NHLBI Sets Course with New Strategic Planning Effort

The NHLBI is in the process of preparing a new strategic plan with the goal of creating a blueprint for the next decade of biomedical achievement. Plan development began last summer with the establishment of the Strategic Plan Framework. Over the course of 2006, the NHLBI will institute a 3-stage approach to finalizing the plan. Stage 1, to be completed by Fall 2006, will formulate recommendations for selected research program themes. Stage 2 will identify Institute-wide strategic themes and draft the Strategic Plan. Stage 3 will include review, revision, and finalization of the plan. Anticipated release date of the plan is Spring 2007.

Key considerations driving the planning process include the following: identifying the most pressing scientific opportunities and challenges in heart, lung, blood, and sleep research for which the NHLBI is well positioned to make major contributions; identifying obstacles to progress, and what must be done to overcome them, including needed technologies and resources; evaluating NHLBI operational policies, such as mechanisms of support for clinical research, new investigator and trainee support and instituting necessary changes in NHLBI business operations to facilitate these policies; ensuring that the process is inclusive, with NHLBI grantees and other constituents having an active role; engaging intramural and extramural Institute staff in a common discussion of future directions; and including implementation steps and providing for ongoing evaluation.

“As we view the challenges and opportunities before us, I believe the time is right for the Institute to take a critical look at our scientific directions over the next 5 to 10 years and examine our business operations as well,” explained NHLBI Director, Dr. Elizabeth Nabel. “We envision this strategic planning process to be a very inclusive, bottom-up approach where NHLBI grantees and other constituencies will play an active role. We have created the Strategic Plan section on our public website to provide you with information about what we believe to be an exciting endeavor and to offer you an opportunity to send us your comments via the section Opportunities for Input.”

Annual PIO Meeting Coming Soon

The Seventh Annual NHLBI Public Interest Organization (PIO) meeting is imminent. It will be held January 30–31 at the Holiday Inn Select Bethesda, 8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD.

Once again, a full agenda of talks, scientific sessions, discussions, and participant networking has been scheduled. Highlights will include an overview and progress report of the NIH Roadmap program by NIH Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, and a summary of her first year as NHLBI Director and vision of the future by Dr. Nabel.

This year’s meeting will once again feature an opportunity for PIO representatives to meet with NHLBI scientific staff knowledgeable about heart development and disease, vascular disease, lung diseases, airway diseases, blood diseases and resources, and sleep and sleep disorders. And, by popular request, a significant amount of time has been included to enable attendees to interact and share ideas and experiences.

The annual PIO meetings emphasize the NHLBI’s commitment to building strong relationships with the public. As Dr. Nabel said at last year’s meeting, “I cannot state strongly enough the importance of our working relationship, going forward, to achieve our common goals.”

Registration begins at 4 pm on January 30. We hope to see your organization represented.