Director's Report to Council: June 2008

ACTIVITIES OF THE NIDCR DIRECTOR

At the request of NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak continues co-leading the initiative to enhance the peer review process at NIH.  Over the past several months, the NIDCR Director delivered numerous peer review presentations nationwide and at NIH advisory meetings. In addition, he spoke about future NIDCR research directions at scientific conferences, meetings of dental organizations, and dental schools.  Dr. Tabak also co-chairs the Research Teams of the Future component of the NIH Roadmap and the NIH-wide Pain Consortium. 

The NIDCR Director’s peer review activities included presentations to meetings of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (January 30) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Council (February 7) and participation in the Peer Review Analysis and Implementation Study Group Retreat with the NIH Director (February 7).  On March 17 he spoke to the Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health (ACRWH) about the “Revision of the NIH Peer Review Process.”  ACRWH is composed of physicians, practitioners, scientists and other health professionals whose expertise includes a significant focus on women’s health research.  Later in March he delivered an update on NIH peer review to the NCI Director’s Consumer Liaison Group, a federal advisory committee composed of consumer advocates who advise the NCI Director from the viewpoint of the cancer patient.  He then attended the Experimental Biology 2008 Conference in San Diego (April 6) where he gave a talk on “Peer Review at NIH: Making Sure the System Works.”  Experimental Biology is a multi-society, interdisciplinary scientific meeting attended by 13,000 independent scientists representing member societies.  Dr. Tabak also presented peer review updates at the NIDCR Patient Advocates Forum (April 21) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Council meeting (May 23) and led an NIH Town Hall meeting on May 28.  He spoke at meetings of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Council (June 6), the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council (June 12), and the National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs (June 19). On June 6, he addressed the 96th meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director (NIH) and delivered a “Report on Enhancing Peer Review: Implementation,” in which NIH’s new initiatives in this area were announced (see additional details under NIH Update). 

In his role as co-chair of the NIH Roadmap Research Teams of the Future component, Dr. Tabak gave an address on “Interdisciplinary Research” to the Council of Councils on March 31.  The Council of Councils, made up of 30 members selected from NIH Institute and Center Advisory councils, advises the NIH Director on matters related to the Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives (see NIH Update for additional details).    

Other activities of the NIDCR Director included meeting with the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research (January 30); giving a talk on “Molecular Medicine Enters the Mouth” (via webcast) at the University of Toronto Research/Dean’s Lecture Series (February 12), and attending the NIH Roadmap Retreat (February 29).  As a member of the NIH Pain Consortium, Dr. Tabak met with the American Pain Society leadership on March 17.  He then attended the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting in Dallas in April where he met with research trainees and junior scientists, provided updates on NIDCR’s strategic plan and NIH peer review, and participated in the NIDCR 60th Anniversary Symposia on “Looking Toward the Future,” “Dental Practice-Based Research–Practitioner Driven Evidence Based Dentistry,” and “Building On Our Strengths.”  That same month he also took part in the American Dental Association’s Workgroup on Salivary Diagnostics, delivered a talk on “Why Research Matters” at the AADR/American Dental Education Association’s Legislative Workshop in Washington, D.C., provided an update on NIDCR activities to the AADR Government Affairs Committee, and spoke about “Careers in Oral Health Research” at the NIDCR Fellows Retreat in Cumberland, MD.  In May, Dr. Tabak attended the NIH Budget Retreat.  He also was the opening speaker at NIH’s Glycosciences Research Day (May 9) where he gave a talk entitled “The Beginnings of Mucin Biosynthesis” and was the keynote speaker at the 8th European Symposium on Saliva in the Netherlands (May 14) where he gave a presentation on the “Functions of Saliva.” On June 1-3 he attended the Fifth Scientific Meeting of the TMJ Association in Bethesda, MD, entitled “Can Studies of Comorbidities with TMJDs Reveal Common Mechanisms of Disease?” and delivered the opening and closing remarks. 

The NIDCR Director was the recipient of two awards--an honorary Doctor of Science degree presented during the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) commencement and the Paul Goldhaber Award from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, which is given to those who have made major contributions to dental research and education. 

ACTIVITIES OF THE NIDCR DEPUTY DIRECTOR

NIDCR Deputy Director Isabel Garcia continues to lead NIDCR’s strategic plan update.  (See additional details under NIDCR Update)

On February 7, the Deputy Director also represented NIDCR/NIH at the Healthy People 2010 progress review for goals and objectives in the oral health focus area and gave a presentation on NIDCR research activities that support these objectives.  The progress review provides a venue for Federal agencies to report on advancement toward achieving the Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives for each of the 28 focus areas.  It also enables the lead agencies for a particular focus area to brief the Assistant Secretary for Health on reaching the targets. 

On February 22, Dr. Garcia participated in the Regenerative Endodontics Conference held at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Fort Lauderdale.   She presented an overview of NIDCR’s Regenerative Dental Medicine and Tissue Engineering Program and funding opportunities at NIDCR and NIH in the area of bioengineering.

On March 17 she gave the welcome address and an overview presentation about NIDCR and its programs at the American Dental Association (ADA) Dental Student Research Conference (see additional details under NIDCR Update). She also delivered a lecture on “Ethics and Global Health” to faculty and students at the New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (May 27) and gave an update on NIDCR’s initiatives and selected research activities at the annual USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium in Tucson, AZ (June 10).  

BUDGET UPDATE

FY 2008
The FY 2008 appropriation provides $389.7 million for NIDCR.  The budget distribution by mechanism is provided in the table below.

FY 2009
The President’s Budget Request would provide $390.5 million for NIDCR. See the table below for the distribution by budget mechanism.  See the complete NIDCR budget justification to Congress.

