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Shorttakes
May 2006 (historical)
A compilation of news from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Published three times a year. Just scan these "shorttakes" for information on what's happening at NIAMS, or access the complete articles for viewing or use in your own newsletter or other publication.
From the Director . . .
Last month, the NIAMS celebrated the beginning of its 20th anniversary year with the start of a new series in the NIH Record (http://www.nih.gov/nihrecord/04_21_2006/story08.htm). Two decades may not be a very long time, but ours has been packed, I can assure you, with accomplishments befitting a well-seasoned staff and extraordinarily gifted scientists. Consider for a minute just a few of the more notable successes the Institute has achieved over that period:
- The discovery that treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone prevents or delays kidney failure due to lupus nephritis, one of the most serious complications of the disease
- A registry for people with the blistering skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa that resulted in new diagnostic methods, disease criteria, and a technique for wound healing in certain forms of the disease
- The Osteoarthritis Initiative, our public-private partnership to speed discovery of biological markers for changes in bone or cartilage critical to diagnosing and monitoring osteoarthritis, developing new treatments, and identifying people at risk for the disease or its progression
- A concerted effort to hasten scientific progress in our understanding of many forms of muscular dystrophy
- Advances in therapies for osteoporosis and dramatic progress in joint replacements
- The Health Partnership Program, our collaborative effort with local community representatives to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with rheumatic diseases and their complications, particularly in Washington, D.C.-area African American and Hispanic/Latino communities.
As we proceed with crafting a new strategic plan, we can look back on these and many other accomplishments to assess where we have been and where we might be going. Our guiding principle, of course, remains our commitment to solving the mysteries of bone, joint, muscle and skin conditions. We look forward to the discoveries the next decade will bring!
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institutes of Health
Research Watch . . .
Scientists have discovered the role of a genetic mutation in two forms of muscular dystrophy.
Full story: http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/gene_mutations_md.asp
Researchers have recently discovered that adult mouse muscle stem cells are capable of long-term self-renewal.
Full story: http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/adult_stem_renew.asp
NIAMS-funded scientists find a potential approach to treating genetic bone disease.
Full story: http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/oi_gene.asp
NIAMS-supported scientists are gaining a better understanding of how bone forms and what happens when the process goes awry.
Full story: http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/bone_mineralization.asp
Leg reconstruction and amputation have comparable, but often poor, long-term results, according to a follow-up study of participants of the 2003 LEAP (Lower Extremity Assessment Project) study.
Full story: http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/leg_study.asp
A genetic finding suggests an alternative treatment strategy for common, complex skin disorders and asthma.
Full story: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2006/nhgri-25.htm
The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) study results show that the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may depend on the level of osteoarthritis pain.
Full story: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2006/nccam-22.htm
The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study results show that calcium and vitamin D supplements offer modest bone improvements, no benefits for colorectal cancer.
Full story: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2006/nhlbi-15.htm
NIH announces a program to foster the independence of new investigators.
Full story: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2006/od-27.htm
The NIAMS Curriculum Supplement, Looking Good, Feeling Good: From the Inside Out (Exploring Bone, Muscle, and Skin), is available in print and online.
Full story: http://science-education.nih.gov/customers.nsf/middleschool.htm
Grants and Contracts . . .
The following announcements related to NIAMS appeared in recent issues of the
NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts. These announcements are made to the
research community to express our interest in funding specific areas of
research. For more information on NIAMS grants and contracts, visit the
NIAMS Web site at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Research/
and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html.
