ACTIVITIES OF THE NIDCR DIRECTOR
Since the last meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak maintained an active schedule delivering presentations at dental and scientific meetings about future directions in NIDCR research and Institute initiatives, hosting a Congressional visit to the NIDCR that showcased various aspects of the Institute’s research efforts, and speaking to dental schools and school associations. In addition, he worked on the formulation and implementation of the NIH plan to allocate funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), continued to co-chair the Research Teams of the Future component of the NIH Roadmap and the NIH-wide Pain Consortium, and served on the NIH Scientific Management Review Board.
On June 15, Dr. Tabak hosted Rep. Mike Simpson (R.-ID), member of the House Appropriations committee and ranking member for the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, together with Idaho dental school officials, who came to the NIDCR to learn about NIDCR’s research programs. During their visit, Dr. Silvio Gutkind, chief of the NIDCR Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, gave a presentation on emerging research data on the molecular mechanisms contributing to oral cancer progression that will help identify new chemopreventive strategies and targeted therapies for oral cancer patients. Ms. Karina Boehm, chief of the NIDCR Health Promotion Branch, provided an overview of NIDCR’s new campaign, “Oral Cancer: What African American Men Need to Know,” designed to raise African American men’s awareness of their risk for oral cancer and the importance of early detection. The visitors then toured two NIDCR laboratories. Dr. Pamela Robey, chief of the Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, presented new research data on the characterization of bone marrow stromal cells, including the development of clinical grade human bone marrow stromal cells for bone regeneration and treatment of other diseases. Dr. Kenneth Yamada, chief of the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, demonstrated an NIDCR microscope facility for capturing images and movies of living human cells and animal tissues. This research allows scientists to observe directly the dynamic movements of molecules and cells to determine how tissues and organs form and how cancer cells spread.
During the month of June, the NIDCR Director also gave a presentation about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at the 98th Meeting of the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director. Dr. Tabak’s slides are available at: http://acd.od.nih.gov/slides/060409slides.asp
In addition, he delivered the opening remarks at the meeting of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) Research Network held in Gaithersburg, MD, on June 9. This was the first face-to-face meeting for HMP project grantees. The following day, he gave the opening remarks at the NIDCR TMJD Pain and Genetics Workshop held in Bethesda, MD. The workshop was designed to gather input from the pain and genetic communities about the best approaches to advancing this field.
Other activities of the NIDCR Director included: giving a course for dental professionals entitled “Molecular Medicine Enters the Mouth” at the July 9th Academy of General Dentistry Annual Meeting held in Baltimore, MD; visiting the University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT, in mid-September to speak to faculty and students about NIH training programs and trends in research and funding; and chairing a session on the long-term effects of current economic challenges on science and engineering during the September 21 meeting of the Association of American Universities/Association of Graduate Schools in Chicago. The NIDCR Director also will be the guest speaker at the University of Minnesota 40th Annual Oral Biology Symposium on September 22. The conference will focus on how dentistry and the health field as a whole benefit from advances made by scientists educated in oral biology.
ACTIVITIES OF THE NIDCR DEPUTY DIRECTOR
NIDCR Deputy Director Isabel Garcia led the development of NIDCR’s Strategic Plan 2009-2013 to completion in May. NIDCR is indebted to all of our constituents, including Council members, whose comments and suggestions throughout the process were vital to the development of a dynamic and responsive strategic plan. The new NIDCR Strategic Plan can be accessed on NIDCR’s website at: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchPriorities/StrategicPlan/
Since the last NADCRC meeting, Dr. Garcia also represented the Institute at national symposia and conferences and delivered presentations to professional organizations and dental schools. On June 2, she gave a presentation entitled “Dentistry Based on Evidence vs. Evidence-based Dentistry” at the U.S. Public Health Service Scientific and Training Symposium in Atlanta, GA. Her talk examined the role of systematic reviews in translating science into dental practice and the level of existing evidence supporting selected dental procedures.
In June she also met with faculty and students at two dental schools and delivered their commencement addresses. On June 6 she gave the commencement address at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham, AL, and on June 14 she addressed the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry.
Additional activities in June included giving a presentation on the NIDCR Strategic Plan at the North American Dental Hygiene Research Conference held June 15 in Bethesda, MD, and together with NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak, hosting Congressman Simpson’s visit to the NIDCR that same day. On June 30th, she represented the NIDCR at the Colloquium on Oral Health Disparities sponsored by the DHHS Office of Minority Health and the National Dental Association.
Dr. Garcia also spoke about NIH and NIDCR research relevant to ectodermal dysplasias when she addressed the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias’ National Family Conference, held in Williamsburg, VA, on July 24.
Dr. Garcia continues to participate in various NIH activities, including serving on the trans-NIH Task Force on NIH’s Role and Investment in Bioethics, Research, Training, and Translation and its Bioethics Landscape Working Group. The purpose of this task force is to evaluate the current NIH commitment to, and support of bioethics research, training, and translation. The group will develop a strategic plan to leverage current investments and increase the role of NIH in promoting bioethics research and training. In addition, Dr. Garcia serves on the Fogarty International Center’s Trans-NIH Working Group on Global Health.
BUDGET REPORT
FY 2009
The FY 2009 Appropriation provides $402.7 million for NIDCR (see the table for the distribution by budget mechanism). Regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), NIDCR was allotted $101.8 million, which will remain available for obligation through FY 2010.
FY 2010
The President’s Budget Request would provide $408.0 million for NIDCR (see the table for the distribution by budget mechanism). The complete NIDCR budget justification to Congress is available for viewing at:
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/AboutUs/BudgetCongressionalStatements/CongressionalJustifications/FY2010CongressionalJustification/
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
| MECHANISM |
FY 2009 Estimate |
FY 2010 Request |
| Number |
Amount ($000) |
Number |
Amount ($000) |
| Research Grants |
|
|
|
|
| Research Projects |
|
|
|
|
| Noncompeting |
469 |
185,890 |
468 |
193,843 |
| Competing |
157 |
53,944 |
158 |
55,195 |
| Subtotal |
626 |
239,834 |
626 |
249,038 |
| SBIR/STTR |
23 |
8,600 |
23 |
8,750 |
| Subtotal, RPG |
649 |
248,434 |
649 |
257,788 |
| Research Centers |
6 |
14,090 |
6 |
13,265 |
| Other Research |
|
|
|
|
| Research Careers |
73 |
8,958 |
81 |
9,831 |
| Other |
18 |
1,866 |
18 |
1,866 |
| Subtotal, Other Research |
91 |
10,824 |
99 |
11,697 |
| Total Research Grants |
746 |
273,348 |
754 |
282,750 |
| |
FTTP |
|
FTTP |
|
| Research Training |
354 |
15,609 |
349 |
15,770 |
| Research & Development Contracts |
26 |
29,485 |
24 |
23,958 |
| |
318,442 |
|
322,478 |
| Intramural Research |
|
60,895 |
|
61,835 |
| Research Management and Support |
|
23,315 |
|
23,724 |
| Subtotal, NIDCR |
|
402,652 |
|
408,037 |
| TOTAL, NIDCR |
|
402,652 |
|
408,037 |
The FY 2010 Senate bill contains $409.2 million for NIDCR; the bill passed by the House contains $417.0 million. It is expected that NIDCR and the rest of NIH will begin FY 2010 under a continuing resolution pending resolution of the bill differences and signature by the President.
