Division of Prevention and Population Sciences
PURPOSE OF THE DIVISION
The Division of Prevention and Population Sciences supports
and provides leadership for population- and clinic-based research
on the causes, prevention, and clinical care of cardiovascular,
lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders. Research includes
a broad array of epidemiological studies to describe disease
and risk factor patterns in populations and to identify risk
factors for disease; clinical trials of interventions to prevent
disease; studies of genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, and
environmental influences on disease risk and outcomes; and
studies of the application of prevention and treatment strategies
to determine how to improve clinical care and public health.
The Division also supports training and career development
for these areas of research. The Division is organized into four major components: the Epidemiology Branch, the Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch, the Women's Health Initiative Branch, and the Office of Biostatistics Research.
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS AND PREVENTION BRANCH
The Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch supports,
designs, and conducts research and supports training on behavioral,
environmental, clinical, and healthcare approaches to reduce
occurrence and consequences of cardiovascular diseases. Prevention
research examines effects of interventions to slow or halt
risk factor or disease development or progression; interventions
use high-risk individual and population approaches, including
medications, behavioral strategies, and environmental change.
Studies examine lifestyle, nutrition and exercise, psychological
and sociocultural factors, and environmental and genetic influences
relevant to prevention. Clinical application research examines
approaches to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
Studies include clinical and community trials and selected
observational studies.
Lawrence J. Fine, M.D., Branch Chief
E-mail: finel@mail.nih.gov
301-435-0377
EPIDEMIOLOGY BRANCH
The Epidemiology Branch supports, designs, and conducts
research and supports training in the epidemiology of cardiovascular,
lung, blood, and sleep diseases and disorders. Studies are
conducted to identify temporal trends and population patterns
in the prevalence, incidence, morbidity, and mortality from
these diseases and include single- and multi-center observational
epidemiology studies of the development, progression, and
treatment of cardiovascular, lung, blood, and sleep diseases
and disorders. Studies identify environmental, lifestyle,
physiological, and genetic risk factors for disease and risk
factor development, including characterization of gene/gene
and gene/environment interactions. The Branch also distributes
data from all eligible NHLBI studies to researchers as a national
data resource, adhering to guidelines that protect participant
privacy and confidentiality.
Paul D. Sorlie, Ph.D., Branch Chief
E-mail: sorliep@mail.nih.gov
301-435-0707
WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE BRANCH
The Women's Health Initiative Branch supports clinical trials and observational
studies to improve understanding of the causes and prevention
of major diseases affecting the health of women. Current studies
focus on cardiovascular disease, cancer, and fractures, in
collaboration with NCI, NIAMS, NIA, NINDS, and ORWH. The large
multi-center observational epidemiology studies seek to identify
risk markers for disease or better quantify known markers
using questionnaire, clinical examination, and laboratory
data. The large and long-term multi-center clinical trials
test promising but unproven interventions such as hormone
therapy, diet, and supplements to prevent major diseases and
evaluate overall effects on health. The Branch has established
an infrastructure to support the utilization of data and blood
samples from the studies by the scientific community.
Jacques E. Rossouw, M.D., Branch Chief
E-mail: rossouwj@mail.nih.gov
301-402-2900
OFFICE OF BIOSTATISTICS RESEARCH
The Office of Biostatistics Research (OBR) provides statistical expertise to members of all Divisions of the NHLBI and performs diverse functions in planning, designing, implementing and
analyzing NHLBI-sponsored studies. The OBR has primary responsibility for providing objective, statistically sound, and medically relevant solutions to problems. When presented with a
problem for which techniques are not yet available, the OBR is expected to provide a new and valid statistical solution. The OBR is concerned with designing efficient studies and monitoring
data while studies are ongoing. All members of the professional staff have interests in statistical methodology relevant to clinical research studies. The OBR's methodological interest concern
survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, and efficient study designs, including the monitoring of ongoing clinical studies for efficacy and safety. Recently the OBR has made contributions to
statistical genetics and has extended its expertise to bioinformatics.
Nancy L. Geller, Ph.D., Director
E-mail: gellern@mail.nih.gov
301-435-0434
For further information contact:
Division of Prevention and Population Sciences
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Two Rockledge Center, Suite 10018
6701 Rockledge Dr. MSC 7936
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7936
(301) 435-0422
Additional phone numbers are available
in the Abbreviated
Staff Directory.
October 2006
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