NIEHS Spotlight

Strategic planning shapes discussion at Council meeting

An update on NIEHS strategic planning struck a chord with members of the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council during their Feb 15-16 meeting.

Workshop seeks to expand and improve data sharing

Nearly 100 environmental health researchers, NIEHS program administrators, and other interested government officials gathered Feb. 6-7 in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Rogan honored by the American Academy of Pediatrics

NIEHS epidemiologist Walter Rogan, M.D., was named an honorary fellow by the AAP for his exemplary service with the organization’s Council on Environmental Health.

USGS support to advance erionite research

U.S. Geological Survey funding announced Feb. 8 will support working group retreats at the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis in Fort Collins, Colo.

NIEHS and EPA launch 2012 webinar series

A webinar Feb. 8 highlighted research on pesticide exposure in children by scientists in the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention.

Staff from NIEHS participates in UNC career development program

The second annual Career Blitz featured 22 Ph.D.-trained scientists from a variety of traditional and non-traditional career paths.

NIEHS grantees and research associates honored by AAAS

Seven distinguished scientists with ties to NIEHS are among the 539 members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science elected as 2011 Fellows.

Communications team recognized for intern program video

NIEHS Communications staff took home a Pegasus Award of Distinction for one of its first video efforts, “Falling in love with research, students in the laboratory.”

NIEHS and NTP to lead events at 51st SOT meeting

Staff from NIEHS and NTP, including Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., will showcase new strategic directions, new opportunities for collaboration, and new technologies.

Review calls for effective communication in evolutionary genomics studies

NIEHS grantee Sarah Tishkoff, Ph.D., and co-authors underscore the importance of making sure that ethical evaluation keeps pace with advances in research strategies.

Postdocs reach out to Durham middle schoolers

NIEHS trainees launched the largest volunteer apprenticeship ever Feb. 9 in the Citizen Schools program at Lowes Grove Middle School in Durham, N.C.

Nano consortium gathers at NIEHS

The NIEHS nanotechnology consortium held its third biannual meeting Jan. 26-27 to hear research progress updates and convene a meeting of the steering committee.

Grantee and two trainees named science communication fellows

Three of the ten 2012 Science Communication Fellows announced Feb. 15 by Environmental Health Sciences are receiving training or research support from NIEHS.

Inside the Institute

NIEHS honors African-American History Month with stories of runaway slaves

NIEHS welcomed Freddy Parker, Ph.D., to Rodbell Auditorium for a one-hour seminar titled, “They Fled Too: Female Slave Runaways in North Carolina, 1775-1840.”

Award-winning anchor leads NIH salute to African-American history

Scientists and staff gathered Feb. 16 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md., for the 2012 African-American History Month Observance Program featuring JC Hayward.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Mar 01, in Keystone 1003, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. — Keystone Lecture Seminar Series, with John Rawls, Ph.D., addressing “Microbial and developmental regulation of vertebrate energy balance”
Mar 03, in Rodbell Auditorium, 8:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m. — 21st Annual Meeting of the Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology, "Reproductive Tract Organogenesis"
Mar 06–07, at NIH in Bethesda, Md., 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Meeting
Mar 07–08, at NIH in Bethesda, Md., 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Partnerships for Environmental Public Health Meeting
Mar 09, in Keystone 1003, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. — Keystone Lecture Seminar Series, “Assessing the Impact of Research,” by Kristi Holmes, Ph.D.
Mar 12, in 3503 Thomas Hall, North Carolina State University 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. — Department of Genetics Seminar, featuring Karen Adelman, Ph.D., topic TBA
Mar 21–22, at the Raleigh (N.C.) Convention Center 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — South Atlantic National Research Conference (SANRC)
Mar 23, in Rodbell Auditorium, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — Annual North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative Meeting
Mar 26–29, location and time TBA, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers Meeting
Mar 27 (Off-site event), at Sigma Xi in Research Triangle Park, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. — Sigma Xi lunchtime lecture series with Sri Nadadur, Ph.D., speaking on nanomaterials and health
Mar 27–29 (Off-site event), at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Worker Education and Training Program Awardee Meeting and National Trainers' Exchange: “Training Today for a Safer Tomorrow”

View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar

Science Notebook

Falk lecture features NYU epigenetics researcher

The presentation, “Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance,” featured Danny Reinberg, Ph.D., a researcher who studies how epigenetics regulates gene expression.

Council talks highlight human studies of autoimmunity and immunotoxicity

Members of the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council heard two exciting scientific presentations at their meeting Feb. 16 at NIEHS.

New grantee discovers treatment that may block Shiga toxin

Somshuvra Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., has found that manganese may prevent the potentially lethal effects of infection by a bacterial compound known as Shiga toxin.

Interagency mineral fibers group meets at NIEHS

The NIEHS commitment to mineral fibers research was front and center at the most recent meeting of the Interagency Asbestos Working Group Feb. 2-3, hosted by NIEHS.

Researchers link oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disease

Researchers from NIEHS and Florida International University offer an explanation for how degenerative nerve disorders, such as Huntington’s disease, arise.

Study finds traffic pollution leading to asthma has huge economic costs

According to a new NIEHS-funded study, traditional risk assessment methods underestimate both the burden of disease and cost of asthma associated with air pollution.

Children exposed to cadmium may be at higher risk for learning disabilities

Children and teens with higher cadmium levels are more likely to have learning disabilities and be placed in special education, according to a new NIEHS-funded study.

SRP researchers test less expensive method for tar remediation

An NIEHS-funded study finds that alkaline and alkaline-polymer solutions might offer an effective and less expensive way to remove tars from gas plant sites.

Studies find arsenic in food adds up

Three studies published in the last two months with NIEHS and EPA support add to the growing body of evidence for proposals that arsenic levels in food require regulation.

SRP researcher links contaminants in drinking water to mental illness

Superfund researchers published findings that link early childhood exposure to PCE-contaminated water to increased risk of psychological disorders later in life.

NIH pioneer discovers genes linked to high altitude tolerance

A new NIEHS-funded study in Genome Biology is the latest manuscript to identify genetic adaptations prevalent in populations living in high altitudes.

Panel peer reviews and approves seven NTP technical reports

A panel of external scientific experts, convened by the National Toxicology Program, peer reviewed and approved the conclusions of seven draft technical reports.

Webinar series addresses early-life exposures

An NIEHS Superfund Research Program webinar Feb. 3 explored the potentially adverse effects of exposure to brominated fire retardants during critical windows of susceptibility.

Federal agencies respond to test method recommendations

U.S. federal agencies, including NIEHS, have agreed with recommendations for use of a method that requires fewer animals and enables pain-free product safety testing.

This month in EHP

The lead story in this month’s issue examines the hypothesis that photosynthetic bacteria may be a major factor in neurodegenerative disease.

Upcoming workshop on individual susceptibility

An innovative interagency program opens its 2012 workshop series with an exploration of individual susceptibility to environmental stressors April 18-19 in Washington, D.C.

Extramural Research

index.htm

Intramural Research

Intramural Papers of the Month /2012/3/dir/index.htm

Environmental Factor

March 2012