DHHS/NIH UPDATE
Dr. Francis S. Collins is New NIH Director
On August 17, Dr. Francis S. Collins was sworn in as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health. He was nominated to lead the NIH by President Barack Obama on July 8, and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7. Dr. Collins, former Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) from 1993-2008, is a physician-scientist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project. Under his direction, the Human Genome Project consistently met projected milestones ahead of schedule and under budget. This international project culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. In addition to his achievements as NHGRI Director, Dr. Collins’ own research laboratory discovered a number of important genes, including those responsible for cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington's disease, a familial endocrine cancer syndrome, and most recently, genes for adult onset (type 2) diabetes and the gene that causes Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Dr. Collins was elected to the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007.
Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., who has served as acting NIH director since mid-October, will return to his role as NIH principal deputy director.
NIDCR Director Lawrence Tabak, who was acting NIH deputy director over the past 9 months and worked on the formulation and implementation of the NIH plan to allocate ARRA funds, will continue to help oversee NIH ARRA activities while serving as NIDCR Director.
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Update
Since the last meeting of the NADCRC, NIH announced several new funding opportunities that will be supported with funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Specifically, ARRA funds will be allocated for:
Building Sustainable Community-Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research (RC4)
NIH is seeking applications for a new program entitled Building Sustainable Community-Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research, known as the "Community Infrastructure" grants program:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-010.html
U.S. institutions/organizations may apply who propose to develop or expand needed infrastructures that will fundamentally transform collaboration and communication between academic health centers and local communities. Such collaborative infrastructures are essential to advance the health science research enterprise while ensuring that important research findings are effectively disseminated and implemented to improve public health and health care delivery.
This RFA is not intended to fund research or evaluation projects, clinical trials, or public health campaigns. Rather, the intent is to fund projects to develop infrastructure for productive and sustainable academic-community research partnerships that can be leveraged in the future for efficiently conducting research that includes--and is relevant to--affected communities. NIH strongly encourages applicants to propose infrastructures that may build upon or be linked to existing collaborative infrastructures supported by other Federal agencies. NIH has designated up to $30 million in FY 2009-2010 to fund 30 or more grants, contingent upon the submission of a sufficient number of scientifically meritorious applications.
Small Business Catalyst Awards for Accelerating Innovative Research (R43)
The Small Business Catalyst awards focus on early stage technology development. Grant applications were invited from small business concerns who propose to accelerate innovation through high risk, high reward research and development (R&D) that has commercial potential and is relevant to NIH's mission. In particular, applications from small business concerns without a history of NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) support may receive funding priority. Rather than focusing on incremental improvements of existing technologies, projects should have the potential to generate high impact results (e.g., products, processes or services) and/or innovative research applications, research tools, techniques, devices, inventions, or methodologies.
NIH intends to commit at least $5 million for the Small Business Catalyst awards and anticipates that 20-25 awards will be made for FY 2010, pending the number and quality of applications received and availability of funds. Applications were due September 1, 2009. For additional details see:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-009.html
New Technologies (BRDG-SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3)
Grant applications were invited for a new initiative called Biomedical Research, Development, and Growth to Spur the Acceleration of New Technologies (BRDG-SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3). The program aims to address the funding gap between promising R&D and the transition to market by contributing to critical funding needed by applicants to pursue the later stage research activities necessary to achieve ultimate commercialization. The goal is to accelerate the transition from research innovations and technologies to the development of products or services that will improve human health, advance NIH's mission, and create significant value and economic stimulus. The program also aims to foster partnerships among a variety of R&D collaborators working toward these goals.
NIH intends to commit at least $35 million in response to this program and anticipates that at least 10 awards will be made in FY 2010, pending the number and quality of applications received and the availability of funds. Applications were due September 1, 2009. For additional details see:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-008.html
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (R15)
The Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) are intended to stimulate research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. The AREA grants will create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs, to contribute to the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. AREA grants will support small-scale, health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions. Applications are due September 24, 2009. For additional details see:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-007.html
NIH Receives 20,000 Applications for Challenge Grants
NIH received approximately 20,000 applications for Challenge Grants, one of the new programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This large number of applications is approximately equal to the total number of applications NIH receives in one of the agency’s three major review rounds each year. Scores and summary statements were available in August 2009; Challenge Grant awards will be issued by September 30, 2009.
New Challenge Grant FAQs Posted Online
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Challenge Grants have been added to the NIH ARRA Grant Opportunity website. View the questions and answers at:
http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/faqs_recovery.html#II
New Online Research Portfolio Reporting Tool (RePORT) Available
NIH has a new Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool that provides quick and easy access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities, including information on expenditures and the results of NIH-supported research. RePORT also provides information about grants funded by ARRA. Several tools are available for searching the database and different filters can be applied to find information specific to a particular NIH Institute or Center, funding mechanism, or topic of interest. The RePORT tool is available at:
http://report.nih.gov/index.aspx
Information about ARRA funded projects is found at:
http://report.nih.gov/recovery/index.aspx
Also search ARRA funded projects:
http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm
ARRA: Helping a Few to Teach the Many
ARRA funds provided summer employment for myriad students and teachers across America. Read the NIDCR story and find out how two high school science teachers spent their summer vacations at Baylor College of Dentistry.
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/InterviewsOHR/ARRA.htm
NIH Establishes Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research
Final guidelines establishing the policy and procedures under which NIH will fund human stem cell research were released on July 6. The guidelines are available at: http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp Also see the Status of Applications and Awards under the New NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-123.html
On March 9, President Obama issued an Executive Order stating that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of NIH, may support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research, to the extent permitted by law. NIH then published in the Federal Register draft guidelines for research involving hESCs and invited public comment. By the end of the comment period on May 26, NIH had received approximately 49,000 comments submitted by patient advocacy groups, scientists and scientific societies, academic institutions, medical organizations, religious organizations, private citizens, and members of Congress. The final guidelines will ensure that NIH-funded human stem cell research is ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law.
NIH Launches the Human Connectome Project to Unravel the Brain’s Connections
The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience is launching a $30 million project that will use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies to map the circuitry of the healthy adult human brain. By systematically collecting brain imaging data from hundreds of subjects, the Human Connectome Project (HCP) will yield insight into how brain connections underlie brain function and will open up new lines of inquiry for human neuroscience. Investigators have been invited to submit detailed proposals to carry out the HCP, which will be funded at up to $6 million per year for the next five years. Additional details about the Human Connectome Project are available at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-020.html
The HCP is the first of three Blueprint Grand Challenges, projects that address major questions and issues in neuroscience research. The other two projects will address targeted drug development for neurological diseases and the neural basis of chronic pain disorders. NIDCR is one of the 16 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices participating in the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.
NIH Expands Human Microbiome Project
The Human Microbiome Project has awarded more than $42 million to expand its exploration of how the trillions of microscopic organisms that live in or on our bodies affect our health. Launched in 2007 as part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, the Human Microbiome Project is a $140 million, five-year effort that will produce a resource for researchers who are seeking to use information about the microbiome to improve human health. NIDCR is one of the six NIH institutes that manage the project.
In the new round of funding, the Human Microbiome Project will support the work of the large-scale DNA sequencing centers that participated in the initial phase of the project. These centers will work together to sequence at least 400 microbial genomes. Another approximately 500 microbial genomes are already completed or in sequencing pipelines and supported by individual NIH institutes and internationally funded projects. These data will then be used to characterize the microbial communities found in samples taken from healthy human volunteers.
NIH Expands National Consortium for Transforming Clinical and Translational Research
Seven more academic health centers will receive Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), bringing the consortium total to 46 member institutions. This national network of medical research institutions is working to accelerate the process that develops laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients, engages communities in clinical research, and trains a new generation of clinical and translational researchers. The consortium was launched in 2006, with new members added in 2007 and 2008. Approximately 60 CTSAs will be connected when the program is fully implemented in 2012.
The institutions receiving new CTSA funding are: Medical University of South Carolina; Mount Sinai School of Medicine; New York University School of Medicine; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; University of Florida; University of Illinois at Chicago; and University of Texas Medical Branch. The University of Cincinnati also recently became a member of NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium.
A fifth funding opportunity announcement for CTSAs is available, which calls for the next round of applications to be submitted by October 14, 2009. Awards are expected to be made in July 2010. The announcement is available at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-004.html
Proposals Welcome for NIH Director’s Awards
NIH welcomes proposals for 2010 NIH Director's Pioneer Awards and New Innovator Awards. Both programs are part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ and support exceptionally creative scientists who take highly innovative, potentially high-impact approaches to major challenges in biomedical or behavioral research.
Pioneer Awards provide up to $2.5 million in direct costs over 5 years and are open to scientists at any career stage. New Innovator Awards provide up to $1.5 million in direct costs over the same period and are for early stage investigators (ESI) who have not received an NIH regular research (R01) or similar NIH grant.
NIH expects to make at least 7 Pioneer Awards and at least 33 New Innovator Awards in September 2010. To continue its strong record of diversity in these programs, NIH especially encourages women and members of groups that are underrepresented in NIH research to apply.
The deadline for submitting Pioneer Award applications is October 20, 2009. See the RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-010.html
For additional information see: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/pioneer/
The deadline for submitting New Innovator Award applications is October 27, 2009. See the RFA:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-011.html
For more information also see: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/newinnovator/
Proposals Soon to Be Invited for Transformative R01 Program
The Transformative R01 (T-R01) supports exceptionally innovative, high risk, original and/or unconventional research projects that have the potential to create or overturn fundamental paradigms. A new T-R01 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is expected to be published in early fall. Additional information about the program is available at: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/T-R01/
NIH Invites Applications for Loan Repayment Programs
Applications are being accepted for the 2010 NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program from September 1 - December 1, 2009. The loan repayment programs encourage outstanding health professionals to pursue careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research. In return for committing at least two years to conduct qualified research funded by a domestic nonprofit organization or U.S. federal, state, or local government entity, NIH may repay up to $35,000 of an applicant’s qualified student loan debt per year, including most undergraduate, graduate, and medical school loans. Loan repayment benefits are in addition to the institutional salary received for conducting research. For additional information, see the Loan Repayment Program website:
http://www.lrp.nih.gov/index.aspx
NIDCR Participates in Developing Strategic Plan to Double the NIH Cancer Research Budget
Dr. Yasaman Shirazi, director of NIDCR’s Epithelial Cell Regulation and Transformation Program, participated in developing the Strategic Plan to double the NIH cancer research budget from FY2010-FY2017. This Strategic Plan, as called for by President Obama, provides a number of strategies to enable progress toward genomic-based personalized cancer medicine. The development of the plan involved trans-NIH coordination. All Institutes and Centers that support cancer research--including the NIDCR--participated in the activity.
NIH and Wikimedia Foundation Collaborate to Improve Online Health Information
NIH and the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates the Wikipedia® online encyclopedia, are joining forces to make health and science information more accessible and reliable. The collaboration is the first of its kind for both organizations. On July 16, NIH hosted Wikimedia staff and volunteers working in the sciences for an all-day Wikipedia Academy on its Bethesda campus. Participants learned about the philosophy and mechanics of Wikipedia and began what is hoped to be a long-term dialogue aimed at improving public knowledge about health, science, and medicine. Following the Wikipedia Academy, NIH subject matter experts will be able to contribute to Wikipedia. Instructions about how to contribute, including video of the Wikipedia Academy at NIH, will be available on the NIH and the Wikipedia websites for scientists across the country.
Regina M. Benjamin Nominated as Surgeon General
Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, has been nominated by President Obama to be Surgeon General. She is the immediate past-chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States and previously served as associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. In 2002, she became president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, making her the first African American woman to be president of a State Medical Society in the United States. Dr. Benjamin was previously named by Time Magazine as one of the "Nation's 50 Future Leaders Age 40 and Under." She was also featured in a New York Times article, "Angel in a White Coat", as "Person of the Week" on ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and as "Woman of the Year" by CBS This Morning. She received the 2000 National Caring Award which was inspired by Mother Teresa, the papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Benedict XVI, and is a recent recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award.
NIDCR UPDATE
Training and Career Development News
NIDCR Welcomes Two New Residents to its Dental Public Health Residency ProgramIn July, two new full-time residents, Drs. Astha Singhal and Bradley Christian, joined the NIDCR Dental Public Health Residency Program. Dr. Singhal received her dental degree from Manipal University, India and MPH from SUNY, Albany; Dr. Christian received his dental degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India and MDSc from the University of Sydney, Australia. Established in 1980, the dental residency program prepares dentists who have earned an MPH or equivalent degree to practice as specialists in Dental Public Health (DPH), one of nine dental specialty areas recognized by the American Dental Association. As part of their rotations, the two residents also will visit the Health Resources and Services Administration, the American Dental Association, the Pan American Health Organization, state and county health departments, local clinical departments and universities. The NIDCR Dental Public Health Residency program is co-directed by Drs. Isabel Garcia and Amit Chattopadhyay.
Division of Intramural Research Appoints First Assistant Clinical Investigator
The NIDCR Division of Intramural Research has appointed its first assistant clinical investigator (ACI) to the intramural research program. The NIDCR ACI program is designed to provide dentists and/or physicians holding licenses to practice in the U.S. with additional research training and time to develop independent research programs in clinical and translational oral-craniofacial research. By providing formal mentorship, financial support, and further training, the program aims to prepare the participant for success as an independent investigator in a tenure-track position at NIH or other medical research institution. Under the guidance of a mentor, the ACI pursues an increasingly independent line of clinical investigation that integrates the direct study and/or treatment of human subjects with a translational research project. The initial appointment term is three years and, with demonstration of adequate progress, may be renewed annually for up to two additional years, not to exceed a total of five years. (See Personnel Update for details about Dr.
Ilias Alevizos, the first appointee).
NIDCR Offers Dentist-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award
Following discussion and Council clearance in May, the NIDCR has issued a new K99/R00 Program Announcement especially for dentist-scientists. The NIDCR Dentist-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) (PAR-09-256) was published in the NIH Guide on August 14, 2009:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-256.html
The award mechanism, which enables promising dentist-scientists to receive both mentored postdoctoral training and independent research support from the same award, is similar to the standard NIH-wide K99/R00 program, but has several unique features. Specific details are available at:
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/CareersAndTraining/Fellowships/PostdoctoralScientists/ [see NIDCR Dentist-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)]
Loan Repayment Awards Made to 16 Investigators in FY 2009
Through the NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP), NIDCR awarded loan repayment benefits in FY 2009 to 16 investigators conducting clinical or pediatric research. The LRP seeks to recruit and retain highly-qualified health professionals to biomedical, behavioral and clinical research careers by using the repayment of educational loans as an incentive. (See additional details about the LRP Program under DHHS/NIH News – “NIH Invites Applications for Loan Repayment Programs”).
