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NIH Public Liaison News Bulletin - February 2002
April 2002 COPR Meeting Announcement* The seventh meeting of the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) will be held on Monday, April 15, 2002, on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Please mark your calendar and watch for more details on the NIH Public Liaison and COPR Web site at http://forthepublic.nih.gov. *Note: The date of the upcoming COPR Meeting has been changed from April 16 to April 15. 2002 COPR Call for Applications—Success The open call for applications to the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) was a great success. The COPR review panel, whose members consisted of Institute Directors, the Acting NIH Deputy Director, and public members who are leaders in the community, faced a challenging task. Their charge was to narrow the field of applications and make recommendations to the NIH Director on a final group of candidates. The list of final candidates will not be official until the appointment date of April 1, 2002. They will attend the April 16 COPR meeting as their first official activity. The COPR consists of up to 20 individuals who are selected from among the diverse communities that benefit from, and have an interest in, NIH research, programs, and activities. To be considered for the COPR, applicants must have some interest in the work of NIH and be in a position to communicate regularly with the broader public about the activities of COPR and NIH. They also must be willing to commit to full participation in COPR meetings, discussions, conference calls, and working group activities. COPR applications are being accepted for the 2003 selection process until September 15, 2002. COPR Member Highlights Congratulations to Exemplary COPR Member, Doug Yee! COPR Member Doug Yee has been selected from among many candidates to receive the American Lung Association's 2002 Volunteer Excellence Award for Innovative Team Project for "The National Institutes of Health—Hawaii Research Partnership." Mr. Yee was nominated by Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono; Leslie Isaki, M.D., Director of Grant Development at the University of Hawaii; John A. Burns, from the University of Hawaii School of Medicine; and Mary Miller, the CEO of the American Lung Association of Hawaii. Mr. Yee will receive the award at the American Lung Association/Congress of Lung Association Staff Awards Luncheon in Atlanta, GA, on May 19, 2002. NIH Public Liaison Meetings, Events, and Programs THE EYE SITE Continues The National Eye Institute's (NEI's) traveling exhibit on low vision continues its nationwide tour with a stop at Adventura Mall in Miami, FL, until February 6. Upcoming tour stops include:
Additional tours are being planned for New York City (March–June 2002), New England (June–September 2002), and Washington, DC (2003). For more information, visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/nehep/eyesite. Community-based Research to Support HIV Vaccine Communication
Efforts The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has implemented its National HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign to increase awareness of and support for HIV vaccine research among the general public as well as among those affected by and at risk for HIV infection. Toward that end, NIAID is examining perceptions among at-risk groups and local opinion leaders about HIV vaccine research. At-risk groups include African Americans, Latinos and Latinas, and men who have sex with men. NIAID hopes to learn about perceived barriers to participation in HIV vaccine research in various communities and what kind of assistance they need to support HIV vaccine research education. For more information, contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717. NIAID Hosts Introduction to Biomedical Research
NIAID is holding its 24th Introduction to Biomedical Research Program, an annual event that introduces talented, underrepresented, minority undergraduate students to biomedical research. Students from across the nation, including Puerto Rico and Guam, participate in plenary sessions and laboratory tours highlighting NIAID's scientific research portfolio. Topics include parasitology, immunology, clinical programs, vaccine research, bioterrorism, and ethics. This year's class represents more than 21 colleges and universities, which include Historical Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutes. For more information, visit http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ibrp or contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717. Fauci to Keynote AIDS Symposium at DC Church Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of NIAID, will present the keynote address at a symposium "HIV/AIDS: Challenges in the 21st Century" at the 19th Street Baptist Church. The symposium takes place on Saturday, February 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Barney Graham, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Clinical Studies at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center, will be the luncheon speaker. Admission is free. The church is located at 4606 16th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Reverend Derrick Harkins, D. Min., is pastor. For more information, contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717. NIAAA Sponsors Symposium on Alcohol Medications The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will sponsor a full-day research-to-practice symposium for the Delaware Health and Social Services and DC/Delaware Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) on the use of medications as part of a balanced approach to alcoholism treatment. This workshop, titled "Harnessing Science to Transform Lives: Act I-Alcoholism," will take place at Clayton Hall on the campus of the University of Delaware. The workshop will feature presentations from leading national researchers
on alcoholism treatment and medications development, and it will focus
on research implications and their potential applications in clinical
settings. This workshop also provides an excellent opportunity to bring
attendees up-to-date on the latest research information on the use of
medications as a component of alcohol treatment. Counselors, social workers,
and other providers are strongly encouraged to attend. To register or
for additional information, visit the DC/DE ATTC Web site at http://www.danya.com/attc/index.asp,
or contact Kelly Green Kahn at (301) 443-0347 or by e-mail at kgreenka@mail.nih.gov.
