OLA Sponsors Understanding NCI Teleconference Series
NCI's Office of Liaison Activities (OLA) is sponsoring its spring "Understanding NCI" teleconference series again this year. The teleconference series is intended to inform the advocacy community and the general public about NCI research and scientific initiatives, as well as featuring an advocate's perspective on the topic.

The first teleconference is scheduled for February 20 from 1:00-2:00 p.m., EST, on "The Importance of the NCI Bypass Budget & Strategic Plan for Patient Advocates" with guest speaker Cherie Nichols, director of NCI's Office of Science Planning & Assessment. Within the U.S., the teleconference can be accessed toll free at 800-857-6584; the passcode is BUDGET. Toll-free playback will be available through March 20 at 800-756-0715.

If Memory Serves...

NCI's budget in 1938 was $400,000, with $200,000 designated by Congress for the purchase of radium. Within 10 years, the budget increased to $42 million. (Read more).

For more information about the birth of NCI, go to http://www. cancer.gov/aboutnci/ncia.

For additional information, contact OLA at 301-594-3194 or liaison@od.nci.nih.gov.

AAAS Meets in San Francisco
The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will take place February 15-19 in San Francisco. The theme of "Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being" brings together provocative presenters for a wide range of symposia, lectures, and other sessions that address global and national issues in health, energy, the environment, economic development, education, terrorism, science frontiers, and more. For information about the meeting, go to http://www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/.