Highlights: K08 and T32 Awardees
- Current NIDCR K08 awardee, Tara L. Aghaloo, DDS, MD, PhD, has received her first R01 (R01-DE019465) entitled “Pathophysiologic mechanisms of biosphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws.” She shares the PI role with Sotirios Tetradis, DDS, PhD, in this multi-PI R01. Dr. Aghaloo is an associate professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UCLA School of Dentistry.
- Former NIDCR K08 awardee, Anh Le, DDS, PhD, has received her first R01 (R01 DE019932) entitled “Gingiva Derived MSCS: Role in Immunomodulation and Tissue Regeneration.” Dr. Le is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is associate professor in the Division of Surgical, Therapeutics, and Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Southern California.
- Former NIDCR T32 postdoctoral trainee, Russell S. Witte, PhD, has received his first R01 (R01 EB009353) entitled “3D Ultrasound Current Source Density Imaging for Treatment of Heart Arrhythmia.” Dr. Witte is an assistant professor in radiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
- Former NIDCR T32 predoctoral trainee, Joel Collier, PhD, has received his first R01 (R01 EB009701) entitled “Modular Self-Assembled Coatings for Biomaterials.” Dr. Collier is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago.
- Former NIDCR T32 postdoctoral trainee, Han-Rong Weng, MD, PhD, has received his first R01 (R01 NS064289) entitled “Glial-cytokine-neuronal interactions in neuropathic pain.” Dr. Weng is an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
- Megan Pugach PhD, a former NIDCR T32 predoctoral trainee, has successfully applied for and been awarded an individual NIDCR F32 postdoctoral fellowship. In addition, Amir Zeituni, who was supported previously on an NIDCR R01 grant through a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity, has been awarded an individual NIDCR F31 predoctoral fellowship to promote diversity in health related research.
10 Students Selected as 2009 Summer Dental Student Awardees
Ten students from U.S. dental schools across the country participated in the 2009 NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award (SDSA) program. The eight-week internship is designed to give talented dental students hands-on research experience and exposure to the latest advances in oral health research. The selected students were assigned to mentors in NIDCR laboratories who conduct research in the students’ areas of interest. The 10 awardees came from the following schools: Howard University College of Dentistry; University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; and University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry. Highlights of this year’s activities included the summer student research welcome reception, field trips to the Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, MD, and the National Library of Medicine at NIH, a career panel discussion on “Future Careers in Research and Dentistry,” a visit to the University of Maryland, Baltimore Dental School to hear research presentations from dental students participating in their program, and participation in the NIDCR summer intern poster session.
37 Students Participate in 2009 NIDCR Summer Research Program
Thirty-seven students from diverse backgrounds (including the 10 Summer Dental Student Awardees) took part in the NIDCR 2009 Summer Research Program. Participants included high school, undergraduate, graduate, dental, and medical students. Also included were two pre-dental students from underrepresented groups who applied for internships as a result of outreach efforts at minority conferences made by Dr. Deborah Philp, director of the DIR Office of Education.
Grant Writing Seminar Held for Postdocs
On July 28, NIDCR co-hosted its third grant-writing seminar together with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Human Genome Research Institute. The all-day seminar featured interactive exercises for participants on how to write a successful research grant. The presenter also discussed possible pitfalls that might be encountered and good draft review strategies.
Outreach Activities
- Dr. Leslie Frieden, extramural training officer, visited the Forsyth Institute in Boston, MA, on May 1 to speak about NIDCR fellowship and career development awards. Dr. Frieden presented this seminar to postdoctoral oral health researchers from the Forsyth Institute, Harvard Dental School and Boston University. Prior to the presentation, Dr. Frieden met individually with several of the researchers.
- Dr. Alicia Dombroski, director of the Division of Extramural Activities, and Dr. Kevin Hardwick, chief of the Research Training and Career Development Branch, visited the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry to participate in the school’s annual Research Symposium, conduct a site visit of the school’s T32 training program, and meet with individuals interested in NIDCR training and career development opportunities.
- The DIR Office of Education participated in several activities to recruit student and postdoctoral researchers. In May, the DIR held a half-day event featuring talks and laboratory tours for participants in the annual American Dental Association dental student research program.
- The DIR Office of Education also hosted the 3rd annual NIDCR fellows retreat at the Rocky Gap Conference Center and Resort in Cumberland, MD, which provided an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, and post baccalaureate IRTAs to share their research and present their work to their peers. In addition, former fellows took part in oral presentations, poster sessions and a career panel discussion. The NIDCR fellows also participated in a workshop on scientific networks and collaborations given by Dr. Sharon Milgram, Director of the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education, and a workshop on effective conflict management in the laboratory led by Mr. Nicholas Diehl, an associate ombudsman at NIH.
Meetings, Conferences, and Lectures
Dean of Harvard School of Public Health to Deliver 2009 Barmes Lecture
On December 15, Dr. Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, will deliver the David E. Barmes Global Health Lecture at 11:30 a.m. in the Masur Auditorium on the NIH campus. The annual lecture series honors the late David E. Barmes, a longstanding World Health Organization employee, special expert for international health at NIDCR, and ardent spokesman for global health. The lecture, which is jointly sponsored by the NIDCR and the Fogarty International Center, will be videocast at http://videocast.nih.gov/.
Fourth NIH Pain Consortium Symposium
On May 26, the NIH Pain Consortium held its 4th Annual Symposium on Advances in Pain Research. Dr. John Kusiak, director of NIDCR’s Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Program, was a member of the planning committee and also chaired a panel session. The symposium highlighted advances in NIH- supported pain research focusing on genetics and pain. Topics included human genetic risk factors for chronic pain, genes relevant to treatment response and abuse potential, and genetic tools and models for pain research. The meeting promotes collaborations and also provides a forum for researchers to present their work in poster sessions.
Workshop on Genetics of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Comorbid Chronic Pain Conditions: Current Status and Next Steps
Dr. Emily Harris, chief of the Translational Genomics Research Branch, together with Dr. Kusiak, co-organized and co-chaired the NIDCR Workshop on Genetics of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Comorbid Chronic Pain Conditions: Current Status and Next Steps, held June 10-11. The meeting was designed to gather input from the pain and genetic communities about the best approaches and needs of researchers to advance this field. In addition to providing a forum for addressing the etiology and phenotypes of pain, it examined how to use previous successes with genetics and genome-wide association studies as a tool in the study of susceptibility, development, and persistence of chronic pain conditions.
Stem Cell Workshop
Dr. Nadya Lumelsky, director of the Tissue Engineering and Dental and Craniofacial Regenerative Medicine Program, co-chaired a workgroup on stem cells at the NIH-University of California, San Francisco joint meeting for the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. The workshop, which took place in San Francisco in May, explored the potential of using stem cells in ground-breaking basic science research and clinical applications. Participants included industry representatives, basic scientists, clinician-scientists, and medical practitioners. Together they defined key research priorities, including sex-related differences in stem cell functions, the role of stem cells in cancer biology, regenerative medicine approaches for targeting women-specific diseases, and public education and advocacy. Dr. Lumelsky is also co-authoring a white paper, "Moving into the Future: New Dimensions and Strategies for Women's Health Research," which is now in preparation.
