NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

December 2011

NIEHS celebrates intramural scientistsLinda Birnbaum, Ph.D., recognized four intramural scientists and four trainees for their research accomplishments at the 8th annual NIEHS Science Awards Day.

Speakers discuss hydraulic fracturingTwo experts on fracking, or the hydraulic fracturing method of extracting gas and oil, discussed the topic on Nov. 21 with NIEHS staff.

Panel peer reviews NTP low-level lead draftA nine-member independent peer review panel concurred with the overall NTP conclusion that low blood lead levels lead to adverse health effects in children and adults.

ISES meeting challenges exposure scienceGwen Collman, Ph.D., and David Balshaw, Ph.D., of the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT), spoke at the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) meeting.

Wood stove intervention can reduce childhood pneumoniaAccording to a new air pollution study funded by NIEHS, cooking stoves with chimneys can lower exposure to indoor wood smoke and reduce the rate of severe pneumonia in children.

Deputy Surgeon General presents National Prevention StrategyU.S. Deputy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Boris Lushniak, M.D., presented the National Prevention Strategy at NIEHS, a plan to increase the number of healthy Americans.

Neurotox27 focuses on environmentally triggered disordersNIEHS scientists and grantees focused on endocrine disruption and sex differences in autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at the International Neurotoxicology Conference.

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Strategic plan update: Input still welcomeNIEHS is putting the finishing touches on its five-year strategic plan. The public and other stakeholders are welcome to provide input on the draft.

NIEHS hosts Pan American Health Organization meetingPAHO members visited NIEHS in anticipation of a landmark event known as Rio+20, the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development to be held June 4-6, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro.

A conversation on the state of autism researchCindy Lawler, Ph.D., who leads an NIEHS portfolio of autism-related research, shared her thoughts about the International Neurotoxicology Conference and the state of the science.

NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

NIEHS fellow departs for UNC career development role In her new position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Erin Hopper, Ph.D., will help guide graduate students through the process of career development.

NIEHS figures prominently at annual GEMS meetingNTP toxicologist Michelle Hooth, Ph.D., delivered the keynote presentation on NTP’s two-year rodent bioassays of hexavalent chromium.

A genomics approach toward understanding autismThe NIEHS Keystone Series Lecturer Valerie Hu, Ph.D., discussed how genomics data may help understand and improve the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

Duke symposium tackles later life consequences of early life exposuresThe Washington Duke Inn in Durham, N.C., was the setting for a Nov. 4 science symposium showcasing the latest research in the later life effects of early development exposures.

Brain development dependent on thyroid hormoneScientists at NIEHS have discovered a new mechanism for how thyroid hormone regulates brain development.

American Chemical Society honors newsletter internEnvironmental Factor intern and North Carolina Central University student Melissa Kerr is the winner of the Society’s 2011 Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry.

Annual APHA conference celebrates 100 years of environmental healthNIEHS helped mark the 100th Anniversary of the American Public Health Association’s Environment Section, one of the oldest of the 27 sections in the association.

NIEHS grantee student honored with Wetterhahn AwardMonica Ramirez-Andreotta is the fourteenth recipient of the annual Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award. She won the award under the guidance of NIEHS grantee Raina Maier, Ph.D.

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NIEHS expands minority outreach at fall conferencesThe NIEHS Office of Science Education and Diversity joined others at the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference.

Overcoming phosphate congestion in high energy signaling moleculesIn a new study published in Nature Chemical Biology, NIEHS researchers describe, for the first time, the crystal structure of a key inositol pyrophosphate kinase, PPIP5K2.

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NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

Winuthayanon presents at NIH Research FestivalAs it has for the past 25 years, NIH devoted a week to celebrating its Intramural Research Program. This year’s fair featured an invited talk by one of the 21 NIEHS fellows honored.

Effects of lead exposure on obesity and bone lossNIEHS grantee and musculoskeletal scientist Edward Puzas, Ph.D., discussed his latest research on the effects of lead exposure on obesity and decreased bone formation.

Exposome pioneer to be featured at workshopA workshop on “Emerging Technologies for Measuring Individual Exposomes,” will feature pioneers such as NIEHS grantee Stephen Rappaport, Ph.D.

Susan Amara to present distinguished lectureThe NIEHS 2011-2012 Distinguished Lecture Series returns to the world of neuroscience, with its next talk Dec. 13 on “The Ins and Outs of Neurotransmitter Transporters.”

Hughes honored for worker training effortsNIEHS Worker Education and Training Program Director Chip Hughes was recognized by the National Counsel for Occupational Safety and Health for promoting worker health and safety.

SRP grantees gather in Lexington for annual meetingThe NIEHS Superfund Research Program annual meeting Oct. 24-25 featured topics from systemic impacts of pollutants on humans to sustainable remediation techniques.

Teachers visit NIEHS for science literacy workshopTo help K-12 educators with emerging technologies, NIEHS hosted a science literacy workshop on Nov. 10 for the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR).

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NIEHS and CFC celebrate 50 years of givingNIEHS brought its promotion of the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) to a close, with an impressive collection of $82,152 in charitable contributions.

Testicular toxicology workshop spotlights animal testing alternativesNTP’s Paul Foster, Ph.D., was the featured speaker at an Oct. 26 workshop to discuss in vitro alternatives for assessing testicular toxicity.

This month in EHPIn the December issue, EHP examines the adaptive strategies being implemented to upgrade aging city infrastructure in the face of growing climate change effects.

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Inside the Institute

Extramural Research

Extramural papers of the month• Chimneys help reduce severe childhood

pneumonia

• Aggressive breast cancer responds to blueberries

• Mycoestrogens influence development

• The impact of nutrition labeling

Intramural Research

Intramural papers of the month• One apolipoprotein E allele associated with lower

risk of Parkinson’s

• Effects of endothelial CYP2C8 epoxygenase on cardiac recovery

• Aprataxin structure links DNA repair mechanism to neurodegenerative disease

• New algorithm identifies transcription factors and coregulators in ChIP-seq data

Calendar of Upcoming Events

• December 6 in Rodbell Auditorium, 10:00-11:00 a.m. — Keystone Lecture Seminar Series with Andrij Holian, Ph.D., speaking on “Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Mediating Nanoparticle-induced Lung Inflammation”

• December 6 in Rodbell Auditorium, 1:30-3:00 p.m. — 2011 NIEHS Awards Ceremony

• December 8-9 at the House of Sweden, Washington, D.C., 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. — The National Academy of Sciences presents “Emerging Technologies for Measuring Individual Exposomes”

• December 13 in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Distinguished Lecture Seminar Series with Susan Amara, Ph.D., speaking on “The Ins and Outs of Neurotransmitter Transporters”

• December 15 in Rodbell Auditorium, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. — NTP Board of Scientific Counselors meeting

• View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar

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NIEHS SpotlightNIEHS celebrates intramural scientists By Negin Martin

IntheearlymorningofNov.3,theNIEHShallwaysweredrapedwithnearly90posters,readytoimpressspectatorsforthe8thannualNIEHSScienceAwardsDay.Bythetimetheceremoniesconcluded,fourintramuralscientistsandfourtraineeswererecognizedbytheircolleaguesfortheirmeritoriousresearchaccomplishments.FromtheEarlyCareertoScientistoftheYear,theawardsshowcasedoutstandingeffortsfromtheInstitute’smostnoteworthycontributors.

Science Day originator takes top prizeThedistinguishedScientistoftheYearawardwaspresentedtotheoriginatorofScienceDay,formerNIEHSScientificDirectorLutzBirnbaumer,Ph.D.,headoftheTransmembraneSignalingGroupintheLaboratoryofNeurobiology.HefacetiouslyremarkedhowheexpectedtohavereceivedtheawardatthefirstannualScienceDay.

Inhisseminar,Birnbaumerpresentedanoverviewofthetransientreceptorpotentialcationchannels(TRPCs),theirmodeofaction,andtheirphysiologicalrole.TRPCsareaclassofmoleculesstudiedbyBirnbaumer’slaboratory.

TheLaboratoryofStructuralBiologywasfeaturedprominentlyinthisyear’sawardsbyproducingthewinnersoftheEarlyCareerAward,OutstandingStaffScientist,andthePaperoftheYear.

ThefirstauthorofthePaperoftheYear,GeoffreyMueller,Ph.D.,amemberoftheNuclearMagneticResonanceGroup,wasalsotherecipientoftheOutstandingStaffScientistaward.Hepresentedthefirstscientificseminarofthedayaboutallergensandtheirstructuralstudies.BysolvingthecrystalstructureofthedustmiteallergenDerp7,Muellerandcolleaguesshedlightonthepossiblemodeofactionofthisallergenintriggeringhostimmuneresponse.TheresearchwasanexcellentrepresentationofcollaborativeeffortsatNIEHS,withscientificcontributionsfromtheLaboratoryofStructuralBiology,ProteinExpressionCoreFacility,andtheLaboratoryofRespiratoryBiology.

An excited NIEHS Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., professed, “It’s a good day for science at NIEHS!” Science Awards Day is an opportunity to celebrate the best the Institute has to offer. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Mueller kept his audience engaged with visual aids supporting his talk on peanut and dust mite allergens. He is lead author on this year’s Paper of the Year. Overall, nine papers were nominated for the award, with the winner being chosen by a distinguished panel of extramural scientists. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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AnothershiningstarfromtheLaboratoryofStructuralBiologywasScottWilliams,Ph.D.,headoftheGenomeStabilityStructuralBiologyGroupandthewinneroftheEarlyCareerAward.HewasrecruitedbyNIEHSinearly2010asaleadresearchertodevelophisresearchinterestinDNAbreakrecognitionandrepair.

TheNIEHSTraineesAssemblypresentedDonnaBaird,Ph.D.,fromtheWomen’sHealthGroupwiththeMentoroftheYearAward.AnneMarieJukic,Ph.D.,readseveralexcerptsfromthelettersofsupportwrittenforBairdbyherpupils.

Inthepostercategory,88posterswereselectedfordisplay,representingallscientificbranchesofNIEHS.Amongthem,sixexceptionalabstractsearnedthespotlightfortheirfirstauthors,whogaveoralpresentationsduringtheevent.

ThemasterofceremoniesandeventorganizerJoelAbramowitz,Ph.D.,concludedtheceremonybyannouncingtheBestPosterPresentations—ShayCovo,Ph.D.,HidekiNakano,Ph.D.,andHuimingGao,Ph.D.,—andtheBestOralPresentationwinnerKristinLichti-Kaiser,Ph.D.

(NeginMartin,Ph.D.,isabiologistintheNIEHSLaboratoryofNeurobiologyViralVectorCoreFacility.)

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Postdoctoral fellow Erin Hopper, Ph.D., who recently departed for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (see related story), describes her findings to Lars Pedersen, Ph.D., from the Structure and Function Research Group. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Birnbaumer accepts the Scientist of the Year award from David Miller, Ph.D., former Acting Scientific Director of NIEHS, and Abramowitz. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Newly appointed NIEHS Scientific Director Darryl Zeldin, M.D., and Abramowitz, presented Williams with the Early Career Award. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Strategic plan update: Input still welcome By Robin Mackar

“Thereisstilltimetohaveinputintothestrategicplan,”saidNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,duringtheOct.28-29all-handsmeeting,wheresheupdatedstaffontheprogressbeingmadetodeveloptheInstitute’snewfive-yearstrategicplan.NIEHSalsowantstoencouragemembersofthepublictoemailtheircommentsonthedraftstrategicplantoehs-strategic-plan@mail.nih.gov.

BeforesharingsomeofthedraftcomponentsoftheplanwithNIEHSstaff,includingnewmissionandvisionstatements,andnewsupportingpillarsorthemestosupportthegoalsbeingdeveloped,BirnbaumremindedstaffhowfarwehavecomeintheprocesssinceitbeganinMarch.

Progress since March 2011Birnbaumsaid231visionaryideaswerereceivedonthededicatedwebsitewww.niehs.nih.gov/strategicplan,duringtheinitialcallforinput.Thesebroad-basedsuggestionsforscientificdirectionservedasanimportantstartingpointforthedevelopmentofthestrategicplan.

TheStakeholderCommunityWorkshopinJulybroughttogethernearly170participants,representingabroadrangeofexpertise,includingNIEHSstaff,scientists,regulators,publichealthpractitioners,communicationexperts,non-governmentorganizations,andresearchmanagementexperts.Birnbaumsaidthemodifiedopenspacetechnologyformat,usedattheJulymeeting,gaveeveryoneanequalopportunitytoproposetopicstoaddresshowNIEHScanmoveenvironmentalhealthforward.

Fromthatstakeholderworkshop,97themesemerged,whichwerecombinedintoeightthemes(seeStrategicPlanningStakeholderCommunityWorkshopReportforsummariesofreportsandprioritytopics).

Developing mission, vision, and supporting pillarsThemostrecentphaseofthestrategicplanningprocessoccurredOct.13-14inNorthCarolina.

Components of the draft strategic plan that are ready for your input

Mission StatementThemissionoftheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciencesistodiscoverhowtheenvironmentaffectspeopleinordertopromotehealthierlives.

Vision StatementThevisionoftheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciencesistoprovidegloballeadershipforinnovativeresearchthatimprovespublichealthbypreventingdisabilityanddiseasefromourenvironment.

Supporting Pillars• FundamentalResearch• ExposureResearch• PreventionandTranslationalScience• HealthDisparitiesandGlobalEnvironmentalHealth• TrainingandEducation• CommunicationsandEngagement

Birnbaum updates NIEHS staff on the strategic planning process during an all-hands meeting Oct. 28-29 at NIEHS. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Approximately50individuals,whichagainrepresentedthebroadexpertiseneededtodevelopapathforenvironmentalhealthsciences,werebroughttogethertoreviewalltheinputcompiledtodate,includingworkshopreports,themes,andtheideassubmittedthroughthewebsite,tobegindevelopingtheactualcontentforthenewNIEHSstrategicplan.

“Thiswasaveryintensemeetingthatresultedinsomeexcellent,thoughtfuldraftdocuments,”Birnbaumsaid.

Theparticipantsworkedarduouslyforalmosttwodaysinbothlargeandsmallgroups,todevelopdraftvisionandmissionstatements,aswellassixsupportingpillars,ormajoremphasisareasthatarelikelytoadvancethefieldofenvironmentalhealthsciencesthemost.Acoupleofcrosscuttingthemeswerealsodiscussedandthoughtfullydevelopedintoconcepts.

Next stepsBirnbaumsaidthenextstepsintheprocessincludedevelopingadefinedsetofgoalsthatwillhelplayouthowthevisionwillbeachievedoverthenextfiveyears.Thepublicandallotherstakeholdersandstaffwillhaveopportunitiestocontinuecommentingonthedraftstrategicgoals,missionstatement,andvisionstatementfortheNIEHS,whicharepostedonlineathttp://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/strategicplan/index.cfm.Throughoutthewinter,theNIEHSseniorleadershipteamwillbeworkingcloselywithNIEHSstafftodevelopimplementationplansforeachofthestrategicgoals.

“WewillpresentapublicupdateonthestrategicplanningprocessatourNationalAdvisoryEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NAEHS)CouncilMeetinginFebruary,”saidNIEHSDeputyDirectorRickWoychik,Ph.D.,whoisleadingthestrategicplanningprocess.“What’sbeenmadeabundantlycleartomethroughoutthisprocessisthatthere’salotofpassionouttherearoundissuesinenvironmentalhealthsciences.Iamconfidentthatourplanwillcapturethatenergyandpassionandsetusoncourseforthenextfiveyears.”

BothBirnbaumandWoychikalsopointoutthattheNIEHSplanwillbealignedwithNIHpriorities.

(RobinMackaristhenewsdirectorintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmental Factor.)

Staff from throughout the Institute joined Birnbaum, in person or via the Web, to hear an update on how the strategic plan is progressing. NIEHS leadership continues to encourage staff to participate in the planning process. From left to right, Debra Del Corral, Mitch Williams, and Laurie Johnson listen attentively to the progress update. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

From left to right, NIEHS grantee John Groopman, Ph.D., joins with NIEHSers Sheila Newton, Ph.D., Dori Germolec, Ph.D., Pat Mastin, Ph.D., and grantee Shuk-mei Ho, Ph.D., as part of a small group exercise at the strategic planning meeting in October. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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From left to right, Michael Gallo, Ph.D., director of the Toxicology Division and the NIEHS Center of Excellence at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, lines up with NIEHS DIR scientists Trevor Archer, Ph.D., John Cidlowski, Ph.D., Darryl Zeldin, M.D., and Rick Paules, Ph.D., to provide input into the strategic plan. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Woychik keeps the conversation flowing during the strategic planning meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

David Miller, Ph.D., in hat, serves as group leader for one of the group’s helping to define what is meant by fundamental research. NIEHS staff from the Office of the Director, Division of Extramural Research and Training, and the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) provided input. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

From left to right, NIEHS grantee B. Paige Lawrence, Ph.D., shares a light moment with the NIEHS/NTP director at the October meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

From left to right, Gwen Collman, Ph.D., and NIEHS grantee and former NAEHS Council member John Essigmann, Ph.D., take time during a hectic meeting to share some stories. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Speakers discuss hydraulic fracturing By Robin Mackar

Thetermfracking,orthehydraulicfracturingmethodofextractinggasandoilfromundergrounddeposits,isasubjectfrequentlybeingdiscussedbyawidevarietyofaudiencesacrossthecountry,includingthepublic,media,scientists,industry,andpoliticians.TwodistinguishedspeakersbroughttheirexpertiseonthistopicNov.21tothestaffandleadershipatNIEHS,aswellasagenciesaffiliatedwiththeNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP).

JohnBucher,Ph.D.,directoroftheDivisionoftheNTPatNIEHS,hostedthetwolecturers,astheInstitutebeginstodetermineitsroleinthisemergingfield.

NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,whoattendedandparticipatedinthelivelydiscussionsthatfollowedeachtalk,said,“Thisisoneofthoseemergingareasthatweneedtodoourbesttogetaheadofthecurve,sowecanmorefullyunderstandanypotentialhealthimpactsrelatedtothedevelopmentofthisresource.”

Assessing the impact on oil and gas workersThefirstspeaker,EricEsswein,aseniorindustrialhygienistattheNationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealthandaCommissionedOfficerintheU.S.PublicHealthService,presentedanexcellentoverviewonhydraulicfracturinganddiscussedhisagency’seffortstoassesschemicalexposuresinoilandgasworkers.

“Whatwe’rereallytryingtodoisdeveloppartnershipswiththeoilandgasextractionindustrytoidentify,characterize,and,ifneeded,controlworkplacechemicalexposures,”saidEssweinashewalkedagencyrepresentativesthroughthephoto-heavypresentationfromhisfieldofficeinDenver.“Thereisverylittleexposureassessmentinformationavailabletodetermineifoccupationalhealthrisksexistforworkersinthisindustry.”

Essweinexplainedthathydraulicfracturinginvolveshigh-pressureinjectionofwater,sand,andchemicals,toreleaseshale-gastrappedindeepundergroundformations.Heprovidedtheaudiencewithanoverviewofwhatgoesonintheindustrialsettingrelatedtodrillingandhydraulicfracturing.

“There’salotmoregoingonatwellsitesthanjustthehydraulicfracturing.There’salsositepreparationanddifferenttypesofdrillingthatoccurswellbeforethehydrofrackingcanbegin.Awidevarietyofservicesoccurthroughouttheentireprocess,includingtransportingchemicals,water,andsuppliestoandfromthesites,”Essweinsaid.

Essweintalkedaboutsomepotentialriskstoworkers,includingexposuretovolatileorganiccompounds,dustparticles,lead,oilmists,benzene,dieselparticulatematter,andsilica,amongothers.Hepointedoutmoreresearchneedstobedone,andanynewknowledgehastobecommunicatedtothefield,sotheycanputthatknowledgeintopracticetoensuresafetyandhealthforthebettermentofworkers.AlinktotheNIOSHFactSheetdescribingthestudyisavailableatwww.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-130/pdfs/2010-130.pdf.

Workers conduct drilling operations. (Photo courtesy of Eric Esswein)

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Impact of fracking on surrounding communitiesRobertB.Jackson,Ph.D.,directoroftheDukeUniversityCenteronGlobalChangeattheNicholasSchooloftheEnvironmentinDurham,N.C.,focusedhistalkonshale-gas,theenvironment,andhumanhealth.

ThemajorityofJackson’spresentationfocusedonresearchheandhiscolleaguesareconductingonseveralhundredprivatewellsinnortheasternPennsylvaniaandupstateNewYorkthatarenearshaleformations.

Jacksonandcolleagues’firstpaper,appearingintheMay17issueoftheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences(PNAS),foundevidencethatmethanecontamination,inwellwaterneartheshale-gasextractionsites,appearstoberelatedtonaturalgasextraction.Hepointedout,however,thattherewasnoevidencethatthedrinking-watersampleswerecontaminatedwithfracturingfluidsorbrinesfromthehydraulicfracturing.

Jacksondiscussedsomeofthepossiblemechanismsbywhichthemethanemayhavegottenintothewells,includingthemostlikelypossibilityofleakygas-wellcasings,andlesslikelymechanismsofphysicaldisplacementofgasthroughnaturalandfracturing-inducedfissuresfromthetargetformation.Jacksonalsosaidthatmoreresearchneedstobeconductedtodeterminethehealtheffectsofmethane.

InthePNASpaperandintheseminar,Jacksoncalledformoreenvironmentalstewardship,andpossiblymorefederalresearchandregulations,toensurethesustainablefutureofshale-gasextraction.“Weneedsystematic,independentdataongroundwaterquality,beforeandafterdrillingoperationsbegininaregion.Havingthisbaselinewillgoalongwaytowardpreventingenvironmentalimpacts,andimprovingscientificknowledgeandpublicconfidence,”Jacksonsaid.

(RobinMackaristhenewsdirectorintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

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Deputy Surgeon General presents National Prevention Strategy By Ashley Godfrey

U.S.DeputySurgeonGeneralRearAdm.BorisLushniak,M.D.,visitedNIEHSNov.2topresenttheNationalPreventionStrategy,acomprehensiveplantoincreasethenumberofAmericanswhoarehealthyateverystageoflife.LushniakisanofficerintheU.S.PublicHealthService(USPHS)CommissionedCorps,whichincludesmorethan6,500activedutypublichealthprofessionals.

“ItwasanhonortohaveRearAdm.LushniakvisitNIEHSandRTP,”explainedNIEHSChiefofStaffCmdr.PaulJung,M.D.,alsoanofficerintheUSPHS.“Hisvisitistimely,aspreventionandpublichealthwillbeprominentinourInstitute’supcomingstrategicplan.”

Duke researchers collected water samples from wells near fracking sites. (Photo courtesy of Robert Jackson)

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Looking at the big picture of public healthInhistalk,Lushniakexplainedtheimportanceofpreventioninthepublichealthmodel.Typicallythereisacausalpathwaythatleadstodiseaseandaplaceinthatpathwaywherepublichealthprofessionalscanintervenetoensurethattheendpoints,diseaseorinjury,areneverreached.Onekeyissueishowtogetthepublicinvolved.

“Wehavetobeabletoeducateourcitizens,”stressedLushniak.“Itisnotjustanissueofhealthdisparityorhealthliteracy,butitisimperativetogeteachindividualinvolvedintheirownhealthandintakingresponsibilityforthedecisionstheymake.”

AccordingtoLushniak,anothercornerstoneforpreventionactivitiesistheuseofpublichealthsurveillance,toincludetheongoingsystematiccollection,analysis,andinterpretationofhealthrelateddata.Healsodescribedtheimportanceofcreatinganinformationloopofpublichealthsurveillance,andmakingsuretheinformationcollectedisdirectlyconnectedtothepeoplewhoareresponsibleforimplementingpreventionandcontrol.

“Weneedtonotjustidentifytheproblem,butwhatarewegoingtodoaboutit,”explainedLushniak.

Changing our focus to preventionCalledforundertheAffordableCareAct,theNationalPreventionStrategywasputtogetherbytheNationalPrevention,HealthPromotion,andPublicHealthCouncil(NationalPreventionCouncil)andreleasedinJune2011.TheCounciliscomposedof17federalagenciesandischairedbyU.S.SurgeonGeneralReginaBenjamin.

Theplan’svisionis“Workingtogethertoimprovethehealthandqualityoflifeforindividuals,families,andcommunities,bymovingthenationfromafocusonsicknessanddiseasetoonebasedonpreventionandwellness.”

“Dowehaveahealthcaresystemorasickcaresystem?”askedLushniak,whopointedoutthat18-20percentofourgrossdomesticproductgoestohealthcare.Lushniakmaintainedthatourfocusneedstobeonprevention,insteadofonlytreatingtheendresult.

Linked video:Watch the June 2011 announcement of the National Prevention Strategy by HHS Secretary Sebelius and U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin (42:26)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

Appointed U.S. Deputy Surgeon General in 2010, Lushniak began his talk by commenting on the incredible diversity of public health programs at NIEHS and congratulating the Institute on a job well done. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., is surrounded by the men and women of the USPHS, including Rear Adm. William Stokes, D.V.M., executive director of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Getting to the next step“Theeasypart[ofcreatingtheNationalPreventionStrategy]isover,”concludedLushniak.Heidentifiedthatimplementingthestrategywillbeamuchbiggertask,especiallyindifficultfiscaltimes.Oneofthestrategy’sobjectivesistoproviderecommendations,andalsooutlineawaytodivideupactionsbetweenprivateandpublicpartners.Lushniakexplainedthatthesepartnerscanthenworktogethertohelpimplementthestrategyatthenational,state,tribal,andlocallevels.

(AshleyGodfrey,Ph.D.,isapostdoctoralfellowintheMolecularandGeneticEpidemiologyGroupintheNIEHSLaboratoryofMolecularCarcinogenesis.)

Lushniak’s visit included a meeting with many North Carolina-based USPHS Corps members. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Key elements of the National Prevention StrategyTheNationalPreventionStrategyidentifiesfourStrategicDirectionsandseventargetedPriorities.TheStrategicDirectionsprovideastrongfoundationforallofthenation’spreventioneffortsandincludecorerecommendationsnecessarytobuildamoreprevention-orientedsociety.

The Strategic Directions are:• HealthyandSafeCommunityEnvironments:Create,sustain,andrecognizecommunitiesthatpromotehealthandwellnessthroughprevention.

• ClinicalandCommunityPreventiveServices:Ensurethatprevention-focusedhealthcareandcommunitypreventioneffortsareavailable,integrated,andmutuallyreinforcing.

• EmpoweredPeople:Supportpeopleinmakinghealthychoices.• EliminationofHealthDisparities:Eliminatedisparities,improvingthequalityoflifeforallAmericans.

The seven Priorities are: • TobaccoFreeLiving• PreventingDrugAbuseandExcessiveAlcoholUse• HealthyEating• ActiveLiving• InjuryandViolenceFreeLiving• ReproductiveandSexualHealth• MentalandEmotionalWell-Being

MoreinformationabouttheNationalPreventionStrategyandtheNationalPreventionCouncilcanbefoundat:http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention/nphpphc/index.html.

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NIEHS hosts Pan American Health Organization meeting By Ernie Hood

GlobalenvironmentalhealthisakeyfocalareaforNIEHS,andtheInstitute’sinvolvementintheareatookasignificantstepforwardwhenitplayedhostOct.24-26toamultinationalgroupofhealthandenvironmentexperts.TheeventwasaregionalmeetingoftheWorldHealthOrganization/PanAmericanHealthOrganization(WHO/PAHO)CollaboratingCentersintheareaofSustainableDevelopmentandEnvironmentalHealth(SDE).

ThegatheringwasheldinanticipationofalandmarkeventknownasRio+20—theU.N.ConferenceonSustainableDevelopmenttobeheldJune4-6,2012,inRiodeJaneiro.

Co-moderatedbyJohnBalbus,M.D.,NIEHSsenioradvisorforpublichealth,theResearchTrianglePark,N.C.,meetingprovidedauniqueopportunityforNIEHSscientiststointeractwithcolleaguesfromthroughouttheAmericas,raisingmutualawarenessandengagementonissuesrelatedtoglobalhealth,theenvironment,andsustainabledevelopment.

Looking forward to Rio+20Thefirstdayofthemeetingwasdevotedtoaworkshoponhealthandsustainabledevelopment,featuringsessionsonRio+20;environmental,occupational,andurbanchallenges;thesocialenvironment;anddevelopmentandhealth.ParticipantsfromtheWHO/PAHOCollaboratingCentersthenbrokeoutintosixworkinggroups,inparticulartopicareas,topreparespecificinputtotheRio+20conference,andtoplanPAHO’sactivitiesforthenexttwoyears.

Thebalanceofthemeeting’sfinaldaywasdevotedtoPAHOandNIEHSattendeesgettingacquainted,beginningwithanoverviewofNIEHSandtheNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP)byDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,followedbyasetofinformalmeetingsbetweenNIEHSscientistsandPAHOvisitorstocomparenotesanddiscusscollaborativeopportunitiesinseveralspecifictopicareas,includingchildren’shealth.Themeeting’sfinaleventwasatourofNIEHSfacilities.

AsPAHOSeniorAdvisoronRiskAssessmentandGlobalEnvironmentalChangeCarlosCorvalan,Ph.D.,pointedout,NIEHSandWHOhavehadalong-standingworkingrelationship,butthechance

NIEHS as a WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center

AccordingtoBalbus,theInstitute,aspartofitsglobalhealthagenda,isveryinterestedinre-establishingitsroleasaWHO/PAHOCollaboratingCenter,asitwasinthe1980s.Inthatcontext,henoted,NIEHShadseveralgoalsinmindforhostingthemeeting.Balbussaid,“OnewasjusttobecomeacquaintedwiththePAHOCollaboratingCenternetwork,tointroduceourselves,andletthemunderstandwhatwedo.Anotheraimwassimplytoobservetheirprocess,soasweworkonourapplication,weunderstandhowtheCollaboratingCentersworkandcanbestseehowwefitinwiththat.AndthenthethirdgoalinvolvedmakingplansforworkingtogetherwithPAHOtotranslatevariousaspectsofoursciencethathaveimplicationsforsustainabledevelopment.Wehopetogetthatinformationintothediscussionthat’sgoingongloballyaboutsustainabledevelopment,whichtendstoneglecttheimportanceofenvironmentalhealth.”

NIEHS Deputy Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D., welcomed the international visitors to NIEHS and Research Triangle Park, N.C. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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tomeetface-to-faceisboundtoenhancecooperationandcollaboration.“HavingtheeventherewasagoodopportunityforNIEHStoknowaboutwhatwedoandhowweworkwithourcenters,”hesaid.“Andforus,andforthecentersthatcamehere,IwouldsayprobablynoneofthemhaveevervisitedNIEHS,soitwasveryimpressiveforthem.”

AccordingtoLuizAugustoCassanhaGalvao,M.D.,PAHOSDEmanager,thereweresolidreasonsforholdingthemeetingatNIEHS.“Mostofthegroupsthatarehereworkonoccupationalhealthandenvironmentalhealth,sotheyknowNIEHSverywell,butmostofthemhaveneverhadthechancetocomeheretomeettheircolleaguesandtalktothem,”hesaid.

“Theothermotivationtohavingthemeetingherewasthecoincidenceofinterests,”hecontinued.“Weareallfacingnewchallenges,suchasthechallengeofintegrationbetweenchemicalsandtheenvironment,andthesocialenvironmentanddevelopment,alongwithnutritionandnoncommunicablediseases.Wesaid,whynotsittogetheranddosomethingwithourcenters?”

Interpreters used an isolation booth to translate the PAHO meeting proceedings into Spanish and English in real time. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Maria Neira, M.D., director of the WHO Department of Public Health and Environment, addressed meeting participants with a video message, sharing her thoughts about the conference and sending her regrets at being unable to attend in person.(Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Representatives from PAHO SDE Collaborating Centers throughout North, Central, and South America attended the regional meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Galvao was among the PAHO SDE leaders who addressed the Collaborating Centers Regional Meeting, as it accomplished much business in its biennial gathering.(Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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(ErnieHoodisacontractwriterfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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Corvalan confers with former NIEHS/NTP senior advisor to the director Christopher Portier, Ph.D., who is now director of the National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Portier was on hand to speak to the PAHO meeting about risk assessment and environmental hazards. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Balbus chaired the meeting session on environmental, occupational, and health challenges. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

As Birnbaum, along with NIEHS leaders and grantees earlier in the program, demonstrated, NIEHS programs can serve as a model for WHO/PAHO efforts toward sustainable development. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Meeting participants joined Birnbaum and Balbus, center front, for an outdoor group portrait, on a lovely autumn day in North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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NIEHS fellow departs for UNC career development role By Emily Zhou

Findingtheperfectcareerisanexciting,oftenstressfulprocess.Studentsneedtoknowwhatcareeroptionsarethere,whatstrengthsandweaknessestheyhave,andwhatskillsareneededtolandtheirdreamjob.InhernewpositionattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill(UNC)SchoolofMedicine’sOfficeofScience,Training,andDiversity,ErinHopper,Ph.D.,willhelpguidegraduatestudentsinthisprocessofexplorationandcareerdevelopment.

HopperwillactuallyhavedualrolesatUNC.AsdirectoroftheTrainingInitiativesinBiomedicalandBiologicalSciences(TIBBS),Hopperwilldevotehalfofhertimetorunningprogramsandworkshopsforprofessionaldevelopment,includingorganizingspeakersforUNCgraduatestudents.Fortheotherhalfofhertime,asassistantdirectoroftheAcademicandCareerExcellenceProgram,Hopperwillfocusonacademiccoaching,suchaspreparingqualifyingexams,andstudentsupport.Also,Hopperwillbeinvolvedinpromotingdiversityactivitiesandeducationoutreachevents,suchasDNADay.

Hopper,whodepartedNIEHSinearlyNovemberforhernewappointment,wasapostdoctoralfellowwithKennethTomer,Ph.D.,intheLaboratoryofStructuralBiology.Inadditiontoherresearchrole,Hopperwasinvolvedwithmorethan10NIEHSTraineesAssembly(NTA)subcommitteeschargedwiththecoordinationofevents,includingthecareerfair.

ShesaidofTomer,“IfeltsofortunatethatmyadvisorgavemethefreedomtobeactivelyinvolvedintheNTAsteeringcommitteeandcareerfairplanningcommittee,bothofwhichwerecrucialtogettingthejobIwanted.”

Laying the groundwork for a future careerEarlyingraduateschoolatDukeUniversity,Hopperrealizedthatshewouldenjoyacareerinvolvingscience,butawayfromthebench.ShewasinvolvedinmanyactivitiesoncampusatDuke,includingbeingontheplanningcommitteeforWomeninScienceandEngineering,whichimplementsprofessionaldevelopmentseminars,workshops,andpaneldiscussionsforgraduatestudents.“Itwasaneye-openerthatthereweresomanyjoboptionsforPh.D.’s,otherthanjustacademiaandindustry,”shecommented.

Atthesametime,Hopperidentifiedherpassionformentoring.Shementoredundergraduatestudentsandsummerresearchstudentswiththeirscienceprojects,andprovidedadviceoncareeroptionsandgraduateschoolapplications.Inparticular,Hopperwasadeptatfacilitatingfaculty-studentrelationships,workingcloselywiththefacultytomeetstudents’educationalneeds.

