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News From NIDCR

Researchers Report Initial Success In Promising Approach to Prevent Tooth Decay
Preventing cavities could one day involve the dental equivalent of a military surgical strike. A team of researchers supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research report they have created a new smart anti-microbial treatment that can be chemically programmed in the laboratory to seek out and kill a specific cavity-causing species of bacteria, leaving the good bacteria untouched.

The experimental treatment, reported online in the journal "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy," is called a STAMP. The acronym stands for "specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides" and, like its postal namesake, STAMPs have a two-sided structure. The first is the short homing sequence of a pheromone, a signaling chemical that can be as unique as a fingerprint to a bacterium and assures the STAMP will find its target. The second is a small anti-microbial bomb that is chemically linked to the homing sequence and kills the bacterium upon delivery.

While scientists have succeeded in the past in targeting specific bacteria in the laboratory, this report is unique because of the STAMPs themselves. They generally consist of less than 25 amino acids, a relative pipsqueak compared to the bulky, bacteria-seeking antibodies that have fascinated scientists for years. Because of their streamlined design, STAMPs also can be efficiently and rapidly produced on automated solid-phase chemistry machines designed to synthesize small molecules under 100 amino acids, called peptides.

The first-generation STAMPs also proved extremely effective in the initial laboratory work. As reported in this month's paper, the scientists found they could eliminate the cavity-associated oral bacterium Steptococcus mutans within 30 seconds from an oral biofilm without any collateral damage to related but non-pathogenic species attached nearby. Biofilms are complex, multi-layered microbial communities that routinely form on our teeth and organs throughout the body. According to one estimate, biofilms may be involved to varying degrees in up to 80 percent of human infections.

"We've already moved the S. mutans STAMP into human studies, where it can be applied as part of a paste or mouthrinse," said Dr. Wenyuan Shi, senior author on the paper and a scientist at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry. "We're also developing other dental STAMPs that target the specific oral microbes involved in periodontal disease and possibly even halitosis. Thereafter, we hope to pursue possible medical applications of this technology." For the full story, visit www.nidcr.nih.gov.

Gene Offers New Lead in Cleft Lip and Palate Research
Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health report in the current issue of the journal "Science" that a much-studied gene called SUMO1, when under expressed, can cause cleft lip and palate, one of the world's most common birth defects.

With several genes already implicated in causing cleft lip and palate, the authors note their addition to the list comes with a unique biological twist. The SUMO1 gene encodes a small protein that is attached to the protein products of at least three previously discovered "clefting" genes during facial development, in essence linking them into or near a shared regulatory pathway and now hotspot for clefting.

"The big challenge for research on cleft lip and palate is to move from studying individual genes to defining individual protein networks," said Dr. Richard Maas, a scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University Medical School in Cambridge, Mass. and senior author on the paper. His research is supported by NIH's National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

"By protein network, I mean a nexus of proteins that interact in a highly regulated way," he continued. "It's at this dynamic, real-time level that science will begin to see the big picture and tease out more of the needed insights to understand and hopefully eventually prevent cleft lip and palate in newborns. What's exciting about SUMO1 is it allows us for the first time to begin to connect at least some of the dots and hopefully lock into a highly informative protein network that feeds into additional protein networks to form the palate, or roof of the mouth."

"Ten years ago, this work might have taken our laboratory years to perform," said Maas. "But with the genomic resources that are now readily available, we can get answers in a matter of weeks or months and, just as importantly, we spend a greater proportion of our time thinking through the biology rather than worrying why an assay isn't working."

With more tools and data to sift through, Maas noted that the long held distinctions between syndromic and non-syndromic cleft lip and palate have begun to blur. Traditionally, "syndromic" means babies are born with cleft lip and/or palate, in addition to other birth defects. "Non-syndromic" refers newborns who have cleft lip and/or palate only.

