Contributors

Judith GreenbergDr. Judith Greenberg
Judith, who has directed the Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology and chaired NIGMS strategic planning processes, currently serves as acting NIGMS director. She continues to lead the implementation of the training strategic plan, oversee the NIH Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator Award programs and advise on bioethical issues related to stored tissue samples and genetic studies. More

Dr. Alexandra AinszteinDr. Alexandra Ainsztein
A cell biologist, Alexandra manages research grants related to membrane trafficking, organelle biogenesis and the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of the secretory pathway. She is also involved with PSI:Biology, the newest phase of the NIGMS Protein Structure Initiative.

Dr. Jim AndersonDr. Jim Anderson
Before his retirement in May 2012, Jim had a long-standing interest in systems biology, promoting its approaches to study cell and molecular biology. He also fostered the development of bacterial informatics, including the establishment of an online genomic resource for the E. coli K12 bacterium.

Dr. Vernon AndersonDr. Vernon Anderson
Vernon, a former biochemistry and chemistry professor, manages grant portfolios spanning the areas of bioinorganic chemistry, bioenergetics and mitochondrial physiology, oxidative stress, and enzymology.

Dr. Richard AndersonDr. Richard Anderson
Before his retirement in June 2010, Richard administered research grants focused on the mechanisms that control cell growth and differentiation. He also oversaw the NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository.

Susan AtheySusan Athey
Susan is a writer in the Institute’s communications office. She manages many projects, including those for NIGMS Web site development and electronic outreach.

Dr. Ravi BasavappaDr. Ravi Basavappa
Before transferring to the NIH Office of the Director in October 2010, Ravi administered grants in the Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics and was the Institute’s AIDS-related research coordinator. He also was involved in several NIH Common Fund programs, including the NIH Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator Awards and the nanomedicine initiative.

Dr. Michael BenderDr. Michael Bender
Michael is a geneticist who handles grants related to RNA processing and protein synthesis as well as grants for the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program. He also oversees the NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository.

Dr. Jeremy BergDr. Jeremy Berg
As former NIGMS director, Jeremy oversaw the Institute’s programs to fund biomedical and behavioral research and to train the next generation of scientists. He was a leader in many NIH-wide activities and also found time to study a variety of molecular recognition processes in his NIH lab.

Rosalina BrayRosalina Bray
Before transferring to NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in January 2012, Bray contributed her expertise in program development, strategic planning and evaluation to the Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation, which supports and manages the Institute’s evaluation and planning activities.

Dr. Paul BrazhnikDr. Paul Brazhnik
Paul is responsible for research grants in computational biology, modeling and bioinformatics. He also oversees several NIGMS systems biology centers and directs the Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative to Support Research at the Interface of the Biological and Mathematical Sciences Exit icon. More

Emily CarlsonEmily Carlson
Emily writes about NIGMS-supported advances in cell biology, biophysics, bioinformatics and computational biology. She also oversees the production of several NIGMS publications, including Biomedical Beat, Computing Life and the Feedback Loop.

Dr. Jean ChinDr. Jean Chin
Jean manages research grants on membrane proteins and lipids, transporters and lipid metabolism. She also oversees the LIPID MAPS and Membrane Protein Structural Dynamics Consortium glue grants, the NIH Common Fund structural biology of membrane proteins program and several Protein Structure Initiative:Biology centers and partnerships, including the materials repository.

Dr. Alison ColeDr. Alison Cole
Alison handles research grants in a wide range of areas related to anesthesiology and peri-operative pain. Her other major responsibility involves directing all NIGMS multidisciplinary training grant programs and postdoctoral fellowships.

Dr. James DeatherageDr. James Deatherage
Jim manages grants on cell division, motility and organization, and on technology development of light microscopy.

Ann DieffenbachAnn Dieffenbach
Ann leads the Institute’s communications office and its talented team of writers and Web designers. One of her major goals is to help the public understand how tax dollars that go to NIH enable research advances at institutions across the country.

Jilliene Mitchell DraytonJilliene Mitchell Drayton
Jilliene writes about NIGMS diversity programs and also disseminates information about NIGMS-funded research and programs through a number of outreach activities, events and meetings. In addition, she oversees the production of ChemHealthWeb and Findings online.

Dr. Sarah DunsmoreDr. Sarah Dunsmore
Sarah manages a variety of grants involving drug targets, innate immunity and inflammation. She also is the program director for a project that may establish the first set of standard procedures to diagnose and treat sepsis in emergency departments. More

Irene EckstrandDr. Irene Eckstrand
Irene is our expert on evolutionary biology and manages scientific programs to develop models of disease spread as well as models of scientific workforce dynamics. More

Charles G. EdmondsDr. Charles G. Edmonds
An analytical chemist, Charles manages research grants in the development and application of proteomic and structural biology methods and techniques. He is a member of the program team for the Protein Structure Initiative.

