Message from the Director, NHLBI, to Investigators Affected by Hurricane Katrina

September 13, 2005

I recognize that this is a time of unprecedented disruption and hardship for those of you affected by Hurricane Katrina and that rebuilding will be a long process. My colleagues at the Institute and I want you to know that we will work with you to help resolve whatever problems may arise during this difficult time.

We understand that in some cases, you may not be able to submit applications by the due date or conduct the research for which you have already received funding. The NIH has provided relevant information for affected investigators and institutions at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/katrina/index.htm. You also may direct any questions you may have about your currently funded research to your NHLBI program administrator via the NIH E-mail Directory (http://ned.nih.gov/). If you have questions about the submission of a response to an RFA or RFP, please contact the NHLBI program administrator listed on the announcement.

We have established a special E-mail address for other grant/contract related questions. Please contact us via the Katrina Emergency E-mail Account (NHLBI_Katrina@mail.nih.gov).

The NHLBI is offering to accommodate displaced fellows and PIs in its intramural branches. If you or your fellows are interested in this possibility, please send an email to the above email address.

Some of you may not be able to use your institution's E-mail service. If you have a new (temporary) E-mail address, I urge you to update your eRA Commons by phone (1-866-504-9552) or E-mail (commons@od.nih.gov). For E-mail updates, please provide your full name, an associated grant number if applicable, and old and new E-mail addresses.

Our public Web site now includes a special Hurricane Katrina page (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/katrina.htm) that contains the above guidance as well as links to HHS, NIH, and other resources for researchers, patient care providers, and volunteers. Additional information to help you is being developed and will be added to this web page as it becomes available.

We value your commitment to research and will continue to work with you to accomplish our common goals.

Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D.
Director