Introduction
The NIAMS Update is a monthly digest published for those interested in the latest scientific news and resources on diseases of the bones, joints, muscles, and skin. We encourage further dissemination of this resource.
In This Issue
Spotlight
News
Meetings
Publications
Funding Announcements
Read More at NIAMS
Health Information
Research
Funding
News & Events
About Us
Portal en español
Contact Us
Disclaimer
Accessibility
FOIA
Contact Information
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov
Janet S. Austin, Ph.D.
Director
Melanie M. Martinez, M.P.A.
Public Liaison Officer
Trish Reynolds, R.N., M.S.
Media Liaison
Spotlight
The NIAMS Cordially Invites You to Celebrate
25 Years of Improving Lives Through Discovery
NIAMS 25th Anniversary Scientific Symposium:
Improving Lives Through Discovery
Monday, June 13, 2011
8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Lipsett Auditorium
Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus
Bethesda, Maryland
To mark this milestone, the NIAMS is hosting the scientific symposium Improving Lives Through Discovery. This program will feature scientific advances made possible with NIAMS support, highlight how these advances have improved patients' lives, and address the future directions for NIAMS research.
The agenda will include panels with outstanding investigators from the many disciplines the NIAMS supports. Their presentations will be complemented by patients who will share their experiences with diseases of the bones, joints, muscles, and skin, and how research has changed their lives. In addition to these distinguished speakers, we will be joined by the NIH Director, Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who will be giving the Welcoming Address, and as an Institute Champion, the Honorable John Edward Porter, Chairman of Research!America.
A reception and poster session will immediately follow the event. The symposium is free and open to the public
It is also our pleasure to invite you to a special dinner event, featuring National Public Radio talk show host Diane Rehm, “Bringing Medicine and Science to the Public: A Conversation with Diane Rehm.” The dinner, hosted by the Foundation for the NIH, will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, MD.
Early registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register for these events, please visit the Symposium Registration website today.
News
Study Shows Unexpected Role of Immune Cell in Lupus
A new study by NIAMS-supported researchers provides surprising insights into the immune process involved in lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage many parts of the body including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood and brain. The study’s findings, which focus on an immune system cell called a dendritic cell, could potentially lead to the development of new treatments for the disease, the researchers say.
NIH Scientists Identify Gene that Could Hold the Key to Muscle Repair
Researchers have long questioned why patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy succumb to their disease in early adulthood, or why elderly people who lose muscle strength following bed rest find it difficult or impossible to regain. Now, researchers at the NIAMS are beginning to find answers in a specialized population of cells called satellite cells. Their findings, reported in the journal Genes & Development, suggest a potential therapeutic target for conditions where muscle deterioration threatens life or quality of life.
NIAMS Researchers Explain Why Combined Osteoporosis Regimen Falls Short
Researchers supported by the NIAMS have uncovered why combining the bone-building treatment parathyroid hormone (PTH) with alendronate, a drug that slows bone loss, is no better than PTH alone. Their work, published in a recent issue of Cell Stem Cell, further suggests that altering the timing and sequence of these therapies could optimize their impact on bone.
Even Mild Spine Deformities in Older Women Linked to Osteoporosis
Researchers supported by the NIAMS have demonstrated that mild spine deformities in older women can be due to fractures from osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disease. Their study was recently published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
NIH Researchers Create Comprehensive Collection of Approved Drugs to Identify New Therapies for Rare and Neglected Diseases
Researchers have begun screening the first definitive collection of thousands of approved drugs for clinical use against rare and neglected diseases. They are hunting for additional uses of the drugs, hoping to find off-label therapies for some of the 6,000 rare diseases that afflict 25 million Americans. The effort is coordinated by the NIH’s Chemical Genomics Center.
NIH Researchers Identify Cause and New Treatment for Common Recurrent Fever in Children: Therapy for Periodic Fever Syndrome Targets the Body's Immune Response
A preliminary study conducted by a team at the NIH has identified a promising new treatment for the most common periodic fever disease in children. The syndrome is called periodic fever associated with aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis or PFAPA and is characterized by monthly flare-ups of fever, accompanied by sore throat, swollen glands and mouth lesions.