Hopper was very sad to leave NIEHS, in particular the NTA steering committee. “My involvement with the steering committee gave me a tremendous amount of satisfaction, and I will miss all of them more than they can imagine,” she said. “I would like to thank them all for their support and for everything they do to support the trainees at NIEHS. They are wonderful scientists and friends, and I wish them all happy and fulfilling careers.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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An NIEHS postdoctoral fellow wearing many different hatsNetworking,needlesstosay,wasalsoacomponentinsuccessfullylaunchinghernewcareer.ThehiringmanagerfortheUNCjobwasPatrickBrandt,Ph.D.,whowasalsoanNIEHStrainee.Inaddition,PatPhelps,Ph.D.,deputydirectoroftheGraduatePartnershipsProgramintheNIHOfficeofIntramuralTrainingandEducation,wasagreathelpincoachingheroninterviewskills.“Pataskedmanyquestionsthattheinterviewingcommitteelateraskedme.”BeingthepersonwhostartedTIBBSatUNC,Phelpsknewexactlywhattheywerelookingforinacandidate.

WritingwasalsoaveryimportantskillthatHopperdevelopedatNIEHS,asacontributingwriterfortheEnvironmentalFactor.“Ingeneral,writingandbeingabletocommunicatetoabroadaudienceareextremelyimportantforanyjob.”ShewilladvocateandencourageUNCgraduatestudentstobemoreinvolvedintheirwriting.

(EmilyZhou,Ph.D.,isaresearchfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransductionInositolSignalingGroup.)

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American Chemical Society honors newsletter intern By Eddy Ball

EnvironmentalFactorinternandNorthCarolinaCentralUniversity(NCCU)studentMelissaKerristhewinnerofthe2011UndergraduateAwardinAnalyticalChemistry.Theawardispresentedjointly,eachyear,bytheAmericanChemicalSocietyDivisionofAnalyticalChemistry(ACS-DAC)andthejournalAnalyticalChemistrytooneoutstandingstudentateacheligibleinstitution.

InKerr’snotificationletter,ACS-DACUndergraduateAwardCommitteeChairmanDouglasBeussmancongratulatedherandwrote,“Thisawardrecognizesyouroutstandingeffortsintheareaofanalyticalchemistry.”CurrentlyajunioratNCCU,Kerrhasmaintaineda3.9gradepointaverageduringherfirsttwoyearsofchemistrycoursework.

From liberal arts to analytical chemistryThatKerrisdoingsowellinanalyticalchemistryisnotsurprising—thefactthatsheisstudyingchemistryasanon-traditionalstudentis.Kerrholdstwobachelordegrees,oneinJapanesestudiesfromtheUniversityofIowaandoneinpsychologyfromBuenaVistaUniversity.

Afterworkingwithpeoplewithmentalillnessanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesforthreeyears,KerrandherhusbandmovedfromIowatoChapelHill,N.C.Onceshesettledintohernewcommunityandhernewjobherewithadayservicesprogramforpeoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilities,Kerrsaysherinterestinsciencegraduallydrewherbacktotheclassroom,wheresheisadecadeormoreolderthanhertraditionalcounterparts.

Reflecting on her last two years of study, Kerr said, “I am more excited about my prospects now than I have ever been. I can’t wait to get started.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Althoughshemaintainsaheavyloadofcoursesandworksfulltime,KerrdecidedshealsowantedtogetwritingexperienceandtookonaninternshipwiththeNIEHSmonthlynewsletterinthefallof2010.Shefollowedaleadfromhermentor,NCCUorganicchemistryprofessorJohnMyers,Ph.D.Overthepastyear,KerrhascontributedanarticleortwoeachmonthtotheEnvironmentalFactor.

Looking toward careersOneofthebenefitsofwritingforthenewsletter,Kerrsaid,isexposuretoNIEHSstudents’andfellows’careerdevelopmentprograms.“I’vewrittenstoriesaboutthe[NIHSummerInternshipProgram],andIwroteoneabouttheQuintilesOpenHouselastsummer,”shesaid.“I’vealsoheardmanyeye-openingstoriesabouthowpeopleendedupwheretheydidinscientificcareers.”

Kerr’sowncareerdirectionisstilluncertain,butshe’sgettingascientificeducation,learningaboutsciencesupportedbyNIEHS,andbuildingaportfolioofwritingsamples.“I’mnotsure,yet,whereI’llendup,”sheobserves,“butIthinkit’sgoingtobefungettingthere.”

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Annual APHA conference celebrates 100 years of environmental health By Ian Thomas

Scientists,administrators,andpublichealthofficialsgatheredattheWalterE.WashingtonConventionCenterinWashington,D.C.,forthe139thAmericanPublicHealthAssociation(APHA)AnnualMeetingandExposition.Inadditiontoahostofpresentationsandposters(seetextbox),NIEHShelpedmarkthe100thanniversaryofAPHA’sEnvironmentSection,oneoftheoldestofthe27sectionsintheassociation.

“Weactuallystartedplanningthiscentennialcelebrationmorethantwoyearsago,”saidNIEHSSeniorAdvisorAllenDearry,Ph.D.,a15-yearmemberofAPHAandtheEnvironmentSection’sformerchair.“Wewantedtocreateaprogramthatnotonlyreflecteditsachievementswithinthepublichealtharena,butalsogaveadetailedaccountofwherethesectioncamefromandwhereitistoday.”

According to Dearry, the APHA Environment Section has become a model for advocating the green meeting concept, particularly at the APHA annual meeting. “By using Facebook, Twitter, and an electronic version of our newsletter, we were able to disseminate all the same information to just as many people, while only using a fraction of the paper. We also tried to discourage the use of plastics by handing out stainless steel water bottles to the meeting’s attendees.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Linked video:Watch “Environment, Health, You,” a video produced by the APHA Environment Section in honor of its 100-year anniversary. (12:39)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

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Evolving with the timesOriginallyfoundedin1911asAPHA’sEngineeringSection,thegroup’soriginalmissionwasreflectiveofitsname.

“Ifyoulookatwhatwashappeningintheearly20thcentury,therewasalotofdevelopmentalemphasisonbasicinfrastructure,”Dearryexplained.“Housing,sanitation,landusage,waterquality—theseweremajorissuesbackthen,justastheyaretoday,and,inmanyways,theybecametheoriginforboththeEnvironmentSection,aswellastheenvironmentalhealthfielditself.”

EventuallybecomingtheEnvironmentSectionin1970,itsmissionhasevolvedtohelpingshapepolicy,byenhancingresearchandpublicawarenessofenvironmentallyinfluenceddisease,fosteringallianceswithlike-mindedorganizations,andmonitoringallrelevantscienceandpolicypertainingtothefieldofenvironmentalhealth.

“ThebuiltenvironmentisoneareawhereIfeelwe’vereallymadestridesinmytimewiththesection,”Dearrynotedofthefieldthatisdedicatedtostudyingtheplanningandconstructionofcommunities,homes,andworkplaces,andhowthesefactorsinfluencehumanhealth.“Wespendnearly80percentofourtimeinthesestructures.Sowhenitcomestoissueslikeindoorairquality,theneedforresearchisclear,andthissectionhascontributedagreatdealtoourunderstandingofthatarea.”

Back to the future: reuniting environmental healthInsupportofthe“HealthyCommunitiesPromoteHealthyMindsandBodies”themeofthe139thannualmeetingofAPHA,NIEHSSeniorAdvisorforPublicHealthJohnBalbus,M.D.,organizedadistinguishedpanelofleadingexpertstodiscusspastapproachesandfutureopportunitiesinenvironmentalandoccupationalhealth.

• NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,presentedthecurrentstateofresearchonimmunotoxicpropertiesofchemicals,includinginteractionsbetweenchemicalexposuresandinfectiousdiseases.

• EllenSilbergeld,Ph.D.,anNIEHSgranteewiththeJohnsHopkinsSchoolofPublicHealth,spokeonantimicrobialresistancegenesasenvironmentalpollutants.

• ChristopherPortier,Ph.D.,formerNIEHSsenioradvisorandnowdirectoroftheNationalCenterforEnvironmentalHealthandAgencyforToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegistryattheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,describedenvironmentalpublichealthtrackingtopreventmorbidityandmortality.

• DavidMichaels,Ph.D.,AssistantSecretaryofLaborforOccupationalSafetyandHealthattheU.S.DepartmentofLabor,discussedcurrentfederaleffortstobettercoordinateandintegrateenvironmentalandoccupationalprogramactivities.MichaelsisalsochairoftheNTPExecutiveCommittee.

The NIEHS exhibit received best-in-show honors for overall appearance and visitor communication effectiveness. Pictured, left to right, are Dana McNally, graphic designer and contractor for Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP); Christine Flowers, NIEHS director of communications; Bono Sen, Ph.D., EHP science education and outreach program manager; and Rita Hanson, EHP managing editor. (Photo courtesy of Chip Hughes)

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Thinking about the future“Thisyear,wewantedtocreateathemethatcommemoratedthesection’spast,andlookedaheadtobothitsfutureandthefutureofourfield,”Dearryadded.“Asenvironmentalhealthprofessionals,whataretheopportunitiesfacingusinthedaysandyearsahead?Moreover,whowilltacklethosechallenges?That’swhyit’suptoustoeducatepeopleasbestwecan,andengagenewstudentsandprospectivenewmembersofthefieldtogetinvolvednow,sothatwecanfacetheseissuestogethermovingforward.”

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunications&PublicLiaison.)

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NIEHS grantee student honored with Wetterhahn Award By Rebecca Wilson

MonicaRamirez-AndreottaisthefourteenthrecipientoftheannualKarenWetterhahnMemorialAward.Theaward,whichrecognizesanoutstandinggraduateorpostdoctoralresearcherwhodemonstratesscientificexcellence,waspresentedattheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgram(SRP)annualmeetingOct.25inLexington,Ky.Ramirez-Andreottaiscreditedforhercommitmenttoengagingresidentsofthelocalcommunityinherresearchandempoweringthemwithherresults.

Ramirez-AndreottaisadoctoralstudentundertheguidanceofNIEHSgranteeRainaMaier,Ph.D.,intheCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciencesattheUniversityofArizona(UA).Uponcompletionofhermaster’sdegreeatColumbiaUniversity,Ramirez-AndreottatookapositionastheResearchTranslationCoordinatorwithinUA’sSRPcenter.Asthecoordinator,shewasparticularlyactiveinbuildingpartnershipswithU.S.andMexicangovernmentagencies,creatingWeb-basedandotherinnovativebilingualcommunicationtools,andparticipatinginlocalcommunityevents.

Currently,Ramirez-Andreottaisundertakingseveralprojects,oneofwhichshehasnamedGardenroots.Inthisproject,sheisconductingresearchtounderstandhowmetalsarebeingtakenupbyvegetablesplantedinhomegardensadjacenttotheIronKingMineandHumboldtSmelterSuperfundsiteinDewey-Humboldt,Ariz.Inadditiontoteamingupwithlocalgardenerstocollectsamples,sheisalsoconductingacontrolledlaboratorystudyevaluatingvegetableuptakeinagreenhousesetting.ThefinalpartofherprojectaimstodevelopeffectivewaysofcommunicatingprojectresultstotheDewey-Humboldtcommunity.

Astheawardee,Ramirez-Andreottawillreceivesupporttoattendamajorscientificconference,inadditiontotravelfundstoattendnextyear’sSRPannualmeetingwhereshewillpresentherresearch.

(RebeccaWilsonisanenvironmentalhealthinformationspecialistwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTrainingSRP.)

Bill Suk, Ph.D., director of the NIEHS SRP, congratulates Ramirez-Andreotta at the recent SRP annual meeting. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Rey Au)

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NIEHS expands minority outreach at fall conferencesNIEHSjoinedtheranksofotheragenciesandprivatecompaniestoencourageHispanic/ChicanoandNativeAmericanstudentstopursuehighereducationandobtainadvanceddegrees.ErickaReid,Ph.D.,fromtheNIEHSOfficeofScienceEducationandDiversityandpostdoctoralfellowAnshulPandya,Ph.D.,fromtheLaboratoryofNeurobiology,representedtheInstituteOct.27-30attheSocietyforAdvancementofChicanosandNativeAmericansinScience(SACNAS)NationalConference.The2011conference,titled“EmpoweringInnovationandSynergyThroughDiversity,”washeldinSanJose,Calif.,andattractedtalentedstudentsfromaroundthecountry.

Connecting with young scientists Withmorethan3,600studentsinattendance,NIEHSwasabletofocusonitsgoalsofrecruitmentandoutreach.NIEHS’boothintheexhibitionsectionoftheconferencewasfrequentedbystudentslookingforfutureopportunitiesinscienceresearch,includinginternshipsandfellowships.

Remembering Karen WetterhahnKarenWetterhahn,Ph.D.,wasprofessorofchemistryatDartmouthCollegeandanestablishedauthorityontheeffectsofheavymetalsonbiologicalsystems.Asadedicatedteacherandmentor,sheplayedanintegralroleintheadministrationofthesciencesatDartmouthandservedastheprogramdirectoroftheDartmouthCollegeSuperfundResearchProgramfrom1995to1997.

Inadditiontooverseeingtheprogram,shestudiedtheeffectsoftoxicheavymetalsoncellularprocesses.Anacknowledgedinternationalexpertinchromiumcarcinogenicity,Wetterhahnwasaleaderinconductingresearchonhowmetalsinitiatecancerandothermetal-inducedhumandiseasesatthemolecularlevel.Shefosteredlinksbetweenbiology,chemistry,environmentalstudies,engineering,andthemedicalschool.“Thelifesciencesareinterdisciplinary,”Wetterhahninsisted.

WetterhahndiedonJune8,1997atage48,astheresultofdimethylmercurypoisoningcausedbytheaccidentalspillofafewdropsofthechemicalonherlatexglove-coveredhand.

AsawayofhonoringthelifeandscientificaccomplishmentsofWetterhahn,theSRPhasestablishedanannualawardtorecognizeanoutstandinggraduatestudentorpostdoctoralresearcherwhobestdemonstratesthequalitiesofscientificexcellenceexhibitedbyWetterhahn.

For more than 30 years, SACNAS has been encouraging Hispanic/Chicano and Native American students to pursue science research, leadership, and teaching careers at all levels. SACNAS was named the National Science Board’s premier minority science organization promoting diversity in science careers, and was the winner of the 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.

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“Itisarewardingexperienceformetotalktoyoungstudentsofminoritybackgrounds,”saidReid,whoisworkingtoenhanceNIEHS’educationanddiversityoutreach.“The[NIH]SummerInternshipProgramwasapopulartopic,andI’mhopefulthatinterestwilltranslateintoanincreaseinthenumberofapplicantsfromdifferentstates.”

Atahigherlevel,graduatestudentsandPh.D.candidatesinquiredabouttheopportunitiesavailableatNIEHS.“Beingapostdoctoralfellow,IwasaskedaboutmypersonalexperienceofworkingattheNIEHS,”accountedPandya,whowasattendinghisfirstconferenceinanoutreachanddiversitycapacity.“Therewasamisconceptionamongalotofstudentsthat,asitsnamesuggests,NIEHSwasinvolvedonlyinenvironmentalresearch.EventsliketheSACNASconferenceenableustoconveyourInstitute’srobusthealthandbiomedicalscienceresearch.”

“ThosewhovisitedtheNIEHSboothwerealsotoldabouttheexcitingresearchbeingcarriedoutintheintramuraldivisionoftheNIEHS,andthefundingopportunitiesandgrantsavailablethroughtheNIEHS,”Pandyaadded.

FollowingtheSACNASconference,Reid’stravelstookhertoSt.LouisNov.9-12fortheAnnualBiomedicalResearchConferenceforMinorityStudentsonNovember9-12.There,shewasjoinedbyDanielleWatt,Ph.D.,anIntramuralResearchTrainingAward(IRTA)fellowintheNIEHSDNAReplicationFidelityGroup.“Meetingstudentsface-to-facenotonlyincreasesthepublicprofileoftheInstitute,butitalsospreadsawarenessaboutgovernment-fundedenvironmentalandhealthresearch,”saidReid.

In addition to raising awareness about NIEHS research training opportunities, Reid’s Office of Science Education and Diversity handles the director’s national community forum series, as well as information sessions and facility tours. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Pandya, an IRTA fellow in the NIEHS Ion Channel Physiology Group, enjoyed his first conference in an outreach and recruitment role, and helped provide insights into NIEHS career and research opportunities. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Hughes honored for worker training efforts By Ian Thomas

NIEHSWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram(WETP)DirectorChipHugheswasrecognizedbytheNationalCouncilforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(COSH)withtheprestigiousTonyMazzocchiAwardforhisworkindevelopingenvironmentalhealtheducationprogramsforpeopleinhigh-riskoccupationsandcommunities.Presentedatthisyear’sNationalWorkerHealthandSafetyTrainingConferenceandSummitOct.28-29inBaltimore,theawardrecognizesexcellenceonthepartofthosewhopromotethehealthandsafetyrightsofworkers.

“Ittrulyisanhonortoreceivethisaward,”Hughessaid.“Ultimately,workertrainingandeducationisallaboutgivingpeoplethetoolsthattheyneedtoleadhealthierlives,andIfeelsoveryfortunatetohavemademycareercontributingtosuchanoblecause.”

Inadditiontohismanyachievementsinworkereducationandtraining,Hugheshasalsobeeninstrumentalincoordinatingthefederalgovernment’sresponseduringseveralnationaldisasters,amongthem9/11,HurricaneKatrina,andtheGulfoilspill.

