USAMRICD, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the Department of Defense’s lead laboratory for the development of medical countermeasures against chemical warfare (CW) agents and is where personnel are trained in the medical management of chemical casualties.

The Research Participation Program at USAMRICD is in its fourth year and has about 20 ORISE participants involved in almost all facets of the research effort at the Institute.

Dr. David Lenz, chief of the Biochemical Pharmacology Branch and the ORISE program coordinator for the Institute, recently praised the participants’ capabilities: "Their contributions have measurably enhanced research progress at the institute. For example, several of the ORISE fellows have been joint authors on publications being submitted to peer-reviewed journals or are the first author on internal technical reports. While their mentors are sad to see them leave, they take personal pleasure in the opportunities upon which each of them is now embarking. We wish them well."

The current "graduating class" of USAMRICD has definitely met with success, and the participants have been pleased with the experience they gained through the program.

David Russell Williams holds an M.S. degree in chemistry from Tennessee State University and a B.S. in biology from Fisk University. During his 2.5-year assignment at MRICD, he gained invaluable experience. David said the experience he obtained during his research assignment made him a more competitive student as a candidate for medical school admission. He has chosen orthopedics as a specialty.

"I have had the pleasure of working with outstanding scientists who are not only experts in their field but who are willing to teach you the latest techniques available. I’ve had the ability to learn to work with the state-of-the-art equipment in a multidisciplinary setting from the molecular to the physiological level. This has been a pleasure for a multidisciplinary (bio/chem) student—to see the different approaches to problem solving and to see them interrelated. I’ve also attended very informative seminars in which topics were at the brink of medical research."

Sandra DeBus was assigned in May 1999 to the Applied Pharmacology Branch in the Pharmacology Division. Her research area is in experimental psychology where she is involved with the study of intracellular calcium in natural/synthetic toxin-induced pathophysiology. Her current assignment is scheduled through May 2000.

Charisse Davenport received her B.S. in biology from Morgan State University in 1997. She will attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in the fall of 1999, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

"I have gained much valuable knowledge in how to plan and execute research individually and as a part of a team. This will be beneficial during my future endeavors."

Barbara (Chris) Morris has a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Southern Colorado. During the past 20-month assignment, she has researched specialized enzyme kinetics. She has been accepted into the chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of Idaho and will begin classes this fall. Her area of focus will be in physical/atmospheric chemistry, including kinetics.

"I have learned a great deal about conducting research. I have greatly enhanced my literature search skills and improved my ability to comprehend scientific papers. I learned a lot about seminars by attending as many as I could. I improved my notebook-keeping and data analysis skills. I was able to develop my own method for cataloging references. I learned a lot about chemical and biological warfare agents and their effects on man through not only my own research, but also by attending the in-house training classes. My experience here has helped me decide on my future goals and has helped me get into graduate school. I could have worked as a chemist in Baltimore doing quality control, but I don’t feel that I would have learned as much as I did here."

Delvena Dunmeyer began her assignment with USAMRICD as a student contractor. After receiving her B.A. in biology from the College of Notre Dame in May 1998, she joined the research participation program. Delvena will attend medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is considering obstetrics and gynecology as her chosen specialty.

"I firmly believe that my assignment at USAMRICD as a student contractor and as an ORISE intern has been a major factor in attaining my career goals. I met a variety of people with differing educational backgrounds and experiences who were helpful in answering a lot of questions I may have had, or if there wasn’t an answer, I was pointed in the right direction. And if an intern is very productive and hard working, he or she can receive many excellent letters of recommendation, upon request!"

Beth Hoffman was assigned to USAMRICD in January 1998. She holds an M.A. in experimental psychology from Towson University.

"I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge. I have learned surgical techniques as well as the neurophysiological changes before and after nerve agent intoxication. I have also become acquainted with the electronics required for the recording of the induced pathophysiology. The knowledge and lab experience have not only encouraged me to continue into a Ph.D. neuroscience program but also facilitated my acceptance. I will begin a biomedical Ph.D. program in the fall of 1999 at Wright State University and am extremely eager to begin my own research in the wonderful field of science."

Anthony (Tony) Callan was assigned to USAMRICD for one year. While assigned, he was involved with research in three laboratories. His assignment offered him a wealth of scientific knowledge and a great deal of practical laboratory experience. He was able to participate in assignments that included fluorescent DNA sequencing and the separation of blood components to obtain B-lymphocytes. His research also offered the opportunity to use various scientific computer applications. He has chosen optometry as his specialty field and will attend the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in August 1999.

"My research assignment at USAMRICD has helped me to work toward obtaining my career goals. The admissions staff at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry were very impressed with my research goals at USAMRICD, and they are still very interested to read some of the publications I was involved with after they have fulfilled the peer review requirements."

Dan Brobst graduated from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, with a B.S. in biology. He has been performing in vitro pharmacology and toxicology experiments to determine the efficacy of pretreatment/treatment regimes in ameliorating sulfur mustard-induced lung injury. Dan has been a participant in the postgraduate program since October 1997.

"My time at USAMRICD has given me the needed work to continue a career in research and the sciences. It has allowed me to see what types of biological research I like and dislike. Although I currently have no plans to continue my education in the research sciences, I believe that the experience I gained at USAMRICD, through the ORISE program, would make me a marketable candidate to most graduate schools."

Maryann Kovalenko’s research assignment has been in the areas of biochemistry and neurotoxicology. The two-year assignment guided her toward a doctorate degree in neuroscience at the University of Maryland. Her undergraduate degree is in biology from LaSalle University.

"The ORISE internship has allowed me to participate and witness research in areas of biochemistry and neurotoxicology. This experience has taught me the importance of communication among researchers, mentors, and students. USAMRICD has helped me attain research experience that I believe helped me decide to pursue a Ph.D. and continue research."

Maura DeJoseph graduated from Loyola College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She was initially assigned to USAMRICD for a summer appointment and returned to the institute as an ORISE participant from August 1998 to August 1999. She will enter medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine.

The experience I have gained here has made me more confident in my understanding of biology and will be an asset when I begin to study in medical school. This position has also allowed me the opportunity to be immersed in the scientific community and to have my name published with experiments that I’ve executed. The above things combined have and will help me reach my career goals."

Congratulations to the future doctors and scientists of the new millennium!