Dr. George P. Chrousos
Dr. George P. Chrousos, director of NICHD's Pediatric
Endocrinology Program, was recently doubly honored for his
pioneering research. He was the recipient of the 1997 Endocrine
Society Clinical Investigator Award from the U.S. Endocrine
Society for major achievements in clinical investigation, and the
1997 Hans Selye Award from the Hans Selye Foundation for
outstanding contributions to stress research. Chrousos' contributions
have included research on the regulation of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the pathophysiologic and
molecular mechanisms of the syndromes of glucocorticoid hormone
resistance and congenital isolated glucocorticoid deficiency.
NIAID's Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
NIAID's Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases was
recently honored by the Food and Drug Administration with the
Commissioner's Special Citation. DMID was cited for "exceeding
the limits of duty" in assisting the review of an NIAID-sponsored
acellular pertussis vaccine trial. On hand for the award are (from l)
Dr. Michael A. Friedman, FDA lead deputy commissioner, and Dr.
Kathryn C. Zoon, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation
and Research (CBER), who congratulate DMID director Dr. John
R. La Montagne, Dr. David L. Klein, Mark J. VanRaden and Maria
A. Deloria. The NIAID team's intimate knowledge of the complex
data sets helped CBER complete successful and timely statistical
and clinical reviews. Without the help, the thorough and punctual
review of the pertussis vaccine data could not have been
accomplished. The award citation says, "Such spirit of cooperation
between two government agencies in the interest of serving the
public health needs of children all over the world represents the
U.S. federal government at its best and consequently deserves
special recognition."
FCRDC Play and Learning Station Receives NAEYC Accreditation
NCI's Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center Child Care Center, known as Play and Learning Station (PALS), was recently granted accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This recognition has been achieved by only about 5 percent of early childhood programs nationwide. PALS provides child care services for employees of the FCRDC located within the boundaries of Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. The center serves up to 47 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Opened in 1995, PALS is operated under an NCI contract with Science Applications International Corp. NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they consistently meet national standards of excellence. Child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and before- and after-school programs are eligible to seek the accreditation.
Small Business Person of the Year
David Giuliani, president and CEO of Optiva Corp. and developer
of the first sonic toothbrush for home use, was recently named
Small Business Person of the Year. The award culminates nearly a
decade of work that was initiated by a grant from NIDR. Beginning
with a technology patented at the University of Washington,
Giuliani started the Seattle-based Optiva in 1988 with five
employees in a one-room office. With the aid of a $550,000 Small
Business Innovative Research grant from NIDR, the first sonic
toothbrush came to market in 1992. By 1996, the company had
manufactured its 1 millionth sonic brush and was recognized by Inc.
magazine as the second fastest growing firm in America. By then,
the company had grown to 340 employees occupying a
40,000-square foot building.
NCI Clinicians Named Top Doctors
Good Housekeeping magazine has named Drs. Edward L. Trimble and Michael A. Steller, both of the National Cancer Institute, to its list of "The Best Doctors for Women." Trimble is head of the surgery section in NCI's Clinical Investigations Branch and Steller heads the section of gynecologic oncology in the Surgery Branch. Both see patients with gynecologic cancer at the Clinical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Doctors on the list, which appeared in the magazine's August issue, were nominated by more than 260 ob/gyn heads at major medical centers around the country.
Up to Top