NIH Peer Review
On June 6, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni announced critical changes to enhance and improve the NIH peer review system, marking the end of a year-long effort to determine ways to further enrich the process.  An important component of the new plan is an increased commitment to investigator initiated, high-risk, high-impact research to prevent a slowdown of transformative research, despite budgetary times. 

The initiatives--which were presented at the 96th Meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director by NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak, co-chair of the internal and external committees examining the NIH peer review process--reflect NIH’s response to thousands of comments, opinions, and criticisms received throughout the year.  Taken together, these proposals bring to fruition the original charge, “to fund the best science, by the best scientists, with the least administrative burden.”  

The Implementation Plan Report consists of four main priorities.  Highlights include:

• Priority 1 — Engage the Best Reviewers: Increase flexibility of service, formally acknowledge reviewer efforts, further compensate time and effort, and enhance and standardize training
• Priority 2 — Improve Quality and Transparency of Reviews: Shorten and redesign applications to highlight impact and to allow alignment of the application, review and summary statement with five explicit review criteria, and modify the rating system
• Priority 3 — Ensure Balanced and Fair Reviews Across Scientific Fields and Career Stages
  --Support a minimum number of early stage investigators and investigators new to NIH, and emphasize retrospective accomplishments of experienced investigators 
  --Encourage and expand the Transformative Research Pathway 
  --Create a new investigator-initiated Transformative R01 Award program funded within the NIH Roadmap with an intended commitment of a minimum of $250 million over five years 
  --Continue the commitment of — and possibly expand the use of — the Pioneer, EUREKA, and New Innovator Awards.  NIH will invest at least $750 million in these three programs over the next 5 years. 
  --Reduce the burden of multiple rounds of resubmission for the same application, especially for highly meritorious applications
• Priority 4 — Develop a Permanent Process for Continuous Review of Peer Review

Dr. Zerhouni called upon leaders from across the scientific community and NIH to join a trans-NIH effort in June 2007 to examine peer review with the goal of optimizing efficiency and effectiveness, and to ensure that the NIH will be able to continue to meet the needs of the research community and public-at-large.  During the summer and fall of 2007, the internal and external peer review working groups co-chaired by Dr. Tabak collected input and ideas for enhancing the peer review system from all stakeholder communities (i.e. extramural community, advocacy groups, professional society groups, and NIH staff). This process included an online Request for Information (RFI), an NIH-internal survey, an interactive website for liaisons, analyses of previous and existing peer review experiments and practices at the NIH and other agencies (international and domestic), direct communication with stakeholders through teleconferences with deans, emails, letters, and a series of internal and external consultation meetings and regional meetings across the nation. In February, the Final Draft of the NIH 2007-2008 Peer Review Self-Study was submitted to the NIH Director, marking the end of the diagnostic phase of the peer review enhancement effort.  Dr. Zerhouni then established the Steering Committee Peer Review Implementation Group in March to draft the outline of implementation plans for each recommended action.  Dr. Tabak also co-led the subcommittees convened by the Implementation Group.

See additional information about enhancing peer review at NIH and the implementation plan. 

NIH Forms Council of Councils
In March, NIH announced the appointments to the NIH Council of Councils.  The Council is made up of 27 members selected from the NIH Institute and Center (IC) advisory councils and advisory members to the NIH Office of the Director.  Cecile A. Feldman, DMD, MBA, is the liaison to the NIDCR.

The Council will advise the NIH Director on cutting-edge trans-NIH priorities and matters related to the policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives and the Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives (OPASI).  The Council also will act as an external advisory panel to the IC Directors during the concept approval stage of the review process for trans-NIH initiatives.  The Council’s first official meeting was held March 31-April 1, 2008.  Dr. Tabak gave a presentation to the Council on “Interdisciplinary Research.”

NIH Expands Clinical and Translational Science Award Consortium
Fourteen academic health centers in 11 states are the latest members of NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium.  Creating a unique network of research institutions across the nation, the consortium is working to reduce the time it takes for laboratory discoveries to become treatment for patients and to engage communities in clinical research efforts.  The consortium also is fulfilling the critical need to train the next generation of clinical and translational researchers.  The 14 new institutions will receive $533 million over 5 years.  See additional details about the new CTSA centers.  
 
NIH Launches Undiagnosed Diseases Program
NIH has announced a new clinical research program to provide answers to patients with mysterious conditions that have long eluded diagnosis. Called the Undiagnosed Diseases Program, the trans-NIH initiative will focus on the most puzzling medical cases referred to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, by physicians across the nation.  The program is expected to begin in July 2008.  See additional details about the Undiagnosed Diseases Program.

NIH Pain Consortium Holds Third Annual Symposium
On May 22, the NIH Pain Consortium held their third annual symposium on “Advances in Pain Research.” The symposium presented new and exciting advances in pain research and pain management featuring work done through NIH support.  See the videocast of the Pain Consortium symposium.

New Resource for the Public
NIH has a new online resource called How NIH Brings Health and Science to the Public. 

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Renamed
On December 21, 2007, Congress passed Public Law 110-154 renaming the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, has devoted much of her life to improving and enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was instrumental in establishing the NICHD in 1962.

Dr. Francis Collins to Step Down
Francis S. Collins, MD., PhD, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), has announced that he will step down on August 1 to explore writing projects and other professional opportunities.  Dr. Collins, a physician-geneticist, served as NHGRI director since 1993.  He led the Human Genome Project to its successful conclusion in 2003 and subsequently initiated and managed a wide range of projects that built upon the foundation laid by the sequencing of the human genome.  Dr. Alan Guttmacher, current NHGRI deputy director, will become acting director on August 1.      