Dr. Shawn Drew GaillardDr. Shawn Drew Gaillard
Shawn, a molecular biologist, manages research training programs aimed at increasing the number of historically underrepresented populations pursuing leadership positions in science. She also works on a detail assignment at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute on a joint HHMI-NIGMS project designed to increase representation.

Barbara GerratanaDr. Barbara Gerratana
Barbara is an enzymologist who handles research grants in enzymology and biotechnology, including natural products biosynthesis, as well as institutional predoctoral training grants in biotechnology and NIH Pathway to Independence Awards in pharmacology, physiology and biological chemistry. Barbara plays an active role in the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group program, which is co-funded by NIH.

Joe GindhartDr. Joe Gindhart
Joe is a cell biologist who manages grants involving cytoskeletal motor proteins, cell motility, intracellular transport and bacterial chemotaxis. He also manages postdoctoral fellowship grants in cell biology.

J. Rafael GorospeDr. J. Rafael Gorospé
Raffy, a geneticist by training, has conducted and published research on a number of childhood genetic disorders of brain and skeletal muscle. He manages multicomponent grants supported through the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program.

Dr. Ann HaganDr. Ann Hagan
As director of extramural activities, Ann sets and coordinates grant funding policies and procedures, and she advises staff on the best grants management practices. She also sits on the NIH committee that makes policy recommendations for managing extramural programs.

Dr. Sue HaynesDr. Sue Haynes
Sue specializes in reproductive biology and embryonic development, including the basic biology of embryonic and adult stem cells. She started her career studying the fruit fly’s genetic control of early embryonic and reproductive development. More

Dr. Warren JonesDr. Warren Jones
Before his retirement in May 2012, Warren handled research grants in enzymology, particularly those concerned with the chemical and structural basis of catalysis, and he had a long-standing interest in metabolic engineering. He also managed post-award aspects of the NIH Director’s Pioneer Awards program and served as the NIGMS liaison for legislative affairs.

Dr. Donna KrasnewichDr. Donna Krasnewich
Trained as a pediatrician with a specialty in clinical biochemical genetics, Donna manages research grants dealing with the genetic basis of human biology as well as grants on ethical, legal and social issues in genetics.

Dr. Story LandisDr. Story Landis
Story directs the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and is the co-chair of the search committee for a new NIGMS director.

Dr. Bob LeesDr. Bob Lees
Bob, who is trained in synthetic and bioorganic chemistry, manages research grants in organic chemistry. Prior to joining the Institute, he served as a scientific review officer in the NIH Center for Scientific Review and as a program director at the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Cathy LewisDr. Cathy Lewis
Cathy directs the NIGMS division that supports basic research and training in cell biology and biophysics. She has played an active role in developing new NIH initiatives in single molecule biophysics and live cell imaging, and she currently serves as
co-chair of the trans-NIH Nanotechnology Task Force.

Dr. Rochelle LongDr. Rochelle Long
A pharmacologist by training who became interested in genetic variation and its role in determining therapeutic drug responses, Rochelle directs NIH’s Pharmacogenomics Research Network. She’s involved in large-scale cooperative agreements at NIGMS and currently serves as chief of the Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch of the PPBC Division.

Dr. Peter LysterDr. Peter Lyster
Peter manages grants in biological modeling and bioinformatics, and he plays an active role in the NIH Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative.

Dr. Stefan MaasDr. Stefan Maas
Stefan, a molecular biologist, manages research grants in the areas of cell growth, differentiation, homeostasis and cell death. He also oversees SBIR/STTR small business grants in genetics and developmental biology and institutional training grants in systems and integrative biology. More

Alisa Zapp MachalekAlisa Zapp Machalek
Originally trained in biochemistry, Alisa writes about a wide range of NIGMS-supported research, including pharmacogenomics, chemistry, anesthesiology, sepsis and wound healing. She is the editor of Findings magazine, manages the NIGMS image gallery and leads efforts to foster science education at NIH.

NIGMS logoDr. Pamela A. Marino
Pamela handles glycobiology and molecular immunology portfolios, serves as the program officer for the NIGMS glycomics glue grant Exit icon and is a member of the steering committee for the NIH Alliance of Glycobiologists for Detection of Cancer and Cancer Risk Exit icon. Her intramural duties include serving as co-director of the NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate Program and chairing the NIH Glycobiology Scientific Interest Group steering committee.

Dr. James OnkenDr. James Onken
Jim, who previously worked at NIGMS, is special assistant to NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research. In addition to managing the development and maintenance of NIH’s Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools, including RePORTER, he analyzes and presents data on NIH research programs and research personnel for use in program evaluation and policy studies.

Dr. Clifton PoodryDr. Clifton Poodry
Clif oversees the NIGMS Division of Training, Workforce Development and Diversity (TWD). With a 22-year research and teaching career in cell biology and developmental genetics prior to joining the Institute, he is active in many education-related organizations and particularly interested in issues pertaining to developing the next generation of leaders in research and training. More

Dr. Matt PortnoyDr. Matt Portnoy
Before transferring to the NIH Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research, in February 2011, Matt was responsible for grants related to DNA repair and recombination and also coordinated SBIR and STTR small business grants for NIGMS. He served on a number of NIH committees related to genomics activities.

