ACTIVITIES OF THE NIDCR DIRECTOR
Since the last meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak has spoken at briefings on Capitol Hill, held meetings with congressional and legislative staff, chaired NIH conferences, and delivered presentations at dental schools. In addition, he has continued his active involvement with the NIH Steering Committee and the NIH Information Technology Working Group, which he co-chairs.
On June 4, congressional staff and dental advocates packed a Capitol Hill meeting room when a panel of experts that included Dr. Tabak discussed research-based findings on disparities in oral health. The briefing focused on racial and ethnic disparities in oral health within the U.S. population. Reps. John Linder (R-GA), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), Hilda Solis (D-CA), and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) sponsored the briefing. In addition to Dr. Tabak, speakers included Dr. Burton L. Edelstein, founding director of the Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP); Dr. Richard Haught, president-elect of the American Dental Association; Dr. Raul Garcia, representing the Hispanic Dental Association and director of an NIDCR disparities research center; Dr. Marcia Irving-Ray, board member, National Dental Association; and Dr. Frank Catalanotto of the American Dental Education Association. See additional information about CDHP.
Following the fifth annual Patient Advocates Forum hosted by NIDCR, the Friends of the NIDCR (FNIDCR) held its annual Patient Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on April 28. Dr. Tabak provided an update on NIDCR activities and initiatives at the briefing. Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and John Linder (R-GA), co-chairs of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus, spoke at the event as well. Following the briefing, several congressional staffers requested an opportunity for subsequent meetings on the subject. The meetings provide an opportunity to help educate congressional staff about peer review, training grants, and advances in oral health research made by the NIDCR. The first meetings were scheduled with the Congressional Oral Health Caucus Chairs and other members of Congress and their staff who have demonstrated an interest in oral health care and research. On July 20, Dr. Tabak met with Rep. Mike Simpson, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). In addition, he met with Mr. Brent Jaquet, (staff to Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL). Also in attendance were Dr. Isabel Garcia, acting director, Office of Science Policy and Analysis, NIDCR; Alec Stone, executive director of the FNIDCR; and Anne Houser, NIH Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis.
On May 10, NIH sponsored an Interagency Workshop on Research at the Interface of the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences (see p. 11) to discuss how Federal agencies can effectively facilitate this research. Dr. Tabak co-chaired the workshop, together with Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and Dr. Jeremy Berg, director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
The NIDCR Director also presented at a progress review of the Oral Health focus area of Healthy People 2010.
In September, Dr. Tabak gave a presentation on “How Ira’s Protein Led Me Down a Sugar Coated Trail” at the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery Symposium: “Irwin D. Mandel: His Legacy in Oral Health Care.” He also spoke at the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine symposium honoring Dr. Robert Genco on the future of Periodontal Research and the role of the NIDCR.
Activities of the Acting NIDCR Deputy Director
Dr. Henning Birkedal-Hansen, acting NIDCR deputy director, represented the Institute at several meetings and continued efforts directed at implementation of the NIDCR Strategic Plan. Immediately following the August meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, Dr. Birkedal-Hansen convened the first of a series of working groups aimed at initiating development of an Implementation Plan for the NIDCR Strategic Plan 2003-2008. The working groups are composed of staff and members of Council and the Board of Scientific Counselors. The first working group focused on microbiology/immunology. On September 29, working groups will meet to discuss craniofacial developmental biology and bone research and head and neck cancer research. The working groups are helping to identify the highest priorities for future funding in these respective areas. Other working group meetings have been planned for October 2004 and January, March, and June 2005. The acting deputy also director gave the opening remarks at the American Dental Association Workshop on Evidence Based Dentistry, which was held in Chicago on August 12-13.
ACTIVITIES OF THE CHIEF DENTAL OFFICER, USPHS
Dr. Dushanka V. Kleinman, Chief Dental Officer, USPHS, together with Dr. Bill Maas, Dr. Caswell Evans, and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies, developed and coordinated a meeting of the Partnership Network for the National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health. The Partnership Network is a group of organizations formed after the earlier release of the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health. The Surgeon General addressed the Partnership Network on May 18 to discuss steps that have been taken in the past 12 months, lessons learned, strategies for future programming, next steps regarding future dialogue about the National Call to Action, and strengthening and renewing commitments to the oral health and well-being of all Americans.
Dr. Kleinman also made numerous presentations and contributed to national and U. S. Public Health Service activities. She provided keynote addresses at the 2004 Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) Symposium and at a conference in Canada entitled, “Access and Care: Towards a National Oral Health Strategy,” the first meeting intended to place oral health on the Canadian national health agenda. She spoke at the Workshop to Plan Methods to Enhance the Dental Public Health Workforce and Improve the Nation's Public Health Infrastructure for Oral Health (co-sponsored by Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors with CDC and the Health Resources Services Administration), at the National Oral Health Conference on the topic of oral health literacy, and at the Elder's Oral Health Summit at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. She delivered the opening remarks at a progress review of the Oral Health focus area of Healthy People 2010 and was a participant at the conference entitled, “The Necessity for Major Reform in Dental Education, A Santa Fe Group Planning Conference” in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Kleinman continues to serve as the PHS delegate to the House of Delegates of the American Dental Association and the American Dental Education Association. She presided over all Commissioned Corps dental category activities at the 2004 Public Health Professional Conference and gave a presentation to the dental officers in the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice. As the chair of the Chief Professional Officers (CPOs) Board, USPHS, Dr. Kleinman participated in activities and meetings related to the transformation of the corps with the US Surgeon General and coordinated a two-day retreat for all CPOs. She was the recipient of a 2004 ADEA Presidential Citation, which she received at the ADEA Annual Session. She also delivered the commencement address at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and received an honorary degree.
BUDGET UPDATE
FY 2004
NIDCR’s final appropriation for FY 2004 remains at $383.3 million, including $1.3 million reserved for support of NIH Roadmap projects.
FY 2005
President’s Budget
The FY 2005 President’s budget request for the NIDCR is $394.1 million, including $2.5 million reserved for support of NIH Roadmap projects. The request represents an increase of $10.8 million--or 2.8 percent--over the FY 2004 appropriation of $383.3 million. The FY 2005 President’s budget request for the NIH is $28.8 billion, an increase of $729 million--or 2.6 percent--over the FY 2004 estimate.
The House has basically concurred with the President’s Request for NIDCR; as of September 9, the bill had not moved through the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee.