NIDCR UPDATE

NIDCR Strategic Plan
The first phase in updating NIDCR’s strategic plan is now well underway.  Input is being sought from a broad array of colleagues and stakeholders including researchers, academics, dental organizations, industry groups, patients, advocacy organizations, clinicians, and others. An internal working group has been formed and convened and two open forum sessions were held to gather ideas from the field.  The first session took place during the annual meeting of the American Association for Dental Research in Dallas (April 2) and the second was part of the NIDCR Patient Advocates Forum held at NIH (April 21).  An announcement and comment form was posted on NIDCR’s website early in May to gather input on promising areas of research needs and opportunities to advance oral health research.  A note has also been published in the Federal Register.  Additional informal listening sessions will be held during the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Toronto in July.  The next phase will include meetings with NIDCR staff and an analysis of the current NIDCR portfolio.

NIDCR 60th Anniversary Activities
NIDCR will hold a scientific symposium on June 24 to celebrate its 60th anniversary.  (See the agenda for the 60th anniversary scientific symposium). Dr. Tabak will introduce the morning session titled "Building the Molecular Toolbox: Four Perspectives."  NIH Deputy Director Raynard Kington, MD, PhD, will introduce the afternoon session titled "The Human Microbiome: Biology's Next Revolution."  The symposium is open to all and no registration is required.  Five hours of Continuing Dental Education are offered for attendees.

On June 23, the Friends of the NIDCR will host a 60th Anniversary Celebration.  Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of Science Magazine, will present the keynote address on “The Societal Context for Science.”  The event will take place at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

NIDCR Launches New Seminar Series: From Basic Research to Therapy -- The Latest Frontier
NIDCR has launched a new seminar series called “From Basic Research to Therapy—The Latest Frontier,” designed to highlight advances in basic and applied research most likely to benefit medical practice in the future. The next lecture will take place June 18 and is entitled “Advances in High-Resolution Imaging of Complex Biological Systems."  The lecture will be given by Scott Fraser, Ph.D. from the Beckman Institute California Institute of Technology.  Previous lectures were "Pain-Specific Blockade -- Targeting Analgesics Only to Where it Hurts," presented March 3 by Clifford J. Woolf, M.D., Ph.D. from the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and "How Stress Kills:  New Perspectives on Stress and Inflammation," given May 9 by Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D., Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Patient Advocates Forum Held
NIDCR welcomed 10 patient advocates to the ninth annual NIDCR Patient Advocates Forum, held April 21 at NIH.  The day began with a listening session focused on the NIDCR Strategic Plan, which the Institute is creating anew.  The deputy director led a discussion to solicit input into the new blueprint from the advocates’ perspective.  Staff also briefed participants on NIDCR-funded genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and explored the broader implications—and limitations—of the array of data generated by genome-based studies and marketed to consumers.  Advocates were then introduced to MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s premiere online consumer health resource.  The meeting concluded with the director’s update on the budget and several major research activities, including the FaceBase project, salivary gland tumor biorepository, and the human oral microbiome project; and a discussion of NIH efforts to enhance and streamline the peer review system.

Congressional Staff Visit NIDCR
On February 15, Dr. Pamela Gehron Robey, chief of NIDCR’s Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch (CSDB), gave a laboratory tour and presentation explaining the value of different types of stem cell research to staff from the office of Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL), including Adam Magary (chief of staff) and Rachel Latta (health legislative assistant). 

NIDCR Hosts Students During ADA Dental Students’ Conference on Research
On March 17, students participating in the ADA Dental Students’ Conference on Research spent the day meeting with NIDCR staff and touring Institute laboratories.  The conference, an annual gathering of dental students from over 50 schools in the U.S. and Canada, is sponsored through the ADA Foundation with support from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.  Its purpose is to introduce outstanding dental students to scientists from the ADA, industry, the NIDCR, and the ADA Foundation’s Paffenbarger Research Center to raise students’ awareness of the wide-ranging careers available in oral health research. Students spend three days learning about oral health research from leading scientists and touring top research centers like the National Institutes of Health. They also participate in poster presentations and discussions.

NIDCR Sponsors TMJ Meeting
NIDCR sponsored the Fifth Scientific Meeting of the TMJ Association titled “Can Studies of Co-morbidities with TMJDs Reveal Common Mechanisms of Disease?”  Held June 1-3 at the FASEB Conference Center in Bethesda, MD, the meeting provided an opportunity for approximately 100 attendees to hear presentations from experts who discussed many chronic pain conditions.  The NIDCR Director delivered the opening and closing remarks.  Attendees also went to poster sessions presented by young TMJD investigators.  Dr. John Kusiak, director of the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Program, played a major role in organizing the meeting, including planning the agenda, identifying participants, and leading a discussion session. 

NIDCR Sponsors Events During AADR Meeting
NIDCR sponsored various symposia and training and career-related events during the 86th General Session of the American Association for Dental Research, held April 1-5 in Dallas.  NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak provided updates on NIDCR’s strategic plan and NIH peer review, and NIDCR sponsored three 60th Anniversary Symposia on “Looking Toward the Future,” “Dental Practice-Based Research–Practitioner Driven Evidence Based Dentistry,” and “Building On Our Strengths.” Approximately 40 students and career awardees also participated in a NIDCR trainees poster session and over 100 people attended the "Essentials in Grant Writing" workshop and a session on “NIDCR Research Training and Career Development Opportunities.” Many attendees also took advantage of the opportunity for individual consultation at the NIDCR exhibition booth.

