With winter approaching and a new Covid-19 variant—omicron—identified just days previously in the U.S., President Joe Biden made his second visit this year to NIH to discuss the nation’s new strategy against the pandemic. The plan—developed with advice from top physicians, scientists and public health experts—employs five key actions.
As NIH director, Dr. Francis Collins broke the mold and has set the bar high in the search for a successor. Recently, Collins sat down with NIH Record staff for a virtual chat, reflecting on his tenure as director, a role in which he happily wore many hats at once--physician-scientist, medical research ambassador and musician-in-chief.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the National Cancer Act of 1971, the landmark legislation that catalyzed breakthroughs in cancer research and care and improved the lives of the American people. “The NCA advanced NIH’s mission to improve the public’s health through scientific discovery,” said NCI director Dr. Ned Sharpless.
Covid-19 hit the NIH campus on Mar. 15, 2020, when a staff member tested positive for the disease. NIAMS clinical staff immediately sprang into action and volunteered with screening and testing efforts to mitigate spread of the virus. Nearly 2 years later, NIAMS staff who supported response efforts at NIH and surrounding communities, reflect.
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Human colon cancer cells with the cell nuclei stained red and the protein E-cadherin stained green. E-cadherin is a cell adhesion molecule and its loss signals a process known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in which cells acquire the ability to migrate and become invasive. Dec. 23, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark National Cancer Act.