American Indian/Alaska Native Outreach
August 1-6, 2002
Anchorage, AK
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders (NIDCD) and the National Eye Institute (NEI) shared
an exhibit at the 31st annual conference of the Association
of American Indian Physicians in Anchorage, AK, August 1-6.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases, the National Library of Medicine, and the Office
of Science Education also exhibited at the conference. The
conference focused on current trends, policy, research, and
practices concerning, the health care of American Indians
and Alaskan Natives. In addition, on August 3, NIDCD's Office
of Diversity and Minority Outreach and Office of Health Communication
and Public Liaison discussed NIDCD's partnership program with
the University of Alaska as part of a session for medical
students and resident physicians. For more information, contact
Marin P. Allen, Ph.D., at (301) 496-7243 or by e-mail at marin_allen@nih.gov.
6th Annual NIMH Research Roundtable
Includes Public Participants
June 19, 2002
Washington, DC
The 6th Annual Research Roundtable was held at the National
Press Club in Washington, DC, on June 19th. The National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH) convened this annual meeting with
interested organizations, representing wide-ranging perspectives
including those of consumers and providers of mental health
services, family members, research scientists, and others.
The meeting is an important component of NIMH's overall strategic
planning process and is designed to exchange information with
attendees about current and future NIMH activities, and to
get critical input from all those attending through ample
opportunity for comments, suggestions, and questions. A report
from this Roundtable will be available at www.nimh.nih.gov/events/roundtablemenu.cfm,
where proceedings from past years' meetings are also posted.
NIAAA-Supported Initiative Places Underage
Drinking Prevention Dioramas in Airports
Nationwide
To draw attention to the widespread problem of alcohol use
by children in this country, the NIAAA/Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation initiative, Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol
Free, has sponsored the placement of more than 200 dioramas
in 36 major airports across the United States. The message,
"1 in 4 eighth graders has been drunk," is prominently
displayed on each diorama against a background of children's
faces. Along with the subtext, "Let's stop kidding ourselves
about childhood drinking," the dioramas make a compelling
case for putting the prevention of early alcohol use on the
national agenda. The Leadership initiative is spearheaded
by more than 30 governors' spouses from every region of the
United States. Their goal is to educate the American public
about the dangers of alcohol use by children ages 9 to 15
and to mobilize action to prevent it. This effort is the only
national coalition that focuses on the prevention of alcohol
use in this young age group. The initiative benefits from
additional support from the NIH Office of Research on Women's
Health, the NIH National Center on Minority Health and Health
Disparities, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
and advisors from 28 major public and private organizations.
To see whether your local airport is participating in this
effort, or for other information resources about underage
drinking and initiative activities, visit the Leadership's
Web site at www.alcoholfreechildren.org.
NIAID Offers Educational Workshops
on Community Involvement
September 19, 2002
Anaheim, CA
The National Institute and Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(NIAID) continues efforts to increase public awareness about
the latest HIV/AIDS research and particularly the progress
of HIV/AIDS vaccine research. NIAID will conduct two educational
workshops at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Anaheim, CA, sponsored
by the National Minority AIDS Council. One workshop provides
an overview of HIV/AIDS vaccine research, including the need
for increased community awareness, support, and involvement
in the research process.
The other session is designed to increase awareness about
and foster interest in various opportunities for community
involvement in NIAID-funded HIV/AIDS research. NIAID is committed
to community participation in all aspects of the research
process, from setting research priorities to disseminating
research findings. A sustained relationship with the community
acknowledges the critical role of the community as an equal
partner in research and helps foster and maintain trust. This
session addresses how "community" is defined in
the context of research; the role of a Community Advisory
Board; challenges research sites face in soliciting and maintaining
community involvement; and specific challenges in international
HIV research, particularly in developing countries. For registration
information, visit www.nmac.org
or contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717.
CARRA Program Celebrates One Year of
Scientific/Public Interaction
September 2002
This September 2002 marks the one-year anniversary of a new
program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Over the last
12 months, the Office of Liaison Activities (OLA) has been
busy promoting its Consumer Advocates Research and Related
Activities (CARRA) program and has filled 71 requests so far.