“ThisawardisadirectreflectionoftheincredibleworkthatChipandtheWETPstaffaredoing,”saidNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.“Hisdedicationandwealthofexperienceinleveragingfederalresourceshaveresultedinsaferandhealthierworkers.”

AgraduateoftheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill,HughesjoinedWETPin1990withanextensivebackgroundinworkertrainingandenvironmentaljustice.

“IfirstmetChipbackin1993whenheandhisstaffwereworkingtohelpgetthe[U.S.]DepartmentofEnergy’s(DOE)NuclearWorkerTrainingProgramofftheground,”recalledDeborahWeinstock,thedirectoroftheNationalClearinghouseforWorkerSafetyandHealthTrainingwhointroducedHughesfortheaward.“IwasworkingwithDOEatthetimeand,backthen,Icouldneverhaveimaginedthat,twentyyearslater,we’dstillbeworkingtogether.”

Havinglongsinceestablishedhimselfasagovernmentalfixtureintheenvironmentaljusticearena,Hugheshasneverwaveredinhisbeliefthatthecommunity’sbestinterests,andthoseofitsworkers,shouldalwayscomefirst.

“Chiphasalwaysbeenafirmbelieveringivingthecommunitiesaffectedbythesedisastersavoiceintheresponseandcleanupprocess,”Weinstockexplained.“Forthatreason,healsobelievesinleveragingfederalresources,bypartneringwithotheragencies,togetthingsdone.”

Formedin1972,theNationalCOSHisaprivate,non-profitcoalitionoflaborunions,healthandtechnicalprofessionals,andothersinterestedinpromotingandadvocatingforworkerhealthandsafety.Atpresent,thereare21COSHgroupsaroundthecountry.

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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Hughes was among the first to be on the scene during 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill, and numerous other national disasters, promoting the safety and well-being of workers and responders. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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SRP grantees gather in Lexington for annual meeting By Rebecca Wilson

AttheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgram(SRP)annualmeeting,morethan250researchers,trainees,andcolleaguesgatheredinLexington,Ky.,Oct24-25tosharethelatestinresearchandtechnologyadvances.ThemeetingfeaturedthetalentsofveteranandtraineeSRPresearchers,whowereabletocommunicatetheirfindingsandlearnfromothers’efforts.

Thescientificsessions,ontopicsrangingfromsystemicimpactsofpollutantsonhumanstosustainableremediationtechniques,wereflankedwithsatellitemeetingsonthedaysbeforeandafterthemainmeeting.Researchers,whohavereceivedresearchproject(R01)grants,gatheredthedaybeforetoupdateprogramstaffandtheirfellowresearchersontheirworkinnanotechnologyandphytoremediation.Afterthemainsession,ResearchTranslationandCommunityEngagementCoreleadersgatheredtolearnmoreaboutriskcommunicationandstrategiesforinteractingwiththemedia,andeffectivelycommunicatingtheresultsoftheirresearch.

Trainees taste life beyond the bench Themeetingalsoshowcasedtheprogram’scommitmenttotraininggraduateandpostdoctoralresearchersincross-disciplinaryresearchthatisattheheartoftheSRPstrategicplan.Threesessionsfeaturedpresentationsbytraineesandpostdoctoralresearchersand,attheendofeachsession,aResearchTranslationCoreleadersummarizedtheimplicationofthepresenters’workforresearchtranslationandcommunityengagement.

Inadditiontopresentations,traineeswereinvitedtoparticipateinapaneldiscussionfeaturingNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,andotherprofessionalsfromacademiaandindustry.Traineeswereabletotalkabouttheircareersandlearnthatthereislifebeyondthebench(seestory).

Themeetingwrappedupwithawardsgiventoseveraltrainees.MonicaRamirez-Andreotta,Ph.D.,oftheUniversityofArizona,wasnamedthewinnerofthe14thannualKarenWetterhahnMemorialAward(seestory).

Sixstudentsalsoreceivedprizesfortheireffortsintheannualstudentpostercontest.Inthenon-biomedicalpostersession,thewinnerswereCorinHammond,UniversityofArizonaSRPCenter;DenaCologgi,MichiganStateUniversity;andRichardMeggo,UniversityofIowaSRPCenter.Inthebiomedicalcategory,FabianGrimm,UniversityofIowaSRPCenter;LaurenTetz,UniversityofMichigan-NortheasternUniversitySRPCenter;andBeiZhang,UniversityofKentuckySRPCenter,wereawardedtopplaces.

(RebeccaWilsonisanenvironmentalhealthinformationspecialistwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgramandWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

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Meeting attendees received a call to the post by a bugler from Keeneland, one of Kentucky’s historic racetracks. (Photo courtesy Joseph Rey Au)

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Teachers visit NIEHS for science literacy workshop By Darshini Trivedi

Withtoday’srapidlyemergingtechnologiesandnewscientificissues,K-12educatorsaremorechallengedthanevertopreparethemselvesandtheirstudentsforthefuture.Tohelpbridgetheknowledgegap,NIEHSplayedhosttotheNorthCarolinaAssociationforBiomedicalResearch(NCABR)Nov.10forascienceliteracyworkshop.Thedaylongevent,whichbroughtteachersfromacrossthestate,providedanoverviewofthebiomedicalresearchprocessbasedonNCABR’scomprehensiveRxforScienceLiteracycurriculummanual(seetextbox).

NCABRisastatewidenonprofitorganizationdedicatedtoadvancingthepublic’sappreciationforbiomedicalresearch.Sinceitsfoundingin1989,NCABRhaslaunchedseveralscienceeducationandoutreachprogramssuchastheRxforScienceLiteracyworkshopseries,whichhashelpedteach3,600educatorsfrom94ofNorthCarolina’s100countiesaboutthelatestinscience.Attheworkshops,educatorstouraresearchfacility,hearfromscientistsabouttheirlatestresearchadvances,andtakehomeafreecurriculumandotherbioscienceeducationmaterials.

The what, where, how, and why of health science researchErickaReid,Ph.D.,andJohnSchelp,fromtheNIEHSOfficeofScienceEducationandDiversity,tooktheleadinorganizingtheworkshopthatdrewspeakersfromaroundtheInstitute.ThedaybeganwithwelcomingremarksfromSharonBeard,anindustrialhygienistwiththeWorkerEducationandTrainingProgramatNIEHS.

MichaelHumble,Ph.D.,ahealthscientistadministratorintheCellular,Organs,andSystemsPathobiologyBranch,gaveanoverviewofthecurriculum,whichincludedseverallessonplansaboutscienceandbiomedicalresearch,aswellasclassroomactivitiesdesignedtopromotecreativityandcriticalthinking.

Next,apresentationonthehumaneuseofanimalsinenvironmentalhealthresearchwasdeliveredbyTerryBlankenship-Paris,D.V.M.,headoftheComparativeMedicineBranch.Blankenship-Paris

As opening speaker, Beard welcomed teachers from across the state to NIEHS. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

Humble guided teachers through the Rx for Science Literacy curriculum, as well as some hands-on activities. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

Blankenship-Paris noted the important contribution of animal models to biomedical research progress. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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emphasizedtheimportanceoftheuseofanimalsinresearch,bygivingexamplesofhistoricalcontributionsofanimalmodelstomedicalprogress.Shealsonotedthat96percentofanimalsusedinresearchtodayareratsandmice,andthatthecareanduseofanimalsinresearchisgovernedbyextensivefederalregulations.

TheremainderoftheprogramincludedpresentationsonbreastcancerandtheenvironmentbyLesReinlib,Ph.D.,aprogramadministratorintheSusceptibilityandPopulationHealthBranch,andtoxicogenomicsbyRickPaules,Ph.D.,aseniorscientistintheLaboratoryofToxicologyandPharmacology.

NCABRmemberswillreturntoNIEHSJune19,2012,foraworkshoptitled“Chemicals,theEnvironment,andYou.”Thissessionwillfocusonthescienceoftoxicology,tohelpteachersandstudentsunderstandtherelationshipbetweenchemicalsintheenvironmentandhumanhealth.Italsoconveystheinfluenceofchemicalsonthehealthoflivingorganisms.

(DarshiniTrivedi,Ph.D.,isapostdoctoralfellowintheNIEHSMetabolismandMolecularMechanismsGroup.)

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Rx for Science Literacy: The What, Where, How and Why of Health Science Research

TargetedtoK-12educators,theRxforScienceLiteracycurriculummanualexplainsthebiomedicalresearchprocess,thebenefitsofbiomedicalresearchtohumansandanimals,andthecareanduseofanimalsinmedicalscience.

The300-pagemanualcontainsresourcematerialsforin-classuse,includinghandouts,lessonplans,andactivitiestoassistteachers.Topicscoveredinclude:• Processesandbenefitsofbiomedicalresearch• Careersandethicalissuesinmedicalscience• InformationforteachersofhealthoccupationsthatexplainshowthemanualcorrespondstotheNationalHealthcareSkillStandards

ThemanualhasbeenselectedbytheN.C.DepartmentofPublicInstructionastheprimarycurriculumforitsbiomedicaltechnologycourse,andhasbeencontinuouslyupdatedandexpandedsinceitsinitiallaunchin1994.

A highlight of the day was the tour of the NIEHS facilities. After seeing the high-tech equipment used for research, one of the teachers said, enthusiastically, “I am absolutely amazed by everything!” (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

Reinlib discussed the latest findings pertaining to environmental factors related to breast cancer. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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Science NotebookPanel peer reviews NTP low-level lead draft By Robin Mackar

Anine-memberindependentpeerreviewpanel,convenedbytheNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP),reviewedtheDraftNTPMonographonHealthEffectsofLow-levelLeadNov.17-18atNIEHS.

ThepanelconcurredwiththeoverallNTPconclusionthat“thereissufficientevidenceforadversehealtheffectsinchildrenandadultsatbloodPb[lead]levelsbelow10µg/dL[microgramsperdeciliter]andbelow5µg/dLaswell.”

ThemonographistheresultofanextensivereviewofthecurrentscientificliteraturebytheNTPOfficeofHealthAssessmentandTranslation(OHAT),formerlytheCenterfortheEvaluationofRiskstoHumanReproduction,inresponsetoanominationbytheNationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(NIOSH)foranNTPevaluationtoassessthereproductiveanddevelopmentaleffectsofleadexposures.OHATexpandedthescopeoftheevaluationtoincludeawiderrangeofhealtheffects,includingcardiovascular,renal,immune,andneurologicaleffectsinchildrenandadults,tomaximizetheutilityoftheevaluationandreflectOHAT’smorebroad-basedfocusonhealthassessment.

ThedraftmonographwasreleasedforpubliccommentonOct.14.Publiccommentersweregiventimetopresentatthemeeting,beforeOHAThealthscientistsgavebriefpresentationsonthebasisfortheNTPconclusionsforspecifichealtheffectsoflead,andsummaryconclusionsforeachhealtharea.

ThepanelacceptedandagreedwiththeNTPsummaryconclusionsforassociationsofcardiovascular,renal,andimmunehealthoutcomeswithleadexposuresresultinginbloodleadlevelsbelow10µg/dL.Toreflecttheevidenceforeffectsatlowerbloodleadlevels,thereviewerssuggestedchangingthedraftsummaryconclusionsofsufficientevidenceforassociationswithneurologicaleffectsinchildren,andreproductiveeffectsinadultwomen,includingreducedfetalgrowthandlowerbirthweight,from10µg/dLto5µg/dL.

Some of the world’s most notable lead researchers, including Bruce Lanphear, M.D., senior scientist at the Child and Family Research Institute, and Pam Factor-Litvak, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, were members of the peer review panel who met at NIEHS to review the draft NTP monograph on health effects of low-level lead. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

Peer review panel member Guallar offered much input to the NTP on the draft monograph, and provided suggestions on how OHAT could even more systematically evaluate the literature used in their documents. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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Regulatory and public health implicationsNext,theNTPwillcarefullyconsiderthepeerreviewpanelandpubliccomments,revisethedocumentasneeded,andmoveforwardonfinalizingthemonograph.Theprocessshouldbecompletedinearly2012,whenthefinishedmonographwillbepostedtotheNTPwebsite.

Therewilllikelybepublichealthimplications,inadditiontotheregulatoryimpactsofthemonograph’sconclusions.Forexample,NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,speculatedthatthescienceemergingonthepotentialdangerofprenatalleadexposurescouldresultinpublichealthactionsimilartoadvisoriestowomenofchildbearingagetoavoideatingfishladenwithhighlevelsofmercury.“WhatI’veheardtodayleadsinthesamedirectionfordiscussionaboutlead,”shesaid.“Icertainlyknowthatmostyoungwomenwhoarepregnantarenotbeingmeasuredfortheirleadlevels.Ithinkthat’samessagewemightwanttotrytogetout.”

PanelmemberEliseoGuallar,M.D.,Dr.P.H.,oftheJohnsHopkinsUniversityBloombergSchoolofPublicHealth,notedthatalthoughthemonograph’sconclusionssettheleadexposurelevelsatwhichassociatedhealtheffectsareseenlowerthanever,“we’restillfindingthatthelowerwego,westillfindeffectsoflead,andIthinkwestillhaven’tseentheendofit.Thisisnotanareawherewe’redoneyet,”Guallarpredicted.

(RobinMackaristhenewsdirectorintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

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ISES meeting challenges exposure science By Ernie Hood

Atthe2011annualmeetingoftheInternationalSocietyofExposureScience(ISES)Oct23-27inBaltimore,Md.,GwenCollman,Ph.D.,directoroftheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining(DERT),andDavidBalshaw,Ph.D.,alsowithDERT,highlightedavisionforexposurescienceandchallengesforthefield.

The peer review panel for the low-level lead meeting was chaired by Joel Pounds, Ph.D., of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Pounds appears third from the left at the head table with Birnbaum, DNTP Director John Bucher, Ph.D., Kristina Thayer, Ph.D., director of OHAT, and Andrew Rooney, Ph.D., OHAT senior health scientist. Thayer, Rooney, and Abee Boyles, Ph.D., of OHAT made overview presentations of the NTP findings. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

Epidemiologist Elizabeth Whelan, Ph.D., from NIOSH, represented her agency at the NTP meeting. The nomination for evaluating health effects of low-level lead exposures came from NIOSH. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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Co-sponsoredbyNIEHS,theISESmeetingisoneofthepremierinternationalexposurescienceevents,bringingtogetherscientists,engineers,andpolicymakersfromavarietyofdisciplines,tohighlightsignificantachievementsandraiseawarenessfortheroleofexposurescienceinenvironmentalhealth.

Inherkeynoteaddress,titled“ExposureScienceandBeyond:ChallengesfortheFuture,”CollmanpresentedtheISESattendeesthreegrandchallengesforexposuresciencetoaddressasitmovesforward.Shecalledforexposurescientiststoextensivelycharacterizeexposuresduringpregnancy;designandimplementnovelapproachestomeasurepastexposures;andreducethecostsandincreasetheimpactofexposureassessment.

Shealsodiscussedtheextraordinarycomplexitiesofexposureanddiseaseinthe21stcentury,andtheneedtoshifttheemphasisinexposuresciencetoprevention,byenhancinglinkstopublichealthandbymakingdataandinformationfreelyavailableandaccessible.

Finally,CollmanpointedoutthenaturalalignmentbetweenNIEHSandISES.“It’simperativethatourorganizationscontinuetoworkcloselytogetherasweexpandandaccelerateoureffortstomeetthescientificchallengesweface,”shesaid.

BalshawwasalsopresentattheBaltimoremeetingtoparticipateinaclosingplenarysessionpaneldiscussioncalled“ThePastisPrologue:ReflectionsontheFutureofExposureScience.”Thepanel,co-chairedbyDebraKaden,Ph.D.,ofENVIRONandKirkSmith,Ph.D.oftheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,wasbasedonthepremisethatexposurescienceisnotusedinriskassessment,designinginterventions,andsettingpolicy,asmuchasitshouldbe.Thegroupdiscussedsomeofthereasonsforthoseshortcomings,andlaidoutsomeofthepotentialopportunitiesfortranslatingexposurescienceintothosedomains.

“Weneedtofocusonmakingexposuresciencerelevantandachievable,”saidBalshaw.“Forexample,thereisgreatinterestinthepotentialpoweroftheexposomeconcept—themeasureofalltheexposuresofanindividualinalifetimeandhowthoseexposuresrelatetodisease.Weneedtodeveloptheabilitytocharacterizeexposurecomprehensively,andenableanagnosticassessmentoftheconnectionsbetweenexposureanddisease.”

Duringthepaneldiscussion,heproposedfourareaswherehefeltthatISESneedstoconcentrateitseffortstomakethatconceptareality—prioritization,focusingonthemostrelevantenvironmentalcompounds;collaborationacrossdisciplineswithinexposurescience;integrationthroughassessingmultiplecomponentsofthepersonalenvironmentandtheinterfacebetweenexposureandbiologicalresponse;andinnovationthroughnewtools,capabilities,andthinkingoutsidethebox.

Nextyear’sISESannualmeetingwillbeheldOct.28-Nov.1,2012inSeattle.

Collman delivered the keynote address at this year’s annual meeting of ISES. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Balshaw is program administrator in the DERT Center for Risk and Integrative Sciences. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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(ErnieHoodisacontractwriterfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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Wood stove intervention can reduce childhood pneumonia By Ed Kang

Cookingstoveswithchimneyscanlowerexposuretoindoorwoodsmokeandreducetherateofseverepneumoniaby30percentinchildrenlessthan18monthsofage,accordingtoanewairpollutionstudyfundedbytheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS),partoftheNationalInstitutesofHealth.

ThestudyintheNov.10issueofTheLancetshowedthatratesofseverechildhoodpneumoniaweresignificantlyreducedinhouseholdsprovidedwithawoodstoveconnectedtoachimney,comparedwithhomeswhereopen,indoorwoodcookingfireswereused.TheleadresearchersattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,reportthatcarbonmonoxideexposurelevelswerereduced50percentonaverageinthehomesequippedwithchimneys.

