Environmental Factor, September 2008, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIEHS Spotlight
Trainees Look Ahead to a New Year
The NIEHS Trainees Assembly (NTA) held its first General Assembly of the 2008-2009 year on July 25 in Rodbell Auditorium. The event gave trainees an opportunity to hear NIEHS Acting Director Sam Wilson, M.D., and NIEHS Office of Fellows Career Development (OFCD) Acting Director Diane Klotz, Ph.D. ...read more
Summers of Discovery Recognizes Interns’ Accomplishments
The NIEHS Summers of Discovery class of 2008 and its mentors enjoyed their annual day in the sun on June 30 when the program held its annual poster competition in the mall area of the Rall Building on the main campus in RTP. ...read more
Wilson Meets at USC to Brief Stakeholders
NIEHS Acting Director Samuel Wilson, M.D., traveled to California to meet on May 27 with veteran University of Southern California (USC) grantee John Peters, M.D., Sc.D. and two U. S. Congresswomen, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Hilda Solis. ...read more
Superfund Grantee Honored by American Chemical Society
Louisiana State University (LSU) chemist and Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP) grantee Barry Dellinger, Ph.D., was one of three scientists who received the prestigious Astellas USA Foundation Award. ...read more
The Meyerhoff Model
Twenty years later, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s efforts to increase the number of minorities pursuing graduate STEM degrees have become something to study and replicate. ...read more
Van Houten Moves to Posts at University of Pittsburgh
In August, Ben Van Houten, Ph.D., left his positions as branch chief and senior investigator at NIEHS to accept dual appointments at the University of Pittsburgh (UP) School of Medicine and the UP Cancer Center in Pennsylvania. ...read more
Olden Leaves NIH to Start New School of Public Health
After a successful career as NIEHS Director Emeritus and Principal Investigator, Ken Olden, Ph.D., has left the Institute to set a precedent in public health education with the creation of the new School of Public Health on the Hunter College campus of the City University of New York (CUNY). ...read more
Beard Recognized by Boston Training Program
Graduation day on June 12 at the Suffolk University Law School was a time to celebrate for the students receiving diplomas and certificates from JFYNetWorks, Boston’s largest workforce and career development training center for youth and adults. ....read more
Superfund Research Publication Reaches 5000
The Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP) publication, Research Brief, grew out of a 1997 conversation involving Sam Wilson, M.D., now NIEHS acting director, Beth Anderson, SBRP program analyst, and NIEHS Acting Deputy Director William Suk, Ph.D. ....read more
Inside the Institute
A Fond Farewell to Ben Van Houten
When his friends and colleagues decided to mark the departure of Ben Van Houten to his new position at the University of Pittsburgh, they decided to go all out. The more than 200 people who gathered in the NIEHS Cafeteria on July 30 found a wide range of refreshments lining the central buffet bar, decorations and a carefully planned program of reflection and tribute. ...read more
Science Camp Revamped for Third Successful Year
The Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta marked several firsts when its members welcomed students to the third annual Science and Everyday Experiences (SEE) Summer Camp on June 28 at the chapter house in Durham. ...read more
Health and Wellness Seminar Targets Nutrition
On August 19, NIEHS staffers gathered in Rodbell Auditorium to learn more about the integrative health/natural medicine approach to wellness in a talk on “The Science of Nutrition: How a Healthy Diet Creates a Healthy Future.” ...read more
Extramural Research
Extramural Update
New Grant Opportunities on Functional Characterization of Genetic Variants and Interactions
NIEHS and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have announced a pair of funding opportunities on behalf of the NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative. The closing date for applications under RFA-DA-09-003 and RFA-DA-09-004 is October 17, 2008. ...read more
Extramural Papers of the Month
- Mercury Vapor Captured from Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
- Breathing Polluted Air Raises Blood Pressure