See NIDCR’s Congressional Justification narrative.
DHHS/NIH/NIDCR ACTIVITIES
HHS Issues Final Guidelines on Conflict of Interest
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final guidelines to institutions dealing with financial conflicts of interest that may affect human subjects research. These final guidelines evolved from an initial document published one year ago.
HHS Extends Use of Rapid Oral HIV Test to New Sites Nationwide
HHS has extended the availability of a recently approved rapid oral HIV test from the current 38,000 laboratories permitted to perform the test to more than 100,000 sites, including physician offices, HIV counseling centers and community health centers. In addition, the Department is funding a $4.8 million effort to add the rapid test to HHS-funded programs aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS among injection drug users. The Food and Drug Administration approved the OraQuickâ ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, manufactured by OraSure Technologies, Inc., of Bethlehem, PA, in March 2004.
Healthy People 2010 Activities
DHHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Cristina V. Beato, MD, has extended the DHHS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the department and the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) for one year. The original MOU was for two years and was signed in 2001. Dr. Beato was impressed with the activities of the AGD in increasing oral health literacy in its efforts to achieve the Healthy People 2010 oral health objectives. U.S. Surgeon General Carmona was a plenary speaker at the AGD annual session in July and also commended the AGD for its work in increasing oral health literacy.
On May 17, Drs. Chris Fox and Skip Collins from the American Association for Dental Research/International Association for Dental Research, met with the newly appointed director of the DHHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Captain Penelope Royall, and Healthy People 2010 staff, to provide AADR’s annual report of activities in connection with its Healthy People 2010 MOU with DHHS. The meeting provided a forum to educate ODPHP staff about oral health and its relation to general health.
NIH Proposes Enhanced Public Access to NIH Research Information
All research funded by the NIH will be made freely available six months after an NIH-supported research study’s publication—or sooner if the publisher agrees--under a proposal announced by NIH on September 3. The manuscripts would be made available to the public through the Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central. See the notice of NIH’s intent to provide public access to information from research it funds. NIH will seek comment on its decision for 60 days.
NIH Pain Consortium Creates Web Site
The NIH Pain Consortium has created a web site featuring pain information currently available at NIH. The consortium, a group made up of the many NIH Institutes and Centers with programs and activities addressing pain, was established to enhance pain research and promote collaborative efforts among pain programs. NIDCR is one of the three co-lead institutes of the consortium. The web site features pain-related health information, clinical trials, conference proceedings, funding opportunities, resources such as an interactive textbook on pain and symptom research, and news releases. See the NIH Pain Consortium web site.
NIH to Establish a Stem Cell Bank
On July 14, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced in a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) that NIH will establish a National Embryonic Stem Cell Bank to provide a readily available source of human embryonic stem cells to scientists. The stem cell bank will gather in one location many of the stem cell lines eligible for funding. In addition, NIH will create Centers of Excellence in Translational Stem Cell Research with the goal of exploiting new discoveries in basic embryonic and stem cell biology. Funded through $18 million in grants over four years, the centers will consolidate stem cell and disease experts to explore ways stem cells may be used to treat a wide range of illnesses. NIH hopes to fast track the creation of the centers in this calendar year. See additional information about stem cell research.
NIH Releases Strategy to Fight Obesity Epidemic
On August 24, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni announced the release of the Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research, a research agenda that will enhance both the development of new research in areas of greatest scientific opportunity and the coordination of obesity research across NIH. The Plan calls for intensifying efforts along several fronts: behavioral and environmental approaches to modifying lifestyle to prevent or treat obesity; pharmacological, surgical and other medical approaches to effectively and safely prevent or treat obesity; breaking the link between obesity and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers; research on special populations at high risk for obesity, including children, ethnic minorities, women and older adults; translating basic science results into clinical research and then into community intervention studies; and disseminating research results to the public and health professionals. The most recent figures from CDC show that 65 percent of U.S. adults—or about 129.6 million people—are either overweight or obese. In addition to decreasing quality of life and increasing the risk of premature death, obesity and overweight cost the nation an estimated $117 billion in direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost wages due to illness. Dr. Zerhouni created the NIH Obesity Research Task Force in the spring of 2003 to intensify basic and clinical research and to enhance coordination of obesity research across NIH. See the Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research.
New Photo Exhibit and Video Available on Peer Review at NIH
To show investigators who have never served as reviewers what actually happens at a study section meeting, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at NIH produced an exhibit entitled "Images of Peer Review." The photos show reviewers in action, studying and debating the applications. The exhibit is available on the CSR web site by clicking on the "Images of Peer Review" link under the What's New section.
CSR also has produced a video of a mock study section meeting to provide an inside look at how NIH grant applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit. The video shows how outside experts assess applications and how review meetings are conducted to ensure fairness. The video also includes information on what applicants can do to improve the chances their applications will receive a positive review. View the video of a mock study section.
A list of useful web site links to information about the NIH grants program and the peer review process also is available at the above link.
NIH Launches Expanded Health Information Web Site
NIH has launched a newly expanded health information web site to provide users of all backgrounds and interests with more information, more feature sections, and more useful tools. Visitors can still access the popular A to Z listing of health topics, browse topics by body location/systems, or use the main Search box. The web site now includes three new feature sections. Healthy Lifestyles highlights links to topics such as seasonal health concerns, nutrition and weight loss. Research In Action links users to cutting-edge scientific information on topics such as stem cells and genetics. Now Online emphasizes interactive features and web exhibits. Educators, clinicians, and researchers may find the site a valuable resource of tools and guidelines.
New NIH Initiatives:
Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)
The National Center for Research Resources at NIH invites applications for Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence from investigators at biomedical research institutions that award doctoral degrees in the health sciences or sciences related to health or at independent biomedical research institutes within Institutional Development Award (IdeA)-eligible states. The purpose of the IdeA program is to foster health-related research and increase the competitiveness of investigators at institutions located in states with historically low aggregate success rates for grant awards from the NIH. Collaboration with other non-doctoral-degree-granting and research-performing institutes or institutions is encouraged. However, funds for research activities cannot be used at collaborative institutions in non-IdeA states. Applications must have a thematic scientific focus in a specific research area such as oral microbiology, immunology, or infectious diseases, and may use basic, clinical, or both research approaches to attain the goals of the proposed center.