AIDS Clinical Trials Group Annual Meeting
Dr. Isaac Rodriguez-Chavez, director of the AIDS and Immunosuppression Program, participated in planning activities for the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Annual Meeting and Oral HIV/AIDS Research Alliance (OHARA) Subcommittee Business Meeting held in Washington, D.C., June 24-28. This meeting was jointly sponsored by NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and ACTG. It provided a forum to assess the latest scientific and clinical advances in studies, projects, and activities conducted by the ACTG and OHARA with a focus on integrating prevention and therapeutic HIV research, including oral AIDS-related manifestations and malignancies.
Oral Complications of Emerging Cancer Therapies
NIDCR, together with the Office of Rare Diseases Research, helped partially support the Oral Complications of Emerging Cancer Therapies Conference, held April 14-15 in Bethesda, MD. The conference promoted novel basic, translational and clinical research related to the management of oral complications in cancer patients treated with new cancer therapies, with the goal of improving oral and craniofacial health through applied research. NIDCR staff helped develop the final program.
Workshop on Behavioral Intervention Research at a Crossroads: Where Do We Go From Here?
Dr. Melissa Riddle, chief of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Branch, organized and chaired the NIDCR workshop on “Behavioral Intervention Research at a Crossroads: Where do we go from here?” The purpose of the workshop, held July 23-24, was to discuss the current state of knowledge of behavioral intervention research as it applies to oral health and to seek input from experts in the field on how best to advance the science. Discussions focused on obstacles to completing behavioral intervention research with an emphasis on understanding mechanisms of action in behavior change. Dr. Ruth Nowjack-Raymer, director of NIDCR’s Health Disparities Research Program, and Dr. David Clark, program officer in the Behavioral and Social Science Research Branch, moderated and gave brief presentations at the meeting.
Science of Behavior Change Meeting
Dr. Riddle also attended and co-chaired a session at the Science of Behavior Change Meeting, held June 15-16. The meeting focused on animal behavior models, neuroimaging and genetics, and behavioral economics. It also was an opportunity for experts in basic and applied behavioral science to give brief descriptions of major findings in their field and to discuss how to improve collaboration.
Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar
The first Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar: Advances in The Understanding of Bone and Cartilage Development, was held in conjunction with the Bones and Teeth Gordon Research Conference. The seminar took place July 11-12 at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. Dr. Pamela Gehron Robey, chief of the Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, co-moderated the session. The Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar is designed especially for young scientists (graduate students and postdoctoral researchers) and provides an opportunity for participants to present and exchange new data and ideas.
Gordon Research Conference on Collagen: The Functional Continuum Of Cells And Matrix
The Gordon Research Conference on Collagen: The Functional Continuum of Cells and Matrix was held at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH, on July 19-12. Dr. Marian F. Young, chief of the Molecular Biology of Bones and Teeth Section, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, organized and chaired a session entitled “Functions of ECM in Stem Cell Niches.”
Regenerative Medicine and Informational Matrix Symposium
Dr. Kenneth Yamada, chief of the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, was one of four keynote speakers at the Symposium on Regenerative Medicine and Informational Matrix sponsored by the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry and USC Keck School of Medicine in June.
Toxins in Pain Symposium
Dr. Michael Iadarola, Neurobiology and Pain Therapeutics Section, Laboratory of Sensory Biology, was the organizer and chairperson of the symposium
on “Toxins in Pain”
at the
World Congress on Pain, held in New York in March.
Symposium on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Dr. Iadarola also was chairperson and a discussant at the Symposium on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, which took place in Bethesda, MD, in April.
Other Meetings Attended by Staff:
- Gordon Research Conference on Tissue Repair and Regeneration
June; New London, NH. Staff discussed the future of wound healing and regenerative medicine research and consulted with current grantees and potential applicants.
- International Society for Stem Cell Research
July; Barcelona, Spain. Staff interacted with scientists involved in stem cell research and consulted with current grantees and potential applicants.
- Second World Congress of the International Academy of Oral Oncology
July 8-11; Toronto, Canada. Staff informed the scientific community of head and neck cancer research resources and funding opportunities sponsored by NIDCR.
- Gordon Research Conference on Bones and Teeth
July 12-17; Biddeford, ME. Staff attended scientific and poster sessions and interacted with grantees and potential applicants.
- Gordon Research Conference on Science of Adhesion
July 26-31; New London, NH. Staff attended scientific and poster sessions and interacted with grantees and potential applicants.
- 30th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
September 10-15; Denver, CO. Staff represented the NIDCR at the NIH Lounge, New Investigator Breakfast, and Grant Writing Tips workshop, and met with investigators to address their questions related to research priorities, funding opportunities, funding mechanisms, and the grant application process. In addition, staff attended scientific sessions and working group meetings.
- NCCAM-sponsored workshop on Nonpharmacological Interventions for Back Pain
May 27; Staff assisted in planning the workshop.
- Second Annual Clinical Research Management Workshop
June 22-23; Bethesda, MD. Staff provided scientific and technical input and met with NIDCR grantees and interested scientists to promote NIDCR’s funding opportunities. The workshop is part of the National Center for Research and Resources, Clinical and Translational Science Awards.
Communications Update
Science Updates, News Releases, and Interviews with Oral Health Researchers
Since the last meeting of the NADCRC, NIDCR communications staff produced a number of “Science News in Brief” summaries of recent research findings. Topics included gene variability in S. mutans, periodontal disease in senior men, xylitol syrup for the prevention of childhood tooth decay, the circuits underlying salivary gland development, development of an animal model for photophobia, and biomarkers for root resorption in people with braces. Staff also wrote a news release about a new diagnostic technique that shows promise for Sjögren’s Syndrome, developed Q & As with several NIDCR grantees, and interviewed two NIDCR post-docs about their experiences working in an NIDCR laboratory.
Public Inquiries and Exhibits
NIDCR and its National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse responded to almost 7,000 inquiries and distributed approximately 1.5 million publications from January 1 to June 30, 2009.
Since the last meeting of the NADCRC, Institute staff exhibited and distributed NIDCR patient and health professional education materials at the following meetings:
- American Dental Hygienists’ Association, June 19-20, Washington, DC
- Birth to Three Conference, June 22-25, Washington, DC
- Pacific Northwest Dental Conference, July 23-24, Seattle, WA
- National Dental Association, July 24-29, Jacksonville, FL
- RDH Under One Roof, July 29-31, Las Vegas, NV
NIDCR materials were also displayed at the following meetings:
- American Transplant Congress, May 30-June 3, Boston, MA
- Celebration of Wellness, Aug. 8, Cleveland, OH
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing Health and Fitness Fair, Aug. 19, Washington, DC
- Hispanic Community Family Fair, Aug. 30, Washington, DC
NIDCR Website and News Release Win NIH Plain Language Awards
NIDCR web content manager Jody Dove and evaluator Karina Boehm received a gold award at the June 2009 NIH Plain Language Award ceremony for the new NIDCR website: www.nidcr.nih.gov. Guided by audience research and extensive usability testing, the site features simplified navigation with fewer clicks to accomplish key tasks, an "A to Z" index, new content, and a user-friendly graphic design.
Science writer Bob Kuska received a bronze award for ”Scientists Develop Sensitive Salivary Sensor”: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/NewsReleases/CurrentNewsReleases/Salivary+Sensor.htm
This clearly written August 2008 news release reported on the development of a sensor that can find an oral-cancer-specific biomarker in saliva. The Plain Language Awards are part of the NIH Plain Language Initiative, which is meant to improve communication between the government and the public.