NIDCR Co-Funds Gordon Research Conference
NIDCR co-funded the Gordon Research Conference on “Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration,” held February 10-15 in Il Ciocco, Italy.  Institute staff met with current and prospective grantees to discuss NIDCR research priorities.  Dr. Nadya Lumelsky, director of the Tissue Engineering and Dental and Craniofacial Regenerative Medicine Program, organized and moderated a panel discussion entitled “Biology and Bioengineering: Equal Partners in Regeneration of Craniofacial Tissues.” The session brought together biologists and bioengineers to discuss opportunities in interdisciplinary research that will benefit the regeneration and reconstruction of oral and craniofacial tissues.

Workshop Planned for Dual Degree Trainees and Dentists
NIDCR is planning a workshop for all dual degree trainees and dentists pursuing PhDs (supported by T32, F or K mechanisms).  The workshop will be held on the NIH campus September 8-9 and will feature poster sessions, discussions about career planning and NIDCR scientific priorities, meetings with extramural health science administrators, and presentations about intramural postdoctoral training opportunities.

Board of Scientific Counselors Reviews Intramural Investigators
On January 6-8, the Board of Scientific Counselors and ad hoc panel members conducted their quadrennial review of Drs. Kenneth Yamada, Yoshi Yamada, and Ashok Kulkarni and the mid-term tenure track review of Dr. Kelly Ten Hagen (all from the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology) as well as the mid-term tenure track reviews of Dr. Eva Mezy (Craniofacial and Skeletal Disease Branch) and Dr. Gabor Illei (Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch).

NIDCR Launches New Website
In early April, NIDCR launched its new website. The new site features simplified navigation with fewer clicks to accomplish key tasks, an “A to Z” index, new content, and a user-friendly graphic design, among other features.  The redesign was guided by usability testing with NIDCR’s major audiences:  researchers, students, educators, patients and consumers, dental and medical care providers, and public health professionals, as well as by online user surveys and interviews with NIDCR staff. 

Web Page Honored
The National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) recently honored the NIDCR web page “Pathway to Product Development” with a Gold Screen Award.  The NIDCR web page offers Q&As, slide shows, and graphics to describe how private industry can work with NIDCR to accelerate technology transfer.  The NAGC Blue Pencil/Gold Screen awards honor high quality, creative products produced by government communicators. 

Science Updates and News Releases
Since the last meeting of the NADCRC, NIDCR communications staff produced 10 summaries of recent research findings.  Topics included, for example, genome-wide scans for loci involved in cleft lip and/or palate, the publication of the salivary proteome, and the contribution of periodontal disease to diabetes risk. Staff also wrote a news release about the launch of the first comprehensive database of the human microbiome.  Visit the NIDCR website to view the most recent “Science News in Brief” summaries and news releases.

Interviews with Oral Health Researchers
Communications staff also developed three Q&A interviews for the “Inside Scoop” section of the website.  The first is with Dr. Daniel Fine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark about the results of a natural history study of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) in children.  The second interview is with Benjamin Lu, a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search, about his experience as a summer intern in NIDCR’s Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch.  The most recent interview, with NIDCR scientists Dr. Peter Burbelo and Dr. Michael Iadarola, describes a new diagnostic technique to quantify antibodies in blood and saliva.  See these and other Inside Scoop interviews.

New Fact Sheet Set Available on Organ Transplantation and Oral Health
Organ transplant patients are at increased risk for serious oral health problems. NIDCR has developed a set of two fact sheets for dentists and patients on managing and preventing the range of oral complications associated with organ transplantation.  Dental Management of the Organ Transplant Patient addresses special considerations for managing the oral health of pre- and post-transplant patients and offers strategies for providing care.  The companion piece for patients, Organ Transplantation and Your Mouth, discusses how transplantation and anti-rejection medications affect oral health and describes steps to take before and after transplantation to keep the mouth healthy.

Exhibits
NIDCR exhibited and disseminated patient and health professional education materials at the following meetings: 

• Yankee Dental Congress in Boston
• Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting
• National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Conference in Washington DC
• Special Care Dentistry Association Annual Meeting in San Antonio
• California Dental Association in Anaheim
• National WIC Association Meeting in Minneapolis
• Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association and American Academy Developmental Medicine and Dentistry joint meeting in Mashantucket, Connecticut
  
  NIDCR materials were also displayed at the following venues:
  
  
• NBC Health Expo, Washington DC
• Sister to Sister Foundation Health Fair, Washington, DC
• National Hispanic Medical Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC
• National Women’s Health Week, NIH
• National Healthcare for the Homeless Conference, Phoenix
  

SCIENCE ADVANCES

Scientists Launch First Comprehensive Database of Human Oral Microbiome
NIDCR grantees and their international colleagues have launched the first comprehensive database of the oral microbiome, or the approximately 600 distinct microorganisms currently known to live in the mouth.  The free online compendium is called the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD).  The database went live on March 25 as the digital equivalent of an Oxford dictionary of oral microorganisms, providing detailed biological entries for each species and an extensive catalogue of the thousands of genes that these microbes express.  The site is located at http://www.homd.org and is overseen by scientists at The Forsyth Institute in Boston and King's College London in England. 

"The HOMD fills a critical research need," according to NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak. "The oral microbiome is extremely rich in data, and HOMD becomes the essential search engine for scientists to view and retrieve this information, generate novel hypotheses, make computational discoveries, and ultimately develop more biologically sound therapies to control oral diseases."

Consortium Publishes Salivary Proteome
As published online March 24 in the Journal of Proteome Research, a consortium of NIDCR-supported research groups has compiled the first comprehensive list of proteins secreted by the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual).  The consortium identified 1,166 proteins in saliva samples collected from 23 adult volunteers.  Of these proteins, 657 are also found in blood plasma and 259 are present in tears.  The completion of the salivary proteome will help to establish saliva as a scientifically validated diagnostic fluid to detect early signs of disease throughout the body.   The consortium included teams at The Scripps Research Institute, the University of Southern California, the University of California at San Francisco, and University of Rochester. 