Institutes Celebrate Brain Awareness Week The NIH will celebrate Brain Awareness Week on March 11 and 15 with a series of public lectures about the aging brain and its effect on the body. The lectures will take place at the University of Maryland, Shady Grove Center in Rockville, MD, and will begin at 9:30 a.m. each day. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) will conduct hands-on computer sessions about on-line health information sites for seniors; the computer lab accommodates 48 students. In addition to NIA, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders all will participate in this event. For more information, contact Anne Decker at (301) 496-1752 or by e-mail at deckera@nia.nih.gov. NCCAM Holds Town Meeting The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) will hold its third town meeting on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research on March 19 at The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR. Co-sponsoring the event are the Oregon Center for CAM in Neurological Disorders at the Oregon Health Sciences University and the Craniofacial Complementary and Alternative Medicine Center at the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, both supported by NCCAM. This event is free and open to the public. National and local medical experts will speak on current developments in complementary and alternative medicine research at the local, regional, and national levels. NCCAM Director Stephen E. Straus, M.D., will provide an overview of NCCAM's mission, research, and accomplishments. Also scheduled are expert presentations on acupuncture, herbal medicine, and chiropractic. A press conference will immediately follow the meeting. For more information, contact Anita Greene at (301) 496-1712. Reserve Your Seat—2002 NIH Mini-Med School Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend medical school? Have you ever wished that you paid more attention in your high school biology classes? Do you want to better understand the scientific topics that you hear about every day in the news? If the answer is yes, then consider the Spring 2002 NIH Mini-Med School—a free nine-week public science education program sponsored by the NIH Office of Science Education (OSE). You can participate in an exciting and informative program that brings 500 people in the Metropolitan Washington, DC, area into direct contact with some of the leading scientists in the nation. No prior science or medical background is required! Mini-Med School "students" learn about basic medical topics such as microbiology and immunology as well as major public health topics such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and hazardous biological agents. In the process, students interact with eminent scientists in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Because each lecture is intended to build on the previous sessions, Mini-Med students must attend each of the nine sessions. After the last lecture, students "graduate" and receive a personalized certificate of completion. The Spring 2002 NIH Mini-Med School program is tentatively scheduled to begin on April 4. Sessions will be held in the Natcher Auditorium on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, on Thursday evenings, 7–9 p.m, from April 4 through May 30. Space is limited, so register now! Register on-line at http://science.education.nih.gov/minimedreg or by telephone at (301) 496-0609. Interpreters and real-time captioning will be available for each session. If you require other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event, contact OSE by e-mail at moorec@od.nih.gov, or by phone at (301) 402-2470. TTY users and callers can call (301) 451-9706, through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339, or through the Maryland relay at 711 (in state) or (800) 735-2258 (out of state), at least five days before the event. For more information about the Spring 2002 Mini-Med School, visit http://science.education.nih.gov. NEI "V I S I O N" Traveling Exhibit Tour
Extended NEI's "V I S I O N" traveling exhibit tour remains on display at the West Virginia University Eye Institute through July 2002. This exhibit was developed as the centerpiece of NEI's Celebration of Vision Research. It premiered in 1993 and has been seen by more than four million people in 26 cities across the country. For more information, contact Jean Horrigan at (301) 496-5248 or by e-mail at jh@nei.nih.gov. NIH Public Liaison Announcements—Spring 2002 "Breath of Life" Asthma Exhibit DVD The National Library of Medicine (NLM), with support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), has developed an exciting, new, inexpensive educational tool for the public. Using its latest technology, NLM has put its "Breath of Life" exhibit on DVD. NLM mounted this exhibit in 1998, with support from the NHLBI, the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), in response to the increasing incidence of asthma. "Breath of Life" examined the history of asthma, the experiences of people with asthma, and contemporary efforts to understand and manage the disease. The exhibit included rare books and artifacts, explanatory panels, video kiosks, and other items. Now, anyone can take a virtual tour of the exhibit. The DVD contains more than two hours of full-screen and full-motion video, graphics, audio, and animations, as well as open captioning for the hearing impaired. Hear three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee describe her experiences with asthma. Discover the history of asthma and learn how tobacco, cocaine, and opium were once popular asthma treatments. Watch what happens to the lungs during an asthma attack and learn how to use an inhaler correctly. For more information, contact Kathy Gardner Cravedi at (301) 496-6308 or by e-mail at kcravedi@nlm.nih.gov. NIAID Supports Native American Centers for Health With the goal to reduce health disparities, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is supporting two projects as part of the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program. Co-sponsored by the Indian Health Service and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NARCH trains American Indian research scientists and health professionals to become future grantees while funding research in areas of high priority to American Indians. The NIAID-funded studies will investigate adult pneumococcal infections in Alaska Natives and White Mountain Apaches. NARCH also works to bolster trust in research. Its centers build working partnerships between American Indian organizations and research institutions. To learn more about NARCH, see the August 24, 2001, NIH Guide notice at: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/index.cfmgrants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-02-001.html. For more information, contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717. Public Education Campaign for African American
