[Federal Register: July 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 132)]
[Notices]               
[Page 37554-37555]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy99-99]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

 
Workshop on Development of New Therapies for Rare Blood Diseases

    Notice is hereby given of a workshop on the ``Development of New 
Therapies for Rare Blood Diseases'' sponsored by the National Heart, 
Lung, and Blood Institute and the Office of Rare Diseases, N.I.H., to 
be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 1999, in the 
Lister Hill Auditorium on the N.I.H. campus in Bethesda, MD.
    Historically, it has been difficult to develop new therapies for 
rare diseases, in part because of limited financial incentives and few 
patients available to do rigorous clinical trials. This problem has 
been particularly frustrating in the area of blood diseases, where the 
pathophysiologic defects may be well understood. For example, the first 
human molecular defect was

[[Page 37555]]

demonstrated in sickle cell disease in 1956, but it still presents a 
formidable clinical challenge. Since it has been difficult to stimulate 
commercial development of basic research into clinical application, the 
purpose and goals of the workshop are to:
    1. Identify the barriers to the translation of basic scientific 
discoveries to clinical treatment of rare blood diseases.
    2. Identify mechanisms to overcome these barriers.
    The outcome of this meeting will improve or create approaches to 
expedite the development of new therapies for rare blood diseases. All 
individuals interested in facilitating this process are invited to 
attend. Further information can be found on the NHLBI website, http://
www.nhlbi.nih.gov. For pre-registration, please contact Henry Chang, 
M.D., Acting Director, Blood Resources Program, Division of Blood 
Diseases and Resources, NHLBI, NIH, MSC 7950, 6701 Rockledge Dr., Room 
10170, Bethesda, MD 20892-7950, Phone: 301-435-0067, FAX: 301-480-1060, 
E-mail changh@nih.gov.

    Dated: July 2, 1999.
Barbara Alving,
Director, Division of Blood Diseases and Resources.
[FR Doc. 99-17508 Filed 7-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M