Dr. Peter PreuschDr. Peter Preusch
Peter handles grants on the biophysics of nucleic acids and their complexes as well as computational studies involving ligands. A long-term advocate of membrane protein structural studies, he is involved with the Protein Structure Initiative and co-leads the NIH Structural Biology Roadmap.

Dr. Karin RemingtonDr. Karin Remington
Until May 2012, Karin directed the Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, which cuts across all of the research divisions within NIGMS. She also chaired the trans-NIH Biomedical Informatics Science and Technology Initiative Consortium and represented NIH in interagency coordination efforts in Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Exit icon.

Dr. Alberto Rivera-RentasDr. Alberto Rivera-Rentas
Before transferring to NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in February 2012, Alberto managed research training programs that increase the participation of underrepresented students in biomedical and behavioral research. Trained as a neurobiologist, he represented NIGMS on the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.

Dr. Mike RogersDr. Mike Rogers
As a division director, Mike has his hands in several research and training pots: chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, anesthesiology and the physiological response to trauma and burns. He also has a major interest in fostering both drug discovery and development and cooperation between NIH and industry. More

Dr. Michael SakalianDr. Michael Sakalian
Michael is a virologist who manages grants in the areas of virus and AIDS-related cellular and structural biology. He also serves as the Institute’s AIDS-related research coordinator.

Dr. John SchwabDr. John Schwab
Before his retirement in May 2011, John handled grants in synthetic organic chemistry, natural products chemistry and high-throughput chemistry. He was heavily involved in chemical methodologies and library development, including a related NIH Roadmap initiative.

Dr. Paul SheehyDr. Paul Sheehy
Paul works on various aspects of grants policy. One of his major interests is in IT systems for grant application and administration, including Grants.gov and the eRA Commons.

Dr. Shiva SinghDr. Shiva Singh
Shiva, a microbiologist with a lot of experience in scientific administration, oversees a broad array of programs that seek to increase the participation of underrepresented students and faculty in biomedical and behavioral sciences. He also manages microbial community ecology and scientific workforce modeling grants. More

Dr. Ward SmithDr. Ward Smith
Ward, a structural biologist, manages grants in biophysics. He directs the Protein Structure Initiative and guides the scientific course of several protein databases as well as biomedical research at NIH-supported synchrotron facilities.

Dr. Scott SomersDr. Scott Somers
Scott manages grants that examine the body’s responses to burns, traumatic injuries and surgery at all levels—from molecular and cellular changes to the body-wide reactions seen in critically ill patients. More

Dr. Helen SunshineDr. Helen Sunshine
Helen oversees the review of a broad range of research, research training, research education and center grant applications assigned to NIGMS. She also sits on the NIH committee that develops, implements and evaluates review policies and procedures for all types of grant applications.

Dr. Amy SwainDr. Amy Swain
Amy is currently acting director of Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology and oversees a portfolio of biomedical technology programs transferred from the former National Center for Research Resources. With a background in crystallography, she specifically manages technology grants for structural biology and for informatics, and she is a key contact for NIH synchrotron activities.

Dr. Laurie TompkinsDr. Laurie Tompkins
Before her retirement in December 2012, Laurie was the acting director of the Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology. She was our expert on the genetics and genomics of behavior and circadian clocks in a wide variety of model organisms, and she also managed grants on transcription mechanisms.

Nancy VessNancy Vess
As chief of the financial management branch, Nancy oversees the NIGMS budget. Her team develops the Institute’s fiscal management plans, prepares Congressional budget justifications and coordinates the support of all NIGMS research and training grants.

Dr. Jennifer VillaniDr. Jennifer Villani
Trained in epidemiology and health services research, Jen contributes her expertise in program planning, management and evaluation to scientific programs in bioinformatics and computational biology.

Dr. Janna WehrleDr. Janna Wehrle
Janna manages both experimental and computational projects studying how proteins fold, survive stress, form complex cellular machines and are removed from cells—and what happens when these processes go awry.

Dr. Peggy Weidman Dr. Peggy Weidman
Peggy is a cell biologist who organizes the scientific review of grant applications for programs that seek to increase the diversity of the biomedical and behavioral research workforce.

Dr. Marion ZatzDr. Marion Zatz
For many years, Marion managed grants involving research on cell cycle control, programmed cell death and stem cells as well as predoctoral training grants in cellular, molecular and biochemical sciences and molecular medicine. She now administers NIGMS’s Diversity and Career Re-entry Supplements program.

Dr. Hinda ZlotnikDr. Hinda Zlotnik
Hinda, a medical microbiologist, brings her broad academic, administrative and research experience to NIGMS, where she leads efforts to increase the participation of underrepresented students and faculty in biomedical and behavioral research. More