Women Focuses on FAS The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will unveil its partnership with the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) in an ambitious public education campaign on fetal alcohol syndrome. The campaign, which has been in development for more than a year, will be a two-year, multimedia effort targeting African American women of childbearing age in Washington, DC, and it aims to increase awareness about the consequences of drinking during pregnancy. Outreach efforts will include a combination of print and broadcast materials, radio and television public service announcements, mass-transit displays, and partnerships with community organizations. The campaign will offer research-based messages for women of childbearing age, as well as their friends and family. It is designed to serve as a prototype for future replication in other cities across the country. A press conference will be held in late February to announce the kickoff of the campaign. For further information, contact Fred Donodeo at (301) 443-6370 or by e-mail at fdonodeo@niaaa.nih.gov. NIDA Blends Clinical Practice and Basic Science
Research As in other fields of medicine, a gap exists in the drug abuse treatment field between clinical practice and basic scientific research. The Blending Clinical Practice and Research conference, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), will bring clinicians and researchers together to examine cutting-edge scientific findings and the application of these findings to clinical practice. In addition to the conference, NIDA will also hold a seminar for science writers the afternoon of March 14. Members of the media can meet the experts who are presenting at the meeting and get first-hand information about the latest in substance abuse research and other related topics. For more information or to register, visit http://www.mac1988.com/blendingnyc or contact the NIDA Public Information and Liaison Branch at (301) 443-1124. NIAAA to Release Report on College Drinking In 1998, NIAAA's National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism created the Subcommittee on College Drinking, which was comprised of prominent college presidents, students, and scientific researchers specializing in college alcohol use. After three years of extensive deliberations, the NIAAA Subcommittee on College Drinking will release its final report and announce findings and recommendations. The Subcommittee's report is the first NIH project on college drinking to offer recommendations based on a focused and comprehensive review of the research literature. It will offer new data on the size and nature of this serious public health problem and give guidance to NIAAA and other policymakers on current gaps in knowledge. It will also provide college presidents, students, and parents with information and recommendations on the effectiveness of current interventions while encouraging them to embrace rigorous research-based solutions in general. Materials will include an official Subcommittee Report; short pamphlets for presidents, parents, high school guidance counselors, community leaders, and student peer educators; a handbook for college staff on how to implement and evaluate drinking intervention programs; and technical panel reports and scientific papers for researchers who need more detailed information. Once the Subcommittee Report is issued, NIAAA will plan a variety of regional workshops and conferences to share the results with a variety of stakeholders and interest groups. Beginning in April, all subcommittee materials will be available on the NIAAA Web site, http://www.niaaa.nih.gov. For further information, contact Fred Donodeo at (301) 443-6370 or by
e-mail at fdonodeo@niaaa.nih.gov. News from the NIH Offices of Public Liaison Dr. Glen Hanson Named Acting Director of NIDA
Ruth Kirschstein, M.D., Acting Director of the NIH, has named Glen R. Hanson, D.D.S., Ph.D., as Acting Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Dr. Hanson's appointment follows the resignation of Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., who had served as NIDA's director since 1994. Dr. Leshner left NIDA to become the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Hanson has been with NIDA since 2000, when he joined the Institute as director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. He is best known for his research on Ecstasy and amphetamines. Dr. Hanson has received the NIDA Senior Scientist Award and has served on many NIH grant committees. NIDA Focuses on Coping with Stress NIDA places a high priority on studying the relationship between stress and drug abuse. Well-documented data have established the connection between increased drug abuse and stress. In a special message, former NIDA Director Alan Leshner, Ph.D., addressed the problem of coping with stress, especially in light of the September 11 terrorist attacks, in the December issue of NIDA Notes. Since then, NIDA has developed a new publication on stress and drug abuse as part of its Community Drug Alert Bulletin series. The Alert is part of NIDA's efforts to ensure that clinicians, researchers, and members of the public have the most reliable and timely information available. For more information, contact the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at (800) 729-6686. Ask for PHD837. NIAID Commemorates World AIDS Day The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) played