Requests for Applications:
Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Centers (P60), RFA-AR-06-001. Issued: March 17, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: April 24, 2006; application receipt date: May 24, 2006.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-06-001.html
Surveillance and Epidemiologic Research of Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy, RFA-DD-06-002 (National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities). Issued: March 16, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: March 27, 2006; application receipt date: April 24, 2006.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DD-06-002.html
Requests for Applications (NIH Roadmap):
Nanomedicine Development Centers (PN2), RFA-RM-06-007. Issued: Jan. 26, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date: June 23, 2006.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-06-007.html
Interdisciplinary Research Consortium (U54), RFA-RM-06-008. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date: Dec. 19, 2006.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-06-008.html
Program Announcements:
Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins (R01), PA-06-119. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt dates: multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-119.html
PHS 2006-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44]), PA-06-120. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006;
letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt dates: multiple dates, see
announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-120.html
PHS 2006-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42]), PA-06-121. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt dates: multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-121.html
Sarcoidosis: Research into the Cause of Multi-Organ Disease and Clinical Strategies for Therapy (R01), PA-06-123. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt dates: multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-123.html
NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00), PA-06-133. Issued: Jan. 27, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt dates: multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-133.html
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21), PA-06-181. Issued: March 2, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-181.html
Exploratory/Developmental Program for Translational Research in Muscular Dystrophy (R21), PAR-06-203. Issued: March 7, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-203.html
Understanding and Treating Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (R03), PAS-06-205. Issued: March 8, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-06-205.html
Understanding and Treating Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (R21), PAS-06-206. Issued: March 8, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-06-206.html
Aging Musculoskeletal and Skin Extracellular Matrix (R21), PA-06-242. Issued: March 17, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-242.html
Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders: Pathophysiological Mechanisms Linking Comorbid Conditions (R01), PA-06-268. Issued: March 24, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): standard dates apply.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-268.html
NIAMS Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03), PAR-06-383. Issued: May 2, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: not applicable; application receipt date(s): June 23, 2006; Oct. 23, 2006; Feb. 23, 2007; June 23, 2007; Oct. 23, 2007; Feb. 23, 2008; June 23, 2008; Oct. 23, 2008.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-383.html
Program Announcements (NIH Roadmap):
Preapplication for Interdisciplinary Research Consortium (X02), PAR-06-122. Issued: Jan. 20, 2006; letters of intent receipt date: March 21, 2006; application receipt date: April 18, 2006.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-122.html
Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the Molecular Libraries Screening Centers Network (X01), PAR-06-259. Issued: March 24, 2006; letters of intent receipt date(s): April 20, 2006; Aug. 16, 2006; Dec. 20, 2006; April 20, 2007; Aug. 16, 2007; application receipt date(s): May 18, 2006; Sept. 14, 2006; Jan. 18, 2007; May 18, 2007; Sept. 14, 2007.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-259.html
Highlights From the Hill, DHHS and NIH . . .
Congressional Briefing on Autoimmune Disease
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, gave a keynote address at a Congressional briefing on autoimmune diseases on March 30, 2006. Dr. Katz highlighted some recent advances and future opportunities in genetic research which may have application to autoimmune diseases, as well as a brief overview of relevant Roadmap activities.
The briefing was sponsored by the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups (NCAPG), which includes the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) and a number of other voluntary patient groups. It was hosted by Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Tom Price (R-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Fred Upton(R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA).
Lupus Briefing
Elizabeth Gretz, Ph.D., Program Director in the Rheumatic Diseases Branch, NIAMS, addressed a Congressional briefing on lupus on March 15, 2006, at the Senate Dirksen Office Building. The briefing was part of the Lupus Foundation of America's annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill.
NIH Dedicates the C.W. Bill Young Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases
On May 2, 2006, the C.W. Bill Young Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases (Building 33) was formally dedicated. Members of Congress and staff were invited. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447), designated the Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases (Building 33) at the National Institutes of Health as the C.W. Bill Young Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. For more information, see http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2006/niaid-03.htm.
House and Senate Appropriations Hearings
On April 6, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education (Representative Ralph Regula [R-OH], Chairman) held its overview of the FY2007 President's Budget for NIH. Elias Zerhouni, M.D., Director of NIH, testified. Also accompanying Dr. Zerhouni were John E. Niederhuber, M.D., Acting Director, NCI; Elizabeth Nabel, M.D., Director, NHLBI; Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, NIAID; Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, NHGRI; Griffin Rodgers, M.D., Acting Director, NIDDK; and Story Landis, Ph.D., Director, NINDS. While Dr. Katz did not provide verbal testimony, his written statement is available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/About_Us/Budget/2007open.asp.
Written questions for the record were received from Mr. Regula, Mrs. DeLauro, Ms. Granger, and Mrs. Northup. Topics included lupus, psoriasis, osteoporosis and health disparities. Additionally, all ICs were asked to provide tables on mortality, morbidity, economic cost and promising scientific opportunities for the top five diseases under their jurisdiction.
