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Ways to Share Science at the Spring Research Festival

The Spring Research Festival, Fort Detrick’s annual scientific showcase, is seeking participants. NCI Frederick and Frederick National Laboratory staff (including those located at the Advanced Technology Research Facility) are encouraged to participate in one or more of the festival’s functions. Registration for participants, namely presenters and judges, is open until April 5.

Conference to Celebrate and Support Black Cancer Researchers 

The cancer community will come together for a two-day conference designed to celebrate Black contributions in cancer research and to connect future investigators and collaborators, in order to pave the way for the next generation of Black cancer research professionals. Black in Cancer, a U.S./U.K.-based organization, and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research are co-hosts of the 2024 Black in Cancer Conference, set for June 20–21 at the Natcher Conference Center on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda.

Seeking Relief from Sinus Congestion: Exploring Medication Options

Experiencing a persistent cough, tight chest, and sinus discomfort can be uncomfortable. When you have these symptoms, it’s natural to seek medication to help ease your symptoms and promote healing.

As a nurse practitioner, I have faced the dilemma of finding suitable over-the-counter cold remedies without a clear, evidence-based answer. Standing in the cold and sinus aisle, the abundance of products is overwhelming. To make an informed decision, I considered the underlying causes of sinus congestion, including common colds, nasal irritants, and environmental triggers.

Cancer Research’s Newest Key Player—Artificial Intelligence

Visualizing protein structures in three dimensions instead of two has given scientists new insights into biological processes, and now artificial intelligence is adding the capacity to predict molecular behaviors that could potentially be borne out in laboratory studies. For Kylie Walters, Ph.D., a structural biologist with the NCI Center for Cancer Research in Frederick, artificial intelligence, or AI, has revolutionized the way her laboratory works.

Register Now to Celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science with FNL

To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research is co-hosting a panel of successful women scientists who will discuss their career paths, allyship and mentorship, and strategies for advancement.

The discussion will take place during the third annual Women in Science Speak event on February 9. A virtual option will also be available. The event is free, but registration is required.

Looking Back: HIV DRP Conference Showed the Potential in Viruses

Viruses are often regarded as villains in the story of humanity, but what if they didn’t always have to be? What if these microscopic invaders could serve as our allies instead—for instance, helping us treat cancer, protect against infections, and kill drug-resistant bacteria? This isn’t wishful thinking. They already do, and scientists are exploiting them to help us further. Last year’s HIV Dynamics and Replication Program conference provided a peek behind that curtain.

Twelve Years in, Annual Lecture Remains an Apt In Memoriam for a Former Colleague

The 2023 David Derse Memorial Lecture and Award coincided with Día de los Muertos, scientist emeritus Stephen Hughes, Ph.D., noted at the event. It was fitting happenstance. The Day of the Dead, as it’s called in English, is observed primarily in Mexico to celebrate the memory and legacy of deceased loved ones. In a similar spirit, the memorial lecture in Frederick united scientists to honor the legacy of the late David Derse, Ph.D.

NIH Research Festival Makes an Impression With Its Return to Bethesda Campus

For 2023, the National Institutes of Health held its first in-person NIH Research Festival in Bethesda, Maryland, since the start of the pandemic. The five-day event was well attended and included lectures, workshops, posters, and biotech vendor information booths spread across several areas of the campus.

While there was a plethora of events, several scientists agreed that the standout features of this year’s festival were the interactions.

2023 Student Science Jeopardy! 16th Annual Tournament

This year’s Scientific Library student Jeopardy! game again embraced a virtual format, like the 2021 and 2022 games, to accommodate interns competing from remote locations. The competition was an enjoyable match, involving 23 participants, including the seven contestants interning at NCI at Frederick from various high schools or colleges, and a fast final round with a high-totaling winner.