NCI's Outstanding Mentors Recognized
On October 14, NCI's deputy directors announced the 2005 NCI Outstanding Mentor Awards and Mentors of Merit. These NCI investigators were nominated by their trainees and received the highest rankings in a competitive review by an advisory committee of postdoctoral fellows.

The Outstanding Mentor Award winners for 2005 are Drs. Graça Dores, Stephen Katz, and Patricia Steeg. The Mentors of Merit are Drs. Sheue-yann Cheng, Scott Durum, Susan Krebs-Smith, R. Mark Simpson, Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson, and Sandra Swain.

The Outstanding Mentor Award was created in 2001 to recognize NCI investigators who have proven exceptional in their commitment to fostering the independent careers of their fellows, students, and other trainees. It is presented each year to individuals who have made significant contributions toward developing and promoting the talented trainees who will become the next generation of scientists.

NCI Represented at NIH Research Festival
Scores of NCI researchers joined the NIH Research Festival held on the NIH campus Oct. 18 through 21. Highlights included a plenary session from Dr. Shiv Grewal on RNAi, a hot topic in gene regulation, and posters from Dr. Haleem Issaq (analyzing estrogen levels in blood); Dr. Sudhir Varma (gene profiling to predict response to chemo- and radiotherapy); Dr. Michael Leistzmann (physical activity and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer); and Dr. Mark Parascandola (public interest in trying a "less harmful" cigarette).

Representatives from NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Office of Communications, NCI/SAIC Frederick Research Technology Program, Office of Science Planning and Assessment, and Technology Transfer Branch staffed booths devoted to resources for intramural researchers.