First Lead into Molecular Interplay that Produces Trigeminal Ganglion
How do nerve forming cells self-organize in the embryo to produce an anatomically correct sensory network that feeds into central nervous system? In the March issue of Nature Neuroscience, NIDCR grantees and colleagues introduce the first two pieces to the molecular puzzle.  They demonstrate in animal studies that the cranial subtype of neural crest cells express the protein Slit1 on their surface while embarking on their programmed migration to the trigeminal-forming ectodermal placodes.  Meanwhile, as the trigeminal placode cells follow their developmental program and ingress into adjacent embryonic tissue, they express on their surface the Robo2 protein, the known receptor for the Slit1 protein.  The implication: The Robo2-Slit1 connection, like fitting a hand in a glove, mediates the needed interaction of neural crest and trigeminal placode cells during the formation of sensory ganglia.  As the scientists showed, whenever they disrupted one or both of these molecular signals, the resulting sensory ganglia were structurally abnormal.  The study was conducted by Shiau CE, Lwigale PY, Das RM, Wilson SA, and Bronner-Fraser M at the California Institute of Technology.  

PBRN Offers Overview of Clinical Research Primer
In 2005, the NIDCR awarded three seven-year grants to establish "practice-based" research networks.  Their aim:  Assemble teams of practicing dentists to investigate with greater scientific rigor "everyday" issues in the delivery of oral healthcare. The PRECEDENT network, based in the Pacific Northwest, is one of the NIDCR-supported networks.  In the March issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, several PRECEDENT organizers outline the one-day educational program that they have developed to introduce practitioners to the basics of clinical research.  The article outlines the course's four modules, its assessment from participating dentists, and several conclusions that can be drawn from the program.

Porous Implant Shows Promise
For decades, scientists have steadfastly designed synthetic materials to implant into damaged tissues and organs in hopes of restoring their natural function.  But, as man-made materials, none can fully integrate with surrounding tissue as part of body’s natural regeneration process.  However, new, biologically “smarter” synthetic materials are under development that may solve many of today’s design problems.  A promising example was published online on January 15 in the FASEB Journal.  A team of NIDCR grantees and colleagues report on early work in animals with a porous implant that releases microencapsulated Tissue Growth Factor (TGF)-β1 into bone.  As the microparticles degraded, the encapsulated growth factors were released and recruited bone-forming mesenchymal stem cells to the implant to encourage the natural ingrowth of new mineralized bone.  The result:  The released growth factors improved biointegration of the material.  The authors concluded, “Taken together, the present findings provide the proof of concept for testing the potential augmentation of bone ingrowth in porous implants by controlled release of bioactive cues in large animal models and potentially patients.”  The study was conducted by Paul A. Clark, Eduardo K. Moiloli, D. Rick Sumner, and Jeremy J. Mao at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rush University, and Columbia University.

Study Evaluates Periodontal Disease Contributing to Diabetes Risk
Is it possible that periodontal disease contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes?  The hypothesis builds on two points:  Diabetes is now often characterized as a cardiovascular disease, and periodontal disease has long been considered a possible risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  To take a look at this question, NIDCR grantees and colleagues turned to existing data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), conducted in the early 1970s.  They teased out 9,296 adult participants who reported no history of Type 2 diabetes and categorized them based on the level, if any, of periodontal disease.  They then compared the risk of developing diabetes over the next 20 years between people with and without periodontal disease.  After adjusting their analyses for other diabetes risk factors, the researchers determined that NHANES I volunteers with intermediate periodontal disease at baseline were twice as likely to develop diabetes as healthy participants. The risk also remained elevated for those with advanced periodontal disease. Moreover, when considering tooth loss as a surrogate for historical periodontal disease, they found that participants with advanced tooth loss had 70 percent greater odds of developing diabetes.  Interestingly, for edentulous volunteers, the odds of diabetes were increased by only 30 percent relative to participants with minimal tooth loss.  Collaborating on the study were Demmer RT, Jacobs DR Jr, and Desvarieux M at Columbia University, University of Minnesota, and INSERM, Paris.  Their work was published online in Diabetes Care. 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Notices:
Conduct, Reporting, and Oversight of Clinical Research and Clinical Trials – NIDCR

New NIDCR Policy: Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials

Extension of Several NRSA Training (T), NRSA Fellowship (F), and Career Development (K) Funding Opportunity Announcements

Requests for Applications:
Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRC) for the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

Probes and Instrumentation for Monitoring and Manipulating Nervous System Plasticity (R01)

Program Announcements:
NIDCR Individual NRSA Predoctoral Dental Scientist Fellowship (F30)

Interdisciplinary Research on Oral Manifestations of HIV/AIDS in Vulnerable Populations (P01) 

Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R01)

Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R21) 

Novel Approaches to Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R01)

Novel Approaches to Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R21)

Metagenomic Analyses of the Oral Microbiome (R01)

Lab to Marketplace: Tools for Biomedical and Behavioral Research (SBIR [R43/R44])

PHS 2008-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42])

Enhancing Zebrafish Research with Research Tools and Techniques (R01)

Genetic Screens to Enhance Zebrafish Research (R01)

Community Participation in Research (R01)

Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R01)

Responses to Requests for Applications:
Centers for Research to Reduce Disparities in Oral Health
RFA-DE-08-008
A special emphasis panel was convened in March to review applications received in response to the Centers for Research to Reduce Disparities in Oral Health funding opportunity announcement. The initiative aims to support interventional research, including randomized clinical trials that will have a clinically meaningful impact on dental caries, oral and pharyngeal cancer, and periodontal disease; influence clinical practice, health policy, community and/or individual action; and ultimately eliminate disparities in vulnerable subgroups of the U.S. population. These populations include racial and ethnic minorities, low income groups, and persons with special needs.  The competitive renewal was open to current Oral Health Disparities Centers as well as to new applicants. 