Applications are encouraged from dental schools in IdeA states. For purposes of this RFA, dental school components of institutions will be treated as separate eligible entities and will be allowed to submit applications in addition to the parent institution.
Notices:
NIH Policy on Sharing of Model Organisms for Biomedical Research (NOT-OD-04-042)
NIH Roadmap Initiatives:
NIH Roadmap Workshop on Clinical Research Training in Medical and Dental Schools
On May 11-12, NIH sponsored a Workshop on Clinical Research Training in Medical and Dental Schools as part of the NIH Roadmap effort focusing on Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise. The NIH Roadmap Trans-NIH Clinical Research Workforce Training Committee is exploring ways to cultivate and train a cadre of clinical researchers who will have skills commensurate with the increasing complexity and needs of the research enterprise.
NIH Summit Workshop on Predictive Drug Toxicology
An NIH Summit Workshop on Predictive Drug Toxicology was held June 15-17 on the NIH campus. The workshop was an activity of the Molecular Libraries and Imaging initiative of the NIH Roadmap. Workshop participants discussed existing and developing technologies in the prediction of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicology. They also identified needed advances to improve the pre-clinical testing of drug candidates. See the report of the Workshop on Predictive Drug Toxicology.
Regional Translational Research Centers Initiative
One of the proposed NIH Roadmap initiatives is the establishment of Regional Translational Research Centers, which will increase interactions between basic and clinical scientists and accelerate the translational development of new drugs, biomarkers, and treatment strategies from the laboratory bench to clinical testing. The Regional Translational Research Centers Working Group has posted an interim report outlining the implementation of regional centers that would provide NIH-funded investigators with the resources needed for state-of-the art, safe, and cost-effective translational research.
New NIH Roadmap Requests for Applications (RFAs):
Molecular Libraries Screening Instrumentation
National Technology Centers for Networks and Pathways
Innovation in Molecular Imaging Probes
Notice:
Change in Receipt Dates: RFA-RM-04-020 “Molecular Libraries Screening Instrumentation”
NIDCR Participates in NIH Neuroscience Blueprint Initiative Workgroup
Dr. John Kusiak, director of the molecular and cellular neurobiology program in the Division of Basic and Translational Sciences, is representing the NIDCR on the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint Initiative Work Group. The workgroup is formulating a blueprint to coordinate large-scale neuroscience resources and tools among the neuroscience-related institutes at NIH to accelerate research. The three themes of common interest to the institutes are 1) neural development, 2) neurodegeneration and repair, and 3) neuroplasticity. A meeting of the workgroup together with institute-nominated outside consultants took place in early August on the NIH campus to prioritize the resources and tools, identify gaps and new opportunities, and further define the blueprint. NIDCR participation in this initiative underscores the Institute's commitment to accelerating the pace of neuroscience research.
Final Study Report: Assessment of the Dental Public Health Infrastructure in the United States
Assessment of the Dental Public Health Infrastructure in the United States is the final report of a study conducted for the NIDCR by Dr. Scott Tomar, associate professor, Division of Public Health Services and Research, University of Florida College of Dentistry. The assessment was needed both to address disparities issues noted in Healthy People 2010, the NIDCR Strategic Plan, as well as in Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Information amassed from this project provides useful baseline data for new initiatives that address elements of the dental public health infrastructure in the United States. The executive summary of the report will be published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES
Researchers Report New Gene Test for Isolated Cleft Lip and Palate
Researchers report they now can predict whether some parents are more likely than others to have a second child with the “isolated” form of cleft lip and palate, one of the world’s most common birth defects, according to results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in August. The research was supported in part by the NIDCR and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The authors say their latest gene test applies to about 12 percent of isolated cleft lip and palate, or babies born with clefts only and no other birth defects. Last year, the authors and their colleagues reported that mutations in another gene account for about 2 percent of all cases of isolated clefts, meaning researchers in the field now can collectively screen for about 15 percent of isolated cleft lip and palate, an impossibility just a few years ago. Isolated clefts account for 70 percent of all cleft lip and palate. In the latest paper, the scientists report a so-called “haplotype” gene test, one of the first of its kind in medicine. A haplotype is the sum of several recurring variations in the usual DNA sequence of a species that are spaced out, like signposts, along a gene or chromosome. In this case, they found that distinct combinations of sequence variations in and around the gene IRF6 correlated with an increased chance that a child would be born with a cleft. The authors are: Theresa M. Zucchero, Margaret E. Cooper, Brion S. Maher, Sandra Daack-Hirsch, Buena Neopmuceno, Lucilene Ribeiro, Diana Caprau, Kaare Christensen, Yasushi Suziki, Junichiro Machida, Nagato Natsume, Koh-Ichiro Yoshiura, Alexandre R. Vieira, Ieda M. Orioli, Eduardo E. Castilla, Lina Moreno, Mauricio Arcos-Burgos, Andrew C. Lidral, L. Leigh Field, You-e Liu, Ajit Ray, Toby H. Goldstein, Rebecca E. Schultz, Min Shi, Marla K. Johnson, Shinji Kondo, Brian C. Schutte, Mary L. Marazita, and Jeffrey C. Murray.
Protein from Oral Pathogen Can Clear Medical Devices of Bacteria
Most people don't expect to get sick after being admitted to the hospital. But hospital-acquired infections from bacteria-laden catheters are actually fairly common, and many doctors say they have few tools to prevent or treat them. Now, in what could be an important new lead, NIDCR-supported researchers show in laboratory studies that a novel enzyme can wipe out the ability of Staphylococcus epidermidis to attach to surfaces. Staph. epidermidis is a frequent contaminant of medical devices, costing the healthcare system billions of dollars each year. "Our goal is to develop the enzyme as an anti-Staph. epidermidis agent which can be used to treat many different surfaces used in the clinic," said Dr. Jeffrey B. Kaplan, the lead author on the article and a scientist at the New Jersey Dental School in Newark. The study was published in the July issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Collaborating with Dr. Kaplan were Drs. Chandran Ragunath, Kabilan Velliyagounder, Daniel H. Fine, and Narayanan Ramasubbu of the Department of Oral Biology, New Jersey Dental School.
