NIH Record - National Institutes of Health
Illustration of how DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids cross the blood-brain barrier using a lipid transporter

November 24, 2023

  • Bertagnolli Begins as NIH Director

    Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli started Nov. 9 as the 17th director of NIH. She is the first surgeon and the second woman to hold the position. Nominated by President Joe Biden, Bertagnolli was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 7.
  • Rajan Studies How Fat Cells Communicate with the Brain

    Fruit flies have fat—but not too much, said Dr. Akhila Rajan. What little fat there is has helped scientists make unexpected findings about how fat cells communicate with the brain, said Rajan, during a recent Judith H. Greenberg Early Career Investigator Lecture. Fat cells, also referred to as adipocytes, are an organism’s primary energy storage organs.
  • NCI Investigator Discovers Signals that Spur Metastatic Cancer

    NCI's Dr. Li Yang and colleagues recently discovered a mechanism that may underlie cancer relapse. They found that dying cancer cells emit signals that can trigger the growth of nearby cancer cells. Further research into this phenomenon could yield clues toward new ways to treat metastatic cancer.
  • Hope Offered for Patients with Rare Disorder

    Investigators and patient families discuss their experiences with fibrous dysplasia/McCune Albright Syndrome (FD/MAS), a rare disease of the skeleton, skin and endocrine system, during a symposium marking25 years of NIDCR research. The familes have found answers and expert care over the years from NIH clinician-scientists.
Illustration of how DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids cross the blood-brain barrier using a lipid transporter

On the Cover

DHA crossing the blood-brain barrier. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is important for a healthy nervous system. This model shows how DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids cross the blood-brain barrier through the lipid transporter Mfsd2a.

Ethan Tyler/NIH Medical Arts

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)