On May 3, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education (Senator Arlen Specter [R-PA], Chairman) held its overview of the FY2007 President's Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, with Secretary Michael Leavitt testifying. On May 19, the Subcommittee held its overview of the FY2007 President's Budget for NIH. Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director, NIH, testified.
Budget Update
At the time of the last Council meeting, the FY 2007 President's Budget was just becoming public, and the details can now be shared. The NIH program level is $28.6 billion, which is essentially the same as the post-rescission level for FY 2006. For NIAMS, the total FY 2007 President's Budget is $504.5 million, which includes funds to be transferred for Roadmap activities. This amount is a reduction of 0.7 percent below the FY 2006 level. NIAMS has taken steps to preserve the success rate and payline to the greatest extent possible, including changed policies for program project grants, administrative reductions, and the accelerated funding activities from FY 2002 and 2003. At this time, we estimate the success rate for FY 2007 will be approximately 16 percent; the estimate for NIH overall is 19 percent.
NIAMS Faces . . .
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council has five new members: Kevin P. Campbell, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Carmen Cheveres de Mummey, Jafra Cosmetics International, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; B. Lee Green, M.Ed., Ph.D., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Joshua J. Jacobs, M.D., Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill.; and Patricia A. McCabe, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C.
Madeline Turkeltaub, R.N., Ph.D., C.R.N.P., F.A.A.N., has accepted the position of Deputy Director of the NIAMS Extramural Program (EP). Dr. Turkeltaub has been serving as the Clinical Research Project Manager in NIAMS EP, and has been managing the ORWH SCOR program, in addition to many other critical EP duties.
Barbara Mittleman, M.D., has accepted a full-time position in the NIH OD as the Director of the Program on Public Private Partnerships, Office of Science Policy.
Deborah Ader, Ph.D., Health Science Administrator in the Rheumatic Diseases Branch of the NIAMS Extramural Program, has accepted a position in the private sector. She is leading and directing a stress and health research program and developing a new behavioral research program at the Samueli Institute in Alexandria, Va. She joined NIAMS in 2000.
Alan N. Moshell, M.D., Chief of the Skin Diseases Branch of the NIAMS Extramural Program, retired after 29 years in the government and 24 years at NIAMS.
Ellis Kempner, Ph.D., Chief of the Macromolecular Biophysics Section of the Office of Science and Technology, IRP, retired after 47 years with the government, most with NIH/NIAMS.
Kudos . . .
Peter E. Lipsky, M.D., received the JRF International Award from the Japan Rheumatism Foundation. The award recognizes investigators who have made outstanding international contributions to the advancement of rheumatology-related research.
From the Health Partnership Program.
NIAMS Community Health Center (CHC)
The NIAMS CHC continues to serve as an intermediary between NIH and the community by bringing new research to the Washington, D.C., area.
- On January 26, 2006, we held a general community partner meeting at NIH to update partners on research activities and obtain partner input on current activities and new research plans. Community partners also met John O'Shea, M.D., the newly appointed NIAMS Scientific Director, and Daniel Kastner, M.D., Ph.D., the newly appointed NIAMS Clinical Director.
- On May 16, 2006, NIAMS staff held a meeting with the Research Study Feedback Group, a subgroup of the community partners, to review the protocol, Examining Ethical Concerns in Clinical Research With Participants from Minority Communities. After revisions, the study will be submitted to the Institutional Review Board for approval.
Community Meetings and Events
NIAMS continues to disseminate information on rheumatic diseases and clinical studies at health fairs within the tristate area. The following are some of the events (from February 2006 through April 2006) where NIAMS exhibited health materials and provided publications: the Sister to Sister Women's Heart Day, the Arthritis Foundation Children's Summit, the Consulate of Ecuador Fair, the Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter Event, the NIH Take Our Children to Work Day, the First United Methodist Church Event, and the Victoria Thompson Church Health Fair.
As part of our efforts to make science more accessible to youth and to increase interest in this field, OCPL health education staff arranged for 40 Girl Scouts/Brownies from the National Capital Area to view the exhibit "Changing the Face of Medicine" at the National Library of Medicine.