Scientists Discover Role of Bone Sialoprotein in Tumor Cell Invasion
Scientists recently recognized that bone sialoprotein (BSP) is elevated in the tumors and blood of people with breast and certain other developing cancers, a rise that sometimes can be associated with the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. What has remained unclear is exactly how BSP might play a role in this process. Now, a research group at the NIDCR reports for the first time that BSP forms a complex with two other proteins, possibly enabling cancer cells to better degrade the tissue that surrounds them and break free from tumors. From there, the cells can distribute throughout the body and colonize other tissues. The discovery could mark this protein complex as a potential target to prevent tumor metastasis. The study was published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Drs. Larry Fisher, Abdullah Karadag, Kalu U.E. Ogbureke and Neal S. Fedarko of the NIDCR and the Division of Geriatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD conducted the research.
Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Isolated for the First Time
Over the past decade, researchers have begun sowing the scientific seeds of “regenerative dentistry,” a bold attempt to bioengineer teeth and other parts of the mouth that are frequently damaged by disease. To date, laboratories have reported early success producing tooth enamel, generating dentin, and even reconstituting diseased gum tissue. In the July 7 issue of The Lancet, a team of scientists report taking another important step toward a future of regenerative dentistry. The researchers say they have isolated human postnatal stem cells for the first time directly from the periodontal ligament. The scientists also say these cells have “tremendous potential” to regenerate the periodontal ligament, a common target of advanced periodontal disease. The enthusiasm is based on follow up studies, in which the researchers implanted the human adult stem cells into rodents and found most of them had differentiated into a mixture of periodontal ligament - including the specific fiber bundles that attach tooth to bone - and the mineralized tissue cementum that covers the roots of teeth. The article is titled, “Multipotent Postnatal Stem Cells from Human Periodontal Ligament.” The authors are: Byoung-Moo Seo, Masako Miura, Stan Gronthos, Peter Mark Bartold, Sara Batouli, Jaime Brahim, Marian Young, Pamela Gehron Robey, Cun-Yu Wang, and Songtao Shi.
Oral Bacterium Linked to Preterm Births in Mice
For years, scientists have noticed a particular oral bacterium can be found in the amniotic fluid of about 20 percent of women with premature babies. The debate has always been whether this bacterium, called Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), is merely "an innocent bystander" in the womb or indeed a culprit in either directly or indirectly causing early labor, a major public health problem in the United States. In the April issue of the journal Infection and Immunity, researchers report they may be closer to an answer. Based on a series of laboratory experiments, they show F. nucleatum can directly infect the placenta and adversely affect pregnancies in mice. The scientists say the microorganism may act as an opportunistic pathogen that circulates to the uterus, colonizes the placenta, and takes advantage of the reduced immune response found there during pregnancy. Collaborating on the study were Drs. Yiping Han, Raymond W. Redline, Gale B. Hill and Thomas S. McCormick. The NIDCR and University Hospitals of Cleveland supported the work.
MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
Enabling Research at Life and Physical Sciences Interface is Goal of Interagency Effort
On May 10, an Interagency Workshop on Research at the Interface of the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences was held on the NIH campus. The meeting was coordinated by the NIDCR, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, together with the National Science Foundation. It was held in response to language in the House reports accompanying the FY2004 Labor-Health and Human Services (L-HHS) and Veterans Affairs - Housing and Urban Development – Independent Agency (VA-HUD-IA) Appropriations Bills that recognized the value of applying principles and methods from the physical sciences to address problems in the life sciences, and that mandated that the NIH and NSF coordinate an interagency meeting on research at the interface of the life and physical sciences to discuss how Federal agencies can effectively facilitate this research.
Ten Federal agencies with interests in the life sciences (biology and medicine) and/or the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, and computer sciences) participated in the workshop. The participants identified barriers and opportunities for interagency collaboration, shared collaboration success stories, and agreed on a list of actions to begin breaking down barriers.
As a result of the meeting, a new interagency committee on research at the interface of the life and physical sciences will plan a gathering of scientists to generate a national interdisciplinary-interagency research agenda.
Annual Meeting of the NIDCR Centers for Research to Reduce Oral Health Disparities
The annual meeting of the five Centers for Research to Reduce Oral Health Disparities was held at NIH on June 14-15. The third meeting of the centers featured opening presentations by Dr. Mireille Kanda, deputy director of the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, and by Dr. Tabak. Each of the five center directors presented an overview of their center’s goals, which was followed by presentations by investigators who described the major subprojects under way in each center. The presenters gave candid accounts of progress and challenges faced when conducting research with vulnerable populations. Numerous agencies, institutes, and academic institutions also were represented at the meeting.
Second American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Conference on Cell-Cell Communication
NIDCR provided support for the Second ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication, held July 23-27 in Banff, Canada. Cell-cell communication systems regulate a number of processes as diverse as virulence, sporulation, antibiotic production, DNA exchange, and development of multicellular structures. Several of these signaling systems are also extremely important to human health, because they regulate the virulence determinants of bacterial pathogens. Dr. Dennis Mangan, chief, Infectious Diseases and Immunity Branch, participated in the conference and discussed research funding opportunities with attendees.
Fifth World Workshop on Oral Health and Diseases in AIDS; International AIDS Conference
NIDCR supported the Fifth World Workshop on Oral Health and Disease in AIDS, held July 6-10 in Phuket, Thailand. The conference focused on the pathogenesis, manifestations and complications associated with oral AIDS. Dr. Mostafa Nokta, director of the AIDS and Oral Manifestations of Immunosuppression Program, attended the meeting. He chaired a plenary session on Pathogenesis of HIV and Vaccine Research and a plenary workshop on Collaborative Research and Funding. He also gave a talk describing the role of the NIDCR in oral AIDS research both on the national and international level.
While in Bangkok, Dr. Nokta also attended the XV International AIDS Conference, held July 11-16. He was a member of the official NIH delegation to the conference.
Other Meetings Supported by the NIDCR
*Molecular Mycology Summer Course
This training course for researchers, held in Woods Hole, MA in August, addressed the molecular aspects of fungi in an effort to prevent, diagnose, and treat infections caused by fungal pathogens in immunocompromised individuals.
*Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology
The 63rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology took place at the University of Calgary, Canada on July 24-28. This is the largest and most inclusive meeting in the field of developmental biology and serves as a forum for exchanging information. Sessions focused on topics such as stem cells, imaging, genetic networks, patterning, and the role of microRNAs in development.
