2008 Diabetes and Obesity Disparities in Healthcare Conference
June 30—July 1, 2008

The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announce a 1½-day conference on Diabetes and Obesity Disparities in Healthcare Systems, which will be held at The Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD, on June 30–July 1, 2008.  

This conference will focus on research related to modifiable elements within healthcare systems, with the goal of reducing health disparities. Concurrent with planning for this conference, the NIDDK has issued a Program Announcement (PA) for R01s on identifying and reducing diabetes and obesity-related health disparities within healthcare systems. The PA can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-388.html. A major goal of this conference is to promote healthcare-based research aimed at reducing or eliminating disparities in diabetes and obesity-related outcomes. This 1½-day conference will feature presentations about important factors in healthcare-based disparities research as well as discussions of unique design, measurement, and methodology issues. In addition, we hope that this setting will provide a stimulating atmosphere for collaboration as well as help each participant expand their scope of research. Specifics about the conference and the current agenda can be found on the registration Website at: http://www3.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/healthcaredisparities2008.

TO REGISTER for this conference, please go to this URL: http://www3.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/healthcaredisparities2008/

Community-Based Participatory Research Technical Assistance Workshop:
Leap Into The Community
February 29, 2008

The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research will hold a Community-Based Participatory Research Technical Assistance Workshop: Leap Into The Community on February 29, 2008.

COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH (CBPR)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP:

LEAP INTO THE COMMUNITY

Friday, February 29, 2008
9:00 am – 4:30 pm

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Main Campus
Natcher Conference Center
Building 45, Room E1/E2

Webcast at: http://videocast.nih.gov

Podcast at: http://videocast.nih.gov/podcasting

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is an applied approach that enables community residents to more actively participate in the full spectrum of research with a goal of influencing change in community health, systems, programs or policies.  Researchers partner with the community to develop models and approaches to building communication, trust and capacity, with the final goal of increasing community participation in the research process.  This collaborative approach to research equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings.

Are you any of the following?

• Interested in learning more about CBPR
• Administering CBPR grants
• Employed in an agency likely to support CBPR
• A potential applicant to NIH CBPR Funding Opportunity Announcements
• A researcher or community representative seeking to engage in CBPR

If so, please join us on February 29th for a full-day workshop and learn how best to leap into the community.  The purpose of this technical assistance workshop is to both highlight the advancements of CBPR and facilitate the CBPR Funding Opportunity Announcements released on January 16, 2008 (PA-08-074, PAR-08-075, and PAR-08-076).

Presenters will include NIH Program Directors and Chiefs, members of the NIH CBPR Scientific Interest Group (SIG), Director of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Shortage Designation Branch, and two pairs of successful CBPR partners.  NIH staff will describe CBPR and discuss topics including its advantages and presence at NIH, grant writing tips, and how to prepare a responsive application to the recently released CBPR Funding Opportunity Announcements.  Further, presenters will share recommendations for successfully navigating the NIH review process.  Presentations will also cover effective CBPR Interventions and the PA-08-074 announcement, Medically Underserved Areas/Populations designations and the PAR-08-075/076 announcements, as well as CBPR partnerships including guidance on establishing partnerships and how to overcome potential challenges. 

For complete details including the agenda and presenters, please visit the CBPR SIG website at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/training/esaig/cbpr_sig.htm.

The event is open to all HHS staff and the general public without prior registration.  A government-issued photo ID card is required to enter the building.  Parking is available at a nominal fee; use of public transportation is encouraged.

Sign Language Interpreters will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Dana Sampson NIH/OBSSR, 301-451-9514, or the Federal Relay (1-800-877-8339).

NIH Consensus Development Conference: 
Hydroxyurea Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease
February 25–27, 2008

In order to take a closer look at Sickle Cell Disease, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Office of Medical Applications of Research of the National Institutes of Health will hold a Consensus Development Conference from February 25–27, 2008.

For online registration and program details, please visit http://consensus.nih.gov/2008/2008SickleCellCDC119main.htm

Educational Support for Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance National Health Disparities Conference

On November 12-13, 2006, the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance is sponsoring its Fifth Annual Health Disparities Conference. This year’s focus is Diabetes Health Disparities: Determinants, Prevention, Treatment, and Policy. The two-day conference will be held at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.