Website Evaluation
NIDCR is currently running the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey on its new Spanish-language website: www.nidcr.nih.gov/espanol.
The goals of the survey are to determine who is coming to the site and why, whether they find the information they need, what additional information they would like to see on the site, and what further improvements could be made to the site.
NIDCR also recently launched the ClickTale web analytics service on its English website to record mouse clicks, mouse movements, and scrolling activity. These data will help determine what information is of greatest interest to users and will help guide additional improvements to key lower level pages on the site.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Recent Requests for Applications
Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-10-009.html
Increasing the Service Life of Dental Resin Composites (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-004.html
Increasing the Service Life of Dental Resin Composites (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-005.html
The Human Connectome Project (U54)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-020.html
Oral Mucosal Vaccination Against HIV Infection (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-001.html
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Small Business Catalyst Awards for Accelerating Innovative Research (R43)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-009.html
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Biomedical Research, Development, and Growth to Spur the Acceleration of New Technologies (BRDG-SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-008.html
NIH Roadmap:
Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-019.html
2010 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-011.html
2010 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-010.html
Development of New Technologies Needed for Studying the Human Microbiome (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-009.html
Development of New Technologies Needed for Studying the Human Microbiome (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-008.html
Pilot-Scale Libraries (PSL) for High-Throughput Screening (P41)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-007.html
Recent Program Announcements
NIDCR Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-256.html
Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-219.html
Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-218.html
Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Xenopus (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-240.html
Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Xenopus (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-241.html
Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Xenopus (R03)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-242.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (F33)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-211.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-210.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-209.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-208.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (F30)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-207.html
SCIENCE ADVANCES
Diagnostic Technique Shows Promise for Sjögren’s Syndrome
For the thousands of Americans who will be evaluated this year for the autoimmune disorder primary Sjögren’s syndrome, their doctors will likely test for two antibodies that are often associated with the condition. The problem is today's standard blood tests detect the more strongly associated antibody, called SSB, only about half the time, making the meaning of a negative result uncertain. But these numbers could one day improve. Scientists at the NIDCR reported online in the journal Autoimmunity that a rapid, automated test now under development called LIPS identified the SSB antibody correctly three out of four times and with perfect accuracy. It also detected a second antibody, SSA, about as well as today's standard assays in the group's initial study of 82 people, 57 of whom had well-characterized primary Sjögren's syndrome. The NIDCR researchers also reported using LIPS to profile additional antibodies of interest that may be related to other largely unrecognized manifestations of the syndrome. These first-pass antibody profiles have the potential to help scientists define for the first time a range of clinical subtypes of primary Sjögren’s, which could greatly improve diagnoses and possibly better target treatment. Collaborating on the study were Peter D. Burbelo, Hannah P. Leahy, Alexandra T. Issa, Sandra Groot, James N. Baraniuk, Nikolay P. Nikolov, Gabor G. Illei, and Michael J. Iadarola from the Neurobiology and Pain Therapeutics Section, NIDCR Laboratory of Sensory Biology.
Researchers Test Circuits Underlying Salivary Gland Development
In the June issue of the journal BMC Developmental Biology, NIDCR grantees drill down deeper into the developing submandibular salivary gland (SMG) in mice to take a fascinating look at the signaling dynamics of a five-pathway subcircuit involved in branching morphogenesis. In their study, the scientists compared the developing SMG in normal mice with those of the Tabby mutant. The latter produces low levels of Ectodysplasin-A, or Eda, a key driver of epithelial tissue differentiation during branching morphogenesis. The comparison allowed a quantitative exploration into how a marked reduction in Eda affects in time the broader five-pathway subcircuit that is critical to the formation of the SMG and which share post-activation protein targets. Interestingly, this more-informative, quantitative in vivo approach refuted the group’s previous conclusions based on their work in vitro. Those studies had suggested that Eda signaling largely regulated SMG development through the canonical NFĸB regulatory pathway. Their latest data show that not to be the case in the Tabby mouse and indicated dramatically altered expression involving a downstream subset of genes. The work was conducted by Melnick M, Phair RD, Lapidot SA, and Jaskoll T at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Scientists Explore Gene Variability in S. Mutans
About two years ago, scientists in the UK compared the genomes of nine distinct S. mutans strains originally isolated in Scandinavia, England, and the United States. The researchers discovered tremendous heterogeneity in the gene content, supporting the idea that each species contains not only a "core" S. mutans genome but also a "dispensable" genome consisting of genes acquired from other sources and which are not essential for the bacterium's survival. But this raised an important follow-up question. If gene content varies among S. mutans species from throughout the world, what about those present in the same geographic location? The implication being: Could the type of S. mutans that colonizes a person's mouth potentially contribute to the variability that dentists see in each patient's susceptibility to tooth decay? In the June issue of the journal Oral Microbiology Immunology, a team of NIDCR grantees provides a preliminary answer from a study of S. mutans species present in the mouths of nine randomly selected children from Eastern Iowa. The scientists found that each child had from two to nine confirmed strains of the bacterium in their mouths. Interestingly, the seven children with little or no tooth decay had multiple S. mutans strains that were genetically identical, while the two children with a great deal of decay had isolates with unique genotypes. The scientists then assembled a total of 44 S. mutans species isolated from the children and compared them one by one against the standard UA159 reference sequence. They found 323 of the open-reading frames present in the UA159 were absent in one or more of the test strains. "Overall, gene content diversity among S. mutans has a fluid and rapidly evolving genome structure that is likely to be similar to that found in other Streptococci," the authors noted. Collaborating on the study were Zhang L, Foxman B, Drake DR, Srinivasan U, Henderson J, Olson B, Marrs CF, Warren JJ, and Marazita ML at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the University of Iowa, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Gene Change and Aggressive Periodontitis in African Americans
In the March issue of the Journal of Periodontology, a team of NIDCR researchers reports that in African Americans, a relatively common - and clinically detectable- change in a single unit, or nucleotide, of DNA may be associated with aggressive periodontitis. The change, called simply 348T, occurs in the gene that encodes the neutrophil formylpeptide receptor 1, or FPR1. The membrane-bound FPR1 protein plays an important role in allowing white blood cells called neutrophils to recognize invading bacteria and mount the needed infection-fighting response. In the current study, the scientists obtained DNA samples from 63 African Americans (30 diagnosed with AP, 33 healthy volunteers). Interestingly, the volunteers were of a relatively homogenous West African genetic ancestry to help unify the analysis. The researchers detected five previously identified single-nucleotide changes, or SNPs, in the FPR1 gene. Among them was the 348T variant, which substitutes a thymine for the usual cytosine. The researchers found that seven African Americans with AP had the 348T variant in both copies of the FPRI gene, while the SNP was absent in the healthy volunteers. This suggests that, with further research, the variant might be predictive of African Americans who are most at risk for the condition. The authors noted, however, that the biological reasons for the higher frequency of the 348T gene change in those with AP remained unclear. They speculated that the change may alter the structure of the messenger RNA produced from the FPR1 gene and its subsequent translation into protein. Collaborating on the study were Maney P, Emecen P, Mills JS, and Walters JD at The Ohio State University Health Sciences Center.