NIH Establishes Working Group on the Future Biomedical Research Workforce
A new working group at the NIH will examine the future of the biomedical research workforce in the United States. The group will recommend actions to the Advisory Committee to the Director to ensure a diverse and sustainable biomedical and behavioral research workforce.
New NIH Council of Councils Members Named
The NIH announced the appointments of 20 individuals to the NIH Council of Councils. The Council was established by the NIH Reform Act of 2006 to advise the NIH Director on cutting-edge, trans-NIH priorities and matters related to policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, also established by the act.
NIH Launches Web Resource on Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Evidence-based Information for Health Care Providers
A new online resource designed to give health care providers easy access to evidence-based information on complementary and alternative medicine was unveiled by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH.
NIH-funded Centers to Assist Rehabilitation Researchers
The NIH has provided approximately $30 million over a five-year period to fund a network of centers to advance medical rehabilitation research. The centers provide researchers with access to new technologies and resources.
Meetings
NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series
NIH’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Clinical Center (Building 10), NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are Continuing Medical Education-certified lectures, open to the public and available live via Webcast.
Upcoming lectures:
June 1, 2011
Dr. Lynne Maquat
"Tales from the Cellular Underworld: mRNA Death Dealers"
June 8, 2011
Dr. Rafi Ahmed
"Immunological Memory"
June 15, 2011
Dr. Laurie Glimcher
"Bound and Determined: Cell Fate in Health and Disease"
June 22, 2011
Dr. Didier Stainier
"Curing Diabetes One Fish at a Time: The Long Road of Translational Research"
June 29, 2011
Dr. Jules Hoffmann
"The Antimicrobial Defense of Drosophila: A Paradigm for Innate Immunity"
Publications
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Has Updated Vitamin D and Calcium Fact Sheets
Important new information—updated recommended intakes for calcium and vitamin D issued by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academies—warranted revisions in ODS fact sheets. These and other ODS nutrient fact sheets provide the most up-to-date recommendations on daily intakes, together with information on nutrient consumption and health status, risks of excessive intakes, groups at risk for inadequate intakes and related topics. ODS fact sheets are available on the ODS website in two versions. The Health Professional version gives a comprehensive review that is directed to health care providers and researchers. The QuickFacts version provides a detailed overview for consumers, but is also suited for busy health care providers.
NIH Research Matters
NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, NIH.
Gene Could Hold Key to Muscle Repair
Researchers have identified a gene that is critical for maintaining and regenerating muscle. The finding may lead to therapies for muscle-wasting diseases and age-related muscle decline.
NIH Public Bulletin
Read about the latest public events, activities, and health information resources from NIH in the latest issue of the NIH Public Bulletin.
NIH News in Health
Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by NIH’s medical experts and is based on research conducted either by NIH’s own scientists or by our grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.
Funding Announcements
NIH Common Fund Initiative Announcements
Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for a H3Africa Bioinformatics Network
(NOT-RM-11-014)
Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for H3Africa Repositories
(NOT-RM-11-015)
NIAMS Announcements
Withdrawal of NIAMS Participation in PAR-10-266, Support of NIGMS Program Project Grants (P01)
(NOT-AR-11-019)
Other Research Announcements
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01)
(PA-11-190)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02)
(PA-11-191)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Academic Career Award (Parent K07)
(PA-11-192)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08)
(PA-11-193)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23)
(PA-11-194)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24)
(PA-11-195)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25)
(PA-11-196)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00)
(PA-11-197)
Letters of Intent Due Date: Not Applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply
Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) High Throughput Genotyping and Sequencing Resource Access (X01)
(PAR-11-210)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable.
Application Receipt Dates: Applications are accepted by continuous receipt. See full announcement.
Re-Issuance of Parent Research Career Development (K) Award Funding Opportunity Announcements
(NOT-OD-11-063)
Appeals of NIH Initial Peer Review
(NOT-OD-11-064)
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2011
(NOT-OD-11-067)
NIH Fiscal Policy for Grant Awards FY 2011
(NOT-OD-11-068)
If you would like to review information about funding opportunities more frequently than our monthly updates allow, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities. You can also request a weekly Table of Contentsfrom the NIH Guide.