*Santa Cruz Conference on Developmental Biology
The Santa Cruz Conference on Developmental Biology was held August 5-9 at the University of California at Santa Cruz. In addition to the NIDCR, the other co-sponsors were the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Science Foundation, and the March of Dimes. The conference brought together a diverse group of researchers studying vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant biology to discuss new advances in genetics, genomics, and molecular biology.
*FASEB Conference on Transcriptional Regulation During Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Development
This meeting, held August 14-18 in Saxton River, VT, stimulated interaction between biochemists and molecular biologists who are studying fundamental mechanisms of transcription, and cell and developmental biologists who are studying biological processes that are dependent on transcriptional regulation.
*Workshop on Skeletal Tissue Biology
NIDCR and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases cosponsored the 34th International Sun Valley Workshop on Skeletal Tissue Biology, held August 1-4 in Sun Valley, ID. The workshop included sessions on calcium receptors, imaging of bone and joints, bone metastasis, osteoporosis and implant fixation.
*SPORE Investigators’ Workshop
Dr. Yasaman Shirazi, director of the Epithelial Cell Regulation and Transformation Program, served as the program facilitator at the 12th Annual Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Investigators’ Workshop, held July 10-13. She also co-chaired the Head and Neck Organ Site break out session on July 13. Translational research sponsored by the Head and Neck Cancer SPOREs covers a wide range of projects in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of head and neck tumors. NIDCR co-sponsors these activities with the National Cancer Institute.
*Elders’ Oral Health Summit
This research conference took place September 13-14 in Boston, MA. The agenda included discussions of the financing of oral health care and access to oral health care for the elderly. The meeting identified research opportunities that can lead to future initiatives by NIDCR and/or other agencies. The National Institute on Aging and the Office of Research on Women’s Health also co-funded the conference.
Other Meetings Attended by Staff:
6th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer
American Head and Neck Society Prevention Committee
Arizona School of Dental and Oral Health, Grand Rounds
Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee
Cell Biology of RNAi
Committee on Special Statutory Funding for Type 1 Diabetes Research
Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee
FASEB Summer Research Conference on Calcium and Cell Function
FASEB Summer Research Conference on Neuro-Immune Interactions: Physiological and Pathological Relevance
Gordon Conference on Biomineralization
Gordon Conference on Signal Transduction by Engineered Extracellular Matrices
Head and Neck Cancer Workshop
Interagency Child Abuse and Neglect Research Working Group
International Society for Clinical Biostatistics
John J. Cebra Symposium
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Health
Molecular Libraries Screening Centers Network Workshop
National Fluoridation Advisory Committee, ADA
National Oral Health Coordinating Committee
NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Coordinating Committee’s Working Group on Health Disparities
Task Force on Design and Analysis in Dental and Oral Research
Trans-NIH NHANES Committee meetings
RESEARCH TRAINING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION UPDATE
2004 Summer Research Training Program
Thirty-one individuals participated in the 2004 Division of Intramural Research Summer Research Training Program, including NIDCR Summer Dental Student Awardees, students at the high school and college levels participating in the NIH Summer Internship Program, medical and dental students participating in the NIH Summer Research Fellowship, and participants in the Special Volunteers program.
This past summer, eight students were recipients of the NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award, which was created to attract dental students into research at the NIDCR. The students were: Jeremy Bateman, Temple University; Talayeh Afkhami, University of Maryland, Baltimore; David Walls, Meharry Medical College; Andrea Burke, Harvard University; Sara Batouli, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Colin Kong, University of Connecticut; Craig Milburn, Medical University of South Carolina; and Michael Scherer, NOVA Southeastern University.
Among the highlights of the summer for participants in the Summer Research Training Program were a summer student orientation and welcome party, a dental application workshop, a clinical orientation offered by the dental public health residents and clinical program fellows, an educational dental program that included visits to the University of Maryland, Baltimore Dental School and the National Museum of Dentistry; a career panel question-and-answer program entitled, “Future Careers in Science in Dentistry;” and an NIDCR summer student poster session. Overall, the NIDCR summer student program was very successful, with many students reporting that there was a good balance between scientific and educational programs.
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND OUTREACH/RECRUITMENT UPDATE
Response to Request for Applications (RFA)
Twenty-two applications were received in response to RFA-DE-04-008, “Enhancing Research Infrastructure and Capacity Building for U.S. Dental Institutions.” The proposals were reviewed June 20-22 and approved by Council at the August 23rd meeting. Although the RFA had announced the intent to award six of these U24 grants, NIDCR will fund the following seven grants (in alphabetical order). All will have start dates of September 2004:
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University System
University of Colorado
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical University of South Carolina
DIVISION OF BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES
Recently Issued Program Announcements (PAs):
Metagenomic Analyses of the Oral Microbiome
Joint Degeneration: Mouse Models
Recently Issued Notices:
Announcement of the US-Japan Brain Research Cooperation Program (BRCP) – The US Component
Responses to Requests for Applications (RFAs):
Multidisciplinary Approach for Research on Oral Complications of HIV Infection
The application receipt date for this RFA was September 14. Peer review will take place later this year and applications will be presented to Council in January 2005.
Participation in NIH Roadmap Initiatives
Molecular Libraries and Imaging Roadmap
Dr. Dennis Mangan, chief of the Infectious Diseases and Immunity Branch, is working with other NIH institute and center staff on the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Roadmap initiative. The initiative will offer public sector biomedical researchers access to small organic molecules that can be used as chemical probes to study cellular pathways in greater depth. It will provide new ways to explore the functions of major components of the cell in health and disease.
Metabolomics Implementation Group
Dr. Yasamin Shirazi, director of the Epithelial Cell Regulation and Transformation Program, continues to represent the NIDCR on the Metabolomics Implementation Group. The group decided on a funding plan for applications that were reviewed in response to the Metabolomics Technology Development RFA (RM-04-002), one of the NIH Roadmap initiatives. This initiative focuses on technology development to enhance the understanding of cellular pathways and networks.
CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Responses to Requests for Applications
Regenerative Dental Medicine
Nineteen applications were received in response to this RFA; they will be reviewed November 4. The RFA aims to promote research on the use of stem cells and bioengineering approaches for the repair and regeneration of orofacial tissues and organs. In particular, it encourages studies on the understanding of the unique properties of embryonic and post-natal stem cells in orofacial tissues; the development of methods to induce appropriate stem cell expansion, differentiation, and in vitro assembly of a functional tissue prototype unit; and the design and development of new bio-inspired materials for cell transplantation.