ThoughchildhooddeathsfrompneumoniaarerelativelyuncommonintheUnitedStates,itkillsmorechildrenworldwidethananyotherdisease,andopenfiresusedforheatingandcookingarethoughttobeamajorcause.Pneumoniakillsanestimated1.4millionchildreneachyear.

“Exposuretosmokefromcookingstovesisamajorglobalpublichealthproblemthataffectsnearlyhalfoftheworld’spopulationandcontributestoapproximately2milliondeathsperyear,”saidLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,directorofNIEHSandtheNationalToxicologyProgram.“Thisisoneofthefirststudiesthatshowshowaninterventioncanreduceindoorairpollutionfromwoodsmoke,sopeoplecanlivehealthierlives.”Birnbaumnotedthatthepaper’s

About ISESTheInternationalSocietyofExposureScience(ISES),formerlytheInternationalSocietyofExposureAnalysis(ISEA),wasestablishedin1990tofosterandadvancethescienceofexposureanalysisrelatedtoenvironmentalcontaminants,bothforhumanpopulationsandecosystems.Thesociety’smembersincludeacademic,governmental,andprivatesectorscientistswhohaveacommoninterestinthefieldofexposurescience.Thesocietyactivelypromotesengagementandcommunicationamongalldisciplinesinvolvedinexposuresciencethroughitsannualmeetingsandscientificjournal,JournalofExposureScienceandEnvironmentalEpidemiology,andservesasaresourceforscientistsinotherdisciplines,governmentalofficials,andthepublic.Thesocietyendeavorstopromoterigoroususeofexposuresciencetostrengthenenvironmentalpolicyfortheprotectionofpublichealth.

Considered the gold standard of scientific experiments, the randomized, controlled exposure study in Guatemala measured differences between open burning (top) and cookstoves with chimneys. (photo courtesy of Kirk Smith)

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releasealsocoincideswithWorldPneumoniaDayonNov.12,whichisgearedtowardraisingawarenessoftheeffectsofpneumoniaglobally.

TheNIHRandomizedExposureStudyofPollutionIndoorsandRespiratoryEffects(RESPIRE)trialincludedatotalof534householdsinruralGuatemalawithapregnantwomanoryounginfant.Thestudyparticipantswererandomlyassignedtoreceivealocallydevelopedcookstovewithachimneyortocontinuecookingusingtraditionalopenwoodfires.Inall,265childrenwerefromthechimney-stovehomesand253childrenwereinthecontrolhomes.Trainedfieldworkersvisitedthehomeseveryweekfortwoyearstorecordthechildren’shealthstatus.Sickchildrenwithcoughandfastbreathingwerereferredtophysicians.

Althoughthestudydidnotsignificantlyreducethetotalnumberofdiagnosedchildhoodpneumoniacases,thereductioninseverepneumoniawouldlikelyresultinreducedchildhoodmortality,accordingtotheresearchers.

“Wefoundaslargeabenefitforseverepneumoniaasmorewell-knownpublichealthinterventions,suchasvaccinationsandnutritionsupplements,”saidKirkSmith,Ph.D.,leadresearcherforthestudyandaprofessorofglobalenvironmentalhealthattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.“Futureinvestmentsintoviable,large-scalestoveandfuelinterventionstoreducechildexposuretohouseholdairpollutionarecertainlyworthmaking.”

Citation:SmithKR,McCrackenJP,WeberMW,HubbardA,JennyA,ThompsonLM,BalmesJ,DiazA,AranaB,BruceN.2011.EffectofreductioninhouseholdairpollutiononchildhoodpneumoniainGuatemala(RESPIRE):arandomisedcontrolledtrial.Lancet378(9804):1717-1726.

(EdKangisapublicaffairsspecialistintheOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

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Neurotox27 focuses on environmentally triggered disorders By Ernie Hood

Thetimeforcharacterizationoftheroleofenvironmentalfactorsinneurodevelopmentaldisordershascome.Thiswasthetake-homemessageofthe27thInternationalNeurotoxicologyConferenceOct.30-Nov.2attheSheratonImperialHotelandConventionCenterinResearchTrianglePark(RTP),N.C.NIEHSandEnvironmentalHealthPerspectiveswereamongthesponsorsoftheevent,titled“EnvironmentallyTriggeredNeurodevelopmentalDisorders:FocusonEndocrineDisruptionandSexDifferencesinAutism,ADHD,andSchizophrenia.”

TheconferencewaslastheldinRTPin2005,andaccordingtoNIEHSprogramadministratorCindyLawler,Ph.D.,(seerelatedstory)holdingtheconferencelocallyboostedattendancetomorethan200.“Wewereabletodrawfromthelocaluniversities,andanumberofourintramuralscientistscametohearthetalks,aswell,”shesaid.“Theprogramresonates,astheseareissuesthatNIEHShasmadesignificantinvestmentsin—especiallyautism.”

Smith is considered by many to be the father of the cookstove movement. He has spent decades in places such as India, China, Guatemala, and Nepal, studying the effects of biomass burning and indoor air pollution. (photo courtesy of Kirk Smith)

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Cross-discipline dialogue proves valuableConferenceco-chairIsaacPessah,Ph.D.,aprofessorofmolecularbiosciencesanddirectoroftheCenterforChildren’sEnvironmentalHealthandDiseasePreventionattheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis,foundthedialoguethattookplacetobethemeeting’sgreatestvalue.“What’suniqueaboutthismeetingisthatitbroughtthiscrosscuttingparadigm,andIthinkalotoftheattendeesreallygotalotoutofit,becauseyoudon’tusuallypresentitthatway,”hesaid.“Usually,there’sanautismmeeting,there’saschizophreniameeting,there’sanADHDmeeting,andtheyareneverbroughttogetherwiththequestionsaboutwhatarethecommonalitiesandwhatarethedifferences.”

ThomasZoeller,Ph.D.,oftheUniversityofMassachusettsAmherst,whoco-chairedtheplenarysessiononendocrinedisruptioninautismspectrumdisorders,agreedwithPessah,andsaidthattheflowofideasatthemeetingamongscientistswhodon’tnormallytalktoeachotherhadaprofoundeffectuponhisownthinking.“I’vereallychangedmyperspectiveaboutthewaythattheenvironmentmightimpactbrainfunction,”hesaid.BothheandPessahareNIEHSgrantees.

WithsomanytopicsofinteresttoNIEHSontheagenda,theInstitutewaswell-representedattheconference.SerenaDudek,Ph.D.,headoftheNIEHSSynapticandDevelopmentalPlasticityGroup,providedattendeeswithatutorialonsynapticplasticityasacommontargetinneurodevelopmentaldisorders.

JeanHarry,Ph.D.,groupleaderoftheNTPNeurotoxicologyGroup,servedasoneofthemeeting’spostersessionco-chairsandnetworkingmentors,andalsoco-chairedasessionondevelopmentalneurotoxicologymechanisms.MamtaBehl,Ph.D.,andChristopherMcPherson,bothofwhomworkwithHarry,wererecognizedatthemeetingwithapostdocpresenterawardandgraduatestudentposteraward,respectively.

Also,DavidGoulding,oftheComparativeMedicineBranch,presentedaposteronhisworkwithHarryonneurobehavioralphenotypingofmice.Harry’sformerstudentStevenSzabo,M.D.,Ph.D.,whoisnowapsychiatryresidentatDukeUniversity,alsogaveaplatformpresentationandpresentedaposterbasedonhisworkwithHarryonthepotentialtherapeuticbenefitsoflithiumfortrimethyltinneurotoxicity.

(ErnieHoodisacontractwriterfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

Opening the meeting’s plenary sessions, Pessah presented the overview and rationale for the theme of the conference, which was designed to present attendees with the latest state of the science about the role of the endocrine system in environmentally triggered disorders. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Division of Extramural Research and Training Health Scientist Administrator Annette Kirshner, Ph.D., paid close attention to the scientific presentations on neurodevelopmental disorders, which comprise part of the grants portfolio she administers. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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A conversation on the state of autism research By Ernie Hood

AttheInternationalNeurotoxicologyConferenceOct.30-Nov.2(seerelatedstory),theEnvironmentalFactorsatdownforanin-depthinterviewwithHealthScienceAdministratorCindyLawler,Ph.D.,oftheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining.Lawlerleadsaportfolioofautism-relatedresearch,andshesharedherthoughtsaboutthemeetingandthestateofthescience.

The Factor: The content of this meeting seems to fit in well with the NIEHS mission and current research portfolio.Lawler:“Ithinkitdoes.Wehavehadaveryhealthyinvestmentinneurodevelopmentaltoxicologyformanyyears,butenvironmentalinsultsarenotoftengoingtoleadtoafrankdisease.Manyoftheoutcomeswe’relookingataremoresubtle,suchascognitiveimpairments.Wearemakinginroadsintohowenvironmentalinsultspotentiallycontributetoclinicaldisorders—autismisoneexample,butthere’sworkintheADHDfieldaswell,andnowschizophrenia.”

It seems that the field has moved beyond whether environmental insults have an impact upon those disorders to more focused research on specific interactions and mechanisms. Is that an accurate assessment?“Ithinkthat’saveryinsightfulcomment.WhenIcametoNIEHStenyearsago,peoplewerebeginningtobeconcernedaboutthebigriseinautism.Everypaperonautismwasaboutgenetics,genetics,genetics.Andnow,althoughprogressisneverfastenough,I’minapositiontoseewhatIconsidertobeverygoodscientificprogress.Evenamongtheautismgeneticsinvestigators,thereisacknowledgmentthatenvironmentisinvolved,andit’snolongerjustthatwe’lleventuallyfindgeneticcausesforeverysinglecase.Inonesenseit’sasmallstep,butthereisthisacknowledgmentthattherealanswerisgoingtohavetoinvolvelookingatbothenvironmentalandgeneticrisk.Thatdoesn’tmeanthatit’seasytodo—it’svery,verydifficult.”

Colborn honoredOneofthemeeting’shighlightswasthepresentationoftheTheoColbornAward,toColbornherself,byNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum.Colborn,whoin1996co-authoredtheseminaltext“OurStolenFuture,”washonoredforherroleasapioneerinresearchonendocrinedisruptingchemicalsbelievedtointerferewithhormonaldevelopment.SheisthefounderandpresidentofTheEndocrineDisruptionExchange(TEDX),theonlyenvironmentalorganizationthatfocusesontheproblemsassociatedwithendocrinedisruptionattributabletosyntheticchemicalsfoundinthegeneralenvironment.

Neurotox27 was well attended, as participants made their way to RTP to enjoy the many scientific presentations and discussions. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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“TherealcontinuedprogressinautismorADHDorschizophreniais,forourInstitute,goingtodependonthetypesofdevelopmentaltoolsandapproachesthatwe’rehearingaboutatthismeeting.Theyarenotgoingtocomefromresearcherstryingtolookforassociationsbetweenexposuresanddisease,they’regoingtocomefrom,forinstance,theexposuresciencearena,wherepeoplearedevelopingbetterwaystocaptureexposuresinthesamewaythatyoucancapturethewholegenome.”

Do you think any of the ideas we’ve heard about at this meeting approach being ready for translation into prevention, therapy, or even public health policy?“Ithinkmostofwhatwe’veheardhereismeanttobeprovocative.There’sasolidfoundationofproofofprinciple.Forexample,there’severyreasontobelievethattheimmunesystemisdysregulatedinautism.Andthere’sincreasingevidencethatdisruptedthyroidsignalingisinvolvedsomehow.Butthyroidsignalingisincrediblycomplex,andtheclinicalphenotypesthatarepresentarecomplexaswell.

Inthecaseofhowthatmightapplytosomethinglikeautismrisk,it’sreallydifficulttoseehowatthispointintimeyoucouldapplythatknowledgedirectly.Thatdoesn’tmeanthatthat’snotwherewehopetogowithit,butIthinknowitwouldbealittleprematuretothinkaboutalotofdirecttranslationtotheclinic.

Inthecaseofendocrinedisruptors,ourInstitutehasareallystronginterestinthat,buttheyareaclassofchemicalsthathasnotbeenamajorfocusofworkintheautismarena.There’sbeenalittlebitofworkwithcompoundsthatactthroughthethyroid,affectinghormonesignaling,butoverallthey’vebeenalittlebitneglected,sothismeetingismeanttostimulateinterest.”

(ErnieHoodisacontractwriterfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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NIEHS figures prominently at annual GEMS meeting By Ernie Hood

OxidativestressandtheroleofmetalsandmetalloidsincancerwasthecentralthemeatthefallmeetingoftheGeneticsandEnvironmentalMutagenesisSociety(GEMS),whereNIEHSandNTPstaffplayedaprominentrole.BeginningwithakeynotepresentationbyNTPtoxicologistMichelleHooth,Ph.D.,the29thannualmeetingwasroundedoutbyapresentationfromJeffreyStumpf,Ph.D.,apostdoctoralfellowintheNIEHSMitochondrialDNAReplicationGroup,andawinningposterpresentationbyShayCovo,Ph.D.,avisitingfellowintheChromosomeStabilityGroup.

Lawler, front, second from right, represented NIEHS on the panel discussing endocrine disruption and sex differences in autism at the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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About100GEMSmembersfromtheTrianglearea,includingmanyfromNIEHS,attendedthegroup’ssemiannual,daylonggatheringNov.8attheUniversityofNorthCarolinaWilliamandIdaFridayCenterforContinuingEducationinChapelHill,N.C.Historically,eachmeetinghasitsownscientifictheme,andaccordingtooutgoingGEMSPresidentSteveLittleandincomingPresidentNaguKeshava,Ph.D.,bothofwhomworkattheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andorganizedthemeeting,thisconference’scoreconceptwasanatural.“Wefeltthatoxidativestressisverytimelyatthispoint,becausealotofworkisgoingoninsomeofthesemetalsandmetalloids,”saidKeshava.

“Traditionally,wehavefocusedongenotoxicitywithinGEMS,andhowitleadstoDNAdamageandcancer,”addedLittle.“Thosehavebeenbigtopicsandthismeeting’sthemereallyfitinwellwiththattraditionalareaofsciencethatwe’vetendedtofollow.”

Themeetinghighlightedthreefullscientificpresentations.DavidThomas,Ph.D.,fromtheEPANationalHealthandEnvironmentalEffectsResearchLaboratory,spokeonarsenicmetabolism;AdrianaOller,Ph.D.,fromtheNickelProducersEnvironmentalResearchAssociation,discussednickelcarcinogenicity;andHoothpresentedacomprehensivelookattheNTP’stwo-yearrodentbioassaysofhexavalentchromium,themosttoxicformofthemetalloidandadrinkingwatercontaminantofpublichealthconcern.Shesaidthatthestudiesshowedincreasedincidencesoftumorsinmaleandfemaleratsandmicethatweregivenhexavalentchromiumintheirdrinkingwater.ShealsonotedthatanumberofstateandfederalregulatoryagencieshaveusedtheNTPhexavalentchromiumdatatoaidriskassessmentsforhumanhealthimplications.

Stumpfwasamongtheparticipantsintheplatformpresentationcompetitionamongjuniorresearchers,describinghisgroup’sworkontheroleofPOLGmutationsinsensitivitytoDNA-damagingenvironmentalagentsleadingtoacquiredmitochondrialtoxicities.

Therewasalsoapostercompetitionamongstudentsandpostdocs,witha$250cashprizeinbothcategories.Covotookthehonorsinthepostdoccompetition,withaposteronpreventionofaneuploidybysisterchromatidcohesion.

(ErnieHoodisacontractwriterfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

Covo, right, had the winning poster among the postdocs at the 29th annual GEMS fall meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

In one of the meeting’s keynote addresses, Hooth described findings on oral exposures to hexavalent chromium, a drinking water contaminant. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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A genomics approach toward understanding autism By Brant Hamel

ValerieHu,Ph.D.,visitedNIEHSNov.2aspartofthecontinuingKeystoneScienceLectureSeminarSeriessponsoredbytheDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining.Hu’spresentation,titled“AnIntegrativeGenomicsApproachtowardUnderstanding,Diagnosis,andPersonalizedTreatmentofAutismSpectrumDisorders,”exploredhowgenomicsdatamayhelptounderstandthecauses,andimprovethediagnosisandtreatment,ofautismspectrumdisorders.

HuisaprofessorofbiochemistryandmolecularbiologyattheGeorgeWashingtonUniversitySchoolofMedicineandHealthSciences.Althoughshehasresearchedmanyscientificareasovertheyears,shebecameinterestedinautismsevenyearsagoforaverypersonalreason—shehasasonwhoisaffectedbythedisorder.Herresearchhasledhertoexplorehowdividingautismcasesintosubgroupscanpromotetheidentificationofgenesassociatedwiththedisorder.Additionally,sheisinvestigatingtheroleofepigeneticmechanismsandenvironmentalfactorsthatmayinfluencethediseasepathology.

Stumpf, right, was among the junior investigators who presented their work at the GEMS meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

As it usually does at its fall meeting, GEMS conducted a considerable amount of business at the conference. A slate of new officers was elected, including Keshava, right, taking over the reins as president-elect from Steve Little. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

In a moment of jocularity, Hu noted the mildest case of autism spectrum disorder often results in personalities similar to many scientists she has encountered. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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A biological diagnosis for autismHuexplainedthatautismcannotbethoughtofasasingledisease,butratheracollectionofdisordersthatspansabroadcontinuum,withmajorsymptomsincludingdeficienciesinsocialinteraction,languageorcommunicationabnormalities,restrictedorrepetitivebehaviors,andsavant-likeskillsinabout10percentofcases.Duetothevarietyofsymptomsandseveritiesofautismspectrumdisorder,itisbelievedtohavemultipleetiologies.