Periodontal Disease in Senior Men
In the June issue of the journal Gerodontology, NIDCR grantees and colleagues provide some interesting new data on the periodontal health of older men. The data are from the MrOS dental study, a component of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study that is under way at research sites in Portland, OR, and Birmingham, AL. In the reported study, dentists and hygienists offered half-mouth periodontal examinations to 1,347 study participants. The men were mostly Caucasian, averaged 75 years of age, and nine out of 10 retained their natural teeth. But, as the authors noted, they formed an especially unique research cohort. The men were highly educated, largely in good to excellent health, most visited the dentist annually, and 37 percent had never smoked. The latter being a key point because smoking is a strong risk factor for chronic periodontitis, suggesting the incidence of the disease might be fairly low in this group. But the researchers found a surprisingly ‘high proportion’ of these men had evidence of gum disease. Specifically, 38 percent had calculus below the gum line, 53 percent had gingival bleeding, 82 percent had at least one site with clinical attachment loss of gum tissue that was five millimeters or more, and 34 percent had at least one site with a pocket depth between tooth and gum of six millimeters or more. The researchers also reported that 38 percent had severe periodontitis.
“Despite annual dental visits by the majority of these well-educated, non-smoking men, the extent of severe periodontitis suggests that the goals of the dental visit may need to be redirected as men age,” the researched noted. “While there is a prevailing clinical impression that adults who maintain the vast majority of their dentition past 65 years of age are relatively resistant to chronic periodontitis, worsening oral hygiene status and the higher risk of periodontal pockets in the oldest-old suggests that some older adults may need to be moved from a routine disease prevention regimen to a more intense disease management programme. It is possible that dentists may be assuming that moderate disease is coincident with age rather than active bacterial infection, thereby systematically undertreating older adults, leading to the severity of disease seen in this report.”
The authors of the study are Phipps KR, Benjamin KS, Chan S, Jenning-Holt M, Geurs NC, Reddy MS, Lewis CE, and Orwoll ES at Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Xylitol Syrup Helps to Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay
In 1963, when scientists discovered that the natural sweetener xylitol inhibited the adhesion of the caries-causing oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans, it seemed logical to include the ingredient in chewing gum. As great as the idea has been, it has had its limitations for small children. The problem: Toddlers need a fair amount of xylitol to protect their primary teeth as they erupt, and manufacturers can only pack so much of the compound into a stick of gum. The toddlers would need to chew at least three sticks of gum per day to get the full decay-preventing benefit. That has left researchers grasping for a more practical alterative. In the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers partially funded through NIDCR may have found the answer. It’s a soft capsule filled with 8 milliliters of strawberry-flavored xylitol syrup. Parents can pull it apart and squeeze the syrup directly into their child’s mouth. In a year-long randomized trial of 94 toddlers whose primary teeth were “coming in,” the researchers found that children who received two capsules a day could prevent up to 70 percent of decayed teeth. They found that the protection against decay was not increased with three capsules per day. The study was conducted in the Micronesian Marshall Islands, where the caries rate is two to three times that of the typical American mainland community. According to the authors, this marks the first time to their knowledge that xylitol has been shown to be “effective for the prevention of decay in primary teeth for toddlers.” Collaborating on the study were Milgrom P, Ly KA, Tut OK, Mancl L, Roberts MC, Briand K, and Gancio MJ at the Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle.
NIDCR PERSONNEL UPDATE
Dr. Amy Adams Appointed Director, Office of Science Policy and Analysis
In May, Dr. Amy Bany Adams was appointed as the director of the Office of Science Policy and Analysis (OSPA). Previously she was acting director of OSPA. Prior to joining the NIDCR, Dr. Adams had four years of NIH experience within the Office of the (NIH) Director. She arrived at NIH in 2004 as the first American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science Policy Fellow and worked with the Director and Deputy Director, NIH on a wide range of efforts including the NIH Reform Act of 2006 implementation, and with the Revitalizing NIH Peer Review Team. She served as a special assistant to the NIH Director. Dr. Adams earned her Ph.D. in cell biology from the Yale University School of Medicine and her B.S. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. David Clark Appointed Program Officer
In July, Dr. David Clark was appointed as a program officer in the Division of Extramural Research, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Branch. Before joining the NIDCR, Dr. Clark was a program analyst with the National Institute on Drug Abuse. From 2004 to 2008, he held the position of study director with the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research. Dr. Clark received his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Ilias Alevizos Appointed Assistant Clinical InvestigatorDr. Ilias Alevizos, now part of the Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, is the first assistant clinical investigator to be appointed. Dr. Alevizos received his D.D.M. from Tufts University and his M.M.Sc. in oral biology from the Harvard Dental School. He is certified in oral and maxillofacial pathology and had postdoctoral training at MIT, University of Padova, and NIH. Dr. Alevizos is a translational investigator with a combination of clinical dental and oral biology medicine expertise and experience in laboratory research in molecular biology. His research is focused on the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers of salivary gland disease with an emphasis on the autoimmune Sjögren’s Disease. These biomarkers, including microRNA, will also be used to reveal mechanisms important in the pathogenesis of salivary gland diseases.
Dr. Paul Kolenbrander Retires
Dr. Paul Kolenbrander, chief of the Oral Biofilm Communication Unit, Oral Infection and Immunity Branch, has retired from the Federal government after 31 years with the NIDCR. His internationally recognized program within the Institute began in 1978 and focused on the interactions among human oral bacterial species. Although controversial at the time, but now widely accepted, Dr. Kolenbrander demonstrated that every isolate of oral bacteria exhibits specific interactions with other genetically distinct organisms, and in development of dental plaque, these stable coaggregations start with streptococci. In 1993, Dr. Kolenbrander and his colleague Dr. Jack London published a novel hypothesis that sequential colonization of enamel by bacteria was facilitated by specific coaggregations. The hypothesis and the accompanying illustrative diagrams developed by Dr. Kolenbrander have appeared in several textbooks and have been incorporated into a set of videotaped lectures given to dental students through the American Dental Association. Images from his work have also appeared on scientific journal covers and in literature displayed in dental offices. Dr. Kolenbrander co-authored more than 100 papers, was invited to speak at dozens of symposia, including Gordon Research Conferences in four disciplines; co-organized a Gordon Research Conference, and wrote more than 30 review articles. In recognition of his achievements, he has received numerous awards, including the NIH Director’s Award, and was inducted into the American Academy of Microbiology.
PUBLICATIONS
Division of Intramural Research: Selected Publications
Becerik S, Cogulu D, Emingil G, Han T, Hart PS, Hart TC. Exclusion of candidate genes in seven Turkish families with autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta. Am J Med Genet A. 149A:1392-8, 2009.
BecerikSetal2009
Bian Y, Terse A, Du J, Hall B, Molinolo A, Zhang P, Chen W, Flanders KC, Gutkind JS, Wakefield LM, and Kulkarni AB. Progressive tumor formation in mice with conditional deletion of TGF-β signaling in head and neck epithelia is associated with activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Cancer Research 69:5918-5926, 2009.
BianYetal2009
Cai, T, Hirai, H, Fukushige, T, Ping, Y, Zhang, G, Notkins, AL, Krause, M. Loss of the Transcriptional Repressor PAG-3/Gfi-1 Results in Enhanced Neurosecretion that is Dependent on the Dense-core Vesicle Membrane Protein IDA-1/IA-2. PLoS Genet 5:e1000447, 2009
CaiTetal2009
Cheong SC, Chandramouli GV, Saleh A, Zain RB, Lau SH, Sivakumaren S, Pathmanathan R, Prime SS, Teo SH, Patel V, and Gutkind JS. Gene expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma is influenced by risk factor exposure. Oral Oncol 45:712-719, 2009.
