July 2018

The JUUL: A New Avenue of Nicotine Addiction

A new form of e-cigarette called “JUUL” has been raising eyebrows thanks to its popularity, especially with high school and college students. In a matter of just two years, the product has gained one of the largest market shares in the e-cigarette business, putting younger generations at risk for health problems ranging from early nicotine addiction to diabetes. With a new class of Werner H. Kirsten and summer interns at NCI at Frederick, it is crucial to understand these risks. Here is what you need to know.

Take Your Child to Work Day Packed with Adventures in Science

Six-year-old Raylin Payne sprang into action as digital flames crackled to life on a display monitor eight feet away: after pulling a nearby fire alarm, he called 9-1-1 and grabbed a digital fire extinguisher to battle the simulated blaze. When the last of the embers had died away, his score for the R.A.C.E. emergency notification simulator appeared on the screen—a swift 58.5 seconds.

NCI to Dedicate Millions of Dollars to Help Patients Enrolled in Clinical Trials

During an address to the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, NCI Director Norman “Ned” Sharpless, M.D., announced that the National Cancer Institute is committing $10 million to support NCI-run clinical trials this year. The funds, which will be given in addition to the normal budget, are dedicated to trials conducted within the NCI Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program.