A Paradox and Alan Rein: Distinguished Retrovirologist Retires from the HIV DRP

In 1953, a teenaged Alan Rein read about what James Watson and Francis Crick famously called “the secret of life”—the double-helix structure of DNA, which had just been published in Nature. Captivated, Rein decided at that moment that he wanted to be a biochemist. Rein’s biochemistry aspirations shifted to virology during college, leading him to a 60-year career in the field, the last 45 years of which were spent at NCI Frederick, studying how retroviruses like murine leukemia virus and HIV assemble themselves and infect host cells while somehow evading the immune response.
By Lisa Simpson, staff writer
01.14.2025

In the News

Health & Safety | The Basics of Mold and Why You Should Be Aware

The presence of household mold and its associated health risks are serious concerns for people living in regions with heavy rainfall. With the large amounts of rain recently drenching the Frederick area, your home may be at escalated risk of leaks, excess moisture, and mold.
By Esteban Garcia and Emme Tissue, OHS student interns; photos by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 12.03.2018
Health & Safety December 2018

Students | Where Are They Now: Ashley Babyak Begins Her Career in Biodefense

Ashley Babyak once dreamed of being a physician. But after multiple internships at NCI at Frederick, she realized she could also make a difference as a laboratory scientist, and she now seeks to protect public health by researching infectious diseases.
By Samuel Lopez, staff writer; photo contributed by Ashley Babyak 11.30.2018
Students Community People November 2018

Events | NCI at Frederick Employees Take a Hike Through History

On a blustery November morning, NCI at Frederick and Frederick National Laboratory employees bundled up and walked a 1.5-mile course around the Fort Detrick campus while learning about its history.
Story and photos by Chris Worthington, staff writer 11.29.2018
Events Take a Hike Occupational Health Services Community Health & Safety November 2018

Community | Upcoming Open Houses Aim to Show Employees a Way to Inspire Local Children

This December, the Office of Scientific Operations (OSO) is hosting two Elementary Outreach Program open houses that will show NCI at Frederick staff how they can help educate local elementary-aged students about science. This is OSO’s first year holding such events for the Elementary Outreach Program.
By Samuel Lopez, staff writer; photos by Richard Frederickson, staff photographer 11.28.2018
Community Outreach November 2018

Science & Technology | Researchers Identify Possible Reason for Loss of Brain Function in Patients with ALS

A team of scientists in NCI at Frederick’s Center for Cancer Research Mouse Cancer Genetics Program and their collaborators at the University of Florence have identified a link between the presence of a growth factor receptor and cognitive impairments in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
By Samuel Lopez, staff writer; photos courtesy of Lino Tessarollo, Ph.D. 11.27.2018
Science & Technology November 2018