Participation in NIH Roadmap Initiatives
Dr. Eleni Kousvelari, acting director of the Center for Biotechnology and Innovation, continues to serve as a member of the NIH Nanomedicine Roadmap committee and as a member of the review committee for the Nanomedicine Center Concept Development Awards.
BECON Subcommittee for the Evaluation of Bioengineering Research Partnerships
Dr. Kousvelari also is the chair of the BECON Subcommittee for the Evaluation of Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRPs). The BRP program, which has been in existence for five years, will be evaluated in regard to its success and its value to the NIH institutes and centers.
DIVISION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH PROMOTION
Recently Issued Program Announcements (PAs):
Pilot Studies: Oral Complications of Cancer Therapies
Clinical Trials: Oral Complications of Cancer Therapies
Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (RO1)
Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (RO3)
Recently Issued Requests for Applications (RFAs)
Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity in Primary Care Settings
Recently Issued Notices
Oral Research Data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Available to Researchers
Applications to the NIDCR for Support of Clinical Trials
Oral Sub-Study of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)
On June 29, NIDCR reviewed the progress and future plans of the oral sub-study of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. As a result of this review, NIDCR has decided to temporarily stop supporting this activity effective November 2004. The Institute announced in the July 27 NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts the availability of the oral WIHS data and specimens for investigators to use independently or in collaboration with the oral and/or medical principal investigators (see above Notice).
CDC Expert Panel on Dental Sealants
Dr. Robert Selwitz, chief of the Population Research and Health Promotion Branch, is serving as the NIDCR representative to the CDC Expert Panel on Dental Sealants. He attended the first meeting on June 8-9, which was hosted by the CDC Division of Oral Health in Atlanta, GA. The expert panel will hold a series of meetings to review the science related to selected sealant program components and make recommendations regarding current practices, if needed, to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of school-based and school-linked dental sealant programs.
NIDCR Dental Residency Program
In July, three residents enrolled in the NIDCR Residency Program in Dental Public Health for the 2003-04 program year completed their requirements and were awarded a certificate of completion. On July 7, two new students began their residency training for the 2004-05 year.
Participation in NIH Roadmap Initiatives
Regional Translational Research Centers Initiative
Dr. Richard Mowery, chief of the Clinical Trials Program, is a member of the NIH Roadmap working group that is developing the Regional Translational Research Centers initiative. He participated in a workshop on July 16 to gather input and information from NIH staff and extramural investigators to assist in developing an RFA that will be released this fall.
Participation in NIH Obesity Task Force
Dr. Maria Canto, director of the Epidemiology Research Program, is the NIDCR representative to the NIH Obesity Task Force. NIDCR is participating in one of the RFAs developed as part of the activities of the task force (see p. 17).
Participation in REAP Program
Dr. Patricia Bryant, director of the Behavioral and Social Science Research Program, served as one of the NIH reviewers who evaluated requests for supplemental funding nominated under the Research Enhancement Awards Program (REAP), which is supported by the Office of Research on Women’s Health. The purpose of this program is to encourage research relevant to women’s health.
Expansion of NIDCR/CDC Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Data Resource Center (DRC)
The DRC web site is experiencing increased activity. In July, 4,151 page visits were made by the extramural community, and to date there have been 1,786 public requests for CDs containing DRC products, including the annual report, catalog, survey questions, and older NIDCR survey materials. A new version of the catalog of surveys related to oral health has been completed as well as a draft of the 2003 Annual Report of Oral Health Statistics. The web site query system has been expanded to include data from NHANES 1999-2000. Final tests of these data are being conducted prior to public release, which is expected this month. Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2001, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2002, also have been added to the web site and are available for public use.
DIVISION OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH
Congressional Staff Tour Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch (CSDB) Laboratory
On August 23, NIDCR hosted a group of 30 congressional and legislative staffers from the offices of Reps. Lane Evans (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Mike Castle (R-DE), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jim Davis (D-FL), Tim Holden (D-PA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rush Holt (D- NJ), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Joseph Pitts (R-PA), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Ed Case (D-HI), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Walter Jones (R-NC), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), John Lewis (D-GA), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Cal Dooley (D-CA), Vic Snyder (D-AR), the Government Reform Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee who requested an update on stem cell research. Mr. Marc Smolonsky, NIH associate director for legislative policy and analysis, welcomed the group and Dr. James Battey, chair of the NIH Stem Cell Task Force and Director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), provided an overview of NIH efforts in stem cell biology. Dr. Ron McKay, senior investigator, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), spoke about recent advances in the characterization and utilization of human embryonic stem cells and Dr. Pamela Robey, NIDCR acting scientific director and chief of the Craniofacial Skeletal Diseases Branch, provided an update on post-natal skeletal stem cells and their potential use in tissue engineering. The group toured both Dr. McKay’s and Dr. Robey’s laboratories, and then reconvened for a question-and-answer period.
Meeting of Board of Scientific Counselors
On June 21-23, the Board of Scientific Counselors reviewed the Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch and the Functional Genomics Unit. The review was highly successful and board members praised participants in both groups for their outstanding scientific achievements.
Renovations
Six projects are in progress and two are in the planning stages related to the renovation of Building 30, Building 49, and the NIDCR Clinic. The new administrative suite and first floor laboratories should be completed near the end of November 2004.
Significant New Publications
Amornphimoltham, P., V. Sriuranpong, V. Patel, F. Benavides, C.J. Conti, J. Sauk, E.A. Sausville, A.A. Molinolo, and J.S. Gutkind. 2004. Persistent activation of the Akt pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a potential target for UCN-01. Clin Cancer Res. 10:4029-37.
Elkin, M., A. Orgel, and H.K. Kleinman. 2004. An angiogenic switch in breast cancer involves estrogen and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1. J Natl Cancer Inst. 96:875-8.
Hitomi, T., J. Zhang, L.M. Nicoletti, A.C. Grodzki, M.C. Jamur, C. Oliver, and R.P. Siraganian. 2004. Phospholipase D1 Regulates High Affinity IgE Receptor-Induced Mast Cell Degranulation. Blood.
Hobson, J.P., S. Netzel-Arnett, R. Szabo, S.M. Rehault, F.C. Church, D.K. Strickland, D.A. Lawrence, T.M. Antalis, and T.H. Bugge. 2004. Mouse DESC1 is located within a cluster of seven DESC1-like genes and encodes a type II transmembrane serine protease that forms serpin inhibitory complexes. J Biol Chem.
