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November 2003 NIH Public Bulletin

Events

* Annual Keller Lecture on Alcohol Research Features Brain Imaging Expert

Topic(s): Alcohol/Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism
When: November 18, 2003
Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Adolf Pfefferbaum, M.D., Director, Neuroscience Program, SRI International and Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, has been selected to receive the 2003 Mark Keller Honorary Award and to deliver the lecture, entitled Alcohol-induced Insult to the Living Brain: Views from Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The program will take place at Masur Auditorium at the NIH on November 18, 2003, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.NIAAA established the Mark Keller Honorary Lecture Series as a tribute to U.S. scientist and professor Mark Keller's contributions to alcohol research. Each year the series features a lecture by an outstanding alcohol researcher who has made significant and long-term contributions to our understanding of how alcohol affects the body and mind, how we can prevent and treat alcohol abuse and alcoholism, and how today's scientific advancements can provide hope for tomorrow. NIAAA is pleased to present this series of scholarly lectures in affirmation of the steady progress alcohol researchers are making toward achieving Mark Keller's vision for the future and in memory of this extraordinary individual.

For more than two decades, Dr. Pfefferbaum has pioneered the use of brain imaging modalities to characterize brain function and structure in alcohol abusers. This work has provided an understanding of the locus, nature, and extent of insult to the living, human brain resulting from chronic alcohol abuse. Dr. Pfefferbaum published the seminal report on the relevance of family history of alcoholism to alterations in electrophysiological waveforms, thereby identifying an objective, quantitative phenotype for the predisposition of alcoholism.

Next Steps
For details contact Nancy Colladay at (301) 443-3860 (e-mail nc38f@nih.gov) or visit the Web site at www.niaaa.nih.gov/conferences/Mark-Keller/KellerHome03.htm.

* Bridging the Career Gap for Underrepresented Minority Scientists

Topic(s): Population Groups, Minority Outreach
When: November 6–7, 2003
Where: Bethesda Marriott at Pooks Hill, Bethesda, MD
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIAID will be hosting a two-day seminar for minority researchers. The seminar is intended to encourage the exchange of ideas between minority scientists and NIAID scientific staff, impart information on how to apply for research project grants, and acquaint attendees with opportunities and options open to them in biomedical research. The seminar will also provide attendees with an opportunity to meet with NIAID staff members working on the NIH campus and elsewhere, and develop mentorships. The program, which began in 1994, is held every two years.

Next Steps
For more information, visit the Web site at www.niaid.nih.gov/ibrp/Bridging_the_Career_Gap.htm, or contact Diane Adger-Johnson at (301) 402-8969 or da15a@nih.gov.

* Latino Media Roundtable/Briefing: HIV Prevention Vaccine Research

Topic(s): Population Groups, HIV/AIDS
When: November 13, 2003
Where: Coral Gables, FL
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Latino media representatives invited to a NIAID briefing will hear the latest statistics on HIV in Latinos. Attendees will also receive information on how HIV vaccine clinical trials work, hear the perspective of a current HIV vaccine clinical trial volunteer, explore ways in which to cover ongoing HIV prevention vaccine research from a Latino perspective, and talk about the importance of HIV vaccine research from a Latino perspective.

Next Steps
For more information, contact Matthew Murguia at (301) 496-0545 or 1b05sched@mail.nih.gov.

* Miami Community Briefing: HIV Prevention Vaccine Research

Topic(s): Population Groups, HIV/AIDS
When: November 14, 2003
Where: Miami, FL
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Individuals from community-based AIDS prevention and service organizations will receive an overview of ongoing HIV prevention vaccine research, including an HIV Vaccine 101 session. Attendees at the NIAID-sponsored community briefing will be able to ask questions related to ongoing research, the importance of minority participation in clinical trials, and how they might be able to incorporate research messages into their prevention and treatment/care activities.

Next Steps
For more information, contact Matthew Murguia at (301) 496-0545 or 1b05sched@mail.nih.gov.

Resources

* Alcoholism in Your Genes: New Brochure Summarizes Research Findings

Topic(s): Genetics/Birth Defects, Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Research has shown conclusively that familial transmission of alcoholism risk is at least in part genetic and not just the result of family environment. The task of current science is to identify what a person inherits that increases vulnerability to alcoholism and how inherited factors interact with the environment to cause disease. This information will provide the basis for identifying people at risk and for developing behavioral and pharmacologic approaches to prevent and treat alcohol problems.

NIAAA has issued a new Alcohol Alert on this issue, titled The Genetics of Alcoholism. The Alcohol Alert series of periodic bulletins or brochures released by NIAAA gives timely, accurate, and concise research-based information.

In a commentary in the Alert, NIAAA Director Ting-Kai Li, M.D., writes, "Even from the first drink, individuals differ substantially in their response to alcohol. Genetics research is helping us understand how genes shape the metabolic and behavioral response to alcohol and what makes one person more vulnerable to addiction than another. An understanding of the genetic underpinnings of alcoholism can help us identify those at risk and, in the long term, provide the foundation for tailoring prevention and treatment according to the particular physiology of each individual."

Next Steps
The new brochure is free and available on NIAAA's Web site in HTML or as a PDF. It can also be ordered by mail. Visit www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa60.htm.
* Bipolar Disorder Spanish-Language Booklet Now Available

Topic(s): Mental Health and Behavior
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

A new booklet in Spanish provides basic information on the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in an easy-to-read format.

Una historia personal sobre el trastorno bipolar (enfermedad maniáco-depresiva): ¿Se parece a lo que le sucede a usted?
(A Story of Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness): Does This Sound Like You?)

¿Se siente usted algunas veces completamente deprimido y otras completamente eufórico? ¿Están estos cambios de estado de ánimo causando problemas en el trabajo, la escuela, o el hogar? Si la respuesta es afirmativa, quizás usted sufra del trastorno bipolar, también llamado enfermedad maniáco-depresiva. Lea esta historia para aprender más.
(Are you feeling really "down" sometimes and really "up" other times? Are these mood changes causing problems at work, school, or home? If yes, you may have bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Read this story to learn more.)

Next Steps
To access and order this booklet on-line visit http://infocenter.nimh.nih.gov/spanish.cfm?lang=spa or call the NIMH Information Center’s toll-free number (866) 615-NIMH (6464). Or you can e-mail nimhinfo@mail.nih.gov. The English-language version of the booklet can be found at www.nimh.nih.gov/publist/sp_035123.cfm.
* Brochures on Choosing Long-Term Care, On-line Health Information, and Crime

Topic(s): Seniors' Health
Format: Brochures
Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The NIA announces the publication of three brochures in its Age Page series of more than 40 brochures written for the public.

o Long-Term Care: Choosing the Right Place. Learn what to look for in skilled nursing homes or assisted living homes.

o Online Health Information: Can You Trust It? Learn how to select a reliable health Web site from the thousands that are available.

o Crime and Older People. Topics include being street smart and money savvy. Read about avoiding identity theft.

Next Steps
Order these brochures by calling (800) 222-2225 or writing to the NIA Information Center, P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057.
* Depression Spanish-Language Booklet Now Available

Topic(s): Mental Health and Behavior
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

A new booklet in Spanish provides basic information on the diagnosis and treatment of depression in an easy-to-read format.

Historias personales sobre la depresión: ¿Se parece a lo que le sucede a usted?
(Stories of Depression: Does This Sound Like You?)

¿Se siente usted muy triste, cansado, y preocupado la mayor parte del tiempo? ¿Están estas sensaciones durando muchos días? Si la respuesta es afirmativa, usted puede tener depresión. Lea estas historias para aprender más.
(Are you feeling really sad, tired, and worried most of the time? Are these feelings lasting more than a few days? If yes, you may have depression. Read these stories to learn more.)

Next Steps
To access and order this booklet on-line visit http://infocenter.nimh.nih.gov/spanish.cfm?lang=spa or call the NIMH Information Center’s toll-free number (866) 615-NIMH (6464). Or e-mail nimhinfo@mail.nih.gov. The English language version of the booklet is at www.nimh.nih.gov/publist/sp_035122.cfm.
* Menopause Companion Updates Its Information Based on Research Findings

Topic(s): Seniors' Health
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Menopause: Companion 2003 updates material in the NIA booklet Menopause: One Woman's Story, Every Woman' Story. The update is a result of findings from the 15-year-old Women's Health Initiative Study. This study came up with new information in 2002–2003 about the risks and benefits of long-term menopausal hormone therapy.

Next Steps
Order both publications by calling
(800) 222-2225 or by writing to the NIA Information Center, P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057. View Menopause: Companion 2003 on-line at www.nia.nih.gov/menopause/menopauseupdate2003.pdf.
* New Brochure About Alcohol and Women's Health

Topic(s): Women's Health, Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Alcohol: A Women’s Health Issue is a new public education brochure from NIAAA that provides information about alcohol's health effects on women.

This 20-page booklet complements the award-winning video produced by NIAAA and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. The free booklet features information on the effects of moderate and heavy drinking on women's health. It covers the risks for women at various life stages, from adolescence through adulthood. It addresses important areas such as alcohol and stress, fetal alcohol syndrome, identifying when drinking is a problem, and resources for finding help to deal with alcohol-related problems.

