The NIH Almanac - Major NIH Lectures

The constant exchange of ideas is crucial to progress in medical research. Findings in one field often unexpectedly affect thinking in others. To encourage this exchange of ideas in its own laboratories, NIH hosts more than 1,200 scientific lectures each year by its own researchers and by distinguished visiting scientists from other research institutions. Here are a few highlights of the many lectures NIH hosted during the past year.

• The NIH Director's Lecture
• R.E. Dyer Lecture
• The George Khoury Lecture
• The DeWitt Stetten Jr., Lecture
• The Kinyoun Lecture
• Sayer Vision Research Lecture
• Margaret Pittman Lecture
• Phillip S. Chen Jr. Distinguished Lecture
• John R. LaMontagne Memorial Lecture
• Matilda White Riley Lecture

The NIH Director's Lecture

Speakers nominated by researchers and scientific interest groups throughout NIH, and approved by the NIH Director.

• "Imaging the Addicted Brain: From Molecules to Behavior"—Dr. Nora Volkow, April 5, 2006
• "Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Motility and Cytokinesis"—Thomas Pollard, April 26, 2006

R.E. Dyer Lecture

The lectureship was established in 1950 in honor of former NIH director Dr. Rolla E. Dyer, a noted authority on infectious diseases. The Dyer lectureship is an honor conferred on an internationally renowned researcher who has contributed substantially to medical as well as biological knowledge of infectious diseases.

• "New Aspects of NFkappaB and STAT Activation and Function in Cancer and Inflammation"—George R. Stark, November 8, 2006
• "Sensing Infection: Toll-Like Receptors and the Genetic Analysis of Mammalian Innate Immunity"—Bruce Beutler, January 18, 2006

The George Khoury Lecture

Organized by NIH scientists to honor the memory of Dr. George Khoury, who was highly regarded as a superb scientist and caring mentor of the postdoctoral fellows in his laboratory.

• "HCMV Persistence and Latency"—Thomas E. Shenk, November 29, 2006

The DeWitt Stetten Jr., Lecture

Established by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences in 1982 and presented annually in honor of Dr. Stetten, the third NIGMS director.

• "Regulatory Circuitry of Embryonic Stem Cells"—Richard A. Young, October 25, 2006

The Kinyoun Lecture

Established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1979 to honor Dr. Joseph J. Kinyoun, who established in 1887 the Laboratory of Hygiene on Staten Island, the predecessor of the National Institutes of Health.

• "Influenza Viruses: Past and Future Threats"—Jeffery K. Taubenberger, October 5, 2006

Sayer Vision Research Lecture

Dr. Jane Sayer, an NIH research scientist in NIDDK, has established the Sayer Vision Research Lecture and Award at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), in partnership with the National Eye Institute (NEI) at NIH, to honor her family and the memory of her parents, Winthrop and Laura Sayer. The lecture and award series will provide an opportunity for honorees to explore areas of interdisciplinary collaboration, such as angiogenesis, that may lead to advances in diverse medical specialties with relevance to vision research.

• "Stemming Vision Loss with Stem Cells"—Martin Friedlander, May 25, 2006

Margaret Pittman Lecture

Honors Margaret Pittman, the first woman to hold the position of Laboratory Chief at NIH. Among her many accomplishments are the discovery of key capsular polysaccharides on Haemophilus influenzae and hypotheses that led to the development of new acellular pertussis vaccines.

• "Nature, Nurture, and Breast Cancer"—Olufunmilayo Olopade, September 13, 2006

Phillip S. Chen Jr. Distinguished Lecture

Honors Dr. Chen, who retired from NIH in January 2006 with more than 41 years of service. He conducted research in an intramural lab within the then National Heart Institute from 1956 to 1959, and had been in Intramural Research Program administration since 1974.

• "Innovation and Collaboration: Revolutionizing TB Therapy"—Maria Freire, January 20, 2006

John R. LaMontagne Memorial Lecture

Honors Dr. John R. LaMontagne, former NIAID deputy director (1998-2004) whose leadership and accomplishments in fighting emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases earned him international recognition, numerous accolades and widespread admiration.

• "Pandemic Influenza: Lessons Learned and Revisited"—Michael T. Osterholm, May 11, 2006

Matilda White Riley Lecture

Named for noted NIH social scientist who died in 2004 at age 93 to honor her extraordinary life and work in behavioral and social research.

• "Population Health: Challenges for Science and Society"—David Mechanic, May 22, 2006