NIEHS Spotlight

Birnbaum honored at AAAS and Heinz policy forums

During May, two more organizations stepped forward to recognize NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., for advancing the field of environmental health science.

Council ponders interesting times on the horizon

As usual, there was a wide-ranging agenda at the 136th meeting of Council May 22-23 at NIEHS, including the current NIH budget situation.

NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair attracts area trainees

More than 350 participants gathered April 27 at the EPA main campus in RTP for the 15th Annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair.

Leadership develops data initiative

As toxicologists and other scientists accumulate exponentially greater volumes of information, they are faced with the challenge of managing the growing terabytes of data.

Shale gas workshop explores needed research on fracking

NIEHS has taken a lead role in convening stakeholders, including the scientific and regulatory communities and industry, to help address questions about extraction.

Breast cancer advocacy group honors NIEHS

The Breast Cancer Fund celebrated its 20-year anniversary May 15 by honoring NIEHS and Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., with its Heroes Award.

Institute celebrates third annual Ethics Day

NIEHS celebrated the Institute’s third annual Ethics Day May 9 with a program including two talks about ethical considerations at work and at the bench.

NIEHS gears up for Rio+20

NIEHS sponsored or co-sponsored two events, during May, related to the upcoming Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development June 20-22.

Sandler honored by public health society

NIEHS epidemiologist Dale Sandler, Ph.D., has been elected as an alumni member of the Johns Hopkins Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

Postdocs and apprentices wow middle school students

The young apprentices showed off their new knowledge May 3 for parents, family, friends, and the community in a public showcase called WOW!

NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine launches website

Scientists with an interest in the clinical translation of stem cell-based technologies now have an additional online resource with the launch of a new website.

Future NIH management leaders visit NIEHS

A cadre of future NIH science management and policy leaders made the trek April 23 from Bethesda to North Carolina.

SRP graduate student receives prestigious fellowship

David Ciplet, a graduate student in the Brown University Superfund Research Program, has received a prestigious Switzer Environmental Fellowship award.

WETP assembles DOE safety and health trainers

More than 100 hazardous material and radiation safety and health trainers gathered May 7-8 in Knoxville, Tenn., to share best practices and new techniques.

Inside the Institute

NIEHS health and fitness week becomes a family affair

NIEHS marked this year’s Health and Fitness Week, which began May 14, by including Family Day as part of the weeklong celebration.

Earth Day presentation on automotive technology

The NIEHS Environmental Awareness Advisory Committee hosted a presentation by automotive expert Richard Cregar May 3 as part of its Earth Day celebration.

Labs break for annual strawberry tradition

NIEHS scientists in the Laboratories of Molecular Genetics and Structural Biology took a break from research to attend the 27th annual strawberry feast May 1.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

June 04, in Building 101, F-193, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. — Laboratory of Signal Transduction Seminar Series with Stephen Shears, Ph.D.
June 07–08, in Rodbell Auditorium, June 7 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.–June 8 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Seminar on “Environmental and Etiologic Implications of Parkinson’s Premotor Symptoms”
June 12, in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Distinguished Lecture Series with Rachel Green, Ph.D., speaking on “Quality Control on the Ribosome During Translation”
June 14–15, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., June 14 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.–June 15 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions Workshop on Systems Biology-Informed Risk Assessment, Registration (http://nas-sites.org/emergingscience/workshops/omics-informed-risk-assessment/)
June 19, in Building 101, F-193, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. — Laboratory of Molecular Genetics Seminar Series with Jan Drake, Ph.D., speaking on “Like DNA replication, eukaryotic DNA mismatch repair is intrinsically asymmetric”
June 21–22, in Rodbell Auditorium, June 21 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.–June 22 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — NTP Board of Scientific Counselors
June 23 – May 26 (Offsite event), in Houston, Texas — Endocrine Society Annual Meeting and Expo

View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar

Science Notebook

Seminar addresses developmental origins of immune disease

Biochemist Paige Lawrence, Ph.D., delivered a guest lecture April 26 at NIEHS on the relationship between environmental agents and defects in the immune system.

Cellular damage from normal metabolism potentially causes cancer

New research from a team led by NIEHS scientists has identified DNA regions in yeast and in some cancers that have a disproportionately high number of mutations.

Researchers explore transgenerational effects of ancestral exposures

The findings result from a productive collaboration between NIEHS-funded researchers at Washington State and U.S. Department of Defense scientists.

p53 may affect susceptibility to cancer and other diseases

In her seminar, “Adventures in polymorphisms and p53 function,” cancer biologist Maureen Murphy, Ph.D., discussed her research on variants in the p53 protein.

Genistein exposure linked to abnormal immune response and infertility

New work from an NIEHS team of researchers suggests that changes to the immune system are partly responsible for genistein-induced rodent infertility.

Researchers pinpoint key protein that protects against septic shock

The study is part of a larger, decades-long project that is exploring the differences in susceptibility to infection among individuals.

Genetic stature puzzle leads to interwoven complex traits

New research with Pygmies suggests that variants leading to short stature could be attached to a genetic code beneficial for adapting to life in a tropical environment.

Cell Biology Group fellow wins travel award

NIEHS visiting fellow Fumin Lin, Ph.D., has won a $1,000 travel award for research he presented at the NIH Stem Cell Research Symposium May 10-11 in Bethesda, Md.

Council talks focus on DNA repair

During their meeting May 22, Council members enjoyed scientific talks by award-winning researchers Leona Samson, Ph.D., and Thomas Kunkel, Ph.D.

Drastic reduction in air pollution may decrease CVD risk

A new NIEHS-funded study led by Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, Ph.D., shows how air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease risk.

CNS program participants gather at NIEHS

The NIEHS Centers for Neurodegeneration Science (CNS) program held its fourth annual meeting May 3-4 at NIEHS.

Predicting breathing rates with personal exposure monitors

A pilot study showed that new technology accurately predicted breathing rates for most of the 22 adult participants during a variety of activities.

Scientists explore developmental origins of disease

Experts gathered May 14-16 to discuss the hypothesis that exposures during early development can lead to increased disease risk later in life.

This month in EHP

This month’s Environmental Health Perspectives features a discussion of some of the environmental health pros and cons of common packaging materials used for food.

Upcoming distinguished lecturer Rachel Green

Rachel Green, Ph.D., will give a talk June 12 titled “Quality Control on the Ribosome During Translation,” hosted by NIEHS lead researcher Traci Hall, Ph.D.

Upcoming workshop on Leptospira vaccine potency testing

The workshop will take place Sept. 19–21 at the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics at the National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa.

Upcoming workshop on informed risk assessment

An innovative interagency program continues its 2012 workshop series with an exploration of “Systems Biology — Informed Risk Assessment" June 14-15.

Extramural Research

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Intramural Research

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