PERSONNEL UPDATE

Dr. Mary Sue Hamann Appointed Evaluation Officer
Dr. Mary Sue Hamann joined the NIDCR as its new evaluation officer on January 6.  She comes from the Coastal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in North Carolina where she led the research department of a large, multi-specialty graduate medical education program and served as principal investigator for externally-sponsored research since 2003.  While working at AHEC, Dr. Hamann also was a clinical research assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  She received her Ph.D. in education policy and leadership from the Ohio State University.

Dr. Lillian Shum Named Chief, Integrative Biology and Infectious Diseases Branch
Dr. Lillian Shum was appointed chief of the Integrative Biology and Infectious Diseases Branch, Division of Extramural Research, on May 11.  Prior to her appointment she served as acting chief of the branch.  Dr. Shum will provide leadership, advice, and direction in the program planning, solicitation, evaluation, and monitoring of the NIDCR extramural integrative biology and infectious diseases research program.  She joined the NIH in 1995 as a senior research fellow at NIAMS and took the position as health scientist administrator with the NIDCR in 2003.  Dr. Shum received her Ph.D. in cell biology and anatomy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Rosemary McCown Joins Office of Clinical Trials Operations and Management
Rosemary McCown, BSN, MS, recently joined the NIDCR Office of Clinical Trials Operations and Management (OCTOM).  She comes from NIAID’s extramural program where she served as project officer for multiple clinical research sites conducting vaccine research and interventional trials.  Prior to that she was an NIAID clinical research nurse in the Clinical Center where she coordinated a large shingles prevention study. Ms. McCown has years of experience in patient care and clinical research management in research settings.  She holds a master’s degree in health care administration.

Dr. Jonathan Horsford Appointed Scientific Review Administrator
In November 2007, Dr. Jonathan Horsford was appointed as a scientific review administrator in the Scientific Review Branch (SRB).  Previously he was a program analyst, program director, and IRTA fellow in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.  Dr. Horsford received his Ph.D. in molecular and medical genetics from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Kenneth Yamada Receives AADR Award
Dr. Kenneth Yamada, chief of the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, received the AADR Distinguished Scientist Award in April for "his outstanding contribution to dental research." This award is presented every two years at the AADR annual meeting.  Dr. Yamada’s research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of cell adhesion, migration, and salivary gland development.

NIDCR Summer Student Named Finalist in Intel Science Talent Search Competition
Benjamin Lu, a summer student in NIDCR’s Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, was a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search (STS) competition, the most prestigious science competition for high school students in the U.S.  See the interview with Ben Lu. 

Bob Kuska Receives Plain Language Award
Bob Kuska, who writes NIDCR’s science summaries, news releases, and “Inside Scoop” interviews, was recently honored with an NIH Plain Language Award.  The NIH Plain Language Awards recognize writers who develop products of exceptional clarity and focus.

Dr. Eleni Kousvelari Retires from Federal Service
Dr. Eleni Kousvelari, associate director for biotechnology and innovation, retired on May 16 after 24 years of Federal service.  While with the NIDCR, Dr. Kousvelari served as an expert and senior staff fellow in the Intramural Research Program, a health scientist administrator in the extramural program, and most recently as associate director for biotechnology and innovation.

Dr. Rochelle Small Retires from Federal Service
Dr. Rochelle Small retired from Federal service on April 25 after spending over 15 years in the government.  Dr. Small joined the NIH in 1992 and in 2000 accepted a position in NIDCR’s extramural program as a health scientist administrator.  She served as director of the Developmental Biology and Genetics Program.

Dr. Mostafa Nokta Takes New Position at NIH
Dr. Mostafa Nokta left the NIDCR in April to take a position at the National Cancer Institute as a health scientist administrator.  Dr. Notka served as director of the AIDS and Immunosuppression Program since 2003.

Dr. Sangeeta Bhargava Takes New Position at NIH
Dr. Sangeeta Bhargava left the NIDCR in March to take a position at the Center for Scientific Review as a health scientist administrator.  Dr. Bhargava served as a health scientist administrator in the NIDCR since 2003.  She was director of the Immunology and Immunotherapy Program.

Dr. Piotr Zelazowski Joins NICHD
Dr. Piotr Zelazowski left the NIDCR in March to become a health scientist administrator at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.  Dr. Zelazowski had been with the NIDCR since 2002 and was a health scientist administrator in NIDCR’s Scientific Review Branch. 

Staff Participate in NIH Bring Your Child to Work Day
Dr Marian Young and co-workers from the Craniofacial and Skeletal Disease Branch, Division of Intramural Research, gave a demonstration on dental and bone research during NIH’s “Bring Your Child to Work Day” on April 24.   The session drew a large group of children and their parents and exposed them--many for the first time--to dental and craniofacial research.

Former NIDCR Trainees Receive Grants
Former NIDCR K22 awardee Monn Monn Myat, PhD, has received her first R01 (GM082996) entitled “Regulation of Cohesive Cell Migration in Drosophila Embryogenesis.”  Dr. Myat completed her K22 award in 2006, and is an assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Former NIDCR F33 fellow Joan Richtsmeier, PhD, has received her first R01 (DE018500) entitled, “Phenogenetics Of Skull And Brain Integration In Craniosynostosis.”  Dr. Richtsmeier is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Penn State University.