CheongSCetal2009
Greenwell-Wild T, Vazquez N, Jin W, Rangel Z, Munson P, Wahl SM. IL-27 inhibition of HIV-1 involves an intermediate induction of type I IFN. Blood. Jun 25. [Epub ahead of print] 2009
Greenwell-WildTetal2009
Hatakeyama J, Fukumoto S, Nakamura T, Haruyama N, Suzuki S, Hatakeyama Y, Shum L, Gibson CW, Yamada Y, Kulkarni AB. Synergistic roles of amelogenin and ameloblastin. J Dent Res 88:318-22, 2009
HatakeyamaJetal2009
Michael A, Bajracharya SD, Yuen PS, Zhou H, Star RA, Illei GG, and Aleivzos, I. Exosomes from human saliva as a source of microRNA biomarkers. Oral Dis, July 15 [Epub ahead of print], 2009.
MichaelAetal2009
Perruche S, Zhang P, Maruyama T, Bluestone JA, Saas P, Chen W. Lethal effect of CD3-specific antibody in mice deficient in TGF-beta1 by uncontrolled flu-like syndrome. J Immunol 183:953-61, 2009
PerrucheSetal2009
Petrie RJ, Doyle AD, Yamada KM. Random versus directionally persistent cell migration. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 10:538-49, 2009
PetrieRJ2009
Raimondi AR, Molinolo A, and Gutkind JS. Rapamycin prevents early onset of tumorigenesis in an oral-specific K-ras and p53 two-hit carcinogenesis model. Cancer Research 69:4159-4166, 2009.
RaimondiARetal2009
Suzuki S, Sreenath T, Haruyama N, Honeycutt C, Terse A, Cho A, Kohler T, Müller R, Goldberg M, Kulkarni AB. Dentin sialoprotein and dentin phosphoprotein have distinct roles in dentin mineralization. Matrix Biol 28:221-29,
SuzukiSetal2009
Szabo R, Hobson JP, Christoph K, Kosa P, List K, Bugge TH. Regulation of cell surface protease matriptase by HAI2 is essential for placental development, neural tube closure and embryonic survival in mice. Development 136:2653-63, 2009.
SzaboRetal2009
Szabova L, Yamada SS, Wimer H, Chrysovergis K, Ingvarsen S, Behrendt N, Engelholm LH, Holmbeck K. MT1-MMP and Type II Collagen Specify Skeletal Stem Cells and Their Bone and Cartilage Progeny. J Bone Miner Res. May 6. [Epub ahead of print]. 2009
SzabovaL2etal2009
Turjanski AG, Hummer G, and Gutkind JS. How mitogen-activated protein kinases recognize and phosphorylate their targets: A QM/MM study. J Amer Chem Soc 131:6141-6148, 2009.
TurjanskiAGetal2009
Zheng C, Cotrim AP, Sunshine AN, Sugito T, Liu L, Sowers A, Mitchell JB, Baum BJ. Prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis after adenoviral vector-mediated transfer of the keratinocyte growth factor cDNA to mouse submandibular glands. Clin Cancer Res 15;15(14):4641-8, 2009.
ZhengCetal2009
Division of Extramural Research: Staff Publications
Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, Cox J, Cleland N, Denny T, Hural J, Needham L, Ozaki D, Rodriguez-Chavez IR, Stevens G, Stiles T, Tarragona-Fiol, Simkins A (2009). Evaluation and recommendations on good clinical laboratory practice guidelines for phase I-III clinical trials. PLoS Medicine, 6(5):1-5.
PubMed Link
Rider LG, Atkinson JC. Images in clinical medicine (2009). Gingival and periungual vasculopathy of juvenile dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med. Apr 9;360(15):e21. No abstract available
Pihlstrom BL, Michalowicz B, Atkinson J, Kingman A. Clinical Trials Involving Oral Diseases. Chapter in: Clinical Trials Handbook, Ed: Shayne Cox Gad, J Wiley, New York, 2009, pg 439-463.
Pihlstrom BL, Curran AE, Voelker H, Kingman A, Atkinson J. Randomized controlled trials Who needs them and what are they? Periodontology 2000 (in press)
Recent publications from K awardees:
Al-Ammar A, Drummond JL, Bedran-Russo AK. The use of collagen cross-linking agents to enhance dentin bond strength. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2009 Jun 8.
Boran T, Peterkova R, Lesot H, Lyons DB, Peterka M, Klein OD. Temporal analysis of ectopic enamel production in incisors from sprouty mutant mice. J Exp Zoolog B Mol Dev Evol. 2009 Jul 15;312B(5):473-85.
Peterkova R, Churava S, Lesot H, Rothova M, Prochazka J, Peterka M, Klein OD. Revitalization of a diastemal tooth primordium in Spry2 null mice results from increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. J Exp Zoolog B Mol Dev Evol. 2009 Jun 15;312B(4):292-308.
Cevidanes LH, Heymann G, Cornelis MA, DeClerck HJ, Tulloch JF. Superimposition of 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography models of growing patients. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2009 Jul;136(1):94-9.
Chung C, Beecham M, Mauck RL, Burdick JA. The influence of degradation characteristics of hyaluronic acid hydrogels on in vitro neocartilage formation by mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials. 2009 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Ha PK, Chang SS, Glazer CA, Califano JA, Sidransky D. Molecular techniques and genetic alterations in head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol. 2009 Apr-May;45(4-5):335-9.
Lalla RV, Pilbeam CC, Walsh SJ, Sonis ST, Keefe DM, Peterson DE. Role of the cyclooxygenase pathway in chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a pilot study. Support Care Cancer. 2009 Apr 29.
Lanasa SM, Bryant SJ. Influence of ECM proteins and their analogs on cells cultured on 2-D hydrogels for cardiac muscle tissue engineering. Acta Biomater. 2009 May 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Villanueva I, Weigel CA, Bryant SJ. Cell-matrix interactions and dynamic mechanical loading influence chondrocyte gene expression and bioactivity in PEG-RGD hydrogels. Acta Biomater. 2009 Jun 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Letra A, Menezes R, Granjeiro JM, Vieira AR. AXIN2 and CDH1 polymorphisms, tooth agenesis, and oral clefts. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2009 Feb;85(2):169-73.
Liu X, Yu J, Jiang L, Wang A, Shi F, Ye H, Zhou X. MicroRNA-222 regulates cell invasion by targeting matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) and manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2009 May-Jun;6(3):131-9.
Sroussi HY, Williams RL, Zhang QL, Villines D, Marucha PT. Ala42S100A8 ameliorates psychological-stress impaired cutaneous wound healing. Brain Behav Immun. 2009 Aug;23(6):755-9.
Recent publications from F fellows:
Dale, RM, Sisson BE, Topczewski, J. The emerging role of Wnt/PCP signaling in organ formation. Zebrafish 2009 Mar;6(1):9-14.
Roffers-Agarwal, J and Gammill, LS. Neuropilin receptors guide distinct phases of sensory and motor neuronal segmentation. Development 2009 June;136(11):1879-88.
Yang, W, Harris, MA, Heinrich, JG, Guo, D, Bonewald, LF, and Harris, SE. Gene expression signatures of a fibroblastoid preosteoblast and cuboidal osteoblast cell model compared to the MLO-Y4 osteocyte cell model. Bone 2009 Jan;44(1):32-45.