Spotlight on Our Web Site

Portion Distortion

Portion sizes and the nation’s waistlines have increased in the past two decades. A simple measurement will tell you if your waistline has expanded, but do you know the extent to which food portions have increased? Do you know how much exercise it will take to burn the extra calories in those "supersized" fries? Test your knowledge with the NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative Portion Distortion quiz. When you’re done, visit the other patient resources through the Aim for a Health Weight page for tips to help you order when dining out, a guide to get you started on a physical activity program, a daily food and activity diary, and more

Reminder — NHLBI Conference Grants are Available

Looking for funding for your next scientific meeting or conference? Interested in learning more about the NIH "R13" conference grants discussed at the fourth annual PIO meeting? The following resources can help you decide if the R13 mechanism is right for you:

• grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/gps/app7.htm, grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/part_iii_5.htm, and the surrounding pages describe what groups and events are eligible.
• grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html contains the application forms and instructions. Please read the instructions carefully to determine if additional forms are required. For example, some organizations may need to provide additional information regarding lobbying activities before federal law will allow their applications to be considered.
• grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-151.html describes specific NHLBI requirements and lists NHLBI staff whom you should contact BEFORE submitting your application.

New NHLBI Research Initiatives

From time to time, the NHLBI invites investigators to submit grant applications or contract proposals for specific research programs. We are currently soliciting applications for the programs described below. For a full details of these and other research initiatives, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/inits/index.htm or the Web page that are linked each initiative number.

Animal Models of Organ-specific Tolerance for Heart and Lung Transplantation

• Initiative Number: PA-02-044
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To encourage development of organ-specific tolerance protocols using large animal models for heart transplantation and both large and small animal models for lung transplantation.

Biobehavioral Research for Effective Sleep

• Initiative Number: PA-00-046
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To understand the behavioral, psychosocial, and physiological consequences of acute and chronic partial sleep deprivation and to develop interventions to reduce sleep disturbances.

Functional Tissue Engineering for Heart, Vascular, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Disorders and Diseases

• Initiative Number: PAR-01-006
• Phase II applications are due March 12, 2004.
• Objectives: To stimulate development of biological substitutes for damaged tissues and organs.

Hypovolemic Circulatory Collapse: Mechanisms and Opportunities to Improve Resuscitation Outcomes

• Initiative Number: RFA-HL-03-015
• Applications are due May 23, 2003.
• Objectives: To identify approaches to out-of-hospital resuscitation following severe blood loss and subsequent hypovolemic circulatory collapse.

Lung Tissue Research Consortium

• Initiative Numbers: NOT-HL-03-009, RFP-HR-04-08, RFP-HR-04-09, RFP-HR-04-10, RFP-HR-04-11 (scroll down to list of NHLBI RFPs)
• Applications are due May 22, 2003.
• Objectives: To support molecular pathophysiologic studies of human lung tissues.

Pathogenesis and Treatment of Lymphedema

• Initiative Number: PA-01-035
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To stimulate research on the biology of the lymphatic system, to characterize the pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause lymphedema, and to discover new therapeutic interventions.

Pathophysiology and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

• Initiative Number: PA-02-034
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To understand CFS pathogenesis and pathophysiology with the goal of improving diagnostic and intervention strategies.

Research on Ethical Issues in Human Studies

• Initiative Number: PA-02-13
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To encourage studies of ethical challenges related to involving human participants in research (e.g., issues related to participant safety, informed consent, data management, and research oversight).

Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

• Initiative Number: PA-01-086
• Applications are accepted for February 1, June 1, and October 1 deadlines each year.
• Objectives: To enhance understanding of and develop treatments for restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.

Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) Program in Cardiac Dysfunction and Disease

• Initiative Number: RFA-HL-03-009
• Applications are due September 11, 2003.
• Objectives: To stimulate clinically relevant, multidisciplinary collaborations leading to clinical and basic science research efforts on important public health problems for individuals with heart diseases.

Updated National Sleep Disorders Research Plan Published Online

The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research recently released the 2003 National Sleep Disorders Research Plan. It provides both an updated and expanded guide for research on sleep and sleep disorders and a summary of progress in sleep research since the release of the first research plan in 1996. The new recommendations, developed by a 14-member task force with input from biomedical researchers, professional societies, and public organizations, address research needs in areas including basic sleep science; neurobehavioral and physiologic consequences of sleep restriction; specific sleep disorders; sex, race, and age differences in sleep needs, health, and disorders; and the interrelationships among sleep, health, and disease. The plan will guide prioritization of future sleep research at the NIH and other Federal and non-Federal entities. Furthermore, it should help to identify research opportunities for new investigators from other scientific and clinical disciplines.

New Summaries of NHLBI Workshops Also Available

• Acute Lung Injury: Future Research Directions Workshop
• Clinical Research in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Needs and Opportunities Workshop
• Future Research Directions in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Workshop
• Mobilizing African American Communities to Address Disparities in Cardiovascular Health: The Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop

Need More Information?

For health related questions and publications, please contact the trained information specialists at the NHLBI Information Center.

For communications pertaining to NHLBI policies and priorities, contact the NHLBI Office of Public Liaison.

For Web related matters pertaining to the online version of the FYI from the NHLBI, contact the FYI from the NHLBI's Web Editor.