- Link Between Thunderstorms and Asthma Attacks in the Atlanta Metro Area
- Over-the-Counter Pain Medicines May Reduce Risk of Diabetes
Intramural Research
Intramural Papers of the Month
Science Notebook
Modifying Risk Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are debilitating neurodegenerative illnesses, but many researchers are making strides in understanding these conditions and developing treatment and prevention strategies. ...read more
Alcohol Binges Early in Pregnancy Increase Risk of Infant Oral Clefts
A new study by NIEHS epidemiologists shows that pregnant women who binge drink early in their pregnancy increase the likelihood that their babies will be born with oral clefts. The study appeared online July 30 in the American Journal of Epidemiology. ...read more
Gene Expression in Respiratory Disease
Noted research pulmonologist Ron Crystal, M.D., presented a lecture to NIEHS scientists on August 5 in Rodbell Auditorium titled “Why Are Some Individuals More Sensitive to the Environment than Others? ...read more
UNC Research Day Highlights Human Neurological Disorders
A contingent of NIEHS scientists joined colleagues from Duke University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) on August 15 for Research Day 2008, hosted at the Chapel Hill Campus by the UNC Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology. ...read more
Grantee Presents Prize-Winning Environmental Justice Research
Edward Emmett, M.D., spoke to an audience of NIEHS and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists gathered in Rodbell Auditorium on July 24. Hosted by NIEHS Program Analyst Liam O’Fallon, Emmett’s talk on “Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) from Teflon Manufacture: Studies of Community Exposure, Potential Risks and Effects of Intervention” was part of the NIEHS Frontiers of Environmental Sciences Lecture Series. ...read more
Expert Panel Conducts Scientific Review of Styrene
On July 21-22, 2008, an expert panel met at the Radisson Hotel Research Triangle Park, N.C. to evaluate styrene, which was nominated for possible listing in the 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC). A majority of the panel members voted to recommend listing the compound as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. ...read more
Evolutionary Implications for Double-Strand DNA Breaks
A collaborative study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science by researchers from the NIEHS, Duke University and Brazil’s Universidade Estadual de Campinas determined how DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in chromosomes can lead to chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and reshape the genome. ...read more
Upcoming Distinguished Lecturer Richard Boucher
The 2008 – 2009 NIEHS Distinguished Lecture Series will welcome its first speaker, Richard Boucher, M.D., at 11:00 a. m. September 8 in Rodbell Auditorium. Boucher will speak on “Cystic Fibrosis: A Failure of Lung Defense Against the Environment.” ...read more
Calendar of Upcoming Events
- September 3
Rodbell Auditorium, 8:30 - 5:00
NIEHS-EPA Air Pollution Cardiovascular Research Grantees Meeting - September 4 - 5 (Offsite Event)
Sheraton-Chapel Hill
Genetic Susceptibility to Air Pollution Conference - September 8
Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 - 12:00
Distinguished Lecture Seminar Series featuring Richard Boucher, M.D., speaking on "Cystic Fibrosis: A Failure of Lung Defense Against the Environment" - September 9
Rodbell Auditorium, 8:00 - 5:30
NAEHS Council Meeting - September 9
D-250, 1:00 - 3:00
Seminar on Aging and Arthritis - Quality of Life and Issues Related to Disability with Leigh Callahan, Ph.D. - September 11 - 12
Rodbell Auditorium, 8:30 - 5:00
High Throughput Screening Approaches for Toxicology - September 15
Rodbell Auditorium, 10:00 - 11:00
LMG Fellows Seminar with Christophe Herman, Ph.D., speaking on “Beyond Mutation: Transcription and Protein Folding Errors Generate Heritable Epigenetic Change” - September 21 – 24 (Offsite Event)
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Central and Eastern European Conference on Health and the Environment: The Environment - A Platform for Health - September 22
Rall Cafeteria, 2:30 -4:00
Marian Johnson-Thompson, Ph.D., retirement reception - September 25
Rall Building Executive Conference Room
11:00 - 12:30
Hispanic Heritage Month Seminar with Denise Moreno
View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar