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Summary of the NIH International Representatives MeetingJanuary 8, 2008
Dr. James Herrington, Director, Division of International Relations, NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC), welcomed the NIH IC representatives to the Stone House. He noted that FIC/DIR was interested in taking on a secondee from any interested IC who could assist FIC/DIR with the Europe portfolio for the next 6 months to one year. He also noted that FIC/DIR was interested in taking on a contractor who would assist in managing the burgeoning China portfolio in the FIC/DIR given there were new NIH initiatives afoot in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and other Chinese health research-related bodies that will need increased attention by FIC/DIR on behalf of NIH. Dr. Herrington welcomed Steve Smith, J.D., the new Director of NIAID's Office of Global Health Research who will henceforth serve as NIAID's representative on the NIH IC International Representatives Committee. Dr. Herrington next introduced Dr. J. Stephen Morrison, Director of the HIV/AIDS Task Force at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. Dr. Morrison oversees the CSIS global public health governance activities as well as the Africa Task Force on HIV/AIDS. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin. Global Public Health: Dr. Morrison noted that he is not trained in biomedical or public health sciences but rather is a political scientist who works towards raising the interest of senior policy officials in global public health and the global public health policy debate. He reflected on the current state of global public health issues as they have evolved over the past years beginning at the end of the Clinton Administration, when global public health was then significantly expanded and enhanced in the Bush Administration in such issues as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) and the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). He underscored that these programs and the Bush Administration interest and leadership in the global health arena was not foreseen or anticipated when the Administration began in January 2001. He noted that the Bush initiatives have been relatively unsuccessful and have resulted in a fragile but effective bipartisan cooperation in moving the global health agenda forward with U.S. leadership at the fore. He explained that there were several drivers to the issue. Among these were the SAR/Avian Influenza concerns, the need for stability in the developing world to achieve sustainability, the need to address the ravages of the HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria challenges facing Africa and other regions of the world. He noted that the latter issue became increasingly significant for senior policy officials when the UN Security Council, with Clinton/Gore support, agreed to convene a UN Security Council meeting on the issue in spring 2000. The results of this meeting helped to inform Bush policies to address HIV/AIDS abroad later on. Dr. Morrison also reflected on the fact that the 2002 National Security Strategy Statement included key attention on global health issues that could affect U.S. national security interests. He further noted that "new players" were involved in the issue, including the conservative religious community, new foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Foundation and some increased corporate interest both at home and abroad. He noted that a key question now was where the issue will go in the next Administration, especially given conflicting interests for other issues and budgetary constraints brought on by the Iraq war. He lauded the explosion of interest in graduate and undergraduate schools on the global public health curricula. But Dr. Morrison cautioned that the sustainability of the issue will be affected by whether there is genuine political and budgetary will to continue support for global public health initiatives and in policy development to the nature and extent that has been witnessed in the Bush Administration. Dr. Morrison also briefly outlined a new CSIS "Commission on Smart Power" that has the aim to maintain a leading role in global affairs. Among the key issues addressed in the work of this Commission will be U.S. leadership in the global public health debate. More information can be found on the Commission at: http://www.csissmartpower.org/blog/about/the-commission/ Fogarty International Center 40th Anniversary Commemorative Events: Dr. Herrington introduced Mr. Jeffrey Gray who provided an overview of FIC's 40th Anniversary Events in 2008. Mr. Gray highlighted these year-long events on a month-by-month but noted that many events do not have funding. A listing of the events is attached. Mr. Gray noted that he would welcome any suggestions from the IC representatives for other events. NIH Technology Transfer Activities as documented on Google Earth: Mr. Ajoy Prabhu, Group Leader for Marketing in NIH's Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) made a presentation on OTT's efforts to track NIH intramural and extramural grants that involve the transfer of technology. He provided an overview and demonstrated how OTT has plotted on Google Earth the locations of NIH investments around the globe, which include from 1,200 to 1,300 technologies at any given time. NIH Informational Items of Interest: Dr. Herrington noted that the proposed FIC Strategic Plan has been posted on the FIC website for Public Comment. This comment period ends on January 30, 2008. NICHD's Dr. Krotoski noted that the International Extramural Associates Research Development Award provides training and support for to strengthen research administration infrastructure in NIH-funded institutions in low and middle income countries. The next receipt date for applications from institutions in India and Sub-Saharan Africa will be February 22. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HD-088-001.html. NICHD would appreciate IC's sharing the PAR with eligible institutions. The PAR can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-431.html and the NICHD contact is Regina James at rjames@mail.nih.gov. Next Meeting: Tentatively set for Tuesday, March 13, 2008, at 1 p.m. in the NIH Stone House. Attendance: Archives of Past IC Reps Meetings
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