PUBLICATIONS

Extramural (Staff Publications):
Kingman A , Susin C, & Albandar J. Effect of partial recording protocols on severity estimates of periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontal 2008 (in press).

Hirai H, Miura J, Hu Y, Larsson H, Larsson K, Lernmark A, Ivarsson SA, Wu T, Kingman A, Tzioufas AG, Notkins AL. Selective screening of secretory vesicle-associated proteins for autoantigens in type 1 diabetes: VAMP2 and NPY are new minor autoantigens  Clin Immunol. 2008 Mar 20; [Epub ahead of print]

Mishra BK, Wu T, Belfer I, Hodgkinson CA, Cohen LG, Kiselycznyk C, Kingman A, Keller RB, Yuan Q, Goldman D, Atlas SJ, Max MB.  Do motor control genes contribute to interindividual variability in decreased movement in patients with pain?  Mol Pain 2007; 26:3-20.
 
Domingo DL, Freeman AF, Davis J, Puck JM, Wu. TX, Holland SM and Hart TC.  Novel intraoral phenotypes in hyperimmunoglobulin-E syndrome. Oral Disease 2008 Jan; 14(1):73-81

Tomona N, Wu T, Kingman A, Han SH, Williams FE, Hart TC. Soft tissue facial growth study of 6 to 17 years old children using 3-D imaging. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.(submitted)

Domingo DL, Trujillo MI, Council SE, Merideth MA, Gordon GB, Wu T, Introne WJ, Gahl WA, Hart TC. Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome: Oral and craniofacial phenotypes. Oral Diseases (submitted)

Reimann1 F, Cox JJ, McHale DP, Max MB, Wheeler J, Sanders F, Wood L, Wu T, Belfer I, Kiselycznyk C, Gribble F, Woods CG. Pain perception is altered by a nucleotide polymorphism in SCN9A (submitted).

Intramural:
Bianco P*, Robey PG*, Simmons PJ*. Mesenchymal stem cells:  revisiting history, concepts and assays. Cell Stem Cell. 2:313-9, 2008. (*These authors contributed equally.)

Bellahcène A, Castronovo V, Ogbureke KU, Fisher LW, Fedarko NS. Small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs): multifunctional proteins in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 83:212-26, 2008.

Toth ZE, Leker R, Shahar T, Pastorino S, Szalayova I, Asemenew B, Key S, Parmelee A, Mayer B, Nemeth K, Bratincsak A, Mezey E. The combination of granulocyte colony stimulatory factor and stem cell factor significantly increases the number of bone marrow derived endothelial cells in brains of mice following cerebral ischemia. Blood. 2008 Feb 11. [Epub ahead of print]. 

Liu Y, Zhang P, Li J, Kulkani AB, Perruche S, Chen W. A critical function for TGF-beta signaling in the development of natural CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Nature Immunol. ( Epub ahead of print),April 27, 2008

Thompson J, Jacubovics N, Abraham B, Hess S, Pikis A. The sim operon facilitates the transport and metabolism of sucrose isomers in Lactobacillus casei ATCC 334. J. Bacteriol. 190: 3362-73, 2008 (COVER ARTICLE).

Perruche S, Zhang P, Liu Y, Saas P, Bluestone JA, Chen W. CD3-specific antibody induced immune tolerance involves TGF-beta from phagocytes digesting apoptotic T cells. Nature Med. ( Epub ahead of print), April 27, 2008

Yoshida, Y., Yang, J., Peaker, P.-E., Kato, H., Bush, C.A., Cisar, J.O.: Molecular and antigenic characterization of a Streptococcus oralis coaggregation receptor polysaccharide by carbohydrate engineering in Streptococcus gordonii. J. Biol. Chem. 283:12654-64, 2008

Nguyen MQ, Zhou Z, Marks CA, Ryba NJP, Belluscio L. Prominent roles for odorant receptor coding sequences in allelic exclusion. Cell 131:1009-1017, 2007

Yang H-Y T, Mitchell K, Keller JM, Iadarola MJ. Peripheral inflammation increases Scya2 expression in sensory ganglia and cytokine and endothelial related gene expression in inflamed tissue.  J Neurochem.103:1628-1643, 2007

Mitchell K, Yang H-Y T, Tessier PA, Muhly WT, Swaim WD, Szalayova I, Keller JM, Mezey E, Iadarola MJ. Localization of S100A8 and S100A9 secreting neutrophils to spinal cord during peripheral tissue inflammation. Pain. 134:216-31, 2008

Patel VN, Likar KM, Zisman-Rozen S, Cowherd SN, Lassiter KS, Sher I, Yates EA, Turnbull JE, Ron D, Hoffman MP. Specific heparan sulfate structures modulate FGF10-mediated submandibular gland epithelial morphogenesis and differentiation. J Biol Chem. 283:9308-17, 2008.

Nakamura T, de Vega S, Fukumoto S, Jimenez L, Unda F, Yamada Y. Transcription factor epiprofin is essential for tooth morphogenesis by regulating epithelial cell fate and tooth number. J Biol Chem. 283:4825-33, 2008

Gavard J, Patel V, Gutkind JS. Angiopoietin-1 prevents VEGF-induced endothelial permeability by sequestering Src through mDia. Dev Cell 14:25-36, 2008

Wirth A, Benyó Z, Lukasova M, Leutgeb B, Wettschureck N, Gorbey S, Örsy P, Horváth B, Maser-Gluth C, Greiner E, Lemmer B, Schütz G, Gutkind JS, Offermanns S. G12-G13–LARG–mediated signaling in vascular smooth muscle is required for salt-induced hypertension. Nature Medicine 14:64-68, 2007.

