Karen H. Vousden, head of the Cell Growth Regulation Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Md., and her friend Xin Lu, a professor at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London, found a way to get instant recognition at the many p53 meetings they attend: They wear similar blue sweaters. Twins from separate nations, the chums may have started a trend. At the 11th International p53 Workshop in Barcelona this past May, the pals teased two other scientists with coordinated wardrobes. "They also bought the same jacket," Lu relates, chuckling. "They had a similar look."
Vousden started her career at the Ludwig Institute, and former staff members there recall similar whimsical moments. For example, she hosted a Robert Burns Night to celebrate the Scottish poet's birthday, where lab members fully lubricated with Scotch enjoyed a céilidh (pronounced kayli), a party. She also occasionally joined the staff for lunch ...