The purpose of the CARRA program is to increase opportunities
for cancer patients to provide their perspective into NCI's
research.
CARRA has approximately 200 members that represent many different
cancer types, age groups, and ethnic groups from across the
nation. They provide their viewpoint and ideas to NCI staff
by participating in NCI activities like scientific peer reviews,
cancer center site visits, Web site usability testing, focus
groups, and publication review and development. NCI staff
request a CARRA member to bring their patient perspective
to "the table."
For a list of list of many CARRA members and their organizations,
go to http://la.cancer.gov/carra/member_roster.html.
You can also visit the CARRA Homepage for more information
about CARRA members' roles, responsibilities, and activities
at: http://la.cancer.gov/carra/index.html.
One Year After 9/11: What Have We Learned
and Where Do We Go From Here?
September 9, 2002
New York, NY
The New York Academy of Medicine, in collaboration with
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is presenting
a conference to provide national and regional leaders in public
health, science, medicine, and preparedness planning the opportunity
to examine research findings on substance abuse and mental
health consequences since 9/11 and to explore policy and planning
initiatives in New York. For more information, contact the
program coordinator, Maya Ravindranath, at (212) 822-7220
or e-mail mravindranath@nyam.org.
NIDCR Hosts Third Annual Patient Advocates
Forum
May 2, 2002
Bethesda, MD
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
(NIDCR) hosted its third annual Patient Advocates Forum on
May 2 at the Holiday Inn in Bethesda. The conference welcomed
15 patient advocates representing 12 organizations with a
shared interest in the oral health effects of their respective
disorders and conditions. Of particular interest to the advocates
this year was in-depth information on clinical trials. National
Library of Medicine staff gave attendees an interactive look
at www.clinicaltrials.gov,
a Web site that provides patients, health care professionals,
and the public easy access to information on clinical trials
for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Following was
a presentation on NCI's new clinical trials education program,
which can be readily adapted to trials on any condition. This
educational series includes workbooks, brochures, slide programs,
and videos for a variety of audiences. NIDCR staff rounded
out the discussion with a presentation of ongoing Institute-supported
clinical trials. For more information, contact Patricia Sheridan
at (301) 594-7557 or by e-mail at Patricia.Sheridan@nih.gov.
NIAAA Continues Recruitment for COMBINE
Study
Nationwide
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
has recruited more than 800 of the 1,375 patients needed for
the Institute's largest alcohol treatment study. However,
the 11 centers involved in the clinical trial continue to
seek partners to spread the word about the study and recruitment
efforts. COMBINE, combining medications and behavioral interventions,
is an evaluation of various combinations of behavioral interventions
(including motivational enhancement, cognitive behavioral
therapy, and referral to self-help) and two pharmacologic
interventions (naltrexone and acamprosate) to treat alcohol
dependence, commonly known as alcoholism. COMBINE is expected
to determine which combinations may improve treatment outcome.
Individuals interested in participating should visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
To learn more about the study or about partnering with a clinical
site in your area, contact Ann M. Bradley at (301) 443-0595
or via e-mail at abradley@willco.niaaa.nih.gov,
for additional information or to obtain the name of the recruitment
coordinator nearest you.
Biodefense Research and Support: Job
Opportunities
Consider joining the national effort to build a new research
program aimed at the global problem of bioterrorism and emerging
infections. Dynamic and committed individuals are invited
to join the scientific and medical forces at NIAID. For further
information on the numerous immediately available positions,
go to http://healthresearch.niaid.nih.gov/omni
or contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717.
September is National Cholesterol Education
Month
September 2002
Research has shown that lowering blood cholesterol reduces
the risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack.
The Adult Treatment Panel III, or ATP III, guidelines call
for more aggressive cholesterol-lowering treatment and better
identification of those at high risk for heart disease. Accordingly,
the theme for this year's National Cholesterol Education Month
is "Know Your Cholesterol Numbers-Know Your Risk."
