NIAMS’s O’Shea Receives Irish Society Honors

Dr. John J. O’Shea, NIAMS scientific director, recently received the 2009 Irish Society for Immunology Public Lecture Award in Dublin, Ireland. The society annually honors an outstanding immunologist in recognition of his/her contribution to the understanding of immunology and health improvement.

As part of the award, O’Shea was invited to deliver a talk about his research. Sponsored by the Royal Society of Dublin, the Irish Society of Immunology and the Irish Times, the lecture was titled “Learning from Patients: How Rare Diseases Inform Immunology.” He discussed two rare immunodeficiency diseases and how studying the molecular basis of these diseases has offered new insights into immunoregulation. He also explained how one of these disorders led to the generation of a new class of immunosuppressant drugs.

O’Shea came to NIAMS in 1994 and currently leads the Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch in conducting basic and clinical investigations on the molecular mechanisms underlying immune and inflammatory responses in rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.

OIR’s Mills Retires

Friends and colleagues of Deloris Mills gathered at the Cloister on May 29 to celebrate her retirement after 34 years of government service.

Her service to numerous parts of the NIH culminated most recently with her contributions to the Office of Intramural Research (OIR) under the leadership of Dr. Michael Gottesman, NIH deputy director for intramural research. He praised Mills for many of the same qualities found in NIH scientists, including persistence and creativity.

In addition to service to OIR’s Office of Human Subjects Research and the administrative office, she supported the Intramural AIDS Targeted Antivirals Program (IATAP) led by NIDDK’s Dr. William Eaton. Many of the laboratory scientists supported by this program attended the reception to honor Mills. IATAP has supported novel approaches to study the biophysical structure of HIV over the past 22 years with an investment of over $125 million.

Mills is succeeded in these duties by Jackie Roberts in the OIR. Mills’ colleagues wished her well in retirement and applauded her upcoming active roles in the life of her church and community.

Grady Receives EEO Award

NINR director Dr. Patricia Grady (l) recently received the Making a Difference Award from the NIH Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management. The purpose of the award is to recognize efforts in furthering diversity and equal opportunity in the NIH workforce. Lawrence Self, OEODM director, presented the award.

NIH Honored for Supporting Clinical Research Public Outreach At the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) 2009 annual meeting, Jill McNair, national director of CISCRP’s AWARE for All Clinical Research Education Days, recognized NIH for “Supporting Public Outreach and Community Building.” This spring, experts from NIH joined other medical leaders and public participants at the AWARE for All Baltimore Clinical Research Education Day held May 9 at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The free educational program included informational workshops, presentations and health screenings. Representing the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center, Senior Nurse Practitioner Sarah Hubka and Dr. Barney S. Graham discussed “The Role of the Healthy Volunteer.” Dr. Susan M. Resnick of the National Institute on Aging shared her knowledge of clinical research on aging and Alzheimer’s disease. “By generously contributing time and expertise, NIH supported CISCRP and its organizational partners with the national expansion of AWARE for All to address a countrywide lack of fundamental knowledge about clinical research,” said McNair. Accepting the award on behalf of NIH was Sona Thakkar of the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Communications and Education.