a major role in World AIDS Day. The Institute launched a new Web resource, http://worldaidsday.nih.gov/worldaidsday/december1.htm that provides comprehensive information about the diverse array of NIH-supported HIV/AIDS research. NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., issued a statement (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/director/wad01.htm) highlighting NIAID's role on the global team to "beat back the scourge of HIV/AIDS." "As we search for solutions to HIV/AIDS in the months and years ahead, let us not expend our energies searching for reasons why we should not act and why our efforts might fall," said Dr. Fauci. "Rather, let us apply ourselves, collectively, to the task developing sustainable programs and interventions that will overcome the scourge of HIV/AIDS." Dr. Fauci also expressed his optimism that a safe and effective vaccine can be found that will prevent HIV infection or slow the progression of AIDS in people who are already infected. Just one year after it opened, NIAID's Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC) began the first clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine developed at the facility. As part of the World AIDS Day commemoration, VRC investigators participated in a number of local community-based activities to build partnerships around HIV vaccine development and testing. Barney Graham, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical studies at the VRC, gave an update on HIV/AIDS vaccine research at several community World AIDS Day events. For more information, contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717. NICHD Helps Surgeon General in Addressing Health
Disparities and Mental Retardation The National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) continued working with the Surgeon General to address health disparities faced by persons with mental retardation. NICHD coordinated the Surgeon General's Conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation, where eight working groups consisting of families, caretakers, health professionals, and researchers addressed issues identified at the Listening Session held in October 2001. Advocates, family members, and health professionals provided input at the Listening Session. The working groups listened to presentations on available data, reviewed creative programs and strategies already in place, and developed goals and action steps. NICHD expects to release a report summarizing the results in February. To view the conference, visit http://videocast.nih.gov/pastevents.asp?c=1. For more information, contact George Gaines at (301) 435-3447. Dr. Raynard S. Kington Named Acting Director of
NIAAA Ruth Kirschstein, M.D., Acting Director of the NIH, has named Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., the Acting Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Dr. Kington's appointment follows the retirement of Enoch Gordis, M.D., NIAAA's Director from 1986 through 2001. Dr. Kington has served as NIH Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research and Director of the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research since November 2000. He will retain these positions while serving as the NIAAA Acting Director. Prior to his arrival at NIH, Dr. Kington served as the Director of the Division of Health Examination Statistics in the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), where he led the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dr. Kington earned undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan and attended the University of Pennsylvania as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar, earning his M.B.A. and his Ph.D. in Health Policy and Economics from The Wharton School. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr. Kington has studied the role of socioeconomic status in health differences across populations, the determinants of health care services utilization, the health status and health behaviors of Hispanic populations, and the economic impact of health care expenditures among the elderly. To view the full announcement, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2002/niaaa-04.htm. Free Training on Hosting a National Alcohol Screening
Day Site NIAAA conducted a free training at Gallaudet University's Kellogg Conference Center in preparation for National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD), which will be held on April 11, 2002, and is usually hosted by community coalitions. The workshop provided hands-on training in alcohol education, screening and brief intervention, and included an educational presentation by a clinical alcohol expert. Attendees also learned how to use the NASD screening tool. This year's screening day will include special information and materials for elderly populations, Hispanic/Latino communities, and college campuses. The NASD team will study screening efforts in Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC. National Alcohol Screening Day is the result of collaboration between the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). For more information about NASD and additional trainings planned throughout the country, contact Anton Bizzell at (301) 402-0514 or by e-mail at abizzell@mail.nih.gov. NIAAA National Advisory Council Meeting The National Advisory Council of NIAAA met to get an update on NIAAA's Health Disparities Plan and to discuss grant application portfolios. Participants also heard a legislative and budget presentation by Paul Smedberg of the National Health Council and an update on the NIAAA Governor's Spouses' Leadership Initiative to Keep Children Alcohol Free. Immediately after the official meeting, a roundtable discussion was held with NIAAA's new acting director. Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D., and other NIAAA senior managers. Council
meetings are open to the public and include space on the agenda for liaison
groups and other members of the public to address Council members. The
meeting agenda and summaries of previous Council meetings can be found
on the NIAAA Home Page at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov.