Next Steps
For the full text or PDF version, visit www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm. Free copies of the brochure and the 12-minute video can be ordered from the NIAAA Web site www.niaaa.nih.gov. Click on Publications then on Pamphlets/Brochures/Poster. The brochure and a 12-minute video can be ordered from the NIAAA by phone at (301) 443-3860.
* Researchers Looking for Training Opportunities Have Help From New Brochure

Topic(s): Ear, Nose, and Throat
Format: Brochure
Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Researchers looking for training opportunties in more than two dozen disciplines can find out more in a new brochure published by NIDCD. The brochure describes specific opportunities, including a program for young minority students who are underrepresented in human communication research, in the NIDCD partnership program. The brochure will broaden the reach of the Institute in making programs available.

These opportunities encompass basic, clinical, and translational research. The brochure is also valuable as an aid in educating potential grantee-mentors and includes information about application strategies and deadlines.

Next Steps
The brochure is available through NIDCD's Office of Health Communication and Public Liaison at (301) 496-7243, as well as through NIDCD's Information Clearinghouse at (800) 241-1044.
* Senior Health Web Site Covers Relevant Topics and Offers Quizzes

Topic(s): Seniors' Health
Format: Web Site
Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Check out the senior-targeted Web site developed by NIA and NLM as a resource for the best information on health and medical research. The Web address is listed below. Special features include videos and short quizzes. Topics include Alzheimer's diease, arthritis, balance problems, breast cancer and hearing loss.

More health information will be added in the coming months, including complementary and alternative medicine, diabetes, falls, shingles, and vision changes.

Next Steps
Anyone can log onto the site at www.nihseniorhealth.gov.

Announcements

* Children's Healthy Behavior Exhibit Planned

Topic(s): Prevention
Where: Boston, MA
Institute: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

The Children's Museum in Boston is planning an interactive, traveling exhibit on healthy behaviors aimed at children and their caregivers. NICHD program staff scientists and others will serve as advisors at an initial planning meeting this month of a consortium of children's museums from across the country. As the project becomes more defined, it is hoped that other NIH institutes will also participate in the exhibit.

Next Steps
The exhibit will travel to children's museums around the country.
* Dialogue Four Corners: Mental Health

Topic(s): Mental Health and Behavior
When: April 24, 2003
Where: Albuquerque, NM
Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIMH, in collaboration with the University of New Mexico, hosted a regional public outreach meeting that focused on the Four Corners area of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Over 350 stakeholders—including consumers and their families, health care providers, policy makers, advocates, and researchers—gathered to discuss the effect of mental illness on American Indian and Hispanic populations living in rural communities and to help NIMH shape its future research agenda on issues relevant to the Four Corners region.

Dialogue Four Corners: Mental Health is the fifth in a series of mental health forums designed to inform the public of cutting-edge mental health research and to gather input about public health needs. Previous meetings were held in Alaska (Anchorage), Texas (Laredo and San Antonio), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), and Illinois (Chicago). The meetings focused on several different themes: brain and behavioral disorders in African American children, the mental health needs of those living in rural areas including Alaskan Natives and Hispanics, and Americans living with depression co-occurring with other physical illnesses. The Dialogue Four Corners meeting was the first attempt to conduct a regional dialogue to explore the common mental health treatment and research barriers shared by the diverse communities in the American Southwest.

Next Steps
A summary report of the Dialogue Four Corners: Mental Health meeting is available at www.nimh.nih.gov/events/dialoguereport.pdf. Adobe Acrobat versions of the slide presentations are available upon request at nimhfourcorners@mail.nih.gov. See summary reports of previous Dialogue meetings at www.nimh.nih.gov/events/townmeetings.cfm.
* Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Including Ebola, Discussed at Symposium

Topic(s): Infections, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
When: October 14–17, 2003
Where: NIH Campus, Vaccine Research Center, Bethesda, MD
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), often life-threatening illnesses that are marked by internal bleeding, such as Ebola, were the focus of a symposium sponsored by the Vaccine Research Center (VRC). The symposium reviewed areas of basic research that can best guide the development of vaccines and therapeutics against VHF agents and developed research priorities. Agents covered included Filoviridae (which cause Ebola and Marburg), Arenaviridae (Lassa and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), and Bunyaviridae (Rift Valley, Hanta, Crimean-Congo).

The symposium was hosted by VRC Director Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D. More than 40 speakers and 60 attendees, both U.S. and international, represented government, industry, and academia at VRC.

A special lecture was provided by Stephen Harrison, Ph.D., Professor at Harvard University, who discussed membrane fusion and the role of viral envelope proteins. NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, M.D., delivered an overview of the NIAID biodefense research program, and renowned virologist Karl Johnson, M.D., presented a historical perspective of VHF research.

Next Steps
For more information, contact Anita Bhatia at anbhatia@mail.nih.gov or (301) 594-8540.