CSR Names Ethics Coordinator, Deputy EO

Kevin Laser has been named deputy executive officer at the Center for Scientific Review.

Lynn Pupkar is the new ethics coordinator and Kevin Laser has been named deputy executive officer at the Center for Scientific Review.

Pupkar will work to ensure employee compliance with ethics rules, regulations and policies. She is the first point-of-contact for CSR employees and managers and will answer questions or requests related to outside activities, outreach, gifts and financial disclosure.  

She has been at NIH since January 1983. Before joining CSR, she worked in the NIH Ethics Office, where she dealt with a range of ethics matters and served as the NIH ethics advisory committee coordinator. Pupkar also worked at various institutes and centers as a human resource specialist; she was human resources team leader in 2003-2005.

Laser takes a newly established position in the Office of the Director. The new role is in addition to his work as chief of the Financial Management Branch, a role he has held for 3 years. He also oversees the Committee Management Branch and the Division of Management Services management analysts and is project officer for one of CSR’s contracts.

Laser’s NIH career started in the Clinical Center’s rehabilitation medicine department, where he worked as a recreation therapist in 1991. Three years later, he began his career in budget in the central budget office of NIH and then moved to the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research, ultimately serving as budget officer at both institutes.

White House Announces New NCAB Members

The White House recently announced the appointment of seven new members to the National Cancer Advisory Board and the redesignation of NCAB chair Dr. Carolyn Runowicz. Runowicz is director, Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northeast Utilities chair in experimental oncology, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Connecticut Health Center. She is a nationally prominent expert in gynecologic cancers and women’s health and is involved in many national health organizations and professional societies. Dr. Victoria L. Champion is associate dean for research, Edward W. & Sarah Stam Cullipher endowed chair, Mary Margaret Walther distinguished professor of nursing, Indiana University School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the areas of oncology care, early detection, symptom intervention and quality of life. William H. Goodwin, Jr., is chairman and president, CCA Industries, Inc., a diversified holding company in Richmond. His expertise is in finance and administration. Dr. Waun K. Hong is professor and head, division of cancer medicine, department of thoracic/head & neck medical oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has developed novel treatment approaches that have enabled thousands of laryngeal cancer patients to avoid radical surgery. Dr. Judith S. Kaur is professor of oncology, department of medical oncology, Mayo Clinic, and medical director, Native American Programs, Mayo Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has devoted her career to the improvement of survival rates for American Indians with cancer. Mary V. Lester is on the board of directors, University of California, San Francisco Foundation. A longtime supporter of the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, she named one of the urologic laboratories at UCSF Mission Bay’s forthcoming cancer research facility. H. Kim Lyerly is director, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, and George Barth Geller professor of cancer research, Duke University Medical Center. His research interests include breast cancer and also developing antigen-specific immunity in patients with cancer. Dr. Jennifer A. Pietenpol is director, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and B.F. Byrd, Jr., professor of oncology, professor of biochemistry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research focuses on the p53 signaling network—the most frequently targeted area for mutation in human tumors.

NCI director Dr. John Niederhuber (front, fourth from l) recently welcomed new NCAB members. They are (front, from l) Dr. Waun Hong, Mary Lester, Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, Dr. Jennifer Pietenpol, Dr. Judith Kaur. In the second row are (from l) Dr. Victoria Champion, William Goodwin and Dr. H. Kim Lyerly.

Wanke Joins OBSSR as Administrator

Dr. Kay Wanke has joined the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research as a health scientist administrator focusing on research at the intersection of genetics and behavioral and social sciences, including gene-environment interaction. Previously a health scientist administrator in the Epidemiology Research Branch at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Wanke brings a wealth of experience to OBSSR. She will continue to co-lead a trans-NIH funding opportunity as part of the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative for the development of tools to measure exposure to psychosocial stress and addictive substances.

Wanke received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Her training in clinical psychology includes child psychology, forensic psychology, substance abuse, serious mental illness, marriage and family therapy and developmental and neuropsychological assessment. She came to NIH in 2001 as a cancer prevention fellow at the National Cancer Institute. During her fellowship, Wanke completed her M.P.H. at Harvard School of Public Health. In addition, while at NCI, she received further training in tobacco control, genetics and behavioral genetics.

At NIDA, her portfolio of grants covered the areas of tobacco, genetic and behavioral epidemiology and novel and improved phenotypes of tobacco and other drugs of abuse. She has also served on a number of working groups and committees including the NIDA genetics consortium steering committee. Wanke’s research has covered a variety of topics including tobacco use and depression, factors associated with adherence and behavioral genetics of smoking cessation.

Wanke is particularly excited to have the opportunity to stimulate research in genetics and behavioral and social science. “This is one of the true frontiers in research,” she said. “The explosive growth in genetics provides a wealth of opportunity for new avenues in the behavioral and social sciences.”

Five Join NICHD Advisory Council

NICHD director Dr. Duane Alexander (standing, second from l) and deputy director Dr. Yvonne Maddox (seated, r) welcome new council members (front row, from l) Dr. Kathryn Lynn Cates, Dr. Gail Martin, (second row, from l) Dr. Perri Klass, Dr. Rosemarie Truglio and Dr. Sherin Devaskar.

Five new appointments have been made to the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council. They are: Dr. Kathryn Lynn Cates, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations. She is adjunct associate professor of pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Sherin Devaskar, a neonatologist with expertise in fetal-neonatal nutrition, placental transfer, growth, intrauterine growth retardation, cerebral glucose metabolism and a variety of topics related to neonatal and perinatal physiology. She has authored or coauthored nearly 100 papers and some 150 abstracts. Dr. Perri Klass, professor of journalism and pediatrics at New York University and president and medical director of the Reach Out and Read National Center, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine. She has written 10 books of fiction and nonfiction and has received five O. Henry Awards. Dr. Gail Martin, a developmental biologist who has made significant contributions that have revolutionized the study of molecular and genetic control of embryonic vertebrate development, from early development and gastrulation through organogenesis. She was the first to demonstrate the isolation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells from mouse embryos, which allowed for the development of knockout mice technology. Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, a developmental psychologist who conducts research on the effects of media on children. In her position at the Sesame Workshop, she assesses the role of television in the socialization and education of children and also develops and reviews the content across all Sesame Street products and programs.

Londos Honored by Obesity Society

Dr. Constantine Londos (r) received the Obesity Society’s Stunkard Lifetime Achievement Award from Dr. Eric Ravussin Oct. 4 at the society’s annual meeting in Phoenix. Londos was recognized for his many contributions to adipocyte research. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of obesity through scholarship, mentorship and education. Recipients receive a $1,000 cash prize and present the plenary Friends of Mickey Stunkard Award Lecture.