The Bulletin -- February 10, 2010 (#1028)

Program: What’s New at the Trudeau Institute? -- Dr. David Woodland, President and Director of the Trudeau Institute

DR. DAVID WOODLAND, PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF THE TRUDEAU INSTITUTE, RESPONDS TO A QUESTION FROM SONIA LONG.

Dr. David Woodland is a noted immunologist and member of the Trudeau Institute faculty, where he heads a federally-funded basic research program directed at understanding immunity to respiratory virus infections (such as influenza) with a view to developing novel vaccine strategies. He has published more than 150 articles in basic science journals, is regularly invited to present data at national and international meetings, and serves on federal committees that prioritize research applications for funding.

Dr. Woodland is a member of the American Association of Immunologists and the Faculty of 1000. He serves as section editor for the Journal of Immunology, and is editor-in chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Viral Immunology. Dr. Woodland holds joint appointments as professor of medicine at the University of Vermont and associate professor at Albany Medical College. He joined the Trudeau Institute in 1999 as an Associate Member and is now a Full Member of the Institute. In 2008, Dr. Woodland was appointed president and director of the Trudeau Institute.

Dr Woodland explained how scientists at the Trudeau Institute are responsible for finding the grants and funding for their research teams, including salaries. This formula actually saves the scientists time, as the grant writing makes them develop five-year research and development plans.

The scientists at Trudeau are not attached to a teaching college; therefore they have more time for research and development. They also work in open teams and share information in hopes of finding answers to problems faster.

Dr. Woodland said that the research papers published by the scientists at Trudeau Institute are the second most read in the country. The institute just finished construction of a new 10,000 square foot lab, which was named in honor of a late NYS Senator, the Ronald B. Stafford Research Wing Saranac Lake. The Trudeau Institute brings in approximately $15 million in salaries and another $36 million for the community.

New Member Talk – Kathleen Garenani Kathleen Garenani, was born in St. Paul Minnesota, and moved to Plattsburgh when her father was stationed at the air force base. She attended St. John’s Academy and went to Seton Catholic. She attended Beekmantown for in her senior year of high school. After graduation she attended college in Canton where she was an RA and played women’s lacrosse. After two years, she transferred to Plattsburgh State. She wanted to study abroad so she went and lived in Galway, Ireland for a year and got to travel throughout Europe. After returning home, she graduated with a degree in sociology and work at my mother’s office where she learned that law was not what she wanted to do. After a year of running her mother’s office, she enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh in the Public Relations/ Advertising department. She interned at CVPH in the Public Relations department and worked on an independent study program with Kids’ Station, which is a division of the Champlain Valley Transportation Museum. After graduation, a position opened up at the museum. She was hired as the Director of Fundraising and membership at CVTM. Kathleen is currently working on the Champlain Valley Winter Wine Festival that will be held in Plattsburgh the weekend of Feb. 26 – 28. There will be a grand tasting, silent auction and live music at the city hall on Feb. 27. She said she is very excited about being a member of Rotary, because she is very enthusiastic about this community and programs to strengthen our area. While growing up in Plattsburgh, she attended events that she knew Rotary to be at the heart of planning for our community.

Dr. Woodland also discussed how the influenza virus has changed from the early 1900s from the H1 to H5 and then back to H1 over the century. The outside coating or jacket of the cells change every year, and scientists have to scurry to find the new inoculation for the next flu season.

Researchers at the Trudeau Institute are working on developing a long lasting inoculation, which could be ingested through the lungs, and would kill the virus from the inside of the flu cells. The central core of the flu cells do not change and seem to have the same consistent properties. We have 36,000 people dying yearly in the US from the influenza virus. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Trudeau, we are very fortunate to have this important research and development work going on in our local area.

For more information on The Trudeau Institute, click here .

Visiting Rotarians: Scott Hayden, Glens Falls, NY

Guests: Joanne Knowton, Bob Blake, Dr. David Woodland, Kristin Meadows (all guests of Bob Parks); Patricia Ryan (Roger Vanguilder); Heidi Clute (Marsha Cook); Captan Larry Goodman (John Prim); David Kimmell (John Prim); Carol Blakeslee-Collin (Stan Ransom)

This Week:

• Kevin Killeen thinks John Bernardi should now be our future auctioneer.
• Stan Ransom let us know the Library will now be open on Sundays 1-5.
• John Seiden said he wanted to be just like his son when he grows up as his son became Rookie Fireman of the Year.

Auction Items:
(John Bernardi, Auctioneer) Bottle of Red Wine went to Maryanne Bukholt-Ryder ,and the tickets to the Wine Festival went to Cornelia Forrence.

50-50 Raffle:
The pot today is $874, we are looking for Ace of Spades still. Guest Carol Blakeslee-Collin had the winning ticket, and drew the King of Spades.
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TRIVIA
Did you know…?
Rotary Foundation has a Haiti Earthquake Relief fund. You can use your cell phone to make a one-time US$5 donation to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Text ROTARY to 90999.