Seventh Annual Public Interest Organization Meeting

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) convened its 7th annual public interest organization (PIO) meeting to encourage and promote public input and involvement in Institute activities. Approximately 120 individuals participated in the meeting, including members of more than 60 public interest organizations, as well as representatives from professional societies, the NHLBI, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC). The participants met from 5 to 6 p.m. on January 30 and from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. on January 31. The agenda and format for the meeting were designed to foster interaction among the attendees. Six previous PIO meetings had been held on the following dates:

• Update on the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
• Highlights of NHLBI success and accomplishments
• Presentations on blood screening and safety
• Breakout sessions on stem cell technology and tissue engineering
• Breakout sessions on NIH planning and NHLBI cohort studies
• Roundtable meetings with NHLBI staff.

This report summarizes the presentations and discussions at the meeting.