"Clefting reflects the combined actions of multiple gene products, rarely only one gene and its protein," said Maas. "That's why it's likely that what we now call non-syndromic has a very heterogenous mixture of manifestations, too. It's just that the other manifestations are so subtle or not immediately obvious that we don't recognize them. Through our work and that of our colleagues, we can begin to better define these conditions." For the full article, visit www.nidcr.nih.gov

NIH Seeks Road Map Input
The NIH is seeking input from the scientific community, health professionals, patient advocates, and the general public about innovative and cross-cutting initiatives that will improve and accelerate biomedical research and its impact on the health of the nation. Collecting these ideas is an initial step in the process of identifying a new cohort of “Roadmap” trans-NIH strategic initiatives for fiscal year 2008. This idea-gathering phase has also included obtaining input from scientist consultants and the NIH Institutes and Centers. This RFI provides an opportunity for respondents to submit their own ideas and to view ideas nominated to date. The NIH expects to spend $30–50 million per year from within the currently projected Roadmap budget for approximately 5–8 new 5-year (or in exceptional cases up to 10-year) initiatives. More information on this request can be found at: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-011.html. Future requests for public input will be available at getinvolved.nih.gov/public_comment.asp. Please forward this information to anyone else who may find it useful.

Patient Advocate Spotlight: The American Academy of Pain Management

The American Academy of Pain Management is the largest Pain Organization in the United States. Academy Membership is 6,000 strong and growing. The Academy provides credentialing, accreditation of facilities, networking opportunities, continuing education, quality publications and an annual clinical meeting.

It is the goal of the American Academy of Pain Management to bring together the many professionals who work with individuals in pain and to assist in the creation of quality services for those individuals. The intent of the American Academy of Pain Management is to be inclusionary and not restrictive to any specialty.

The American Academy of Pain Management was co-founded by Richard S. Weiner, PhD and Kathryn A. Weiner, PhD. The Academy was incorporated in 1988 as a non-profit 501c6 organization. The Academy has held Sixteen Annual Clinical Meetings since it's founding. Focusing on cutting edge topics from multiple disciplines, information has always been presented by experts in the field of pain management.

The Academy started by credentialing multidisciplinary pain practitioners. Its next accomplishment was creating quality publications such as the American Journal of Pain Management, the newsletter; The Pain Practitioner and a text book; Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians. The founders then focused on creating tools to assist clinicians in their practice and established Pain Program Accreditation and an outcomes measurement tool; the National Pain Data Bank. General Membership was then established bringing together and providing networking opportunities for like minded professionals. The Academy's dedication to excellence then transferred to the Continuing Education Department that has developed quality educational programming in the field of pain management. The University of Integrated Studies was then a dream become realized. The University of Integrated Studies provides graduate-level degree programs for health practitioners through distance learning. The focus of the University is the integration of the disparate health care disciplines, philosophies and methodologies to form a cooperative working relationship that promotes social change and creates an integrated health care system. Please visit, www.aapainmanage.org

NIH Launches National Consortium To Transform Clinical Research

Bethesda, Md. - National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., announced the launch of a national consortium that will transform how clinical and translational research is conducted, ultimately enabling researchers to provide new treatments more efficiently and quickly to patients. This new consortium, funded through Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), begins with 12 academic health centers (AHCs) located throughout the nation. An additional 52 AHCs are receiving planning grants to help them prepare applications to join the consortium. When fully implemented in 2012, about 60 institutions will be linked together to energize the discipline of clinical and translational science.

"The development of this consortium represents the first systematic change in our approach to clinical research in 50 years," said Zerhouni. "Working together, these sites will serve as discovery engines that will improve medical care by applying new scientific advances to real world practice. We expect to see new approaches reach underserved populations, local community organizations, and health care providers to ensure that medical advances are reaching the people who need them."

Applicants were encouraged to develop institutes, centers or departments for these awards and were challenged to devise innovative and far-reaching approaches to build academic homes for clinical and translational science. In response, the CTSA institutions are planning to:

"The impact of the CTSA consortium will be far greater than the number of awards made," said Barbara M. Alving, M.D., NCRR Acting Director. "We're already seeing transformative changes and new partnerships developing at institutions as they prepare to participate. This consortium will spur innovation, integration, inclusion, and dissemination -- not only among institutions receiving these awards -- but at all organizations involved in health care throughout the country."

