OHS Interns Lead “Spring into Wins” Fundraiser to Support Children’s Charities

Imagine a heavy roof propped up by slender pillars. Now imagine knocking down one of those pillars. The others buckle under the weight, and soon the whole thing comes crashing down. NCI Frederick scientists, with collaborators from the National Institutes of Health, industry, and academia, have achieved something similar in laboratory models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, a group of mouth, throat, and nasal cavity cancers with life-altering complications.

Werner H. Kirsten student interns Taylor Johnson and Isabella Pressimone, who worked with Occupational Health Services (OHS), demonstrated both leadership and compassion this spring by organizing a fundraiser titled “Spring Into Wins” on behalf of the Recreation and Welfare Club Frederick (R&WCF). The initiative raised over $1,000 for three organizations dedicated to helping children who have cancer. This project was more than a fundraising event—it was a powerful learning experience that deepened the interns’ awareness of the challenges faced by pediatric cancer patients and their families.

NCI Postbaccalaureate fellow Alana Thomas was thrilled to attend the HIV DRP Think Tank for her second time. Professor John Coffin, Ph.D., was attending for his 27th time—and was no less thrilled. Looking on, it was easy to see why. The 27th HIV Dynamics and Replication Program (DRP) Think Tank, hosted by NCI Frederick, was a decidedly intimate gathering as far as scientific meetings go. The 18 short lectures and small guest list played a part in that—just over 130 scientists attended this year, most of them federal or National Laboratory employees—but more pervasive was the current of passion and tight-knit camaraderie.

NCI Frederick’s Frank Cuttitta, Ph.D.; academic scientists; and an antibody manufacturer have unmasked an enigmatic protein and overturned decades of convention surrounding its relevance to cancer and biology. They’ve also identified some tissues in which it can be found and have confirmed its presence in some human cancers, raising it as a potential target for treatment.

After a productive year in business, the NCI Frederick Media Laboratory is closing again. The service, with its longtime goal of sustainability, was in the hands of Nancy Martin and Dan McVicar, Ph.D. The move comes on the heels of Martin’s retirement from NCI. In light of the change, Poster recognizes her steadfast dedication for the past year.