2011 - NIH Clinical Center - National Institutes of Health

COLLABORATION OFFERS CLINICAL CENTER RESOURCES TOEXTERNAL INVESTIGATORSA new pilot partnership between the ClinicalCenter, the National Cancer Institute’s Centerfor Cancer Research, and the Damon RunyonCancer Research Foundation will offer some ofthe capabilities and expertise of America’s researchhospital to an external group of clinical investigatorsin cancer research.The special talent andresources of the NIH will allow Damon Runyonfundedinvestigators to undertake studies and collaborationsthat will advance understanding of theprevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators (DRCIs)are early career physician-scientists whose focus ison the translation of basic science discoveries intopractical therapies. Since 1946, the Damon RunyonCancer Research Foundation has investedmore than $230 million in early career cancer researcherswho have the energy, drive, and creativityto become leading innovators in their fields.“Thanks to the new three-component partnership,these young investigators can apply to use certainequipment, facilities, and patient cohorts at theClinical Center in research collaborations withNIH clinician-scientists,” said Dr. John I. Gallin,Clinical Center director.An approved research proposal could also provideaccess to select research materials, services, orproducts that may not be available or possible attheir home institutions—such as products fromthe Pharmacy Department’s PharmaceuticalDevelopment Facility—through arrangementswith the Clinical Center but without a formalresearch collaboration with a specific institute.If the pilot proves successful, the NIH and theClinical Center may pursue similar partnershipswith other NIH institutes and centers and externalorganizations.“This is a first step toward opening the doors ofthe Clinical Center to a new group of clinicianscientists,further supporting the NIH mission toenhance health and reduce the burden of disease,”said Gallin.The partnership allows DRCIs to partnerwith an NIH-tenured or tenure-track investigatoron a research project. If the NIH researchpartner is not identified independently, the DRCIcan submit a research proposal to NCI and theNICHD endocrinologist named 2010Distinguished Clinical TeacherThe 2010 Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award went to an investigator with a“logical and thorough” teaching style, according to the fellows who work withhim. Dr. Jeffrey Baron, chief of the Section on Growth and Development at theNational Institute for Child Health and Human Development, received the awardin September 2010.The Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award has been presented each year since 1985to an NIH faculty member who demonstrates excellence in mentoring healthcareprofessionals and has made outstanding contributions to the advancement ofclinical research.The recipient is chosen by the Clinical Center Clinical Fellow’sCommittee and delivers the annual John Laws Decker Memorial Lecture thefollowing spring.Dr. Jeffrey Baron (left) received the 2010Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award. With him isDr. Joo Song, chair of the CC Clinical FellowsCommittee.Also nominated this year were Dr.Alan Decherney (NICHD), Dr.Theo Heller(NIDDK), Dr. Steven Warach (NINDS), Dr. Juan Gea-Banacloche (NCI), andDr. Susumu Sato (NINDS).ANNUAL REPORT 2011• 43