The CTSA initiative grew out of the NIH commitment to re-engineer the clinical research enterprise, one of the key objectives of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. The CTSA consortium will be led by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a part of the NIH. Funding for the CTSA initiative comes from redirecting existing clinical and translational programs, including Roadmap funds. Total first year funding for the awards announced today will be approximately $100 million. When fully implemented in 2012, the initiative is expected to provide a total of $500 million annually to 60 academic health centers. For complete project descriptions, please visit www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/roadmap/CTSA_9-2006.asp. In addition, the list of planning grant recipients is available at www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/roadmap/CTSA_Planning_9-2006.asp.

A second Request for Applications (RFA) for CTSAs has been issued, calling for the next round of submissions to be made by January 17, 2007, with awards expected in fall 2007. The RFA is available at grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-002.html.

NIH Announces Request for Input on Proposed Repository for Genetic Information

NIH Extramural Nexus
grants.nih.gov/grants/partners/0906Nexus.htm
The May 2006 NIH Extramural Nexus highlighted the NIH’s Notice to Applicants for NIH Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Recently, the NIH has issued requests for public comments on a proposed policy in the form of a Request for Information and a Federal Register notice. The policy, when finalized, is designed to accelerate the research community’s access to genetic data resulting from NIH-funded GWAS. Genome-based research eventually will enable medical science to develop highly effective diagnostic tools, better understand the health needs of people based on their individual genetic make-ups, and design new and highly effective treatments for disease.

The proposed GWAS policy covers protections for human subjects, submission of data to a centralized NIH data repository, data access for secondary analyses, publication of findings, and intellectual property issues.

The proposed policy describes the expectation that investigators funded by the NIH for GWAS submit genotypic and phenotypic data to a centralized NIH data repository in a form that will protect the privacy of research participants. The draft policy also outlines the process by which investigators can access GWAS data from the repository, proposes a period of publication exclusivity for investigators who submit the data, and asks that recipients of GWAS data acknowledge the submitting investigator in any published works.

To facilitate research progress, NIH would encourage obtaining a patent for downstream discoveries that would be necessary to develop products to meet public health needs, while discouraging obtaining a patent for early, pre-competitive information that may impede future research.

The NIH hopes to achieve several important goals, including:

The NIH is soliciting comments on the proposed policy through the GWAS Policy Web site. Comments also can be submitted via email to gwas@nih.gov. A town hall meeting also is planned for early December 2006.

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery Publishes Research by Iraqi Surgeons

Newswise - In a society struggling to rebuild after years of dictatorship and war, Iraqi craniofacial and plastic surgeons will play a critical role in treating many of the most serious injuries caused by the ongoing conflict in that country. An important step forward was last year's "Kuwait Plast 2005" meeting, in which Iraqi surgeons met with their Kuwaiti and American counterparts in a 5-day exchange of surgical knowledge and international goodwill, sponsored by the International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS) and the Kuwait Ministry of Health. An important educational focus was on modern surgical techniques of treating burns, explosive injuries, and other combat- and terrorism-related injuries.

The March/April 2006 issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery publishes a series of research papers by Iraqi craniofacial surgeons whose goals are similar to those of their counterparts who attended the Kuwait meeting. "We hope these will be the first of many papers to come, as Iraqi surgeons strive to meet the urgent need for advanced craniofacial and plastic surgery procedures in their country," comments Dr. Mutaz Habal, Editor-in-Chief of JCS.

The papers include a study by Drs. Raja Kummoona and Aliaa M. Muna on their experience in treating facial injuries caused by the Iraqi conflict. The "bizarre nature" of the conflict—a combination of conventional war, civil unrest, crime, and terrorism—has led to a unique pattern of devastating facial injuries, the authors write. Their paper includes a system for classification, immediate evaluation, and eventual reconstruction of the injuries. Visit the journal website at www.jcraniofacialsurgery.com.