Update on Equal Employment Opportunity . . .
The 2006 Summer Internship Program is underway. The NIAMS OCPL and the NIAMS IRP Career Development Section coordinated the placement of over 45 students. Three of the students are from our Adopt-a-Schools: Wheaton High School and Wilson High School. Two interns from the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) were placed; one will be working in the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, and the other in the NIAMS Intramural Research Program (IRP).
February 2 was Job Shadow Day for Washington, D.C., students, and three students from Woodrow Wilson High School SciMaTech Academy came to the Institute to see how NIAMS professionals conduct their workdays. NIAMS staff went to the school's annual science fair on Feb. 10 to participate as judges.
On Feb. 22, Wilson High School students came to the National Library of Medicine to participate in the opening of a new exhibit: Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. Visible Proofs is about the history of forensic medicine. Students were able to ask questions of forensic scientists.
NIAMS participated as an exhibitor at Wheaton High School's Second Annual Career Day on Feb. 22. Three post-baccalaureates and one student intern accompanied the NIAMS outreach coordinators to interact with the students.
On March 21, NIAMS participated as an exhibitor at Wilson High School's career day.
On April 3, NIAMS staff gave presentations at Sligo Creek Elementary School on science and research at NIAMS/NIH, including research on virus structure and assembly.
NIAMS staff are preparing for the Summer 2006 NIH National Minority Youth Initiative in Biomedical Research. They will be arranging tours of IRP labs for Native American, African American, and Hispanic students who will be coming to NIH.
Upcoming Events . . .
Look for the NIAMS Exhibit at the following events between now and the Sept. 2006 issue:
- National Health Education Conference, Washington, D.C., May 23-26
- National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), Atlanta, Ga., June 16-17
- Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Baltimore, Md., June 24-26
- National Association of School Nurses, New York, N.Y., June 30-July 3
- American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO), Atlanta, Ga., July 13-16
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Phoenix, Ariz., July 19-21
- National Black Nurses Association, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Aug. 10-12
- CDC's National Health Promotion Conference, Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 12-14
- American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 15-19
Publications . . .
Revised booklets:
Questions and Answers about Acne
Questions and Answers about Osteonecrosis (Avascular Necrosis)
Revised fact sheets:
Calcium Intake Tools
Exercise and Activity: Key Elements in the Management of OI
Genetics and Paget's Disease of Bone
Other Nutrients and Bone Health at a Glance
Talking With Your Orthopaedist: A Guide for Persons With OI
Talking With Your Primary-Care Doctor: A Guide for Persons With OI
What People With Asthma Need to Know About Osteoporosis
New easy-to-read fact sheets:
¿Qué es la gota? Esenciales: hojas informativas de fácil lectura (What Is Gout?)
¿Qué es la fibromialgia? Esenciales: Hojas informativas de fácil lectura (What Is Fibromyalgia?)
What Are Knee Problems?
What Is Marfan Syndrome?
What Is a Hip Replacement?
For information on arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, including copies of the publications listed above, contact:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
NIAMS/National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Phone: (301) 495-4484 or (877) 22-NIAMS (free call, in English or Spanish)
TTY: (301) 565-2966
Fax: (301) 718-6366
E-mail: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
World Wide Web: www.niams.nih.gov
For information on osteoporosis and other bone diseases, contact:
NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center
1232 22nd Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1292
Phone: (202) 223-0344 or (800) 624-BONE (2663)
TTY: (202) 466-4315
Fax: (202) 293-2356
E-mail: NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov
World Wide Web: www.niams.nih.gov/bone
For general information on NIAMS and its research programs, contact:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases/NIH
Building 31/Room 4C02
31 Center Drive, MSC 2350
Bethesda, MD 20892-2350
Phone: (301) 496-8190 or (877) 22-NIAMS (free call)
TTY: (301) 565-2966
Fax: (301) 480-2814
E-mail (inquiries): NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
E-mail (public liaison): NIAMSPublicLiaison@mail.nih.gov
World Wide Web: www.niams.nih.gov
Compiled by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, NIAMS; phone: (301) 496-8190; e-mail: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