Amornphimoltham P, Patel V, Leelahavanichkul K, Abraham RT, Gutkind JS. A retro-inhibition approach reveals a tumor cell-autonomous therapeutic response to rapamycin in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer Research 68:1144-53, 2008.

Patel V, Hood BL, Molinolo AA, Lee NH, Conrads TP, Braisted JC, Krizman DB, Veenstra TD, Gutkind JS. Proteomic analysis of laser-captured paraffin embedded tissues: A molecular portrait of head and neck cancer progression. Clin Cancer Research 14:1002-14, 2008

Merideth MA, Gordon LB, Clauss S, Sachdev V, Smith ACM, Perry MB, Brewer CC, Zalewski C, Kim J,  Solomon B, Brooks BP, Gerber LH, Turner M, Domingo DL, Hart TC, Graf J, Reynolds JC, Gropman A, Yanovski J, Collins FS, Nabel E, Cannon RO, Gahl WA, Introne WJ. The comprehensive phenotype of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. N Engl J Med.358:592-604, 2008.

Pani B, Ong HL, Liu X, Rauser K, Ambudkar IS, Singh BB. Lipid rafts determine clustering of STIM1 in ER-plasma membrane junctions and regulation of SOCE  J Biol Chem. 2008 Apr 22; [E-pub ahead of print]

Cheng KT, Liu X, Ong HL, Ambudkar IS. Functional requirement for Orai1 in store-operated TRPC1/STIM1 channels. J Biol Chem. 283:12935-40, 2008.

Samuni Y, Cawley NX, Zheng C, Cotrim AP, Loh YP, Baum BJ. Sorting behavior of a transgenic erythropoietin-growth hormone fusion protein in murine salivary glands. Hum Gene Ther.19:279-86, 2008.

Recent publications from K awardees:
Black SA Jr, Trackman PC. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) stimulates connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) expression in human gingival fibroblasts through a RhoA-independent, Rac1/Cdc42-dependent mechanism: statins with forskolin block TGFbeta1-induced CCN2/CTGF expression. J Biol Chem 2008 Apr 18;283(16):10835-47. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Fisher MA, Taylor GW, Shelton BJ, Debanne S. Age and race/ethnicity-gender predictors of denying smoking, United States. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2008 Feb;19(1):75-89.

Davis-Hanna A, Piispanen AE, Stateva LI, Hogan DA. Farnesol and dodecanol effects on the Candida albicans Ras1-cAMP signalling pathway and the regulation of morphogenesis. Mol Microbiol 2008 Jan;67(1):47-62.

Sahoo S, Chung C, Khetan S, Burdick JA. Hydrolytically degradable hyaluronic acid hydrogels with controlled temporal structures. Biomacromolecules 2008 Apr;9(4):1088-92.

Peng Z, Fives-Taylor P, Ruiz T, Zhou M, Sun B, Chen Q, Wu H. Identification of critical residues in Gap3 of Streptococcus parasanguinis involved in Fap1 glycosylation, fimbrial formation and in vitro adhesion. BMC Microbiol 2008 Mar 27;8:52.

Brickhouse TH, Rozier RG, Slade GD. Effects of enrollment in medicaid versus the state children's health insurance program on kindergarten children's untreated dental caries. Am J Public Health 2008 May;98(5):876-81.

Klein OD, Lyons DB, Balooch G, Marshall GW, Basson MA, Peterka M, Boran T, Peterkova R, Martin GR. An FGF signaling loop sustains the generation of differentiated progeny from stem cells in mouse incisors. Development 2008 135:377-385.

Ye H, Yu T, Temam S, Ziober BL, Wang J, Schwartz JL, Mao L, Wong DT, Zhou X. Transcriptomic dissection of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Genomics 2008 Feb 6;9:69.

Lalla RV, Sonis ST, Peterson DE. Management of oral mucositis in patients who have cancer. Dent Clin North Am 2008 Jan;52(1):61-77, viii.

Parthasarathy R, Thiagarajan G, Yao X, Wang YP, Spencer P, Wang Y. Application of multivariate spectral analyses in micro-Raman imaging to unveil structural/chemical features of the adhesive/dentin interface. J Biomed Opt 2008 Jan-Feb;13(1):014020.

Eberhart JK, He X, Swartz ME, Yan YL, Song H, Boling TC, Kunerth AK, Walker MB, Kimmel CB, Postlethwait JH. MicroRNA Mirn140 modulates Pdgf signaling during palatogenesis. Nat Genet 2008 Mar;40(3):290-8.

Ho SP, Marshall SJ, Ryder MI, Marshall GW. The tooth attachment mechanism defined by structure, chemical composition and mechanical properties of collagen fibers in the periodontium. Biomaterials 2007 Dec;28(35):5238-45.

Recent publications from F fellows:
Isaza MP, Chau JT, Le A, Balashova NV, Patel JK, Salerno E, Crosby JA, O'Connor A, Kachlany SC. A bioluminescent HL-60 cell line to assay anti-leukaemia therapeutics under physiological conditions. Luminescence 2008 Jan-Feb;23(1):17-21.

Buenaver LF, Edwards RR, Smith MT, Gramling SE, Haythornthwaite JA. Catastrophizing and pain-coping in young adults: associations with depressive symptoms and headache pain. J Pain 2008 Apr;9(4):311-9. Epub 2007 Dec 31.

Recent publication from T32 postdoc trainee:
Medeiros RB*, Burbach BJ*, Mueller K, Highfill S, Peterson E, Shimizu Y. Regulation of NF-kB activation in T cells via association of the adapter proteins ADAP and Carmal. Science. 2007;316(5825):754-8. *Coprimary author.