Karadag, A., K.U. Ogbureke, N.S. Fedarko, and L.W. Fisher. 2004. Bone sialoprotein, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and alpha(v)beta3 integrin in osteotropic cancer cell invasion. J Natl Cancer Inst. 96:956-65.
Karai, L., D.C. Brown, A.J. Mannes, S.T. Connelly, J. Brown, M. Gandal, O.M. Wellisch, J.K. Neubert, Z. Olah, and M.J. Iadarola. 2004. Deletion of vanilloid receptor 1-expressing primary afferent neurons for pain control. J Clin Invest. 113:1344-52.
Nakamura, T., F. Unda, S. de-Vega, A. Vilaxa, S. Fukumoto, K.M. Yamada, and Y. Yamada. 2004. The Kruppel-like factor epiprofin is expressed by epithelium of developing teeth, hair follicles, and limb buds and promotes cell proliferation. J Biol Chem. 279:626-34.
Seo, B.M., M. Miura, S. Gronthos, P.M. Bartold, S. Batouli, J. Brahim, M. Young, P.G. Robey, C.Y. Wang, and S. Shi. 2004. Investigation of multipotent postnatal stem cells from human periodontal ligament. Lancet. 364:149-55.
Singh, B.B., Lockwich, T.P., Bandyopadhyay, B.C., Liu,X., Bollimuntha, S., Brazer, S., Combs, C., Das, S., Leenders, M.A.G., Sheng, Z., Knepper, M.A., Ambudkar, S.V., and Ambudkar, I.S. VAMP-2-dependent exocytosis regulates plasma membrane insertion of TRPC3 channels and contributes to agonist-stimulated Ca2+ influx. Molecular Cell. 5, 635-46 (2004).
Takahashi, Y., A. Yajima, J.O. Cisar, and K. Konishi. 2004. Functional analysis of the Streptococcus gordonii DL1 sialic acid-binding adhesin and its essential role in bacterial binding to platelets. Infect Immun. 72:3876-82.
Umland, T.C., E.C. Wolff, M.H. Park, and D.R. Davies. 2004. A new crystal structure of deoxyhypusine synthase reveals the configuration of the active enzyme and of an enzyme.NAD.inhibitor ternary complex. J Biol Chem. 279:28697-705.
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Advisory Board Meeting of the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
As the NIH liaison, Dr. Lois K. Cohen, associate director for international health, participated in her first official advisory board meeting for the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). The meeting took place August 25-26 in St. Johns, Newfoundland. Oral health research and research training fall within the purview of IMHA, which studies tissue injury, repair and replacement; physical activity, mobility and health; and pain, disability and chronic diseases. Topics covered at the meeting included the evaluation framework for all CIHR Institutes and common assessment indicators; opinions and concerns from the Research Round Table meeting held at Memorial Hospital, Health Science Center in St. Johns; issues in peer review of RFAs; strategic initiatives budget planning, December 2004 RFA launch; IMHA workshops and their outcomes, and the succession planning for IMHA and other CIHR Institute science directors and staff support.
Other Meetings
Dr. Cohen attended a meeting of the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, held in Miami, FL, June 10-13. The organization promotes infection control and related science-based health and safety policies and practices by provided quality education and information dissemination to dental workers and the public. Dr. Cohen gave a presentation on developing and promoting an international research agenda in dental clinical infection control and safety.
Dr. Kevin Hardwick, international health officer, represented the NIDCR at the Joint Meeting of the Continental European, Scandinavian and Israeli Divisions of the International Association for Dental Research. The meeting was held in Istanbul, Turkey on August 25-28. In addition to staffing an exhibit on NIDCR, Dr. Hardwick provided information about the Institute’s scientific program areas and funding mechanisms and gave a presentation on NIDCR’s role in building international research collaborations.
In September, Dr. Cohen traveled to Israel to participate in a meeting of the planning committee for the Executive Leadership Program for Women in Academic Medicine and Dentistry. She attended the FDI Annual World Dental Congress, held in New Delhi, India, September 10-13, and then visited the College of Dental Surgery, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, where she met with faculty and students to discuss international collaborative oral health research opportunities.
COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse (NOHIC): New Publication Series
NOHIC recently launched a new publication series, Practical Oral Care for People With Developmental Disabilities: Making a Difference. The project aims to equip dental professionals in the community with the basic information they need to provide oral care to people with mild or moderate developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and mental retardation. The publications provide practical management strategies for office-based dental care and information to support home-based oral hygiene. Complementing these materials is a two-credit hour continuing education test for dental professionals. NIDCR’s partners in this project are the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the CDC, and Special Care Dentistry.
New Spanish Language Publications Available; Selle los dientes contra la caries dental and Enfermedad de las encías o enfermedad periodontal
Two new Spanish-language publications are now available: Selle los dientes contra la caries dental, a booklet about dental sealants for parents of children ages 6-14 (replaces Selle sus dientes contra las caries dentales), and Enfermedad de las encías o enfermedad periodontal, for people who have periodontal disease. To determine if they were linguistically and culturally appropriate for U.S. Hispanics, a draft of each publication was pretested with Spanish-speakers from different countries of origin in several U.S. cities. Both publications were well-received overall. Most pretest participants said that the booklets were informative, easy-to-read, and appropriate for Hispanic audiences.
See the new Spanish-language publications on NIDCR's website.
Focus Group Study with African American Men at Risk for Oral Cancer in Washington, D.C.
NIDCR staff recently directed a series of focus groups with African American men at risk for oral cancer in Washington, D.C. The goals of this qualitative study were to gain insight into the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of African American men at risk for oral cancer and to generate data to inform future oral cancer education efforts in Washington, D.C. The key findings were:
Oral cancer was unfamiliar to participants, and knowledge of risk factors and signs and symptoms of oral cancer appeared to be limited and sometimes inaccurate. Nonetheless, oral cancer was seen as a concern, and a diagnosis was seen as very serious.
Participants saw few benefits to seeking care in response to oral cancer symptoms. Barriers to care-seeking included lack of knowledge regarding the benefits of early intervention, fear, denial, hopelessness, and economic issues.
Participants wanted accurate information about oral cancer, including statistics, the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, the consequences of untreated oral cancer, and the fact that early diagnosis and treatment can minimize negative consequences.