Currently,autismspectrumdisorderisonlydiagnosedthroughbehavioralobservations,suchastheAutismDiagnosticInterviewRevised(ADIR)assessment.Classicalgeneticstudieshavenotbeensuccessfulinassociatinggeneswithincreasedriskforautism,perhapsduetoitsheterogeneousnature.Hu’sinsightledhertouseADIRscorestoclassifyautismspectrumdisordersintosubgroups,priortoanalyzinggenome-wideassociationdata.Interestingly,shefoundsinglenucleotidepolymorphisms,orSNPs,uniquetoeachsubgroupthatcouldallowautismtobediagnosedwithover98percentaccuracy.Thisdiscoverycouldeventuallyleadtoabiologicaldeterminationofautism,tosupplementcurrentbehavioralobservationsthathavemultipledrawbacks.

Personalized treatment optionsArmedwiththeknowledgethatautismhasavarietyofcausesandsymptoms,Huusedgeneexpressionprofilingoflymphoblastoidcelllinestolookatgenesuniquetocertainsubclassesofautismspectrumdisorder.Inthecaseofindividualswhodisplayedthemostseverelanguagedisruptions,shefoundanumberofgeneslinkedtocircadianrhythmthatsuggestedpotentialtreatmentoptions.Forexample,theAANATgene,whichencodesanenzymenecessaryfortheproductionofmelatonin,wasfoundtobeuniquelylinkedtothissubtype,suggestingthatmelatonintreatmentmaybeusefulinalleviatingsomeofthecommonsleepdeprivationsymptomscommonlyreportedinthispopulation.

Similarly,linkageofDYPD,agenecommonlydeletedinpatientswhosufferseizures,suggeststhatanticonvulsantmedicationsmaybenefitthissubgroupofautisticindividuals.Huhopesthat,inthefuture,byunderstandingthemechanismsbehindanindividualcaseofautism,doctorswillbeabletodeliverpersonalizedtreatmentplansbasedonthepatient’sspecificgeneexpressionprofile.

Exploring epigenetic and environmental factorsHuhasexpandedbeyondsimplylookingatgeneexpression,toincludestudiesthatexaminetheroleepigeneticmodificationmightplayininfluencingautism.Bycombininghergeneexpressionstudieswithglobalepigeneticanalysis,HudiscoveredthatRORA,anorphannuclearreceptorrelatedtotheretinoicacidreceptor,isspecificallymethylatedinautisticindividuals,leadingtoitsdecreasedproteinexpressioninthebrain.Furthermore,shewentontoshowthatestrogenupregulatestheexpressionofRORA,whiletestosteronedownregulatesitsexpression.CoupledwiththefactthatRORAregulatesanenzymethatconvertstestosteronetoestrogen,thismaypartiallyexplaintheobservationthatautismspectrumdisorderismorecommoninmalesthanfemales.Additionally,asRORAisthefirsthormonallyresponsivegenelinkedtoautism,itmaybealinkbetweenautismandendocrinedisruptingchemicalsintheenvironment,anareashewouldliketoexploreinthefuture.

(BrantHamel,Ph.D.,isapostdoctoralfellowintheNIEHSMolecularEndocrinologyGroup.)

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Duke symposium tackles later life consequences of early life exposures By Ian Thomas

TheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgramatDukeUniversitywelcomedtoxicologistsfromaroundthecountry,aswellasthegeneralpublic,totheWashingtonDukeInninDurham,N.C.,Nov.4forasciencesymposiumtitled“EarlyLifeExposuresandLaterLifeConsequences:MechanismsUnderlyingVulnerability.”HighlightedbyanarrayofpresentationsfromseveraloftheInstitute’sgrantees,thedaylongeventshowcasedthelatestinenvironmentalhealthresearchpertainingtothelaterlifeeffectsofearlydevelopmentexposures.

“Thereareanumberofdiseasesthatoccurthroughoutaperson’slifespan,whichwereinitiatedlongbeforetheactualdiagnosis,”saidNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,thesymposium’skeynotespeaker.“We’reseeingthiseveryday,particularlywithchildren.Fromasthmatolearningdifferences,orevensensitivitytoinfections,kidstodayfaceanincreasedriskforalloftheseandmore,andmuchofthatcanbetracedtoexposuresdatingasfarbackastheprenatalperiod.”

The environmental connectionAswasacommonthemethroughouttheday,newresearchisdrawinganever-clearerlinkbetweenenvironmentalexposuresandhumandisease.Perhapsnowhereisthisphenomenonmorevisiblethaninthedramaticriseofobesity.

“Two-thirdsoftheadultsinourcountryareoverweight,withabodymassindexgreaterthan25,andhalfofthosequalifyasobese,”explainedBirnbaum.“Someofthiscanbeattributedtotheeconomy,andthefactthatlessnutritiousfoodisusuallythemostaffordable.However,theresearchclearlyshowsthatenvironmentalfactors,suchaspaternalexposuretocigarettesmokeorcarexhaust,aredirectlyconnectedtothisoutcome.”

Still,thedrasticriseinnationalobesityisfarfromtheonlychallengefacingmainstreamAmericatoday,apointechoedbyIrvaHertz-Picciotto,Ph.D.,anautismspecialistfromtheUniversityofCalifornia(UC),Davis.“Inthelastthirtyyears,thenumberofautismcaseshasjumpedradicallyfrom1in700kidstoroughly1in110,”shesaid,notingtheextremerelevanceofthesestatisticstomales.“Atpresent,foreveryoneautisticgirl,we’reseeingfourautisticboys.”

Birnbaum set the tone for the meeting in her keynote speech addressing early life exposures. (Photo by Steve McCaw)

Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., an assistant professor of environmental chemistry at Duke and another NIEHS ONES awardee, discussed her research on chemical flame retardants. (Photo by Steve McCaw)

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The epigenetic edgeWhilemuchofthesymposiumwasdevotedtoconnectingthedotsbetweenearlyenvironmentalexposuresandlaterlifedisease,anothermajorthemeofthemeetinginvolvedtheneedforabroader,research-basedunderstandingofthisrelationshipatthecellularlevel.

“Epigeneticsexplainswhyaskincellisaskincell,oralungcellisalungcell,”Birnbaumobserved.“However,itcanalsobeusedtodemonstratehowtheenvironmentinfluencesourdevelopment,becauseitshowcaseshowthesefactorsaltertheexpressionofourgenes.”

NIEHSgranteeJoelMeyer,Ph.D.,agreed.“CertaintypesofinuteroexposureshavealertedustotheimportanceofmitochondrialDNAasatargetofdevelopmentalexposurewithlaterlifeconsequences,”saidMeyer,anassistantprofessorofenvironmentaltoxicologyatDukeandrecentNIEHSOutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientist(ONES)awardee.“Myconcernisthatenvironmentalpollutantsthataffectmitochondriamayhavesimilareffects.”

Looking through the windowResearchhaslongsinceshownthatdifferentpartsofthebodyhavedifferentwindowsofsusceptibilitytowardillness.However,inrecentyearsithasbecomeincreasinglyclearthatmanyofthesewindowsarepartially,ifnotsolely,dictatedbythedevelopmentalstageofthetissuesunderexposure.

“Thetimeofexposurecanhaveverydifferenteffectsonverydifferenttissues,”Birnbaumconcluded.“That’swhyit’svitalforthoseofuswhoweretrainedastoxicologistsgetbeyondtheonechemical,oneeffectparadigmandlookatthewholepicture,becauseit’sallafunctionofwhentheseexposuresareoccurringandwhere.”

ThesymposiumwassupportedbythenewlyrefundedNIEHSSuperfundResearchCenteratDuke,inconjunctionwiththeschool’sIntegratedToxicologyandEnvironmentalHealthProgram.

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistwiththeNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

Meyer focused on the effects of environmental pollutants on mitochondrial DNA as an area of concern. (Photo by Steve McCaw)

A rainy day at the Washington Duke Inn didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the symposium’s speakers or the researchers gathered to hear the latest in exposure science. (Photo by Steve McCaw)

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Brain development dependent on thyroid hormone By Robin Arnette

Invertebrates,thyroidhormoneregulatesmetabolism,influencesproteinproduction,andhelpsregulatethegrowthoflongbones.Now,scientistsatNIEHShavediscoveredanewmechanismforhowthisimportanthormonealsoregulatesbraindevelopment.

WorkfromtheMembraneSignalingGroup,ledbyDavidArmstrong,Ph.D.,providesthefirstmolecularevidencethatduringmousebraingrowth,thyroidhormonechangesthestrengthofnervecellconnections,orsynapses,inthehippocampus,byactivatingphosphatidylinositol3-kinase(PI3K).PI3Kisanenzymethatisessentialforcelldevelopmentandsurvival,andalteringsynapticstrengthinthebrain’shippocampusisbelievedtobecrucialforlearningandmemory.TheirfindingswerepresentedNov.12-16atthe2011SocietyforNeurosciencemeetinginWashington,D.C.

“Foracentury,peopleknewthatthyroidhormonewasessentialfornormalbrainfunction,buttheydidn’tknowwhy,”Armstrongsaid.“Scientistsassumedthatthyroidhormonewasregulatinggeneexpression,becausethereceptorforthyroidhormonebindstoDNAinthenucleus.”

Itturnsoutthatthyroidhormonealsohaseffectsinthecytoplasmofacell,joiningmanyotherhormonesthatstimulatePI3K.

Symposium Speakers• LindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,NIEHS/NTP

– Later life consequences of early life exposures

• HeatherStapleton,Ph.D.,DukeUniversity – Exposure to PBDE flame retardants during early development and associated health risks

• JoelMeyer,Ph.D.,DukeUniversity – Mitochondrial DNA as a target of developmental exposures

• MarkHahn,Ph.D.,WoodsHoleOceanographicInstitute

– The roles of conditional transcription factors in mechanisms of developmental toxicity: Insights from fish models

• IrvaHertz-Picciotto,Ph.D.,UCDavis – Autism and the environment: Early life risk factors as etiologic clues

• VirginiaRauh,Sc.D.,ColumbiaUniversity – Seven year neurodevelopment and prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos, a common agricultural pesticide

• TheodoreSlotkin,Ph.D.,DukeUniversity – How early life exposures to common pesticides can lead to metabolic dysfunction, diabetes, and obesity

• RobertTanguay,Ph.D.,OregonStateUniversity – Defining the role of microRNAs as mediators of developmental toxicity in zebrafish

• EdwardLevin,Ph.D.,DukeUniversity – Developmental pesticide impacts on cognitive and emotional function in zebrafish and rats

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Making the connectionArmstrongandhiscolleagues,NinaStorey,Ph.D.,andJohnO’Bryan,Ph.D.,whowereatNIEHSatthetime,firsttheorizedtherewasaconnectionbetweenthyroidhormoneandPI3K.Their2002paper,whichwaspublishedinthejournalCurrentBiology,showedthattherapideffectsofthyroidhormoneonpotassiumchannelactivityinratpituitarycellswereblockedbydrugsthatinhibitPI3K.

Intheselatestexperiments,Armstrong’steamgeneratedamousestrain,byremovingasingletyrosineinoneofthereceptorsforthyroidhormonecalledthyroidreceptorbeta(TRbeta).DoingsopreventedthyroidhormonefromstimulatingPI3K,withoutaffectingtheabilityofTRbetatobindDNA.AccordingtoFengxiaMizuno,Ph.D.,theresearchfellowinArmstrong’sgroupwhodidtheelectrophysiologywork,itdidsomethingelsethatnooneexpected.

“WhenIrecordedthestrengthofsynapsesinhippocampalneuronsfrommicewiththemutatedTRbeta,theyweremuchweakerthansynapsesinnormalmice,”Mizunoexplained.“Eventheadditionofthyroidhormoneorneuronalactivitycouldn’tstrengthenthem.”

Mizunoaddedthatweakersynapsesinthehippocampusmayplayaroleinlearningdisabilities,andshehopesthattheresearchwillhelpscientistsunderstandhowlearningandmemorywork,howthebraindevelops,andhowenvironmentalchemicalsthatdisruptthispathwaymakethebrainvulnerable.

Results bring more questionsArmstrongsaidhisconclusionsmadehimwonderwhetherthephysiologicalchangeshisteamobservedinindividualneuronshaveaneffectontheanimal’sbehavior.It’sthenextlogicalstepinhisexperiments,andthestudiesarecurrentlyunderwayincollaborationwithSherylMoy,Ph.D.,associateprofessorintheDepartmentofPsychiatryattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillSchoolofMedicine.

Inaddition,Armstrong’sgroupisattemptingtoputthehumanTRbetaintothemutantmicestraintoseeifitwillrescuetheeffect.Becausethehippocampusisanancientpartofthebrain,Armstronginsiststhereisn’tabigdifferenceatthecellularlevelbetweenhumansandmice.

BeingthefirstgrouptoshowthatthyroidhormonehasarapideffectonPI3Kproductionwasathrill,butuncoveringthemolecularmechanismandshowinghowasingleaminoacidchangeinoneproteincouldhavesuchaprofoundeffectonsynapticfunctionisjustasgripping.

“We’reexcitedthatourbasicresearchisturningouttohavephysiologicalsignificance,”Armstrongsaid.“Now,wehopetouseourunderstandingofthemechanismtoidentifychemicalsintheenvironmentthatdisruptthyroidhormonesignaling.”

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Armstrong said that the amino acid tyrosine that he mutated in TRbeta only occurs in mammals and doesn’t appear in reptiles or fish. “In essence, what we’ve done in the mice is to make them frog-like or fish-like,” he said. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Mizuno presented the group’s data at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience meeting. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Overcoming phosphate congestion in high energy signaling molecules By Emily Zhou

InanewstudypublishedinNatureChemicalBiology,NIEHSresearchersdescribe,forthefirsttime,thecrystalstructureofakeyinositolpyrophosphatekinase,PPIP5K2.HuanchenWang,Ph.D.,anIntramuralResearchTrainingAwardfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransduction(LST)and2012FellowsAwardforResearchExcellencewinner,wasfirstauthoronthepaperbyateamofresearchersfromtheLSTInositolSignalingGroup,NIEHSLaboratoryofStructuralBiology,andUniversityofTexasSouthwesternMedicalCenter.

Theenzyme’sproduct,bis-diphosphoinositoltetrakisphosphate(IP8),isemergingasaregulatorofthecompartmentalizationofcellsignalingenzymes,whichinturndeterminesthespecificityofsignalingresponses,suchasinsulinsignalingandneutrophilfunction,ininnateimmunity.

Inthestudy,atomicstructuresofthekinasedomainofhumanPPIP5K2wereanalyzed.“Theseanalysesprovidemolecularinsightintotheevolutionofaspecializedcatalyticenvironment,”commentedleadresearcherStephenShears,Ph.D.,seniorauthoronthestudy.“Thisworkshowshowasignalingmoleculewithunrivaledphosphatecongestioncanbesynthesized.”Wangadded,“Thisstructuralinformationwillalsobeusefulfordevelopingsmallmoleculeinhibitorsofthekinaseforpossibletherapeuticbenefit.”

Inositol pyrophosphatesTheinositolphosphatessignalingfieldhasexpandedtoincludetwomolecules,IP7andIP8thatcontaindiphosphategroups,alsoknownaspyrophosphates.Thepresenceofthesediphosphategroupsininositolpyrophosphatesisafunctionallysignificantfeature,becauseitfacilitatestheabilityofthesemoleculestocompetewithmembranelipidsforbindingtootherproteins,explainedShears.

“ThisphenomenonappearstoexplainhowIP7andIP8canantagonizesignalingbyinsulin,andalsoregulateneutrophilfunction,”continuedShears.“Thatis,workwiththeinositolpyrophosphateshashelpedusunderstandmicro-compartmentalizationofcellsignaling,oneofthemajorcurrentgoalsinthisfield.”

Reaction mechanism of human PPIP5K2Phosphategroupsarelargeandelectrostaticallycharged,sotheirnaturaltendencyistorepeleachother.ThecatalyticchallengeforPPIP5K2istoaddonemorephosphatetoamolecule,IP7,thatalreadyhassevenphosphatescrowdedaroundasmallsix-carboninositolring.

Wang’sstructuralapproachtounderstandinghowphosphatecrowdingissurmountedrevealsacatalyticsiteinwhichanarrayofpositivelychargedaminoacidresiduesintheenzymeinteractwithphosphate/pyrophosphategroupsofIP7andthedonorphosphatefromATP.Thisinteractionneutralizestheirnegativecharges,therebyminimizingelectrostaticrepulsion.Furthermore,thepresenceofcrystalsofPPIP5K2incomplexwithatransition-statemimeticsuggestsaninlineassociativereactionmechanism,furtherexplaininghowtheenzymeovercomestheenergybarriertoefficientcatalysis.

Trained as a biochemist and structural biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wang has made significant contributions to defining phosphodiesterase structures and exploration of phosphodiesterase inhibitors for potential therapeutic benefits. Wang acknowledged the guidance of Traci Hall, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Macromolecular Structure Group, on this important project. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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Future prospectsWangexplainsthattheteam’sstereoselectiveresolutionofthestructurewillnowpermitthechemicalsynthesisofphysiologicisomers,thedecipheringoftheirmolecularinteractionswithreceptors,andthedesignofantagonists.“Overall,thestructuralinformationobtainedfromthisstudyoffersdirectionsforstudyingtheevolutionofactivesitesofdiversephosphoryltransferases,”Wangsaid,“andalsoofferstemplatesforanunderdevelopedareaofresearch—therationaldesignofinhibitorsthatspecificallytargetaparticularinositolphosphatekinase.”

