Monday, February 3, 2014

Just back from Thailand and extremely jet-lagged and also somewhat ill with URI. Probably got it form Chris who had been sick as well as the fact that I was travelling for over 24 hours in a plane. Did interview with Washingtonian magazine regarding my opinion of the movie “Dallas Buyer’s Club”, great movie starring Matthew McConaughey about an HIVinfected individual in the early 1980s who did not want to take AZT because he felt that it was too toxic and started a buyer’s club to buy and sell unproven drugs. Great performance (likely an Oscar – did win Golden Globe already). They called me because I was there when it happened and also I was the one that started the AZT distribution system through a contract paid for by NIAID. Met in Building 10 with Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and then a separate meeting with Congressman Pitts (R-PA) regarding NIH accomlishments and implications of a bad budget. Durbin is new Chair of the Defense Approp. Subcommittee and unfortunately he wants to get more money for biomedical research for Dod. Menas well but does not appreciate that it may not be well-spent.