ASCB president visits NIGMS

ASCB President Andrew Murray traveled to Bethesda, MD, in April to visit the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) leadership. He met with Jon Lorsch, NIGMS Director, and several division directors.

Murray and Lorsch, along with ASCB CEO Erika Shugart and Director of Public Policy and Media Relations Kevin Wilson, discussed a wide range of issues important to the ASCB community.

Topics that were discussed ranged from concerns about foreign governments’ efforts to steal American intellectual property, including research results; the implications of Plan S on American science; and an update on the NIGMS Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) program (see p. 10). The group also discussed ways to make sure the NIGMS has a visible presence at the annual ASCB|EMBO meeting.

The meeting gave the ASCB the opportunity to improve the already strong relationship it has with the leadership of NIGMS, the leading funder of ASCB members.

About the Author:


Kevin M. Wilson serves as Director of Public Policy and Media Relations for The American Society for Cell Biology. He's worked as the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand (D-RI) and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI). He has a BA in Politics and American Government from the Catholic University of America. Email: kwilson@ascb.org