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Summary of the NIH International Representatives MeetingJuly 8, 2008Dr. James Herrington, Director, Divison of International Relations (DIR), NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC), welcomed the NIH IC representatives to Room 8A28 in Building 31A. He thanked the NINDS Representative, Dr. Yuan Liu, for allowing the use of the NINDS Conference Room for the meeting. Dr. Herrington next highlighted key upcoming events, including the July 15 Fogarty International Center (FIC) Anniversary celebration at the NIH Stone House from 12 to 2 pm. He also noted that the Embassies of Italy and France together with the Mission of the European Commission to the United States would be hosting a "Global Health in the 21st century" event at the Embassy of Italy on October 11 and 12. He also noted that the Embassy of Norway would be hosting a "Trans-Atlantic Science Week" during October 21-23 at various venues with a "Biobanks Symposium" at the NIH Stone House on October 23. Further information will be sent to the NIH IC International Representatives at a later date. FIC's Director of Communication, Ms. Ann Puderbaugh, reported that FIC will be co-hosting a "Global Health Diplomacy" symposium with the Georgetown Law School on November 12 at Georgetown University facilities. Further information will be made available about this seminar at a later date. Dr. Herrington next introduced Dr. Nicole Bates, Director of Governmental Operations at the Global Health Council (www.globalhealth.org) and a former member of Senator Edward Kennedy's staff associated with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Dr. Bates provided perspectives on research and advocacy. Interface between Research and Advocacy: Dr. Bates provided an overview of the current landscape of global health from a U.S. perspective. She noted that global health has become a U.S. priority, that it has achieved historic levels of funding in the U.S. International Affairs budget, and that it is promoting UN Millennium Development Goals. But competing agendas are on the rise within the global health priorities and policy-makers are eager to now see returns on US investments made to date. A key factor on where the issue goes also rests on the outcome of the November 2008 elections. Dr. Bates reviewed US Government global health spending from the FY1998 to proposed FY2009 spending. She noted that both global health spending now accounts for $6.3 billion, or about 16 percent of the overall US International Affairs budget. Dr. Bates next defined what "Advocacy" means and highlighted that among its hallmarks were strategic interaction, negotiating priority, strong constituency, solid evidence base, and sudden environment shift. She noted that research generates the evidence base for advocacy which builds to policy development, leading to program development, leading to -- hopefully -- desired health outcomes. She highlighted how advocacy on tobacco control has evolved from the 1940s through key dates into the late 1990s resulting in the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. She then went through 6 examples of global health issues, including HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Child Survival and Health, Family Planning (Reproductive Health), and Climate Change and how they measure in terms of constituency support, evidence base, environment for action and return on investment (to date). She noted that research is essential for successful advocacy as it influences and informs formulation, negotiation and implementation of global health objectives. Her final point was that we all need to do a better job of generating solid evidence in order to use it effectively to promote great global health benefits. Dr. Bates' PowerPoint presentation is attached. NIH Office of Postdoctoral Services Activities: Dr. Herrington next introduced Drs. Lori Conlan and Pat Sokolove from the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE). Dr. Conlan noted that OITE is responsible for ensuring that the biomedical research experiences of trainees in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) are as rewarding as possible. She noted that there are 6,000 trainees on campus of which 3,700 are postdocs with 60 percent of these being foreign nationals. The NIH IRP offers programs for high school and college students, recent college graduates, graduate students, professional students, and postdoctoral and clinical fellows. OITE staff members recruit trainees to the various IRP programs, both in person, by attending professional conferences and other events, and via the OITE website, which facilitates communication between potential trainees around the world and the NIH IRP. OITE aims to ensure that their clients also take part in relevant career development activities, and learn all they can possibly learn from the scientific staff at the NIH and from their fellow trainees. OITE programs complement the training activities of the NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). OITE collaborates with the Medical Education Program to support clinical trainees and works closely with the Fellows Committee to plan activities for postdoctoral, research, and clinical fellows and with the Post-baccalaureate IRTA Committee to develop programs for trainees who are recent college graduates. OITE maintains an open-door policy and welcomes trainees to drop by anytime. Further information on OITE offerings is available at: http://www.training.nih.gov/. Dr. Sokolove underscored the usefulness of FIC-led GRIP grant and International Research Career Transition Awards to NIH-based foreign visiting fellows. Proposal for New NIH Websites on Foreign Research Awards: Dr. Herrington asked FIC's Dr. Barbara Sina to introduce the next two speakers, NIMH's Dr. Michael Stirratt and NIH/OD/OER's Dr. Pam Gilden, who presented on a proposal to develop two new NIH websites to Enhance Management of NIH Foreign Awards. The proposal specifically calls for the creation and maintenance of two NIH OER-sponsored websites that would assist NIH staff with the challenges involved in providing technical assistance, monitoring and management for foreign applications and awards (i.e., awards to foreign institutions, and domestic awards with foreign components). The aim of these websites, one an external internet website and one an internal intranet website, would be to provide comprehensive links to existing information and resources so as to improve efficiency, quality and consistency of NIH technical assistance and management of foreign awards and domestic awards having foreign components. A 2-page prospectus of the proposals is attached, as well as feedback from that interested parties may complete and send to NIMH's Dr. Michael Stirratt at: stirrattm@mail.nih.gov by July 30, 2008. Next Meeting: Set for Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Stone House. Attendance: Archives of Past IC Reps Meetings
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