This fall, NLM is presenting "Strong Medicine," a festival of films that parse the cultural, social and existential meanings of disease and symptoms, scientific medicine, the medical marketplace, treatment and cure, healing and health professionalism, living and dying.

The series will take place Thursdays at 6 p.m. in Lister Hill Center Auditorium, first floor of Bldg. 38A. The series began Sept. 22 and runs through Nov. 17 (except Oct. 13 and Nov. 3). Admission is free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served in the lobby each evening.

Each evening will feature introductory remarks by historians, film critics or NIH scientists; one or more rare short historical medical films from the NLM collection; the feature presentation; and a discussion period.

Remaining films include:

Sept. 29, The Elephant Man (1980)

Oct. 6, Safe (1995)

Oct. 20, And the Band Played On (1993)

Oct. 27, Pre-Halloween Creature Feature: Island of Lost Souls (1933)

Nov. 10, Broadcast Medicine: Selected episodes of Ben Casey (1961), M*A*S*H (1972) & ER (1994)

Nov. 17, Treasures of the NLM Film Collection: Short Historical Medical Films, 1920-1970.

For more information, visit www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/happening/seminars/filmseries.html.

Bird flu, the relationship between oral bacteria and heart disease, the challenges of aging — learn more about these topics at the 29th annual Medicine for the Public lecture series, sponsored by the Clinical Center. Physician-scientists working to translate science into medicine will discuss these topics this fall. The lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10.

Oct. 18, "Avian Influenza: Preparing for the Pandemic," Dr. David Henderson, CC deputy director for clinical care. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a major concern to public health authorities and is a threat to public health. This lecture will cover what it is, how it spreads and where we can look for possible treatment and prevention.

Oct. 25, "Open Wide: Molecular Medicine Enters the Mouth," Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak, director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Studies suggest an association between oral bacteria and preterm or low birth-weight babies, heart disease and high blood sugar in people with diabetes. This lecture will cover oral health and the connection between oral bacteria and systemic disease. Tabak will discuss the latest research in molecular medicine and the use of salivary diagnostics as tools for health surveillance.

Nov. 1, "Growing Older: Challenges and Opportunities in Aging," Dr. Richard J. Hodes, director, National Institute on Aging. The trend toward increased life expectancy over the last century has been remarkable, resulting in an "age boom" of profound implications for individuals, families and society. This lecture will cover insights from research on the factors affecting health and well being as we grow older.

For more information call (301) 496-2563.

Although last year's influenza vaccine program was complicated by a vaccine shortage, NIH did receive vaccine and was able to offer it initially to priority groups and later to all who were interested. This year, NIH plans to offer the regular vaccine campaign in November.

The influenza vaccine for the 2005-2006 season contains the following strains recommended by the FDA's vaccines and related biological products advisory committee: A/New Caledonia/20/99-like (H1N1), B/Shanghai/361/2002-like, and A/California/7/2004 (H3N2-like).

Look for the upcoming schedule of dates and locations in the NIH Record and the web sites at http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/ or http://www.foiltheflu.nih.gov.

If you have questions about the influenza vaccine, call the Clinical Center Hospital Epidemiology Service, (301) 496-2209.

The Wednesday Afternoon Lecture series — held on its namesake day at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 — features Dr. Martin Heisenberg on Sept. 28, speaking on "Mapping Memory Traces in the Fly Brain." He is professor, Theodore Boveri Institute for Biosciences and chair, genetics and neurobiology, University of Wurzburg, Germany.

On Oct. 5, Dr. Margarita Alegria will address, "Matching Services to Needs: The Importance of Health Services Research for Reducing Disparities." She is professor, department of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and director, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Cambridge Hospital.

For more information or for reasonable accommodation, call Hilda Madine, (301) 594-5595.

The first NIH Director's Pioneer Award Symposium will feature the 2004 awardees discussing their research on Thursday, Sept. 29 in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10. In addition, NIH director Dr. Elias Zerhouni will announce the 2005 recipients.

"Each Pioneer awardee is forging new ground in an important scientific field," said Zerhouni. "Our goal was to support scientists of exceptional creativity with pioneering concepts. It is obvious just from their first year of work that these scientists are making good on their promise to pursue far-ranging ideas that merit exploration."

Zerhouni will open the symposium at 8:15 a.m. A highlight of the day will be the 2 p.m. roundtable talk among the 2004 award recipients. The event will end with an informal reception at 3 p.m. The symposium agenda is at http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/pioneer/symposium2005. Attendance is free and there is no need to register.

Registration for the 2005-2006 "Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research" began on Aug. 1. The course will run from Oct. 17 through Feb. 21, 2006. The deadline for registering is Oct. 5. Classes will be held on campus on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5 to 6:30. There is no charge for the course but purchase of a textbook is required. A certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of the course, including a final exam. For more information or to register, visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/researchers/training/ippcr.shtml or call (301) 496-9425.

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES), a non-profit organization that supports intramural research programs at NIH, is recruiting for an executive director. A full description of the organization and the position's responsibilities, scope and compensation can be found on the FAES web site, www.FAES.org. If interested and qualified, mail letter of interest, resume and four references to: The Selection Committee, FAES, 1 Cloister Court, Suite 230, Bethesda, MD 20814. No phone calls. Principals only. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

Duncan To Give Nanotechnology Series Talk

The NCI Nanotechnology Seminar Series will feature a lecture by Dr. Ruth Duncan, professor of cell biology and drug delivery, and director of the Centre for Polymer Therapeutics at Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom, on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Natcher Bldg., Rm. E1/E2. For details, visit http://nano.cancer.gov.

Once a month on Tuesday evenings, the Classic Residence for senior citizens in Chevy Chase opens its doors to the members of the NIH Camera Club, an R&W-sponsored organization of emerging, seasoned and expert photographers. A professional from the Washington area shares photographic expertise and images, then judges photos on a topic such as nature or architecture or photojournalism, in three categories — slides, color and black-and-white prints. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, this year's NIH-wide photography competition will take place. All members of the NIH community are invited to participate. For a handout with competition details, email Brenda Hanning, hanningb@mail.nih.gov.

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