For more information, contact Kelly Green Kahn at (301) 443-0347 or by
e-mail at kgreenka@mail.nih.gov. New Publications for the Public FRONTLINES The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released the latest issue of its semi-annual newsletter on emerging topics in alcohol-related services research-FrontLines-which explores how research on pharmacological treatments is unfolding and how these treatments are used in everyday practice. Medications play an increasingly important role in treating alcohol problems. New and emerging treatments can reduce or eliminate cravings for alcohol and discourage people from drinking. The lead article by the recently retired NIAAA Director, Enoch Gordis, M.D., describes the development of medications for treating alcoholism, their contributions to successful treatment, their potential, and some of the barriers that stand in the way of achieving their full potential. Other articles describe current knowledge on the effectiveness of medications for alcohol problems, and they provide an account of researchers and clinicians working together to integrate a new medication-naltrexone-into "real life" alcoholism treatment. The newsletter also presents findings from a study of the effect of prescribing practices and attitudes on the adoption of naltrexone in clinical practice and shares the experiences from Washington State's pilot test of naltrexone in programs serving publicly funded clients with chronic alcoholism. To receive a copy of this newsletter, forward your request and mailing information to Octavia Weatherspoon at (301) 443-0786 or by e-mail at oweather@willco.niaaa.nih.gov. NIGMS Offers Science to the Public The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) brings science to the public with two new publications. Genes and Populations, a new eight-page, educational brochure, describes in lay language the scientific rationale behind studying identified populations in genetics research. In an easy-to-understand, question-and-answer format, the brochure explains the basic principles of genetics and genetics research and the safeguards that protect individuals and groups in research. The brochure also briefly discusses community consultation. NIGMS also offers the latest issue of Findings, a 16-page science education publication. Findings features profiles of scientists supported by NIGMS, a roundup of clinically relevant research advances, and a crossword puzzle based on the issue's theme. For a free copy of either publication, contact the NIGMS Office of Communications and Public Liaison at (301) 496-7301 or e-mail your request with your postal address to Pub_Info@nigms.nih.gov. NIDA Teaches Neurobiology and Addiction The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in collaboration with the NIH Office of Science Education, has developed interactive, science-based supplements for use by high school students and teachers (grades 9-12) in the science classroom. The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology Through the Study of Addiction includes a high school curriculum in print plus an interactive CD-ROM. These supplements provide current, research-based information on various aspects of drug abuse and addiction, including neurobiology, behavioral components, and treatment. The materials are free. To order materials, visit the NIH Office of Science Education Web site at http://science-education.nih.gov/homepage.nsf. A direct link to the NIDA Curriculum can be found at http://science-education.nih.gov/Customers.nsf/highschool.htm. New NIAID Brochure on Microbes Some microbes cause disease in humans, plants, and animals. Others are essential for a healthy life, and we could not exist without them. Indeed, the relationship between microbes and humans is very delicate and complex. In the new NIAID booklet, Microbes in Sickness and in Health, you will learn about some microbes that are essential for a healthy life and others that can cause infection and disease. You can view this book online at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/microbes.htm or order a copy at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/orderforms/order.htm.
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