes and development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Appella, a synthetic organic chemist, works at the interface of chemistry and biology. “In a nutshell, I make molecules with biological activity, and one reason NIH is a great environment is that there are lots of opportunities to test them,” said Appella.

One class of these molecules binds selectively with DNA and RNA sequences. Appella is trying to couple this with a very sensitive detection of pathogens––in particular, anthrax. He also makes molecules targeted to HIV and cancer.

“Chemistry could have a great impact on many aspects of the intramural program,” Appella said. “In general, chemical approaches provide a way to start thinking about new therapies and treatments, which could help in the translational aspects of the work at NIH.”

The PECASE awards, established in 1996, honor the most promising researchers in the nation within their fields. Nine Federal departments and agencies annually nominate scientists and engineers whose work shows exceptional promise. Participating agencies award these researchers up to 5 years of funding to further their investigations.

[Top]

NIH Publication No. 07–4562
March 2007