Monday, October 25, 2004

Went to LA to be Keynote Speaker at a USC conferenec on Multi-Sector involvement in research (Government, Industry, Academia). Afterwards I gave a press conference with the Editorial Board of the LA Times. The topic of influenza vaccine dominated the conversation. Oct. 26- Nov. 8, 2004 – Daily White House conference calls on influenza situation. Trying to get additional doses from Aventis, Medimmune and foreign sources. Bush re-elected. Very good for me since the team stays in place. Horrible tragedy – John La Montagne, my beloved friend, colleague and Deputy Director of NIAID dies suddenly on Nov. 2 after disembarking from flight from DC to Mexico City (his birthplace) on passport line in Mexico City. He had a pulmonary embolus, very likely from the flight with venous thrombosis.