ELECTRONIC Submission News

NIH Extramural Nexus
grants.nih.gov/grants/partners/0906Nexus.htm
To prepare the applicant community for the upcoming transition of NIH Research Project Grant Program R01s to electronic submission in February 2007, NIH will hold a training event on December 5, 2006, geared toward extramural grant applicants. With a year of electronic submission under our belt, our focus will be on lessons learned and sharing our advice on best practices for submitting applications online.

As a bonus, we will host "hands-on" computer labs giving applicants the opportunity to practice the submission process with eSubmission experts. The training event will take place on Tuesday, December 5 (labs will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday), at the Natcher Conference Center (Building 45), Main Auditorium, NIH Main Campus.

A preliminary agenda is available. Additional details and registration are coming soon! Subscribe to the Listserv for updates on the Electronic Submission Program to be notified when registration becomes available.

Complete information about the electronic grant application submission is available at the Electronic Submission Web site.

New Campaign, Featuring Smokers' Personal Stories, Encourages Tobacco Users To "Be A Quitter"

Smokers and tobacco users trying to quit will soon have a potent ally -- fellow smokers.

The "Quit Now" Challenge a new initiative featuring the inspirational stories of people who want to quit smoking, was announced today by The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Now through October 27, 2006, 1-800-QUIT-NOW will accept submissions from cigarette smokers and other tobacco users explaining, in their own words, why they want to "Quit Now!" Interested participants can visit 1800quitnow.org for specific instructions on how to submit video entries. Successful quitters whose stories are chosen will be announced on February 1, 2007.

The "Quit Now" Challenge, part of the "Be A Quitter" campaign, enhances NCI and CDC's ongoing National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines initiative. Participants -- chosen among men and women between 18 and 29 years old -- will be available for local television, radio, and newspaper interviews. These participants also will be encouraged to help others quit by posting daily diaries and sharing their personal stories of QUIT-NOW experiences on the official 1-800-QUIT-NOW Web site, 1800quitnow.org. Callers to 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which is a single point of access to state-based quitlines, will continue to receive practical, effective help quitting smoking, information materials, and referrals to other resources.

"Since 1-800-QUIT-NOW was launched in 2004, it has remained an important resource for the 45 million Americans who smoke, and for other tobacco users, to help them end their addiction," said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. "Such a program is vital to help improve the public health of this country, as young people continue to light up, and others continue to die from tobacco-related disease."

"NIH is committed to improving the health of all Americans and reducing the burden of illness," said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "Encouraging people to quit smoking, and supporting them in their effort to do so, is an important step in preventing the myriad of diseases caused by smoking and tobacco use."

Participants who quit smoking by The Challenge's end will be selected to share their success stories. The NCI and CDC hope that these stories will help further increase quit rates in the United States. The North American Quitline Consortium, corporate partners, and local organizations in communities across the country are key collaborators in 1-800-QUIT-NOW, providing their expertise to help raise awareness about this toll-free access number.

In addition to The "Quit Now" Challenge, television and radio public service announcements, an online educational video, print materials, banner ads, and a Web site 1800quitnow.org are part of the tobacco cessation campaign effort.

For additional information about tobacco cessation, please go to smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Amateur Soccer Has High Rates of Face and Mouth Injuries

Newswise - Amateur soccer is responsible for a surprisingly high number of fractures and other significant injuries to the mouth, jaw, and face, reports a study in the September issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

Increased use of mouthguards and faceguards could help to prevent many soccer-related oral and craniofacial injuries, but efforts are needed to increase the use of this protective equipment, concludes the study by Drs. Sinan and Ummuhan Tozoglu of Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

The researchers reviewed all patients with injuries to the mouth, jaw, and face area seen at their oral surgery department over a one-year period. Eleven of the 53 injuries were related to amateur soccer—a rate of over 20 percent. Most of the injuries occurred in young men, aged 18 to 24.

Dental fractures were the most common type of soccer-related injury, followed closely by fractures of the lower jaw (mandible) and problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ--the joint that moves the jaws). One soccer player had a broken nose. About two-thirds of the injuries occurred when one player ran into another. The rest were caused by impact with equipment or the ground.

Wearing mouthguards and faceguards could prevent many of these injuries, Drs. Tozoglu and Tozoglu point out. These devices protect against direct injury to the mouth, teeth, jaws, and nose, while also reducing the risk of concussions and other potentially serious injuries. However, rates of mouthguard use by soccer players are very low, partly because of problems with fit and comfort. The authors call for better enforcement by coaches and officials to increase the use of mouthguards in amateur soccer. They also urge improvements in equipment to make these devices more comfortable for routine use.

Call for Abstracts for Posters, Oral Presentations and Roundtables

"Advancing Access & taking Action for the Nation’s Oral Health"
The Planning Committee for the 2007 National Oral Health Conference invites abstract submissions for posters, oral presentations and roundtables presenting scientific research, program evaluations, community-based interventions and partnerships related to dental public health. The theme of the 2007 meeting is "Advancing Access & Taking Action for the Nation’s Oral Health." Abstracts that reflect this theme are encouraged. The abstract should be submitted on the appropriate form. Please indicate your preference for a poster or oral presentation; however, the final decision on presentation format will be the decision of the Planning Committee. Please submit no later than January 11, 2007 at www.nationaloralhealthconference.com. Notification of selection will be made in February 2007. Thank you.

Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship Deadline Approaching

The AAPHD Foundation is accepting applications for the Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship for Academic Year 2006-2007. The $25,000 Scholarship to support dentists pursuing dental public health graduate education is made possible through donations to the AAPHD Foundation and contributions from the family of Dr. Herschel S. Horowitz. Dentists enrolled in a full-time accredited MPH program or the first year of a 2-year advanced education in the Dental Public Health Program. Complete the application can be found at www.aaphd.org and submit by the deadline of October 31, 2006 for the scholarship to be awarded for the Fall 2007 semester.

Dr. Barry R. Bloom Delivers Barmes Global Health Lecture 2006

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the Fogarty International Center, both part of the National Institutes of Health, jointly announce the 2006 David E. Barmes Global Health Lecture. Barry R. Bloom, Ph.D., Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health and Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson Professor of Public Health, will present a talk entitled, "Agendas and Architecture of Global Health Research."

Monday, December 4, 2006, from Noon to 1:00 p.m., in Masur Auditorium, NIH Building 10, Bethesda, Maryland USA. The event is free and open to the public; it will be videocast live at videocast.nih.gov. Light refreshments will be available after the presentation.

This annual lecture series honors the late David E. Barmes, a long-standing World Health Organization employee, special expert for international health in the NIDCR Office of International Health, and ardent spokesman for global health. The series was established in 2001 to honor his lifelong dedication to research as a means to improve health for those in low-income countries.

Barry R. Bloom, Ph.D., is widely recognized as a scientist in the areas of infectious diseases, vaccines and international health. He served as a consultant to the White House on International Health Policy from 1977 to 1978, was elected President of the American Association of Immunologists in 1984, and served as President of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in 1985. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Advisory Board of the Fogarty International Center at the NIH, the U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the Scientific, Advisory Board of the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, Bloom was an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received the first Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Research in Infectious Diseases, the John Enders Award of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 1994, and shared the Novartis Award in Immunology in 1998.

He is currently a member of the Ellison Medical Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, the Earth Institute External Advisory Board at Columbia University, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Wellcome Trust Center for Human Genetics in Oxford, UK, and the Advisory Council for the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.

Funding Opportunities

Clinical Studies of Bisphoshonate Therapy and Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (R21) (PAR-06-556)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-556.html

Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP) Repository (U42) (RFA-RR-06-005)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Application Receipt Date(s): November 30, 2006
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-06-005.html