May 1, 2003

Dear Colleagues,

It is my distinct pleasure to share the good news that Carol Greider, Ph.D., professor and interim director of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

The Academy recognized Dr. Greider's substantial contributions to multiple fields, resulting from her initial, curiosity-driven investigation into how chromosome ends are maintained. Her isolation of the enzyme telomerase, which rebuilds these ends, has profoundly affected our understanding of the biology of cancer and quite unexpectedly offered a target for interfering with the disease.

Dr. Greider's accomplishments, and that of Johns Hopkins' other basic scientists, underscores the importance of curiosity-driven research in our continuing efforts to improve medicine. During the Academy's meeting earlier this week, another Johns Hopkins scientist, Philip Beachy, Ph.D., was inducted as a member. His work, too, is fundamental in nature but is now poised to offer a substantial improvement in treating a deadly childhood brain cancer.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Greider and Dr. Beachy for their achievements and in recognizing the important ongoing contributions of basic science to the Johns Hopkins Medicine community.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.