It is a tremendous privilege for me to be selected this year as the Alan Rabson Lecturer. Really, I can think of no one who has contributed more to our intramural research program at NCI than Al Rabson. I think most of us in this room have benefited from the breadth of his knowledge and experience, his judgment, his vision, his sense of optimism and his kindness and generosity of spirit that have enriched the lives of a legion of scientists who have worked at NCI over the years. I know we’re fortunate in our division that Al’s support and enthusiasm has extended beyond the basic and clinical sciences, the population sciences and to epidemiology – an interest that, I think, began when Al served as a Commissioned Officer at the CDC before coming to NCI. And to this day Al reminds me at every opportunity that he learned at CDC that the current pronunciation is not “epidemiology” but rather it is “epidemiology”. I selected this particular photo of Al because he is joined by his wonderful wife Ruth Kirschstein who, like Al, was an intramural scientist who rose through the ranks to become an innovative and stabilizing force here at NIH. In fact, my first epidemiologic project at NCI, practically when I walked through the doors, was prompted by the landmark laboratory studies of Al and Ruth demonstrating the carcinogenic effects of SV40, Simian Virus 40, which contaminated many batches of the polio vaccine when it was initially given across the country to young children during their primary school years.