Citation:WangH,FalckJR,HallTMT,ShearsSB.2011.Structuralbasisforaninositolpyrophosphatekinassurmountingphosphatecrowding.NatChemBiol;doi:10.1038/nchembio.733[Online27November2011].

(EmilyZhou,Ph.D.,isaresearchfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransductionInositolSignalingGroup.)

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Winuthayanon presents at NIH Research Festival By Eddy Ball

Asithasforthepast25years,theNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)devotedaweekthisyeartocelebratingitsIntramuralResearchProgramwiththeannualNIHResearchFestivalOct.24-28inBethesda,Md.Thisyear’sfairfeaturedaninvitedtalkbyoneofthe21NIEHSfellowshonoredwiththe2012FellowsAwardforResearchExcellence(FARE),Wipawee(Joy)Winuthayanon,Ph.D.(seestory).

WinuthayanonisaresearchfellowintheLaboratoryofReproductiveandDevelopmentalToxicology(LRDT)ReceptorBiologyGroupheadedbyleadresearcherandLRDTChiefKenKorach,Ph.D.ShesaidafterwardsthatshewasveryexcitedtohavehadtheopportunitytospeakattheResearchFestival.

Reproductive tract development and functionInanefforttobetterunderstandtheimpactofestrogenicenvironmentalchemicalsandtheirimpactonveryearlymammalianpregnancy,Winuthayanonandcolleaguesexploredtheroleofepithelialestrogenreceptoralpha(ERalpha)intheoviductduringfertilizationandembryodevelopment.TheteamexaminedovulationandpreimplantationembryodevelopmentandembryooutcomesinexperimentalconditionalknockoutmicelackingERalphainfemalereproductivetractepithelium,comparingthemtofindingsincontrols.

Shears is excited about further examining the role of IP8 and PPIP5K2 in regulating compartmentalization of cell signaling, as well as their physiological significance. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Linked video:Watch the mechanism behind phosphate crowding (00:35)

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Theteamculturedone-cellembryosfromexperimentalandcontrolmicein vitro.Veryfewoftheembryosfromexperimentalmiceprogressedtotheexpandingblastocyststage,whilemostofthecontrolembryosdid,indicatingthatthelackofERalphaintheexperimentalmiceoviductalepitheliumtriggeredchangesthatcompletelydisruptedpreimplantationembryodevelopment.“Thisisanovelandunexpectedregulatoryphenomenon,”Winuthayanonconcluded,“thatwillprovideinformationimportantforunderstanding…therolesofERalphainhumanfertility.”

NIEHS scientists at the Research FairAlongwiththetalkbyWinuthayanon,NIEHSparticipationincludedtalksbyleadresearchersCarmenWilliams,M.D.,Ph.D.,andHumphreyYao,Ph.D.,aswellasplenarysymposiafacilitationbyYao,Korach,andMitchEddy,Ph.D.AmongtheeightNIEHSentriesinthepostercompetitionwereonesbyFAREwinnersKristinLichti-Kaiser,Ph.D.,andPercyTumbale,Ph.D.

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Effects of lead exposure on obesity and bone loss By Ian Thomas

TheNIEHSKeystoneScientificLectureseriescontinuedonNov.15withatalkfromEdwardPuzas,Ph.D.,aninvestigatorinthefieldofmusculoskeletalsciencefromtheUniversityofRochesterandalong-timeInstitutegrantee.Titled“Bone,Brain,andFat:IsThereaUnifyingPrincipleResponsibleforMulti-organToxicity?”Puzas’presentationdiscussedhislatestresearchintotheeffectsofleadexposureonobesityanddecreasedboneformation.

“Thehumanskeletonisarepositoryformany,manytoxins,nottheleastofwhichislead,”saidPuzas,whoiscurrentlytheUniversityofRochester’sseniorassociatedeanforbasicresearchandtheDonaldandMaryClarkprofessoroforthopedics.“Morethan95percentoftheleadexposedtothehumanbodyisstoredinthebones,whichcanresultinthedevelopmentofanynumberofdebilitatingdiseases.”

Winuthayanon’s findings could help in the quest to understand how estrogen receptor in the epithelial cells of female reproductive tract may impact fertility and embryo development. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Puzas’ talk drew a sizable audience interested to hear about the relationship between lead and bone density. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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From bone to fatAmajorthemethroughoutPuzas’talkwastheimpactofleadexposureonstemcelldevelopment,specificallymesenchymalstemcells.AccordingtoPuzas,whenthesecellsareexposedtolead,theirnaturaltendencytobecomebonecellsisdrasticallyaltered,resultinginsteadinanincreasedproductionofadipocytes,orfatcells.

“Obesityisassociatedwithdecreasedbonequalityandmass,”Puzasexplained.“Whatwe’reseeinginmiceisthat,inmanyways,exposuretoleadcanhavealotofthesameeffectsasahighfatdiet.Excessiveweightgain,boneloss,anincreasedriskforfractures—weobservedallofthisinourexperiment.”

The sclerostin factorWhiletheeffectsofacuteandchronicleadexposurecanhaveawidearrayofoutcomes,suchasarthritisandosteoporosis,oneofthewaysinwhichthishappensisthroughthemanipulationofapowerfulproteincalledsclerostin.

“Sclerostinisanextremelypotentinhibitorofboneformation,which,whensuppressed,leadstoexcessivebonegrowth,”saidPuzas.“Whatwesawinourresearchwastheoppositeofthateffect.Exposingsubjectstoleadactuallyincreasedtheproductionofsclerostin,therebyleadingtoanoticeableretardationofbonegrowth.”

The devastating problem of osteoporosis ChiefamongthediseasescoveredinPuzas’talkwasosteoporosis,adevastatingdiseasethatcausesdecreasedboneformationandanincreasedriskforskeletalbreaks.Commonlyfoundamongseniors,itisextremelyprevalentamongwomen.

“IntheUnitedStatesalone,oneoutofthreewomenwillsustainahipfracturebytheageof85,”saidPuzas.“Everyyear,15percentofthosewomenwilldiefromcomplicationsstemmingfromthoseinjuries.Thatmortalityraterivalsbothuterineandovariancancer,whichiswhyit’scrucialforeveryonetotakethepropermeasurestokeepbonesstrongandresilient.”

A long way yet to goAsthecostofhealthcarecontinuestoclimb,alongwithosteoporoticcasesandchildhoodobesity,theneedtoknowmoreaboutthevariousphysiologicalandenvironmentalfactorsthatinfluencetheseconditionsisclear.AccordingtoPuzas,leadexposureismostdefinitelyapartofthatdiscussion.

“HereinAmerica,we’vemadesomegreatstridesinenvironmentallegislationtomitigatesomeoftheseeffects,”heconcluded.“However,inplaceslikeEuropeandMexico,wheremuchoftheinfrastructureisstillfullyleaded,peoplearestillencounteringheavyexposureseveryday.Fromourdatawehaveestimatedthatapproximately1in7ofallosteoporoticcaseswereduetoleadexposure.Applythatstatistictothenumberofcasesaroundtheworld,andit’sprettyeasytoseewhythisissuchavitalareaofresearch.”

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Binbaum, Ph.D., enjoyed one of the lighter moments in Puzas’ lecture. (Photo courtesy of Michael Garske)

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Exposome pioneer to be featured at workshop By Eddy Ball

Registrationisunderwayforaworkshopon“EmergingTechnologiesforMeasuringIndividualExposomes”Dec.8-9inWashington,D.C.Theworkshopwillfeaturepioneersintheapplicationoftheconceptoftheexposometoenvironmentalhealthstudies,includingNIEHSgranteeStephenRappaport,Ph.D.In2010,RappaportandUniversityofCalifornia,BerkeleycolleagueMartynSmith,Ph.D.,publishedaperspectiveinSciencethatchallengedenvironmentalhealthscientiststofullyintegrateindividualexposurewiththeenvironmentalequivalentofgenome-wideassociationstudies(seetextbox).

Theeventisfreeandopentothepublic,butregistrationisrequiredforthoseplanningtoattendinpersonoraccessthewebcast.

TheworkshopisthelatestintheNationalAcademyofSciences(NAS)ongoingseries,organizedbytheStandingCommitteeonUseofEmergingScienceforEnvironmentalHealthDecisionssponsoredbyNIEHS.Theeventistheoutgrowthofa2010workshopontheexposome.

Thisworkshopwilltakeacloselookatemergingtechnologiesthatcanbeusedtogatherindividualexposureinformation,baseduponexternalandinternalmeasurements.Presentationsanddiscussionswillexplorewhichofthetechnologiesarereadynowandwhicharestillemergingforuseinenvironmentalhealthresearch.

Particularattentionwillbepaidtotherelativeadvantagesanddisadvantagesofexternalandinternalmeasurementsforcharacterizingindividualexposomes,andforperformingenvironment-wideassociationstudies.Recentproof-of-conceptstudieswillbehighlightedandbioinformatictoolswillbediscussed.Thissynthesisshouldinformresearchersandpolicymakersaboutthecriticalrolesthattheexposomeconceptandnewtechnologiescanplayinunderstandingtheoriginsofhumandiseases.

Rappaportwillwelcomeworkshopparticipantsandoutlineworkshopobjectives.Hewillalsopresentatalkon“Using-OmicsMethodstoCharacterizeIndividualExposomes”duringSessionOneandchairtheworkshop’sconcludingroundtablediscussionthenextdayon“IndividualExposomesandEnvironmentalHealthDecisions,”beforepresentingclosingremarks.

NIEHSProgramAdministratorDavidBalshaw,Ph.D.,willco-chairasessionon“BuildingtheIndividualExposome,”whichwillexplorenewdevelopmentsofpersonalsensorsandlaboratoryanalysisoftheexposome.OthercurrentandformerNIEHSgranteesattheworkshopincludeMichaelJerrett,Ph.D.,speakingon“UsingPersonalMonitorsandSensorstoCharacterizeIndividualExposures”;NongjianTao,Ph.D.,discussing“SensorstoMonitorIndividualExposurestoMultipleAirPollutants”;AviSpira,M.D.,exploring“Gene-expressionProfilesasSignaturesofEnvironmentalExposures”;andStephenIntille,Ph.D.,outlining“PersonalMeasurementsofPhysicalActivity.”

Rappaport is director of the Berkeley Center for Exposure Biology, a multidisciplinary program with the goal of developing a new generation of biomarkers and biosensors for environmental epidemiology. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Rappaport)

Linked video:Watch as Rappaport describe how the concept of the exposome challenges the prevailing paradigm of environmental health (26:39)

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Susan Amara to present distinguished lecture By Eddy Ball

TheNIEHS2011-2012DistinguishedLectureSeriesreturnstothefascinatingworldofneuroscience,withitsnexttalkDec.13byneurobiologistSusanAmara,Ph.D.,on“TheInsandOutsofNeurotransmitterTransporters.”

AmaraistheThomasDetreProfessorofNeuroscienceandchairoftheDepartmentofNeurobiologyattheUniversityofPittsburgh,aswellasco-directoroftheCenterforNeurosciencethere.SheisalsopastpresidentoftheSocietyforNeuroscience.

AHowardHughesMedicalInstitutealumniscientist,Amarahasreceivedmanyhonorsforherwork,includingtheJohnJ.AbelAwardfromTheAmericanSocietyofPharmacologyandExperimentalTherapeuticsandaMcKnightAwardinNeuroscience.Shereceiveda1997MERITAwardfromtheNationalInstituteonDrugAbuse,andshewaselectedtotheNationalAcademyofSciencesin2004.

Amaralistshermajorresearchinterestsasthestructure,regulation,andcellularphysiologyoftwofamiliesofsodium-dependentneurotransmittertransporters—thebiogenicamineandtheexcitatoryaminoacidcarriers.Thedopamine,norepinephrine,andserotonintransportersarewell-establishedtargetsforaddictivedrugs,includingcocaineandamphetamines,aswellasfortherapeuticantidepressants.

Herlabusesmoleculargenetic,electrophysiological,andcellbiologicalapproachestoexploretherelationshipsbetweenneurotransmittertransporterstructure,substratetransport,inhibitorbinding,andionpermeation.

Advocating more detailed assessment of the individual exposomeIntheirSciencearticle,RappaportandSmithstressedthattheexposomeincludesalltoxicchemicals,fromallsources,presentinaperson’sinternalchemicalenvironmentwherediseaseprocessesoriginate.Evaluatingtheexposomeisimportant,becauseinternalchemicalenvironmentreflectsthecombinedeffectsofcontaminantsfromair,water,andfood,aswellastoxicchemicalsproducedinthebodyasaresultofinflammation,oxidativestress,lipidperoxidation,infections,gutflora,andothernaturalprocesses.

RappaportandSmithadvocatedabalancingoftop-downinvestigation,thedisease-firstfocusonbiologicalresponseandmeasurementofendogenousandexogenousmoleculesinbiologicalfluids,andabottom-upapproach,workingupfromexposureassessmenttobiologicalresponse.

RappaportandSmithareresearchersintheUniversityofCalifornia,BerkeleySuperfundResearchProgram.

Citation:RappaportSM,SmithMT.2010.EnvironmentandDiseaseRisks.Science330(6003):460-461.

Upcoming Distinguished Lecturer Susan Amara (Photo courtesy of Susan Amara)

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NIEHSIonChannelPhysiologyGroupleadresearcherJerrelYakel,Ph.D.,willhostthetalk,whichbeginsat11:00a.m.intheNIEHSRodbellAuditorium.

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Testicular toxicology workshop spotlights animal testing alternatives By Ian Thomas

Scientistsandadministratorsfromacrossthetoxicologyfieldtookpartinatwo-dayworkshopOct.26-27todiscussfindingnewalternativestoanimaltestingforassessingtesticulartoxicity.HeldattheMt.WashingtonConferenceCenterinBaltimore,Md.,theeventwassponsoredbytheILSIHealthandEnvironmentalSciencesInstituteDevelopmentalandReproductiveToxicologytechnicalcommittee,inconjunctionwiththeJohnsHopkinsUniversityCenterforAlternativestoAnimalTesting.

PaulFoster,Ph.D.,aseniorscientistwiththeNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP),wastheworkshop’sfeaturedspeaker.“Myrolewasreallytofocusonhowin vitromethodshavebeenusedsuccessfullyinthepast,basedonmy25plusyearsinthefield,andtoidentifysomeofthechallengeswefacemovingforward,”Fosternoted.

AttendedbymembersoftheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,andanarrayofpharmaceuticalandindustryrepresentatives,theworkshoptackledanumberofdifferentissues,rangingfromtissueengineeringapproachestomaintainphysiologyandstructureinartificialorganstoscreeningandprioritizingchemicals/drugsfortestingincommercialapplications.

A complex organWhilemosttoxicologistsagreethatthereisahugeneedforin vitroalternativestoanimaltesting,particularlywithregardtopharmaceuticaldiscoveryandenvironmentalcomponentscreening,aviablemethodforyieldingthesamelevelofintegrationofphysiologyandendocrinologyhasprovenelusive.

“We’vemadesignificantadvancementsovertheyearswithrespecttoin vitrotestingforreproductivetoxicity,butwe’restillalongwayawayfromeverbeingabletousethesemethodsasareplacementforanimalsintoxicityassessment,ifever,”saidFoster.“Themammaliantestisisanextremelycomplexorgan,andfindingwaystosuccessfullyreplicatethetypesofmicroenvironmentandprocessesnormallyfoundinmammalshasbeenanenormouschallenge.”

FosterwasjoinedattheworkshopbyfellowtoxicologistElizabethMaull,Ph.D.,oftheNIEHSBiomolecularScreeningBranch,aswellasgranteesElaineFaustman,Ph.D.,oftheUniversityofWashington,andMaryHixon,Ph.D.,ofBrownUniversity.

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistwiththeNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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Foster was the featured speaker at the Testicular Toxicology In Vitro Models workshop. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

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This month in EHP By Ian Thomas

Astheendapproachesforayearmarkedbyrecordstormflooding,theDecemberissueofEnvironmentalHealthPerspectives(EHP)examinestheadaptivestrategiesbeingimplementedtoupgradeagingcityinfrastructureinthefaceofgrowingclimatechangeeffects.Withgrowingconcernsoverstormwater-causedpollution,therenovationofexistingwaterandsewersystemshasproventobeachallenge.However,manynowviewgreenmethodsasapossiblewayofstreamliningtheprocess.

Inasecondstory,titled“SharingScience:EnablingGlobalAccesstotheScientificLiterature,”EHPtakesstockofthedecade-longpushtobringgreaterinformationalaccesstoscientistsandresearchersinpoverty-strickenanddevelopingnations.

Inthismonth’sResearcher’sPerspectivepodcast,hostAshleyAhearndiscussesthegrowingconnectionbetweenclimatechangeandchildundernutritionwithSariKovats,aseniorlecturerinenvironmentalepidemiologywiththeLondonSchoolofHygieneandTropicalMedicine.

Featuredcommentaries,reviews,andresearchthismonthincludethefollowing:

• LinkingEpidemiologywithRiskAssessment

• PBPKandSystemsBiologyModelingofInteractions

• Signal-to-NoiseCrossoverDoseforRiskAssessment

• BisphenolAandGeneExpressioninVivo

• EarlyLifeSoyExposureandGenderedPlayBehavior

• ClimateChange,CropYields,andFutureUndernutrition

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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Extramural papers of the month By Nancy Lamontagne

• Chimneys help reduce severe childhood pneumonia

• Aggressive breast cancer responds to blueberries

• Mycoestrogens influence development

• The impact of nutrition labeling

http://twitter.com/ehponline

ReadthecurrentSuperfundResearchProgramResearchBrief.NewissuesarepublishedonthefirstWednesdayofeachmonth.

