|
|
Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., Director, DAIT
Dr. Rotrosen announced the following new staff members and scientific activities:
William Duncan, Ph.D. Dr. Duncan joined the Division in February as the Deputy Director, after more than 10 years as the Associate Director of the Therapeutics Research Program in the NIAID Division of AIDS. He received his Ph.D. degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. Dr. Duncan has served on the faculty at the University of Texas and Dalhousie University, in Canada; he was also Chief of the Genetics and Transplantation Branch in DAIT, from 1987-1990.
Lawrence Prograis, M.D. Dr. Prograis, will complete the Georgetown University Fellowship in Bioethics in May, has been appointed Division Senior Scientist for Special Programs and Bioethics. In his new role, Dr. Prograis will provide expertise on bioethics for the Division and be responsible for the research portfolio in training, scientific conferences, and small business innovation research grants.
Frosso Voulgaropoulou, Ph.D. Dr.Voulgaropoulou joined the Division in January as a Program Officer in the Asthma and Inflammation Section of the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Branch.
Dr. Voulgaropoulou received her Ph.D. degree from Ohio State University, and was a Research Fellow at Washington University School of Medicine and at the FDA Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation. Her research included adeno-associated virus mediated gene therapy, HIV-1 pathogenesis, and viral detection in biological samples and vaccine preparations using novel technology.
Kristy Kraemer, Ph.D. Dr. Kraemer was recently appointed Chief of the Transplantation Immunobiology Section, in the Transplantation Immunobiology Branch. She will be responsible for the transplantation immunobiology, gene therapy, and genetics research portfolios. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Kraemer was a Program Officer in the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Branch. She received her Ph.D. degree in immunology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Sharon Mills, R.N. Ms. Mills joined the Office of Clinical Applications in February as a Nurse Consultant and Project Manager for clinical trials conducted by the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) in transplantation and autoimmunity. Her past experience includes 13 years as a clinical trials research nurse at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, at the Johns Hopkins University, in the Hematologic Malignancies Division, and the Bone Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia services. Ms. Mills received her B.S. degree with Honors from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and an RN First Assistant Certificate from Delaware County Community College.
Deborah Hayes, M.S. Ms. Hayes joined the Office of Clinical Applications in January as a Health Specialist for clinical trials conducted by the ITN in transplantation and autoimmunity. Prior to joining the Division, Ms. Hayes's research experience included pediatric oncology, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular studies, and islet cell transplantation. She received her M.S. degree in Forensic Sciences from George Washington University, in Washington, DC.
Sheila Phang, R.N. Ms Phang joined the Clinical Immunology Branch in February as a Nurse Consultant responsible for managing clinical trials conducted by the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence (ACE). Ms. Phang has worked at NIH for ten years, most recently as the Senior Peripheral Blood Stem Cell and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Coordinator with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. She received her B.S. degree in human ecology from University of Maryland in College Park and her A.A. degree in nursing from Montgomery College, in Takoma Park, MD.
SCIENTIFIC INITIATIVES
Asthma and Allergic Ciseases Research Centers: The NIAID issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the "Asthma and Allergic Diseases Research Centers." The major goals of the program are to improve the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases and to provide a rational foundation for the development of effective prevention strategies. This initiative will provide support for integrated basic and clinical research centers to conduct studies on the mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of asthma and allergic diseases.
Hyperaccelerated Award/Mechanisms in Immunomodulation Trials: The NIAID issued an RFA, entitled "Hyperaccelerated Award/Mechanisms in Immunomodulation Trials." This initiative will support mechanistic research studies in clinical trials of immunomodulatory interventions for immune system-mediated diseases, including asthma and allergic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and graft rejection in solid organ, tissue, cell, and stem cell transplantation. Collaborating NIH Institutes include the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Cooperative Clinical Trials in Pediatric Transplantation: The NIAID issued an RFA to renew the "Cooperative Clinical Trial in Pediatric Transplantation." This initiative will support multi-center cooperative clinical trials in pediatric renal transplantation to: evaluate new therapeutic regimens to enhance long-term graft survival; investigate the underlying mechanisms of action of the agents under study; develop diagnostic tests to predict graft rejection; and develop surrogate biomarkers for acute and chronic rejection.
Innovation Grants for Research in Human Immunology: The NIAID, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and NIDCR, issued a Program Announcement, entitled "Innovation Grants for Research in Human Immunology." This initiative will support new, scientifically challenging and untested ideas in the exploration of the human immune system to further understanding of immunologic and infectious diseases, agents of bioterrorism, and emerging and re-emerging infections.
Consortium for Identification of Environmental Triggers of Type 1 Diabetes: The NIAID, in collaboration with NIDDK, NICHD, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued an RFA, entitled "Consortium for Identification of Environmental Triggers of Type 1 Diabetes." This initiative will support the development of a single data coordinating center and six clinical centers to develop and implement studies to identify environmental factors that trigger the development of type 1 diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals.
Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research: The NIAID, in collaboration with NIDDK, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and National Institute on Nursing Research (NINR), issued a Program Announcement, entitled "Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research." This initiative will support and encourage investigators to change the direction of their research careers or to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities in the use of human or animal embryonic, adult, or cord blood stem cells.
DIVISION ACTIVITIES
Asthma Phenotypes: Implications in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment: On March 1, NIAID sponsored a symposium on asthma phenotypes at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The program explored the concept that asthma is a clinical syndrome consisting of a number of overlapping disease subtypes, including allergic asthma, exercise-induced asthma, asthma caused by bacterial and fungal infections, and asthma in the elderly.
NIAID-NIEHS Inner-City Asthma Study: On March 4, NIAID-funded investigators discussed the Inner-City Asthma Study and Inner-City Pollution Study as part of the Presidential Symposium at the AAAAI annual meeting. The Inner-City Asthma Study evaluated the effectiveness of both an environmental intervention and a physician feedback intervention on asthma severity among inner-city children. The Inner-City Pollution Study evaluated the effects of indoor and outdoor pollution on asthma severity. The results of these studies were presented publicly for the first time, at the meeting.
On May 22, NIAID sponsored a workshop at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society on the results of the Inner-City Asthma Study and the Inner-City Pollution Study.
Asthma Workgroup of the National Children's Study: The Asthma Workgroup is comprised of representatives from NIH Institutes, including NIAID, other federal agencies, and non-federal investigators. In 2004, the National Children's Study, which is under the leadership of NICHD, plans to initiate a study to follow a cohort of 100,000 individuals from before birth to, at least, age 25, and evaluate the effects of environmental exposures on the natural history of diseases. Asthma is one of these diseases.
Atopic Dermatitis and Vaccinia Expert Panel: On June 18, the NIAID will convene an expert panel to identify approaches to reduce the incidence and severity of eczema vaccinatum in individuals with atopic dermatitis, should vaccinia be administered in a large immunization campaign (to prevent smallpox). Currently, it is recommended that atopic dermatitis patients not be exposed to vaccinia because of the risk of eczema vaccinatum, a potentially life-threatening cutaneous dissemination of vaccinia. It is anticipated that the panel will recommend short-term and long-term research directions, including approaches to facilitate identifying atopic dermatitis patients at risk for disseminated cutaneous viral infections, characterize the abnormalities in immune function or other aspects of human host defense that predispose to such infections, and develop appropriate animal models.
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting New Orleans, LA; April 19-24, 2002: The eighteenth annual Symposium on Contemporary Topics in Immunology, cosponsored by NIAID and the AAI, was held as part of the AAI annual meeting. This year's symposium included presentations on T cell tolerance, MHC-bound metal ligand activators of T cells, immunoglobulin isotype switch mechanisms, and chromatin regulation during lymphopoiesis. The NIAID and AAI cosponsored a workshop on grantsmanship, to provide an overview of funding strategies for all levels of investigators and students, and to allow discussions of review and funding policies in an informal question and answer period.
The Basic Immunology Branch organized a focus group to discuss NIAID/NIH policies and issues of concern to extramural basic and clinical research investigators. Discussion topics included expected increases in the FY2003 NIAID budget for biodefense research, and the ongoing reorganization of the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) immunology study sections.
Alliance for Cellular Signaling Meeting, Dallas, TX; May 5-8, 2001: The Alliance for Cellular Signaling (AfCS) began operations in September 2000. The overall goal is to understand how cells interpret and respond to external signals, in a context-dependent manner, by defining all of the proteins comprising various signaling systems in normal and disease states. Monthly newsletters, research protocols, and details of other Alliance projects are also available at the AfCS Web site. The AfCS is supported by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIAID, NCI, a consortium of pharmaceutical companies (Eli Lilly, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, The Merck Genome Research Institute, and Aventis), and private sources (the Agouron Institute and an anonymous foundation, Dallas TX).
Renewal of the NIAID Tetramer Facility Contract: This facility, located at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, will continue to provide MHC class I tetramer reagents to investigators from around the world under a five-year renewal of the NIAID contract. As a new service, the facility will begin providing MHC class II as well as MHC class I tetramers. Additional information is available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/reposit/tetramer/index.html.
