Announcements
Brain and Nervous System
Locked-in syndrome is a rare disorder affecting the nerves and voluntary muscles of all parts of the body. People with this disorder are paralyzed, though fully conscious, and can only move their eyes.NIDCD and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases jointly sponsored a workshop to evaluate the potential for brain-computer interfaces (BCI) to provide a means for speech synthesis and the control of other forms of assistive technology that support communication in patients who are locked in. Sixteen scientists and clinicians discussed topics ranging from BCI data acquisition and analysis, cortex neurophysiology, speech synthesis, augmentative and alternative communication, and care needs for the locked-in patient. More
Next StepsYou can view an agenda and summary of the workshop at www.nidcd.nih.gov/funding/programs/npp/workshop_bci_summary.htm.
Communication Disorders
Community Outreach
Are you interested in exploring a research career in the areas of allergy, immunology, and infectious diseases? Are you from a minority population underrepresented in science?NIAID is seeking qualified applicants for its five-day Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities (INRO) program, which is designed to recruit talented students from minority populations underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Selected students will listen to scientific lectures, tour laboratories, and interview with principal investigators for potential research training positions. More
Next StepsYou can read more about the INRO program at www3.niaid.nih.gov/labs/training/inro/default.htm. Applications from interested students will be accepted August 15–October 15, 2006.
As much as 1 percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease, but the vast majority of those people remains undiagnosed, according to an independent consensus panel convened by NIH. To address this disparity, NIH recently launched a campaign to heighten awareness of celiac disease among health care professionals and the public.Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People with celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley.Initially, the awareness campaign will focus on health care professionals, including information about the prevalence of celiac disease, its symptoms, and the blood test to detect it. Other campaign messages will address health consequences related to celiac disease with the goal of changing the common misperception that it is only a gastrointestinal problem.Through the campaign, providers and the public can access:
Next StepsFor more information about the Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign or to download any of the campaign materials, visit www.celiac.nih.gov. You can read the consensus panel’s recommendations at http://consensus.nih.gov/2004/2004CeliacDisease118html.htm. For more information about digestive diseases, visit http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov.
Digestive System
Population Groups
Seniors' Health
The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is the nation’s leading resource for data on the combined health and economic conditions of Americans over the age of 50. The study, now in its 14th year, follows more than 20,000 people at two-year intervals, providing data from pre-retirement to advanced age.On June 19, 2006, the renewal of a cooperative agreement for HRS between NIA and the University of Michigan was announced. Congressman John Dingell of Michigan, NIA Director Richard Hodes, M.D., and HRS Co-Director David Weir, Ph.D., were among those who took part in the ceremony.A major goal of HRS is to help address the scientific and policy changes posed by the nation’s aging population. The renewal will provide approximately $70 million in funding over the next six years to continue the study. The U.S. Social Security Administration also will provide funding for such activities as collecting and developing data on pensions and consumption. More
Next StepsVisit the HRS Web site, http://hrsonline.isr.umich.edu, for more information on the study as well as an online bibliography of publications using HRS.
Long life seems to run in families, and researchers want to learn why. They are looking for a large number of families with several long-lived members and are particularly interested in hearing from families with at least two living members aged 80 years or older and their living children.The Long Life Family Study (LLFS), developed by NIA, is recruiting families to participate in a five-year, $18 million project. The study will be conducted by researchers at three sites in the United States and one in Denmark. U.S. participants will be recruited from areas close to LLFS study centers at Columbia University in New York City, the University of Pittsburgh, and Boston University. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis will act as the Data Management and Coordinating Center.Trained clinical staff members will meet with study participants to ask questions about their family and health history and conduct some performance and physical assessments. Study participants will be asked for a small blood sample to obtain genetic information to help determine the role that genes might play in long healthy survival, in addition to many other factors. More
Next StepsIf you’re interested in being part of the study, call the local LLFS recruitment offices at
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