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Chimneys help reduce severe childhood pneumoniaAnNIEHSgrantee,workingwithruralcommunitiesinGuatemala,foundthatratesofseverechildhoodpneumoniawerereducedby30percentinhouseholdsusingcookingstoveswithchimneysratherthanopen,indoorwoodcookingfires.Thefindingssuggestthatinterventionsthatlowerexposuretowoodsmokemayhelpreducechildhooddeathsfrompneumoniainareasoftheworldwhereindooropenfiresarecommonlyused.

TheresultscomefromtheNIHRandomisedExposureStudyofPollutionIndoorsandRespiratoryEffects(RESPIRE)trial,whichincluded534ruralGuatemalahouseholdswithapregnantwomanoryounginfant.Thehouseholdswererandomlyassignedtoreceivealocallydevelopedchimneystoveortoactasacontrolbyusingopenwoodfires.Inadditiontothereductioninseverepneumonia,theresearchersfoundthatcarbonmonoxideexposurelevelsinthehomesequippedwithchimneyswere,onaverage,halfthatofthehouseholdswiththeopenfires.Thestoveswithchimneysdidnotsignificantlyreducethetotalnumberofdiagnosedchildhoodpneumoniacases,butthereductioninseverepneumoniacouldlikelyreducechildhoodmortality.

Citation:SmithKR,McCrackenJP,WeberMW,HubbardA,JennyA,ThompsonLM,BalmesJ,DiazA,AranaB,BruceN.2011.EffectofreductioninhouseholdairpollutiononchildhoodpneumoniainGuatemala(RESPIRE):arandomisedcontrolledtrial.Lancet378(9804):1717-1726.

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Aggressive breast cancer responds to blueberriesNIEHSgranteesreportthatblueberryconsumptionlessenedthegrowthandspreadoftriplenegativebreastcancercellsinmice.Veryfewdrugsareeffectiveagainstthisaggressiveformofbreastcancer,whichdoesnotexpresstheestrogenreceptor,progesteronereceptor,orhumanepidermalgrowthfactorreceptor2(HER2)protein.

Theresearchersexperimentedwithmicethatwereinjectedwithtriplenegativebreastcancercells.Comparedtocontrolmicereceivingnoblueberrypowder,thosereceivingadietthatincludedfivepercentfreeze-driedwholeblueberrypowderhadatumorsize75percentsmaller.Tumorsizewas60percentsmallerifthemicereceivedtenpercentblueberrypowder.Molecularanalysisshowedthattheblueberryconsumptionalteredexpressionofgenestiedtoinflammation,cancer,andmetastasisinwaysthatwouldlowercancerrisk.Inanotherexperiment,theresearchersfoundasignificantdecreaseinmetastasisinmicethatconsumedadietincludingfivepercentblueberrypowder,comparedtothosethatdidnotconsumeblueberry.

Althoughmoreresearchisneededtoconfirmtheeffectinhumans,theamountofblueberrypowderusedintheexperimentscouldbereasonablyconsumed.Thefivepercentblueberrypowderisequivalenttoabouttwocupsofblueberriesaday.Theresearchersareplanningclinicaltrialsusingwholeblueberrypowdertodetermineasuitablehumandose.

Citation:AdamsLS,KanayaN,PhungS,LiuZ,ChenS.2011.WholeblueberrypowdermodulatesthegrowthandmetastasisofMDA-MB-231triplenegativebreasttumorsinnudemice.JNutr141(10):1805-1812.

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Mycoestrogens influence developmentExposuretomycoestrogensappearstoaffectthebodysizeandbreastdevelopmentofgirls,accordingtoastudyfromNIEHS-supportedresearchers.Thiscouldhaveimplicationsforfuturebreastcancerrisk.

Theresearcherslookedatzearalenoneandzeranolmycoestrogens,whicharecommonlyfoundinthefoodsupply.Zearalenoneisafungalproductthatcanbefoundingrainsandplantfoodsconsumedbylivestockorhumans,andzeranolissometimesusedtoenhancemeatproduction.Theystudied163healthygirls(ages9and10)participatingintheJerseyGirlStudy,whichisexaminingfactorsaffectingtheonsetofpubertyingirls.

Themycoestrogensweredetectedintheurineof78percentoftheparticipants,andgirlstendedtobeshorterandlesslikelytohavereachedtheonsetofbreastdevelopmentifurinarymycoestrogensweredetected.Preliminaryanalysisassociatedintakeofbeefandpopcornwithurinarymycoestrogens.Theresultspointtotheneedformoreresearchtofullyunderstandtheeffectsofmycoestrogensondevelopment.

Citation:BanderaEV,ChandranU,BuckleyB,LinY,IsukapalliS,MarshallI,KingM,ZarblH.2011.Urinarymycoestrogens,bodysizeandbreastdevelopmentinNewJerseygirls.SciTotalEnviron409(24):5221-5227.

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The impact of nutrition labelingResearcherssupportedbyNIEHSreportthatnutritionlabelingonfast-foodrestaurantmenusincreasedparentawarenessofcalories,butdidnotdecreasethecaloriesactuallypurchasedforparentsorchildren.Chainrestaurantswillberequiredtopostnutritionalinformationatpoint-of-purchaseaspartofnationalhealthreform,butfewstudieshaveexaminedhowtheseregulationswillaffectchildren.

TheresearchersrecruitedparticipantsfromtheNeighborhoodImpactonKidsstudy.Theycomparedrestaurantreceiptsfor75children(ages6to11)andtheirparents,beforeandaftermenu-labelingregulationinSeattle/KingCounty,Wash.,withreceiptsfrom58childrenandparentsinSanDiegoCounty,Calif.,wheretheregulationwasnotimplemented.

InSeattle/KingCounty,thepercentageofparentsseeingthenutritionalinformationincreasedfrom44percentpriortoregulationto87percentaftermenulabelswereadded,buttheaveragecaloriespurchasedforchildrendidnotchangeafterregulationineithercounty.Althoughtherewasanapproximate100-caloriedecreaseinfoodpurchasedfortheparentspost-regulation,therewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenthecounties.

Citation: TandonPS,ZhouC,ChanNL,LozanoP,CouchSC,GlanzK,KriegerJ,SaelensBE.2011.Theimpactofmenulabelingonfast-foodpurchasesforchildrenandparents.AmJPrevMed41(4):434-438.

(NancyLamontagneisasciencewriterwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining,SuperfundResearchProgram,andWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

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Intramural papers of the month By Robin Arnette, Raluca Dumitru, and Brant Hamel

• One apolipoprotein E allele associated with lower risk of Parkinson’s

• Effects of endothelial CYP2C8 epoxygenase on cardiac recovery

• Aprataxin structure links DNA repair mechanism to neurodegenerative disease

• New algorithm identifies transcription factors and coregulators in ChIP-seq data

One apolipoprotein E allele associated with lower risk of Parkinson’sArecentstudypublishedinthejournalNeurobiologyofAgingsuggestedthatapolipoproteinE(ApoE)epsilon4,aknownriskalleleforAlzheimer’sdisease,wasassociatedwithalowerriskofParkinson’sinnon-HispanicCaucasians.Thedataalsoindicatedthatepsilon4tendedtocorrespondtoa60percenthigherriskofdementiaamongParkinson’spatients.TheworkwasacollaborativeeffortbetweenscientistsfromNIEHS,PennsylvaniaStateUniversity,theNationalCancerInstitute,andAARP.

TheresearchteambecameinterestedinexaminingtheconnectionsbetweenApoEallelesandParkinson’s,becauseoftheinconsistenciesintheepidemiologicalliterature,theclinicalandepidemiologicalsimilaritiesbetweenParkinson’sandAlzheimer’s,andrecentevidencethathigherplasmacholesterolwasassociatedwithalowerriskforParkinson’sdisease.Theteamperformedthispopulation-basedcase-controlstudyusing786Parkinson’spatientsfromtheParkinson’s,Genes,andEnvironmentstudy,acase-controlstudywithinthelargeprospectiveNIH-AARPDietandHealthStudycohort.Thestudyhad1537healthyadultstoserveascontrols.

Theinvestigatorscollectedsalivasamplesfromvolunteersandcontactedthepatients’treatingphysicianstoconfirmaParkinson’sdiagnosis.TheyextractedDNAfromthesalivaandgenotypedtwosinglenucleotidepolymorphisms(SNPs)todetermineApoEalleles:epsilon3,epsilon4orepsilon2.Theteamthenconductedstatisticalanalysis.Comparedwithepsilon3carriers,participantsthatcarriedtheepsilon4allelehadsignificantlyloweroddsofhavingParkinson’s,whileepsilon2carriersdidnot.

Citation:GaoJ,HuangX,ParkY,LiuR,HollenbeckA,SchatzkinA,MailmanRB,ChenH.2011.ApolipoproteinEgenotypesandtheriskofParkinsondisease.NeurobiolAging32(11):2106.e1-6.

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Effects of endothelial CYP2C8 epoxygenase on cardiac recoveryAnewcollaborativeeffortbetweeninvestigatorsatNIEHS,OregonHealthandScienceUniversity,andtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHilldefines,forthefirsttime,therolethatendothelial-derivedversuscardiomyocyte-derivedepoxyeicosatrienoicacids(EETs)playincardioprotectionfollowingischemia/reperfusion(IR)injury.

ConflictingreportslinkEETswithbeneficial,aswellasdetrimental,effectsoncardiacrecoveryafterIRinjury.ExpressionofCYP2J2incardiomyocyteswaspreviouslyshowntoimprovethefunctionalrecoveryandreduce

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theinfarctsizeafterischemia.EndothelialEETsareknowntoincreasebloodflowandreduceinflammation.However,otherstudiesdemonstratedthatinhibitionofCYP2CreducesinfarctsizeafterIRinisolatedrathearts.

Toaddressthediscrepancy,theinvestigatorsgeneratedtransgenicmicewithincreasedendothelialEETbiosynthesis(Tie2-CYP2C8andTie2-CYP2J2)orEEThydrolysis(Tie2-sEH)andcomparedthemtomicewithincreasedEETbiosynthesisincardiomyocytes(alphaMHC-CYP2J2)andwild-type(WT)mice.ComparedtoWT,thealphaMHC-CYP2J2heartshadincreasedfunctionalrecoveryanddecreasedinfarctsizeafterIR.Incontrast,theTie2-CYP2C8heartsexhibiteddecreasedfunctionalrecovery,duetoincreasedproductionofreactiveoxygenspeciesandtoxiclinoleicacidmetabolites.

ThesedataconfirmthatCYP2J2expressionincardiomyocytesisprotectiveagainstIRinjury,whileendothelial-derivedEETshavelittleeffect.Incontrast,theexpressionofCYP2C8inendotheliumhasdetrimentaleffects,whichoutweighthepotentialbenefitsofincreasedEETbiosynthesis.

Citation:EdinML,WangZ,BradburyJA,GravesJP,LihFB,DeGraffLM,FoleyJF,TorphyR,RonnekleivOK,TomerKB,LeeCR,ZeldinDC.2011.EndothelialexpressionofhumancytochromeP450expoxygenaseCYP2C8increasessusceptibilitytoischemia-reperfusioninjuryinisolatedmouseheart.FASEBJ25(10):3436-3447.

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Aprataxin structure links DNA repair mechanism to neurodegenerative diseaseUsingX-raycrystallography,NIEHSresearchershaveuncoveredhowtheproteinaprataxinrecognizesandreversesdamagedDNA.Aprataxinisaeukaryoticproteinthatisinvolvedinthecellularresponsetogenotoxicstress,andmutationsinthehumangeneencodingtheprotein(APTX)causeadebilitatingneurologicaldisorderknownasataxiawithoculomotorapraxia(AOA1).Untilnow,scientistsweren’tsurehowthesemutationsaffectedaprataxinfunction.

AprataxinnormallyactstorepairDNAasaDNAligaseproofreaderinthecellbyremoving5’-adenylatedDNAleftbyabortedDNAligationreactions.Usinghigh-throughputroboticstoscreenalargenumberofcrystallizationconditions,thescientistscrystallizedaquaternarycomplexcontainingaprataxin,DNA,theDNAdamagelesion5’-adenosinemonophosphate(AMP),andthemetalcofactorzinc.

Thestructurerevealedthetwomajordomainsintheprotein:theHITdomain,whichcontainsthewedgethatallowsaccesstothedamagedDNAterminiandthezincfingerdomain,whichcombinedwiththeHITdomain,specificallyrecognizesthestructureofdamagedDNA.ThezincfingerdomainsurprisinglyutilizedanovelC2H2Zn-bindingmotiftorecognizedamagedDNAinasequenceindependentmanner.ThismotifisaderivativeoftheclassicalC2H2bindingfold,andthefindingimpliedthatzincfinger-containingproteinsmaybemuchmorewidespreadinnaturethanpreviouslythought.Withtheaprataxinmolecularstructureinhand,scientistsnowhaveatemplateforunderstandinghowAPTXmutationsinactivatethisimportantDNAdamagerepairenzyme.

Citation:TumbaleP,AppelCD,KraehenbuehlR,RobertsonPD,WilliamsJS,KrahnJ,AhelI,WilliamsRS.2011.Structureofanaprataxin-DNAcomplexwithinsightsintoAOA1neurodegenerativedisease.NatStructMolBiol18(11):1189-1195.

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New algorithm identifies transcription factors and coregulators in ChIP-seq dataBiostatisticiansfromNIEHShavedevelopedanewmethodthatdetermineswhichChIP-seqdatahasbindingsitesforthetranscriptionfactorbeingimmunoprecipitatedandcoregulatoryfactors.CalledcoMOTIF,thecomputationaltoolsimultaneouslymodelsthecoexistenceofthetwosequencemotifsusingjointdistribution.Itusesatechniquetoreducethesamplingspaceintheexpectation-maximization(EM)algorithm,makingalarge-scalegenomicsearchoftranscriptionfactorsandtheiraccompanyingcoregulatorseasiertofindinChIP-seqdata.

Transcriptionfactorsandtheiraccompanyingcoreulatorsworktogethertoregulategenetranscription,butbeforethecreationofcoMOTIF,scientistshadtosearcheachChIP-seqsequenceoneatatimetodetermineiftheycontainedoneorbothmotifs.Asaresult,theresearchteamdevelopedthenewfinitemixturemodel,whichusestwoknownpositionweightmatrices(PMWs)asstartingpointsfortheEMalgorithmtosimultaneouslydeterminethetwomotifs.

coMOTIFhasbeenproventobemoreeffectivethanthestandardMEME+,becauseitallowsninestatescomparedtoMEME+’sthree.Itwastestedon10simulatedChIP-seqdatasetsanddidabetterjobofpredictingwhichsequencescontainedbothmotifs.ThecoMOTIFsoftwareisfreelyavailableathttp://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/software/comotif/.

Citation:XuM,WeinbergCR,UmbachDM,LiL.2011.coMOTIF:amixtureframeworkforidentifyingtranscriptionfactorandcoregulatormotifinChIP-seqdata.Bioinformatics27(19):2625-2632.

(RalucaDumitru,M.D.,Ph.D.,isanIntramuralResearchTrainingAward(IRTA)FellowintheNIEHSStemCellBiologyGroupoftheLaboratoryofMolecularCarcinogenesis.BrantHamel,Ph.D.,isanIRTAFellowintheNIEHSMolecularEndocrinologyGroupoftheLaboratoryofSignalTransduction.)

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Inside the InstituteNIEHS and CFC celebrate 50 years of giving By Ian Thomas

WiththeannualbakesaleandsilentauctionNov.18,NIEHSbroughtitspromotionofthe2011CombinedFederalCampaign(CFC)toaclose,withanimpressivecollectionof$82,152incharitablecontributions.CFC,whichthisyearcelebratedits50thanniversary,isanannualfundraisingdrive,whichcollectscashandpayrolldeductionpledgesfromfederalandmilitaryemployees,fordonationtolocal,national,andinternationalnonprofitorganizations.

Whiletheeventsandmarketinghaveofficiallyended,CFCorganizersarequicktopointoutthatpledgeswillcontinuetobeacceptedthroughDec.15,withanultimategoalofreaching$105,000.

“Wereallywanttothankeveryonewhoparticipatedinthisyear’scampaign,”saidRonCannon,Ph.D.,staffscientistandNIEHSCFCco-chair.“TimesaretightforalotofpeoplerightnowandyeteveryonehereatNIEHSreallysteppedupwithsomegenerousdonations.”

Beyondthebakesaleandsilentauction,thisyear’scampaignpresentedemployeeswithanumberofwaystogetinvolved.Othereventsincludedacharityfair,icecreamsocial,5Kwalk/run,usedbookandDVDsale,Halloweencostumecontest,andraffledrawingforanAppleiPad2.

“Donationsdon’thavetobeenormoustohaveanenormousimpact,”notedCindyInnes,abiologistwiththeNIEHSEnvironmentalStressandCancerGroupandCFCco-chairwithCannon.“Ifalotofpeoplegivealittlebit,evenifit’sjustafewdollarsperpayperiod,thatgoesalongway.”

TolearnmoreaboutCFC,ortomakeapledgeonline,visithttp://www.cfcgreaternc.org.

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistwiththeNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

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The CFC Halloween costume contest drew pledges and ghostly fun for NIEHS staff. (Photo courtesy of Ron Cannon)

NIEHS staff hit the trails for a morning of fitness and charitable giving. The 5K run drew nearly 100 participants. (Photo courtesy of Ron Cannon)

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The e-Factor, which is produced by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, is the staff newsletter at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. It is published as a communication service to NIEHS employees. We welcome your comments and suggestions. The content is not copyrighted. It can be downloaded and reprinted without permission. If you are an editor who wishes to use our material in your publication, we ask that you send us a copy for our records.• Director of Communications: Christine Bruske• Writer-Editor: Eddy Ball• Science Editor: Robin Arnette