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[Editor's note: How do Drs. Craig Reynolds and Robert Wiltrout view NCI at Frederick's current and future roles within the NIH community? This is the first of two articles highlighting the thoughts, issues, and goals of the Reynolds/Wiltrout management team.] There is a renewed sense of vigor and a growing excitement on the campus of the National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick). This energy and excitement are due, in part, to the new management team of Robert Wiltrout, Ph.D., and Craig Reynolds, Ph.D. This team has worked as colleagues in the research laboratory for more than 20 years, but recently they have taken over the on-site management of NCI-Frederick as well. As part of his responsibilities as the Director of the NCI's Office of Scientific Operations in Frederick, Dr. Reynolds serves as Project Officer for three NCI contracts that provide scientific, technical, and operations management support (SAIC-Frederick Inc.), computer and statistical expertise (Data Management Services, Inc.), and scientific library services (Wilson Information Services Corp.). He also collaborates with Dr. Larry Kwak at the NCI-Frederick on the development and production of vaccines for the treatment of patients with leukemia and myeloma. Dr. Wiltrout is the new Associate Director of NCI-Frederick and, in this capacity, he reports to NCI’s Director, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, on research planning and development activities pertaining to the Frederick campus. Dr. Wiltrout also serves as a Deputy Director of the Center for Cancer Research and as a Section Head and Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology. The NCI at Frederick offers the NCI, NIH, and other organizations valuable scientific resources. For example, translational research—making direct, practical application of laboratory research to patients— has been one of our major research efforts here for more than a decade. Thus, it's only natural, that since Dr. Elias Zerhouni, NIH director, and Dr. von Eschenbach both advocate enhanced translation research and a closer interaction between government and private industry, it has been proposed that the NCI at Frederick play an increasing role in helping to facilitate these functions. "One of the NCI-Frederick's goals is to shorten the time from bench to bedside for promising new cancer therapeutics and to reduce the cost for getting drugs through this process," says Dr. Reynolds. "We have to coordinate these efforts with the Food and Drug Administration and private industry, both of which have different mindsets and goals, and with many different agencies in the NIH. Although it's a challenging process, it's one where we can see significant achievements in a relatively short time." In addition to the emphasis on translational research, over the last few years many advanced technologies—developed predominantly through the SAIC effort here in Frederick—have been put into place and are now vital components of the NCI's research effort. "These technologies can play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The NCI at Frederick is an incredibly valuable resource for the entire NIH," Dr. Reynolds says. Along with exploring the partnerships needed to develop new technology, Dr. Reynolds has been actively promoting the many facets of NCI-Frederick's positive impact on the local community. For example, he has been working with the Frederick County Public School System's representatives to include the middle schools in the educational outreach program, which already supports science education through an elementary program, and high school and college internships. Dr. Reynolds explains that some NCI-Frederick staff presently do make periodic visits to middle school classes, but he would like to make that a more formalized effort with more scientists visiting local middle school classrooms. Another aspect of community outreach that Dr. Reynolds is pursuing involves educating the public about the many important contributions the NCI-Frederick provides to the local community. He and Dr. Wiltrout plan to set up "briefings on what the NCI-Frederick is all about and how we contribute to the community. We'd like to take them on a short tour of the facilities. A lot of people in the area have never been on campus, and have no idea how much this facility contributes to the community." Another of Dr. Reynolds’ and Wiltrout’s main tasks has been to institute a master plan to address NCI-Frederick’s needs as it continues to develop advanced technologies to support the NCI. The master plan will provide a framework for new opportunities and resources that could be located in Frederick. “We’ve never before had a master plan. The master planners [an architectural and engineering firm] are looking at the NCI-Frederick from an outsider’s point of view: asking questions like ‘Does this situation or operation make sense? Would it be better to have everyone in one lab or program in the same building? Are the facilities here appropriate and sufficient for the kinds of work that we do?’ If not, they provide us with suggestions on how to make things function better,” Dr. Reynolds says. The master planners are also talking to people throughout the NCI and the NIH about what resources will be needed in Frederick during the next 20 years. "We're excited, because it will tell us how well we're doing with current resources and programs and give us a good framework for the future. We expect a preliminary draft very soon," Dr. Reynolds said. "Whether it's parking, green space, or water, the master planning process will carefully analyze all the issues, so that the NCI at Frederick continues to be a place the staff and local community are proud of." The Reynolds and Wiltrout management team is not only trying to put into place new laboratories, resources, and technology so that we can do science better, but they are anxious to make the NCI-Frederick an even better workplace. "A lot of people who work here can earn more money elsewhere, but they choose not to. I think that's because the NCI at Frederick is a great place to work," says Dr. Reynolds. If the management team of Reynolds and Wiltrout has its way, NCI at Frederick will be an even better place to work in the future!
Article by Maritta Perry Grau
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Dr. Craig Reynolds