IN THIS ISSUE:
- Fire Breaks Out in NIDCR Intramural Research Building
- Impact of NIH Roadmap in Shaping Dental Research
- New Funding Opportunities
- Other NIDCR News
- Upcoming Meetings and Conferences
- Science Advances
- NIDCR Personnel News
FIRE BREAKS OUT IN NIDCR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH BUILDING
On Sunday, February 1, a burst water pipe in Building 30 on the main NIH campus, occupied by NIDCR intramural scientists, led to a fire in the transformer vault leading to a complete loss of electricity to the building. Thanks to heroic efforts, the fire was contained and 3,000 cages of mice were evacuated from the 5 th floor vivarium using a human chain to lower the cages down the stairs of the cold building, working through the night until 2:00 AM. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injury but Building 30 itself sustained significant water and smoke damage. For the first week, 8,000 pounds of dry ice per day were lugged up stairs to maintain reagents and samples in 150 freezers in the building. Partial power has now been restored for heat, lighting, and electricity for the freezers, but it will still be at least 6 weeks before the building can be reoccupied.
As of now, 180 scientists and staff from the building have been resettled throughout the campus, most in NIDCR space, but many in labs in many different institutes and centers at NIH. We are grateful for the generosity of those who are providing temporary lab space. We especially send thanks to NIDCR staff, building engineers, safety officers, and security staff who put in long hours and hard work to minimize the effects of this fire.
View the pictures of the animal rescue effort.
NIDCR DIRECTOR ADDRESSES IMPACT OF NIH ROADMAP IN SHAPING DENTAL RESEARCH
In May 2002, new NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., launched a series of meetings to chart a “roadmap” for medical research in the 21 st century. At these meetings, over 300 leaders from various fields of science helped to identify the major opportunities and existing gaps in biomedical research that no single NIH institute could pursue alone but that the agency as a whole must address to make the biggest impact on the progress of medical research. Recently, NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak was interviewed about the potential impact of the NIH Roadmap in shaping dental research during the 21 st century and what the initiative means for the oral health research community. See the interview with the NIDCR Director.
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
NIH Roadmap Initiatives
Requests for Applications:
Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in Interdisciplinary Research
High Throughput Molecular Screening Assay Development
Notices and Requests for Proposals:
NIH Director's Pioneer Award
Also see the Pioneer Award Notice
RFP Announcement: Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository—RFP-RM-04-001
NIDCR Initiatives
Requests for Applications
Prospective Studies on Craniofacial Pain and Dysfunction
Program Announcements
Developmental Projects in Complementary Approaches to Cancer Care
Notices and Requests for Proposals
NIH Opens ESNAP to Federal Demonstration Partnership Members
Clarification of Program Announcements PAR-03-042 and PAR-03-043
Clarification to Request for Applications RFA-DE-05-006
Recently Cleared Concepts
The following concepts were presented at the January 2004 meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council. Concepts represent early planning stages for initiatives in which NIDCR seeks to support research in an understudied and significant area of science:
Oral Complications from Cancer Treatment
NIDCR Small Research Grant for Data Analysis and Statistical Methodology
Novel Approaches to Study Polymicrobial Diseases
Simian Models for the Oral Biology of HIV Infection and AIDS-related Oral Complications
NIDCR ESTABLISHES CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
As NIDCR's recently updated Strategic Plan points out, emerging research advances are changing how oral health science is conducted. To capitalize on this theme, and to take advantage of the opportunity to pursue some of the most advanced technologies, NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak has established the Center for Biotechnology and Innovation. The new Center will support grants, cooperative and interagency agreements and contracts in biomimetics, nanoscience and nanotechnology, regenerative dental medicine, salivary diagnostics, technology development and material science for dental applications. It also will encourage technologies that will result in quantum improvements over existing technologies or entirely new approaches, rather than incremental improvements.
Dr. Tabak has appointed Eleni Kousvelari, D.D.S., D.Sc., as the Acting Center Director. Dr. Kousvelari is uniquely qualified to lead this effort. Trained in both basic biochemistry and prosthodontics, she has been instrumental in developing a number of new portfolios for the NIDCR. Most recently she played the key leadership role in creating exciting new programs in biomimetics, salivary diagnostics and tissue engineering. She also served as one of the key leaders of the Trans-NIH Biomedical Engineering Consortium (BECON). In addition, she is a member of the National Science and Technology Council subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology, which oversees the activities of the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
NIDCR REQUESTS INPUT ON DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED FY 2006 RESEARCH INITIATIVES
As part of the budget planning process, each year NIDCR identifies research initiatives for three years forward. In developing these initiatives, NIDCR relies on input from scientists, scientific advisory boards, and the extramural community. The initiative development process first involves the identification of broad research themes; subsequently, specific initiatives within the themes are proposed.
NEXT APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE FOR DNA MICROARRAY SLIDES
The next receipt date for requests for complete genome DNA microarray slides for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans is April 1, 2004. See further details about the DNA microarray slides.
PRIVACY RULE MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE
Educational materials on the Privacy Rule are now available for the clinical research community.
REGISTER NOW FOR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
NIDCR is hosting a meeting for trainees, fellows, and training program directors on the NIH campus on April 19-20, 2004. The conference is designed to provide scientific professional development training important for achieving scientific independence and productivity. In addition, the conference will provide a forum for training directors and trainees to interact with each other and NIH staff, and for participants to obtain information about the resources and research initiatives of the NIDCR and NIH.
NIDCR TO HOST ACTIVITIES AT UPCOMING IADR MEETING
NIDCR is sponsoring a number of activities at the upcoming 2004 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Annual Meeting in Hawaii, March 10-13. In addition to hosting a consultation booth, the Institute will host symposia and grant writing seminars.
GENE THERAPY IN SALIVARY GLANDS COULD LEAD TO PROMISING APPLICATIONS IN ORAL DISEASES
NIDCR PERSONNEL NEWS
*Dr. Dennis Mangan has been appointed Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Basic and Translational Sciences (DBTS). In this role, he will be intimately involved in daily administrative activities and implementation of the NIDCR Strategic Plan within the Division. In addition, he will continue to serve as Chief of the Infectious Diseases and Immunity Branch and Director of the Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program. Dr. Mangan has been a highly effective leader in guiding the extramural community towards the application of contemporary approaches to the exploration of oral infectious disease. He has been involved in many trans-NIH activities, most recently serving as the representative to several Director's Roadmap Initiatives and the Institute liaison to the Center for Scientific Review.
*The activities of the dental category of the U.S. Commissioned Corps have increased due to changes resulting from Secretary Tommy Thompson's announced transformation of the Corps last July. To help with these activities, Dr. James Lipton will now be serving full-time as the senior advisor to the Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Dushanka Kleinman. Dr. Lipton is a senior officer who has had experience with both the regional and central offices of the Public Health Service and has served as Chair of the Dental Professional Advisory Committee.
*In addition to his responsibilities in the NIDCR Office of International Health, Dr. Kevin Hardwick will take on the responsibility for the NIDCR dental school infrastructure and curriculum development program. Dr. Hardwick has worked with dental schools both nationally and internationally at the Health Resources and Services Administration and at the National Institutes of Health.
*Effective January 2, 2004, Dr. Pamela Robey, chief of the NIDCR Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, is serving as acting Scientific Director of the NIDCR.