The results of this qualitative study suggest that health education efforts targeting African American men at risk for oral cancer in Washington, D.C., should focus on early detection and treatment rather than prevention.
New "Genetics, Disease, and Dentistry" Web Site
The new "Genetics, Disease, and Dentistry" Web site for dental and dental hygiene faculty and students is now available. Three interactive case studies walk users through basic genetics concepts and their applications in dental practice. After completing these case studies, users should be able to collect basic family history information, identify patients and families who may benefit from genetic services, consult credible resources about genetic contributions to dental diseases, and locate and refer to genetics professionals as necessary.
As part of the Dental Education Advisory Committee to the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, NIDCR staff helped to develop the site. NIDCR also provided funding for the site, along with the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Office of Rare Diseases, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
DIVERSITY AND EEO ACTIVITIES
NIH EEO Consolidation
The NIH EEO Restructure activity continues to move forward. The transition team held a one-day retreat for the NIH EEO community to present the proposed organizational structure and obtain feedback from affected staff. The team also held information-gathering briefings with the IC executive officers, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the EEO collateral-duty counselors. The team is also planning meetings with NIH employee-sanctioned groups. This communication effort is designed to identify and avoid barriers to the successful transition to a centralized EEO function at the NIH. The team expects to submit a plan to the NIH Steering Committee for review and approval by early September 2004, with a final plan being submitted to Dr. Zerhouni by September 30.
The Department of Health and Human Services has decided that no additional restructure will be necessary at the Department level since each of the DHHS operating divisions has undertaken an internal centralization process.
Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) Update
As of the third quarter FY 2004, the NIDCR workforce was comprised of 468 staff, including 249 employees, 136 trainees/fellows and 83 contractors, guest researchers, Inter-Governmental Personnel Act staff and special volunteers. There were 30 employees with disabilities, accounting for 6.4 percent of the workforce. The workforce profile included 26.1 percent White males, 25.8 percent White females, 22.9 percent Asians, 10.0 percent African Americans, 6.0 percent Hispanics, and 0.4 percent Native Americans; 8.8 percent of staff did not self-identify race/ethnicity.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released the new labor force availability data for comparison, and the DHHS is establishing the format that all operating divisions are to follow in using the new labor force data. It is expected that the NIH will require Institutes and Centers to submit new Affirmative Employment Plans for FY 2005.
Recruitment and Education Outreach
The NIDCR Office of Diversity Management (ODM) continued its participation in the NIH Native American Powwow Initiative to address health disparities and recruit Native Americans for training and employment opportunities. NIDCR ODM staff participated in five events in FY 2004, including the Gathering of Nations Powwow, in Albuquerque, NM, the Rankokas Indian Festival in New Jersey, the Occaneechi-Saponi Powwow in Hillsborough, NC, the Shenandoah Valley Powwow in Mount Jackson, VA, and the Lumbee Homecoming in Pembroke, NC. Staff also met with tribe physicians and faculty at local schools to discuss resources and training opportunities available at the NIH. The final powwow for the year was the Nanticoke Annual Powwow held in Millsboro, DE on September 11-12.
NIDCR supported the NIH 2004 National Youth Initiative Summer Programs for African Americans and Native Americans by hosting lab tours and providing information on health disparities. On June 24-25, Dr. Albert Avila, director, DIR Office of Education, along with Ms. Ruth Yaskovich, Pain and Neurosensory Mechanisms Branch, DIR, hosted two laboratory tours in Building 49 for 22 high school students. Dr. Avila and Ms. Yaskovich explained their research and gave laboratory equipment demonstrations, and the students viewed research specimens. Dr. Avila discussed research opportunities at NIDCR and provided the students with NIDCR summer student research training opportunities materials. Dr. Martin Kriete, chief laboratory animal veterinarian, participated in a presentation on veterinary research careers to the 100 students with the National African American Youth Initiative.
The NIDCR hosted a laboratory tour for the Meyerhoff Scholars from the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus on July 16. Dr. Ashok Kulkarni, manager, Gene Targeting Core, DIR, and his staff gave ten students the opportunity to see the Core activities and learn about NIDCR research and opportunities.
The NIDCR is a participant in the NIH Memorandum of Understanding with the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES.) The MOU is another tool for promoting NIDCR training, funding, and employment opportunities and enhancing the diversity of the NIDCR and NIH talent pools for research needs.
Workplace Diversity Initiative
The NIDCR completed its mandatory training sessions for managers and supervisors on “EEO and Diversity at Work.” This training was a collaborative effort developed and presented by the NIDCR, NIDDK, NICHD and NIDCD/NINR Equal Employment Opportunity Managers. A total of 58 NIDCR managers were trained. Similar training will be planned for all employees after the EEO restructure effort is completed.
PERSONNEL
*Dr. Kathy L. Hayes has been appointed NIDCR planning officer in the Office of Science Policy and Analysis (OSPA). She brings 18 years of clinical care, public health, and program management and planning experience to the job. Before joining the Institute, Dr. Hayes worked at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a senior program management officer in the Office of Rural Health Policy. She holds a B.S. in biology and D.M.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a M.H.S. in public health from The Johns Hopkins University. In addition, she completed a two-year Advanced General Practice Residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Dental Public Health Residency at the NIDCR. A captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, Dr. Hayes is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Association of Hospital Dentists.
*Dr. Rosemarie Hunziker joined the Center for Biotechnology and Innovation in August as director of the Technology Development and Industrial Relations Program. Before coming to the NIDCR, she was president of Connexon Life Sciences Consulting. Prior to that she was program manager of the Advanced Technology Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where she managed tissue engineering projects. She recently worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation on proposal review and program development in the areas of biosensors and molecular diagnostics, regenerative medicine, metabolic control, and vaccines. Dr. Hunziker received her Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Alberta.
*Dr. Sharon Gordon, director of the NIDCR Research Training, Career Development and Education program, left Federal service this past June to become director of Curriculum Innovation and Management at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland. Dr. Gordon was responsible for administering the Institute’s research training, career development, and education programs in oral, dental and craniofacial research at extramural institutions and in the intramural program.
*Dr. Caswell Evans, director of the National Oral Health Initiative, left government service on June 30 to become associate dean for prevention and public health sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry and director of the Oral Health Research Center, UIC School of Public Health. Dr. Evans had been affiliated with the NIDCR for the past seven years, where he worked on the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health and the National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.
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