NCI Annual Report Available
This week, NCI released its Annual Report for 2004, The Nation's Progress in Cancer Research, available online at http://www.cancer.gov/nci-annual-report.pdf. The report highlights some of the successes that have accelerated progress toward eliminating the suffering and death due to cancer. It includes a sample of NCI's scientific and programmatic accomplishments and illustrates the breadth and depth of the work being done by NCI scientists and grantees. In many ways, 2004 was a pivotal year for cancer research; the report details research from the nation's - and the world's - laboratories, medical clinics, and patients' bedsides that shows the progress being made.

Udey Named CCR Deputy Director
Dermatology Branch Chief Dr. Mark Udey has been named Deputy Director of CCR. Dr. Udey majored in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington University. He completed medical and dermatology residencies at Barnes Hospital and was a faculty member in dermatology at Washington University before coming to NIH in 1989. His research focuses on elucidating important aspects of epidermal Langerhans cell and dendritic cell biology. He has recently expanded his area of interest into developing vaccines for cancer.

Dr. Udey has served the CCR community in a wide range of positions, including his current work as a member of the Institute Tenure Committee, the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee, and the Immunology Faculty Steering Committee. He has also served on the Promotion and Tenure Review Committee and the Intramural Advisory Board.

Wu Elected to NAS
Dr. Carl Wu, chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, was one of 72 new members chosen by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on April 25. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in American science and engineering.

Dr. Wu obtained his Ph.D. in 1979 and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University. In 1982, he joined NCI's Laboratory of Biochemistry. He was appointed chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology in 1996. Dr. Wu received the 1987 Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the Maryland Academy of Sciences and the 1992 Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1998.

McMahon to Speak on Translational Research
Dr. James McMahon, program director of the Molecular Targets Development Program at NCI-Frederick, will speak on "Translational Research at NCI's Center for Cancer Research" at Johns Hopkins University's Advanced Biotechnology Studies Programs Annual Research Symposium on Thursday, May 11, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus, Building III, Room 121. A poster session follows the lectures, including the first group of NCI fellows in the Molecular Targets and Drug Discovery Technologies concentration and students who have completed research projects as part of their degree requirements for the Master of Science in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.

Tobacco Control Conference Slated for June
The NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control will take place at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus on June 12-14. After considering the scientific evidence presented at the meeting, an unbiased, independent panel will prepare and present a state-of-the-science statement addressing the key conference questions.

This conference is intended for researchers interested in tobacco prevention, cessation, and control; health care professionals; health care system professionals; health policy experts; public health practitioners; and interested members of the public. The conference is free, but registration is required. For additional information, go to http://consensus.nih.gov/2006/2006TobaccoSOS029html.htm.