People & Places
Antonio Scarpa Named New Director of the NIH Center for Scientific Review

Four APS Members Elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Antonio Scarpa Named New Director of the NIH Center for Scientific Review

The Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Elias A. Zerhouni, has named a new Director for the NIH Center for Scientific Review: Antonio Scarpa, who is currently the David and Inez Myers professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.

“Dr. Scarpa brings an expansive intellect, distinguished research career, and extensive administrative experience to the critical task of leading CSR in managing the receipt and referral of NIH grant applications and coordinating their review in CSR peer review groups,” said Zerhouni. “He also brings an abiding commitment to the peer review process and the scientific community.” Scarpa has served as a permanent member of three NIH peer review committees between 1983 and 2003, and he has served on peer review committees for the American Heart Association.

Scarpa will replace Brent Stanfield, who became acting director of CSR in October 2003, following the departure of Ellie Ehrenfeld. Scarpa will join NIH on July 1, 2005.

“NIH peer review is world renowned for enabling NIH to fund the most promising biomedical research,” said Scarpa. “I am excited to join NIH and work to ensure the integrity, thoroughness, and efficiency of CSR operations as it faces many challenges.” Scarpa will rely on scientific administration skills honed during his 18-year tenure at Case Western Reserve, where he oversaw the development of a small physiology and biophysics department into one now ranked among the best in the country. 

Scarpa has conducted biophysical research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ion transport and homeostasis and the metabolic consequences induced by transport. His investigations have been supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Scarpa has more than 225 peer-reviewed publications and has edited or co-edited nine books or special journal supplements.

Scarpa has been an active member of the scientific community. He has been an officer or board member of many scientific societies, including The Biophysical Society, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Over the years, Scarpa also has served on the editorial boards of 13 scientific journals and served as editor or co-editor for five journals: News in Physiological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology International, Cell Calcium, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Biophysical Journal.

Scarpa received his MD and PhD (Libera Docenza) in general pathology from the University of Padua School of Medicine, and he conducted postdoctoral studies at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Scarpa continued his research and academic career for 17 years at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Case Western Reserve in 1986. 

Four APS Members Elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Four APS members were among 72 outstanding scientists elected for membership to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Selection to the Academy recognizes distinguished and continuing achievements in original research and is considered one of the highest honors that a US scientist or engineer can receive. 

The National Academies (which include the National Research Council, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine) provide a public service by working outside the framework of government to ensure independent advice on matters of science, technology, and medicine. They enlist committees of top scientists, engineers, and other experts—all of whom volunteer their time to study specific concerns. The results of their deliberations have inspired some of America’s most significant and lasting efforts to improve the health, education, and welfare of the population.

2005 APS NAS Electees:

Shu Chien, director, Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University Professor of Bioengineering and Medicine; and chair, department of bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla;

Steven C. Hebert, professor of medicine; and chair and professor, department of cellular and molecular physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;

Andrew R. Marks, director, Center for Molecular Cardiology; and professor and chair, department of physiology and cellular biophysics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City;

Christine E. Seidman, professor, department of genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Since its inception in 1863, the National Academy has acted as an official advisor to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology.

APS would like to extend sincere congratulations to its members who have received this prestigious honor. 
Enrico Mario Camporesi has accepted the position of Professor and Associate Dean with the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Camporesi was formerly with the Department of Anesthesiology, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY.

Jian Cui is currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. Cui, as a Postdoctoral Fellow, was formerly associated with the Institute for Exercise & Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, TX. 

Jeffrey Frank Dunn, an Associate Professor, has joined the Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Canada. Formerly, Dunn was with the Department of Radiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH. 

Nori Geary recently affiliated as Professor with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute for Animal Science, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland. Previously, Geary held the position of Research Professor, Department of Psychiatry, New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, White Plains, NY. 

William F. Jackson has joined the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Formerly, Jackson was affiliated with the Department of Biological Science, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. 

Biljana Jovov has accepted the position of Assistant Professor with the Department of Medicine-Gastroenterology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA. Jovov was formerly an Instructor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL.

Thomas McLoughlin is currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Toledo, OH. Previously, McLoughlin had been a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL.

Hansjorg Rindt is currently a Research Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia, Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO. Rindt was formerly a Senior Scientist, with Myogen, Inc., Westminster, CO.

Hagit Schwimmer has joined the Center for Narcolepsy, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. Schwimmer had been affiliated with the Department of Environmental Physiology, The Hebrew University, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. 

Burton E. Sobel recently affiliated with the Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT. Sobel was formerly associated with the Fletcher Allen Health Care, Department of Medicine, Burlington, VT.

S. Randall Thomas has affiliated with Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, University of Evry Val d’Essonne, Evry, France as Research Director. Prior to his new position, Thomas was Research Director associated with Necker Faculty of Medicine, Paris, France.

Tetsuro Urushidani has joined the Department of Pathophysiology, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kyotanabe, Japan. Urushidani was previously Chief Scientist with Department of Cellular & Molecular Toxicology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. 

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