NIH Record - National Institutes of Health
The gut, a big pink sack filled with colorful pellets, strands and y-shaped branches representing the different bacteria strains

November 26, 2021

  • Four individuals in face masks gather around a large pedestal topped with an architectural model of a building under glass.

    HHS Secretary Becerra Visits

    By Carla Garnett

    HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra visited NIH on Nov. 4 for the first time as head of the department. Accompanied by Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm and other HHS staff, he spent more than 2 hours touring a lab in the Clinical Center, meeting with top leadership, including NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and principal deputy director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, and getting briefings and a lab demonstration at the VRC.
  • Head shot of a smiling Winn, wearing a tuxedo

    Winn Urges Tackling Disparities

    By Dana Talesnik

    Science and technology alone will not eradicate cancer, says VCU Massey Cancer Center director Dr. Robert Winn. At a recent NCI lecture, Winn discusses the impact of place and space and the need for more equitable health care delivery.
  • image of screen grid featuring 4 people shown individually in boxes

    Animal Care Workers Appreciated on Director’s ‘Gratitude Tour’ Call

    “Animal care workers make the NIH mission possible,” NIH director Dr. Francis Collins told attendees at a recent “Gratitude Tour” stop. He continued to express his appreciation for dedicated work over the last nearly 2 years under pandemic conditions.
  • Mason sits in her red wheelchair wearing black scrubs

    Hire Health Care Workers with Disabilities, Says Mason

    By Eric Bock

    A lot of people with disabilities are health care workers. And many more are waiting for a chance, said Ryann Mason during the NIH’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month keynote address. “Most individuals with disabilities are much more independent than people realize,” she said.
The gut, a big pink sack filled with colorful pellets, strands and y-shaped branches representing the different bacteria strains

On the Cover

Bacterial strains in the guts of humans and chimpanzees diverged and began to evolve separately 5 million years ago, and 15 million years ago in humans and gorillas. Humans and apes evolved into a new species at about the same time. A mutually beneficial relationship between gut bacteria and animal hosts may contribute to formation of a new species.

Darryl Leja, NHGRI

The NIH Record

The NIH Record, founded in 1949, is the biweekly newsletter for employees of the National Institutes of Health.

Published 25 times each year, it comes out on payday Fridays.

Assistant Editor: Eric Bock
Eric.Bock@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)

Staff Writer: Amber Snyder
Amber.Snyder@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)

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