For educational materials and ideas on how to promote National
Cholesterol Education Month, view the online kit at http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth.
Be sure to check out the National Cholesterol Education Program's
(NCEP) popular interactive Web site, Live Healthier, Live
Longer, at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd.
The Web site features information about cholesterol lowering
for persons who want to reduce their risk of developing coronary
heart disease (CHD) and for persons who already have CHD.
The NCEP is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute.
6th Annual PRISM Award Winners
May 9, 2002
The movie Blow, starring Johnny Depp and Penelope
Cruz, received the PRISM Award in the Theatrical Feature Film
category at the 6th Annual PRISM Awards held on May
9, 2002, at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. The PRISM
Awards recognize outstanding efforts in the accurate
depiction of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and addiction
in film, television, interactive media, and comic book entertainment.
Established in 1997, the PRISM Awards represent an annual
partnership formed by the Entertainment Industries Council,
Inc., the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NIDA. Other
PRISM Awards were given to ABC's My Wife and Kids
and All My Children, Lifetime's The Division,
NBC's Third Watch, and ABC's Life With Judy Garland:
Me and My Shadows. A PRISM Award also went to Ozzy
Osbourne for his song "Junkie" in the Music Recording
or Music Video category, one of two new categories to receive
a PRISM Award this year. Independent films Acts of
Worship and Smoke and Mirrors: A History of Denial
were the recipients of the other new category, the PRISM Film
Festival Award, which is presented to films that have not
yet been released but are playing the festival circuit. In
total, 14 winners were selected out of 56 nominees and 236
submissions.
NIDCD Implementing Periodic Review
of Health Materials
August 2002
As part of its program of continuous improvement process,
the NIDCD will implement a cyclic review of health-related
materials that are disseminated to the public and health professionals.
Experts in the fields of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice,
speech, and language will assist the Institute with reviewing
existing health information materials, such as the Institute's
fact sheets and CHID database materials, to ensure they meet
the public's needs and determine if additional or updated
information is needed. The first review, scheduled for August
2002, will examine voice, speech, and language materials.
For more information, contact Marin P. Allen, Ph.D., at (301)
496-7243 or by e-mail at marin_allen@nih.gov.
Health Literacy National Challenge
May 9 and 10, 2002
NIDCD participated in the Institute for Healthcare Advancement's
national Health Literacy Conference in Anaheim, CA,
May 9 and 10. The conference focused on the consumers' inability
to read and understand health information materials, latest
research results in health literacy, and factors to consider
in calculating the cost of low health literacy, and exchanges
of strategies for improving outreach to individuals with literacy
challenges. For more information, contact Marin P. Allen,
Ph.D., at (301) 496-7243 or by e-mail at marin_allen@nih.gov.
Substance Abuse Increases in New York
City in Aftermath of September 11th
Survey results indicate that smoking, alcohol, and marijuana
use increased among residents of Manhattan during the five
to eight weeks after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center. Almost one-third of the nearly 1,000 persons interviewed
reported an increased use of alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco
following the terrorist attacks. The largest increase was
in alcohol use. Results of the survey, which was funded by
NIDA, appear in the June 1, 2002, issue of the American
Journal of Epidemiology.
NIAID Vaccine Research Center Hosts
Open House Reception
April 30, 2002
NIH Campus
More than 100 invited guests attended an open house reception
at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center on the NIH campus to
hear first-hand about the mission of the center, tour the
facility, and talk to scientists about their HIV/AIDS vaccine
research. Representatives of HIV/AIDS research and service
organizations from as far as Baltimore, MD, and Fairfax, VA,
heard remarks from Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID director;
Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., VRC director; and Barney Graham,
M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical studies. For more information,
contact James Hadley at (301) 496-5717.
Redesigned NCCAM Web Site is Launched
Available Now
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM) launched its newly redesigned Web site, which houses
an array of information on complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) practices and research. The site features not only a
new architecture for easier navigation and access to information,
but also new content and links. View the Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov.
For additional information, contact Irene Liu at (301) 492-6525.
BACK TO TOP
|