| T H E N I H C A T A L Y S T | M A Y – J U N E 2004 |
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| F R O M | T H E | D E P U T Y | D I R E C T O R | F O R | I N T R A M U R A L | R E S E A R C H |
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WHEN LAST THE CICADAS PEEKED:
17 YEARS AGO AT NIH—AND TODAY
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| Michael
Gottesman c. 1987 |
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| Michael
Gottesman c. 2004 |
When Brood X of the 17-year locusts last emerged, NIH was celebrating its centennial year. The scientific directors were considering critical issues of the day (left, below, as uncovered by my staff from SD minutes). We were starting to figure out how to implement strong marching orders from Congress as demanded by the Federal Technology Transfer Act. Members of Congress told us in no uncertain terms that we needed to move swiftly and vigorously to establish ways to transfer NIH discoveries to the private sector, where they could be turned into treatments and products that would benefit the public health.
The HIV and hepatitis-C tests, drugs like AZT for the treatment of AIDS, and NICHD’s Haemophilus influenzae—B vaccine are discoveries that have literally saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the decades since their transfer from the NIH bench to private industry to be developed into the tests, treatments, and vaccines used today.
The recent controversy about the extent to which NIH scientists can consult with industry reflects dramatic changes in the way science is conducted compared with 17 years ago.
And in another 17 years? Whatever may happen, I expect that the core values of cultivating first-rate research in the interest of public health will prevail at NIH. And I hope there’s a shift to the right side of my cartoon-face equation below. I suspect there will be, and I welcome all your suggestions for catalysts to make that happen.
—Michael
Gottesman
Deputy
Director for Intramural Research
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Then
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Now
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Psychological
Well-being of Nonhuman Primates
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Psychological
Well-being of Rodents
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Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986
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PATRIOT
Act and Hosting Foreign Visitors
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Clinical
Center Ward for Study of AIDS Patients
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Clinical
Center Unit for Study of Obese Patients
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Competitiveness
and Fairness of the Summer Program
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Competitiveness
and Fairness of the Summer Program
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Request
for List of Important International Conferences
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Attendance
at Important International Conferences
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Critical
Issues of Laboratory Research Space on Campus
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Critical
Issues of Laboratory Research Space on Campus
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Revitalization
of the Commissioned Corps
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Transformation
of the Commissioned Corps
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Scientific
Faculty
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SBRS
and Title 42
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