Expansion of NIAID Biodefense Research Program: In response to President Bush's requested FY2003 budget for NIAID, which includes a very large increase to support biodefense research, the institute recently published a Notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts to encourage submission of R01, R21, and P01 applications on biodefense research, including projects focused on innate and adaptive immunology in the context of CDC category A-C pathogens. Additional announcements and RFAs can be expected in the near future. Information is available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/bioterrorism.htm
Cooperative Clinical Trials in Adult Kidney Transplantation: NIAID supports a pilot study of kidney transplantation into HIV-positive patients at ten transplant centers in the United States. Improved anti-viral therapies have increased the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients, but a complication of these therapies is kidney toxicity, leading to end-stage renal disease. The objectives of this clinical trial are to determine (1) the safety and efficacy of kidney transplantation into HIV-positive patients and (2) the interactions between the anti-rejection and anti-viral therapies.
Department of Health and Human Services 2001 Report to Congress on the Scientific and Clinical Status of Organ Transplantation: NIAID, as the lead NIH Institute for transplantation, authored the NIH section of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 2001 Report to Congress on the Scientific and Clinical Status of Organ Transplantation. This section presents an overview of NIH programs in transplantation research, including research advances that were achieved through NIH funding. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 and the Transplant Amendments of 1990 require biennial reporting of DHHS activities in transplantation to Congress. The report is provided to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and is intended to provide Congress with a comprehensive view of the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation across all DHHS agencies.
Autoimmune Diseases Prevention Centers: NIAID, with the NIDDK, the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (NIH ORWH), NICHD, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), recently funded the Autoimmune Diseases Prevention Centers whose mission is to engage in scientific discovery that significantly advances knowledge for the prevention and regulation of autoimmune diseases. The Centers are based at University of Colorado/Virginia Mason Institute, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, Stanford University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Role of Innate Immunity in Autoimmune Diseases: A workshop was convened at the NIH on September 5- 6, 2001 to discuss the role of the innate immune system in the development of and protection against autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases. The attendees included investigators, physicians, and representatives from NIAID, the NIH Office of Rare Diseases (NIH ORD), the NIH ORWH, and the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA). Specific diseases addressed included: systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease. The possibilities for development of new therapeutic approaches designed to manipulate or restore protective innate proteins were highlighted. Enhancing innate immunity by targeting common pathways offers a broad possibility of success in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Sex Based Differences in the Immune Response: In response to the RFA "Sex Based Differences in the Immune Response: Mechanisms," the NIAID, with the NIAMS, NINDS, NIH ORWH, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, funded 14 new R01 and R21 grants. Many differences in the immune response of males and females have been documented, including the increased incidence of autoimmune diseases in women, pregnancy-related changes in the course of immune mediated diseases, and differences in the infection by some pathogens. Increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differences in the immune response in males and females should allow more targeted approaches for prevention and treatment of disease.
Animal Models of Autoimmunity: On January 15-16, 2002, a workshop was held to outline the role of animal models in the advancement of understanding and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The workshop was sponsored by NIAID, the NIH ORD, the NIH ORWH, and AARDA. The importance of correlating findings in animal models of autoimmune disease with human disease was a key topic of discussion. Multiple animal models are essential tools in understanding the pathogenesis of disease and for testing novel approaches to prevention and treatment.
IMMUNITY AND BIODEFENSE WORKSHOP
Ad hoc Council members, guests and staff participated in a workshop on Immunity and Biodefense. Moderator, and discussant Helen Quill, Ph.D., Chief, Basic Immunology Branch opened the discussion with a presentation on NIAID's Biodefense Immunology Research Plan. A brief overview of the topics and presenters is following:
PANEL I: Harnessing Innate Immunity to Counter the Threat of Bioterrorism and Emerging/Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases
Pattern Recognition Molecules: Protection Against Infectious Disease; Alan Ezekowitz, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA: Innate Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Resistance to Viral Infections; Wayne Yokoyama, M.D., Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO: Mechanisms Underlying Differential Gene Expression Induce by TLR2 and TLR4 Signaling; Stefanie Vogel, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD: Antigen Presentation by CD1: Activation of Both Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses; Michael Brenner, M.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
PANEL II: Vaccine Development: Inducing & Maintaining Robust Effector and Memory T and B Cell Responses
Induction and Maintenance of Type 2 Immunity; Richard Locksley, M.D., University of California, San Francisco, CA: Human B and T Cell Immunity; Raif Geha, M.D., Children's Hospital, Boston, MA: T Cell Immunology in the Respiratory System; Kim Bottomly, Ph.D., Yale University, New Haven, CT: Eczema Vaccinatum and Immune Regulation in the Skin; Raif Geha, M.D., Children's Hospital, Boston, MA and Luis Diaz, M.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
PANEL III: How to Engage Immunologists in Biodefense Research
Funding mechanisms to support translation of basic research into clinical work relevant to the biodefense effort, scientific opportunities for basic and clinical immunologists, and methods to foster productive collaborations among immunologists, microbiologists, theoretical biologists, and clinicians.
Drs. Ezekowitz, Yokoyama, Vogel, Brenner, Locksley, Geha, Bottomly and Diaz back to top |