President Obama tours the oncology lab at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda - pics

[Kadie]

President Barack Obama is greeted by Dr. Marston Linehan as he tours an oncology laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


U.S. President Barack Obama and Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (R) listen to Dr. Marston Linehan (L) and Dr. Francis Collins (2nd L) during a tour of an oncology laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland September 30, 2009.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)


President Barack Obama, accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, tours an oncology laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. At left is Dr. Marston Linehan.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


President Barack Obama peers into a microscope during a tour of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


U.S. President Barack Obama looks at brain cells through a microscope during a tour of an oncology laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland September 30, 2009.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES POLITICS HEALTH)

[Captain Hilts]

1. THAT's what all the helicopters over my apt. were about!! nt

[Happyhippychick]

4. I work in downtown Bethesda and was wondering what the heck was up!

[Captain Hilts]

6. Are you closer to Barnes and Noble or to Rock Bottom?

I'm near B&N

[Happyhippychick]

9. Rockbottom. Easier to park where I am!

[Barack_America]

2. Obama says $5B in grants will aid medical research

Obama says $5B in grants will aid medical research

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyjI4OSFvPJqAp59ewZVkonkUmTQD9B1NAK81


Biomedical research is our nation's next dominant industry. With our university system, we have an undisputed edge and the government funding allows American taxpayer dollars to fund American jobs.

But we need more Americans to take these jobs, or there will be a push to spend the money to hire non-US citizens, particularly Chinese.

TELL YOUR KIDS TO GO INTO BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH!


--Thanks from a molecular biologist.

[NavyMom]

3. This is my 13yr goal too bad he has to explain what this is to others.....

btw what are good schools for this career. Right now he is looking at MIT or Baylor, what should be his major...we have decided to let him graduate from high school at 15 so he can began his graduate work earlier than his 20's.

[Barack_America]

5. There are lots of good schools.

What he might need to think of is what kind of biomedical science he is interested in. Different schools excel at different things.

If he really likes math and physics, biomedical engineering could be a good field for him.

I'm more of a test tube person myself, so molecular biology is a good fit for me.

Another important thing to think about is how he feels about animal experimentation. That's a big decision that can guide people towards one field or another.

The best thing for him to do would be to talk to some professors at a local university or medical school. Many are more than willing to have a high school student do research with them.

Biology is a standard major for people interested in the field, but chemists and engineers are sought after too.

And if he's interested in medicine too, he could do an MD/PhD program (that's what I'm in).

I wouldn't worry about time constraints though, whether he graduates from high school early or not, he'll have plenty of time to do good science.

[Captain Hilts]

7. It's our Moon Shot. And a reason why we need to put Walter Reed, Salk, etc. on our paper currency.

[Kadie]

8. This is something I think my son would be interested in.

He talks a lot about becoming a scientist. That or being a comedian. :shrug: