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October 2004 Events * Environmental Health Researchers Kick off Breast Cancer Sister Study Topic(s): Cancers When: October 2004 Where: Nationwide Institute: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Sisters share a lot more than secrets and laughter. They also share genes and at least some elements of lifestyle. Scientists already know that if a woman has breast cancer, her sister has a much higher chance of developing the disease, too. That抯 why the NIEHS is kicking off the Sister Study, which hopes to glean more information about environmental and genetic causes of breast cancer. Researchers believe ingredients in many common products interfere in the role of hormones, possibly contributing to breast cancer development. But studies have not been able to establish a strong link.In October, NIEHS will begin recruiting 50,000 women nationwide who do not have breast cancer, but have a sister who has been diagnosed with the disease. The Sister Study will follow women for at least 10 years, providing data that researchers will use to search for causes of breast cancer. Researchers will gather information about women's lifestyles, medical histories, jobs, and environment, as well as collect blood and urine samples, toenail clippings, and house dust. The women will answer questions about their diet, family history, environmental exposures, and additional information if they develop breast cancer. To be eligible for the study, women must be between 35 and 74 years of age, live in the United States, and have a sister who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Women who do not qualify can still help by volunteering or by spreading the word about the study. Next Steps For information or to join, call toll-free (877) 474-7837 or visit www.sisterstudy.org. * Fibromyalgia Workshop To Explore How to Discover More Topic(s): Bones, Joints, and Muscles When: November 11�, 2004 Where: The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC Institute: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. It hits mainly women and its cause is still unknown. Symptoms tend to wax and wane over time. To assess what is known about this syndrome and determine the best ways to learn more, NIAMS and Oregon Health and Science University are holding a two-day conference titled Fibromyalgia Workshop: The Next Advances. Its goals are to: Develop recommendations for integrated interdisciplinary (biomedical and psychosocial-behavioral) research directions to advance understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Provide clinicians with the latest scientific information about the biological and psychosocial-behavioral interactions producing fibromyalgia, particularly through central pain processes. Provide young or new (to fibromyalgia) investigators opportunities for career enhancement in interdisciplinary fibromyalgia research. Next Steps The workshop is open to the public and costs $150. A registration form and workshop agenda are available on the NIAMS Web site at www.niams.nih.gov/ne/mcw/fibro_mtg.htm. You can request and return an electronic registration form by sending an e-mail to koestler@ohsu.edu. * Future Addiction Research is Topic of Convention Topic(s): Drug Abuse When: October 22, 2004 Where: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA Institute: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Experts from many scientific disciplines will discuss recent findings and future research on addiction at a mini-convention sponsored by NIDA, Frontiers in Addiction Research. Sessions are open to the public as well as scientists and include: o Behavioral Neuroscience of Nicotine Addiction. o Creative Directions in Imaging. o Poster Presentations. o Mechanisms of Brain Resiliency and Repair. o The Role of Glutamate in Drug Addiction. o Keynote Speaker: Jacob A. Waletzky Award Recipient Presentation. This mini-convention will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, a nonprofit organization of physicians and scientists in basic research who study the brain and nervous system. The Jacob A. Waletzky Award is granted annually by the Society for Neuroscience to a young scientist researching in this field. Next Steps More information is available at www.masimax.com/frontiers2004. * Large Conference of AIDS workers to be Held in Philadelphia Topic(s): HIV/AIDS When: October 21�, 2004 Where: Philadelphia Marriott, Philadelphia, PA Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) The United States Conference on AIDS is the largest conference of AIDS workers in the nation and will this year be held in Philadelphia. More than 4,000 dedicated case managers, physicians, public health workers, advocates, policymakers, and other leaders are expected to attend. At this conference, they will hear about the latest tools and solutions for the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS and learn of new developments in HIV vaccine research, a promising prevention technology to fight the pandemic. NIAID's Division of AIDS will present seven different workshops related to AIDS vaccines. Next Steps The conference fee is $550. For further information, contact Mathew Murguia at (301) 435-7164 or view the conference site at www.nmac.org/conferences/USCA2004/default.htm. * Lecture on Herb-Drug Interactions, Including St. John's Wort's Impact Topic(s): Complementary and Alternative Medicine When: October 26, 2004 Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) There is a growing awareness that herbs can adversely affect how well prescription drugs work in the body, sometimes with life-threatening consequences. People interested in hearing about this topic can attend a lecture, "Reverse Herbology: Predicting and Preventing Adverse Herb-drug Interactions," given by Steven A. Kliewer, Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. This lecture is sponsored by NCCAM's Distinguished Lectures in the Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.One notable example of an herb changing how prescription medicine works is St. John's wort, which some people take as an antidepressant. It promotes the metabolism of many drugs, including the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the HIV protease inhibitors indinavir and nevirapine, the cancer drug irinotecan, the anticoagulant warfarin, as well as oral contraceptives. Co-administering St. John's wort with these drugs can reduce their concentrations to dangerously low levels. The molecular basis for this type of herb-drug interaction is now understood: St. John's wort activates a receptor, named PXR, in the liver and intestine, which accelerates drug metabolism. This lecture will present recent research findings and discuss how this knowledge can help predict and prevent harmful interactions between herbs and prescription drugs. Next Steps This event is free and open to the public. The lecture also will be videocast and archived at http://videocast.nih.gov. For more information about NCCAM's Distinguished Lectures, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/news/lectures. * Medicine for the Public: 2004 Lecture Series Topic(s): Community Outreach When: October 19朜ovember 16, 2004 Where: NIH Campus, Masur Auditorium, Clinical Center Building 10, Bethesda, MD Institute: Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) Reading failure in America, the biomechanics of human movement, medication addiction, and vaccines for biodefense are all leading-edge topics that will be addressed by experts during free lectures for the public. The lectures are part of the NIH Clinical Center's 2004 Medicine for the Public lecture series. Physician-scientists working to translate science into medicine will examine these topics: o Oct 19: Evidence-Based Education: Preventing Reading Failure in America o Oct 26: The Biomechanics of Human Movement: Could Leonardo da Vinci Fly? o Nov 9: Addiction to Medications: What Are the Risks and Who Is Vulnerable? o Nov 16: Viruses, Vaccines, and Emerging Health Threats Next Steps For details about specific topics or speakers, visit http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/about/news/mfp.shtml or call (301) 496-2563. * THE EYE SITE Exhibit on Low Vision Will Visit 16 Malls in 2004 Topic(s): Eyes and Vision When: March 1朞ctober 16, 2004 Where: Las Vegas, NV; Ashland, KY; Tucson, AZ Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI) To help people understand low vision (vision problems that interfere with a person's ability to perform everyday activities) and to explain what people with vision loss can do to stay independent, NEI developed THE EYE SITE: A Traveling Exhibit on Low Vision for Shopping Centers. The exhibit will visit 16 shopping malls during 2004, in Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wyoming. Planning is under way for the 2005 tour.Two identical exhibits have been on tour since 2001. By the end of 2004, they will have traveled to 65 malls in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Since THE EYE SITE tour was launched, the NEI has: o Provided more than 30 million people with the opportunity to visit the exhibit and learn about low vision. o Distributed more than 50,000 publications. o Worked with more than 65 vision-related organizations to offer nearly 150 public events. Next Steps Members of the public can visit the exhibit during regular business hours at any mall on the tour. For more information, visit THE EYE SITE Web site at www.nei.nih.gov/nehep/eyesite. Resources * Booklet Describes Ways To Make a Difference in Cancer Topic(s): Cancers Format: Booklet Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Do you want to find ways to make a difference in cancer, or to help others become involved? When cancer strikes you, a loved one, or a neighbor, you may struggle with how to respond to the diagnosis. How can you help? What can you do? You want to make a difference. You may join an educational group, run in a race to raise funds to fight cancer, or become part of a group that advocates for cancer research or programs. Whether you have cancer or know someone who does, NCI's Ways You Can Make a Difference provides ideas about how to start, including ways to: o Learn what it is like to make a difference in the fight against cancer. o Decide if you want to "get involved" and volunteer to help others. o Choose activities that interest you. o Learn about cancer-related organizations. Next Steps To order the free booklet, call (800) 4-CANCER or visit www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/make-a-difference. * Eye Health Database Available Online Topic(s): Eyes and Vision Format: Database Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI) People looking for eye health information on the Internet can turn to NEI's new eye health organizations database. This online tool lists organizations to contact about a variety of eye health information and resources. Many of the organizations listed provide referrals to resources in communities around the country. Users can search by keyword, such as amblyopia or Braille, or look at an alphabetical list. They will find organization names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web sites, as well as a short explanation of what the organization offers. Next Steps To access the NEI Eye Health Database, visit www.nei.nih.gov/health/resourceSearch.asp. * Fact Sheet on Financial Assistance for Cancer Care Topic(s): Cancers Format: Fact Sheet Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer imposes heavy economic burdens on both patients and their families. For many people, a portion of medical expenses is paid by their health insurance plan. Some resources are available for people who need financial assistance to cover additional health care costs or who do not have health insurance. The resources include government-sponsored programs and services supported by non-profit groups or community volunteer organizations. Cancer patients and their families should discuss any concerns they may have about health care costs with their physician, medical social worker, or the business office of their hospital or clinic. NCI has prepared a fact sheet listing organizations and resources for financial help, including resources in Spanish or organizations with Spanish speaking staff. Next Steps For more information on financial assistance, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/8_3.htm. * Learn about Alcohol's Affects on Women's Health Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism, Women's Health Format: Brochure, Web Site Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) While it抯 true that men are more likely to drink alcohol and drink greater amounts, women have a higher risk of developing problems from alcohol consumption. A new Alcohol Alert from NIAAA summarizes research findings and their practical implications for women of all ages. Considering that about one-third of American women report regular alcohol consumption and 2.5 million women (or 2.3 percent) meet the criteria for alcohol dependence, it is critical to conduct research and seek a better understanding of how alcohol effects women. Alcohol Alerts are NIAAA publications that cover a variety of alcohol-related topics. So far, 62 have been produced. Next Steps Download the new Alcohol Alert on alcohol and women's health at www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa62/aa62.htm. To order free print copies, call (301) 443-3860 or write to NIAAA Publications Distribution Center, P.O. Box 10686, Rockville, MD 20849�86. To view other Alcohol Alerts, visit http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alalerts.htm. * NCI Levies Shipping/Handling Charge for Bulk Orders of Cancer Publications Topic(s): Cancers Format: Info Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Anyone looking for information about cancer can receive free booklets from NCI on a large variety of topics. Brochures and similar information resources are also shipped free for small orders. However, NCI now needs to charge a fee to help cover shipping and handling costs on orders of more than 20 items, which are considered bulk orders. Orders for more than 20 items have a shipping and handling fee of 10 cents per copy, with a minimum charge of $5. Some discounts are available. These charges are necessary because of Federal Government budgetary constraints and NCI's desire to meet increasing cancer information demands. Next Steps For questions and answers about ordering cancer information from NCI and to learn more about the bulk order charges, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/1_20.htm. * New Fact Sheet on Expanded Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Services Topic(s): Seniors' Health Format: Fact Sheet Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) There is a new, easy-to-read fact sheet about Medicare and diabetes, called Expanded Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Services, published by the National Diabetes Education Program. It covers the latest information on diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy services, and other diabetes benefits covered by Medicare. Self-management training helps individuals learn to successfully manage their diabetes. This doctor-prescribed training includes how to manage blood glucose (blood sugar), make informed choices about nutrition and exercise, and prevent and treat complications. Diabetes patients can also receive doctor-prescribed medical nutrition therapy services that are provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional. These services include a review of current eating habits, nutrition counseling (what foods to eat), how to manage lifestyle factors that affect your food choices, and follow-up visits. NDEP is a partnership of the NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 public and private organizations working together to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. Next Steps For further information about the fact sheet view http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/EMCDS/emcds1.htm. Printable copies are available in English or Spanish at www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/catalog.htm#PubsPatCont or by calling (800) 438-5383. This fact sheet is an excellent companion to NDEP抯 brochure, The Power to Control Diabetes is in Your Hands, which focuses on the importance of blood glucose testing. It can also be ordered via the Web address or phone number listed above. * New Information Available on Alzheimer's and on Working with Older Patients Topic(s): Seniors' Health Format: PowerPoint; Slide Show Brochure Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA) Information aids about two key age-related topics, Alzheimer's disease and working with an older population, have been prepared by the NIA. o NIA's popular publication, Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery, is now available as a PowerPoint slide show to help speakers organize talks and discussions related to the disease. o Working with Your Older Patient: A Clinician's Handbook is a 45-page booklet that teaches clinicians communication techniques, such as how to address difficult-to-discuss issues. These issues include driving, abuse, end-of-life care, incontinence, and sexuality. The booklet is useful for primary care providers and health professionals working with seniors in outpatient settings. Next Steps To order the PowerPoint slide show or any NIA publications, call (800) 222-2225, e-mail niaic@jbs1.com, or visit www.niapublications.org. * New Pamphlet Gives Overview of Food Allergies Topic(s): Immune System Format: Pamphlet Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) People wanting to learn about food allergies, their possible causes, and ways to diagnose and treat them can read a new pamphlet, Food Allergy: An Overview. Produced by NIAID for the public, this pamphlet also describes non-allergic reactions to foods known as food intolerances, which can be confused with food allergies. It also describes some unproven and controversial food allergy theories. Next Steps To view a PDF file of the brochure, visit www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/pdf/foodallergy.pdf. A free copy can be ordered online at www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/orderforms/freepampo.htm or from the NIAID Office of Communications and Public Liaison at (301) 496-5717. * Popular Publications on Age-Related Issues Updated Topic(s): Seniors' Health Format: Brochures Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA) Seniors face particular issues related to their age and changing life situations, and NIA has produced brochures about these issues. Called Age Pages, they are available to the public free. NIA recently updated seven brochures on its most popular topics: o Getting Your Affairs in Order. o Older Drivers. o Preventing Falls and Fractures. o Exercise: Getting Fit for Life. o Forgetfulness: It's Not Always What You Think. o Spanish Age Page: El crimen y las personas de la tercera edad (Crime and Older People). o Spanish Age Page: Cuidado a largo plazo: Escogiendo el lugar correcto (Getting Your Affairs in Order). Next Steps To obtain copies of these brochures and other Age Pages, call (800) 222-2225 or e-mail niac@jbs1.com. To view all NIA publications, visit www.niapublications.org. * Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Questions and Answers Topic(s): Cancers Format: Fact Sheet Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) As men age, both benign prostate conditions and prostate cancer become more frequent. A common test used for detecting prostate conditions, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, measures blood levels of this protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The doctor takes a blood sample and a laboratory technician gauges the amount of PSA present. It is normal for men to have low levels of PSA in their blood; however, both prostate cancer and benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase PSA levels. NCI has produced an online fact sheet about PSA, with eight questions and answers about key PSA issues, including who should be screened and why the PSA test is controversial. Next Steps For more information, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/5_29.htm. * Read About Glaucoma, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, and Diabetic Retinopathy Topic(s): Eyes and Vision Format: Booklets, Web Publications Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI) Information about various eye diseases and disorders, their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, is available free from NEI in its Information for Patients booklet series. These booklets are written for patients, their families, and friends. Recently updated booklets include: o Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What you should know. o Diabetic Retinopathy: What you should know. o Glaucoma: What you should know. o Cataract: What you should know. Next Steps To download or order free copies of the booklets, call (877) 569-8474 or visit www.nei.nih.gov. To access the booklet on the NEI website, click on 揊ree Publications and Materials List� and search for the booklets by title. * Read About Weight Cycling, Palliative Care, and Why Trial Results Differ Topic(s): Community Outreach Format: Newsletter Institute: Office of the Director (OD) Palliative care, preventing college-age alcohol abuse, weight cycling, and contradictory clinical trial results are all topics covered in the latest edition of a National Institutes of Health newsletter, The NIH Word on Health. The public can read more about the following topics: o Palliative Care: This aims to improve the quality of life for patients near the end of their lives and involves not only pain-relief medication but also a team approach to provide comfort and support. o Preventing College-Age Alcohol Abuse: Young adults going off to college can expect to be exposed to many new experiences, including heavy drinking. Alcohol abuse is widespread on the nation's college campuses. o Facts About Weight Cycling: This refers not to biking to reduce weight but to the repeated loss and regaining of body weight. Some research links weight cycling with certain health risks. o Different Trials, Different Results: One minute, something is reported to be good for our health, and the next it is bad. How can medical studies come up with such different conclusions about the same topics? NIH plays a major role in finding better ways to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases. The practical health information in The NIH Word on Health is based on research conducted either by NIH's own scientists or by its grantees at universities and medical schools around the country. Next Steps To view The NIH Word on Health, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth. * Research on Underage Drinking Explained on New Web Site Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism, Substance Abuse Format: Web Site Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) As recent scientific advances have led to a greater understanding of alcohol, public conern about the seriousness of underage drinking has increased. In response, NIAAA is spearheading an initiative to intensify research, evaluation, and outreach efforts regarding underage drinking. As part of the initiative, NIAAA has launched a Web site, the NIAAA Initiative on Underage Drinking. Underage drinking presents an enormous public health issue. Alcohol is the drug of choice among children and adolescents. Annually, 7,000 youth under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries, homicides, and suicides. Advances in scientific research have helped to shed light on several important aspects of this problem. The Web site is a "work-in-progress" and NIAAA says the public's comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Next Steps For information on the initiative and to comment, visit www.niaaa.nih.gov/about/underage.htm and post your feedback to our Underage Drinking Research Webmaster. * Selenium and Vitamin E Role in Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Under Way Topic(s): Cancers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Format: Info Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Scientists are testing the role of two dietary supplements, selenium and vitamin E, in preventing prostate cancer. NCI is funding a clinical trial called SELECT and NCI has prepared a question-and-answer fact sheet to provide information on the ongoing trial. The trial, coordinated by the Southwest Oncology Group, an international network of research institutions that receive NCI funding, hopes to discover if one or both of these supplements prevent prostate cancer. Enrollment began in 2001 and ended in 2004. The study, involving more than 35,000 men, will continue for 7 years. Participants from more than 400 sites in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada are participating in the study. Next Steps To view the question and answer fact sheet, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/4_20.htm. * Shingles After Chickenpox: Information and Tips on Staying Comfortable Topic(s): Seniors' Health Format: Brochure Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA) Just when you thought that childhood diseases were nothing more than a fuzzy memory, BANG! you develop shingles. The same virus that caused chickenpox when you were young can become reactivated in later life, causing shingles. NIA's new Age Page discusses symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and complications梚ncluding postherpetic neuralgia, an extremely painful aftermath of shingles. The brochure also offers tips for staying comfortable and lists helpful resources. Next Steps To order a free copy of the Shingles Age Page, call (800) 222-2225 or e-mail niaic@jbs1.com. To view the page, visit www.niapublications.org/engagepages/shingles.asp. To view Age Pages online, visit www.niapublications.org and click on "All Age Pages," and find an alphabetical listing of the pages. * Trial to Elucidate Tamoxifen and Raloxifene Role in Curbing Breast Cancer Incidence Topic(s): Cancers Format: Info Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Some women know they are at increased risk of developing break cancer, but scientists hope that certain drugs may curb that risk. To test two drugs for their efficacy, scientists launched a Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) that is expected to yield results in 2006. NCI, which is the main funder of the study or clinical trial, has produced a question-and-answer online fact sheet for people interested in learning more about STAR. The market name for tamoxifen is Nolvadex� and the name for raloxifene is Evista�. Conducting the trial at more than 400 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada, is the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project. Enrollment closed in June 2004, after the trial reached its target of 19,000 post-menopausal women. Next Steps For more information, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/4_19.htm. For information in Spanish, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/4_19s.htm. Announcements * Conference to Cover Youth Violence and Health-Risking Behaviors Topic(s): Mental Health and Behavior When: October 13�, 2004 Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of the Director (OD) Violence exacts enormous financial, health, and social costs on individuals, families, and communities. In 2000, homicide was the second leading cause of death for persons 15 to 24 years of age. Most violence is non-fatal but results in injuries, mental health problems, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health problems. NIMH and the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research held a conference to examine and assess the current state of knowledge about youth violence and related health-risking social behavior and to identify directions for future research. Experts presented the latest research findings on risk and protective factors associated with youth violence and related behaviors, and on interventions to reduce those behaviors. From a variety of studies, researchers know that approximately one in five children and adolescents display signs and symptoms of a defined emotional or psychiatric disorder during the course of a year. These signs and symptoms often signal increased risk of problems such as aggression, delinquency, drug abuse, violence and other health-risking social behaviors which cause substantial difficulties with family and peers, at school and at work. In wrapping up the conference and weighing in expert and public comments, an independent panel addressed梐mong other things梖actors contributing to violence, effective interventions, and priorities for future research. Next Steps An open-captioned video of the conference can be viewed via the NIH Videocast Web site archives at www.videocast.nih.gov. A conference agenda and additional information are available on the NIH Consensus Development Program Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov/ta/023/preventviolenceintro.html. * COPR Public Meeting to Follow Public Trust Workshop Topic(s): Community Outreach When: October 27, 2004 Where: Natcher Conference Center, Bethesda, MD Institute: Office of the Director (OD) Key issues relating to public trust and research will be topics discussed at a public meeting held by the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR). The 12th COPR meeting follows an 80-person workshop that the COPR is hosting in collaboration with the NIH Public Trust Initiative, Inviting Public Participation in Clinical Research: Building Trust Through Partnerships. The invited workshop participants will gather and work in small group sessions on October 26. The workshop goals are to identify guiding principles that will encourage individuals to become more informed about participation in research, to help workshop participants better understand the nature of trust as it relates to clinical research, and to develop initial recommendations for consideration by NIH leadership and the NIH抯 public partners. At its October 27 public meeting, running from 3�p.m., the COPR will present information and findings from the workshop and NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., will give his initial response and comments. There will also be public discussion and comments. Next Steps For more information about the COPR, visit http://copr.nih.gov or e-mail pollards@mail.nih.gov. For additional information, contact Shelly Pollard at (301) 496-0959. * Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Web Site Wins Award Topic(s): Consumer Health Award Where: Bethesda, MD Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) An NIDCD Web site for issues related to deafness and other communications disorders has won an award from the World Wide Web Health Awards program, which recognizes the best health-related Web sites for consumers and professionals, paying particular attention to quality electronic health information. The Institute's site received a Merit Award in the category of Miscellaneous/Professional Information. The World Wide Web program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center, a national center for consumer health information programs and materials. Next Steps To view NIDCD's Web site, visit www.nidcd.nih.gov. * Expert Speaks About Hepatitis B and C Viruses Topic(s): Infectious Diseases When: October 14, 2004 Where: Bethesda, MD Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) People interested in hearing more about host-virus interactions that determine how a person fights off the liver diseases hepatitis B and hepatitis C, can view a taped webcast of a lecture, The Host-Virus Standoff during Persistent Viral Infections, that was originally broadcast live. The expert speaker was Francis V. Chisari, M.D., Professor of Virology, Head of the Division of Experimental Pathology, and Director of the General Clinical Research Center, Scripps Research Institute. The talk was part of NIAID's annual Kinyoun Lecture series, which honors Joseph J. Kinyoun, M.D., Ph.D., who in 1887 founded the Laboratory of Hygiene from which the NIH evolved. Next Steps A Web cast of the lecture is available at http://videocast.nih.gov. For further information, contact Cynthia Nishikawa Fabry at (301) 496-5719. * Expert Speaks on Genetic Data Revealing Patients' Drug Treatment Response Topic(s): Genetics/Human Genome When: October 6, 2004 Where: Masur Auditorium, Bethesda, MD Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) People interested in hearing more about how genetic information can predict patients' response to drug treatments, as well as how such information can be used in creating new drugs and diagnostic tests, can hear an expert address given on these issues. David Cox, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Perlegen Sciences, Inc., delivered the NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series talk, entitled "Human Genetic Variation and Common Diseases: A Short Term Approach for Improving Human Health." The lecture was sponsored by the NIDCD. The NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series invites experts nominated by researchers and scientific interest groups throughout NIH, and approved by the NIH Director. Next Steps The lecture can be heard on webcast at http://videocast.nih.gov. For more information, contact Hilda Madine at (301) 594-5595. For more information on the NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series, visit http://www1.od.nih.gov/wals/schedule.htm. * First NIH Director's Pioneer Award Recipients Named Topic(s): Community Outreach Institute: Office of the Director (OD) NIH has selected the first recipients of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, a program designed to support individual scientists and thinkers with highly innovative ideas and approaches to contemporary challenges in biomedical research. A central component of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, the Director's Pioneer Award was established in January 2004 to encourage exceptional researchers and thinkers from multiple disciplines to conduct high-risk, high-impact research related to the improvement of human health. The NIH will provide $500,000 in direct costs per year for five years to each Pioneer Award recipient, allowing them the time and resources to test far-ranging ideas with the potential to make extraordinary contributions to medical research. The awardees represent a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines including quantitative and mathematical biology, pathogenesis, epidemiology and translational clinical research, molecular and cellular biology, integrative physiology, instrumentation, and bioengineering. They are: o Larry Abbott, Ph.D., Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts o George Daley, M.D., Ph.D., Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts o Homme Hellinga, Ph.D., Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina o Joseph McCune, M.D., Ph.D., J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California o Steven McKnight, Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas o Chad Mirkin, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois o Rob Phillips, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California o Stephen Quake, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California o Sunney Xie, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research is a series of far-reaching initiatives designed to transform the Nation's medical research capabilities and speed the movement of scientific discoveries from the bench to the bedside. It provides a framework of the priorities the NIH must address in order to optimize its entire research portfolio and lays out a vision for a more efficient and productive system of medical research. Next Steps For more information on the NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program, including awardee information, visit http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/highrisk/index.asp. For additional information about the NIH Roadmap visit http://nihroadmap.nih.gov. For news and information about the NIH visit www.nih.gov. * Montana Audience Hears About Influenza History and Risks Topic(s): Infectious Diseases When: September 15, 2004 Where: Hamilton, MT Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) With the flu season around the corner, four experts on the flu vaccine spoke to nearly 100 people to enlighten them about the history of the flu virus and to encourage them to be vaccinated against it. At a public symposium in Montana, the experts spoke about the flu's dramatic history since the Middle Ages, focusing on the deadly "Spanish Flu" pandemic of 1918�. They answered audience questions afterward. The symposium was sponsored by NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a state-of-the-art research facility for studying infectious microbes that cause disease in humans and animals. Speakers included NIAID vaccine researcher Kanta Subbarao, M.D.; Herbert Swick, M.D., executive director of the Institute of Medicine and Humanities in Missoula; George Risi, M.D., director of the St. Patrick Hospital infection control program in Missoula; and Charmell Owens, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Ravalli County Public Health Department. Next Steps For more information, contact Ken Pekoc at (406) 375-9690. * NIH Invites Public Comment on its Draft Public Access Policy Proposal Topic(s): Public Access to Research Findings Institute: Office of the Director (OD) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently held a series of meetings on research publication access, to solicit input from scientists, publishers, and the public. The input from these discussions has informed NIH抯 efforts to draft a public-access policy that NIH believes satisfies current and future needs, while preserving the ability of journals to maintain the quality of peer review. The three primary goals of NIH's draft public access and manuscript archiving policy are to: o Give the public better access to the published results of NIH-funded research o Create a stable archive of peer-reviewed research publications to ensure the permanent preservation of these vital research records o Secure for NIH a searchable compendium of peer-reviewed research publications that the agency can use to manage its research portfolio and monitor scientific productivity The draft policy requests that NIH-funded researchers provide NIH with electronic copies of manuscripts resulting from their research upon their acceptance for publication. Six months after an article's publication, it will be made available to the public through the PubMed Central archive, part of NIH's National Library of Medicine. As a way to keep the public informed about NIH efforts related to this issue, a link was established on the NIH Home Page which provides access to relevant documents, including a backgrounder and a series of Questions and Answers (www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/index.htm). Public comments on the draft policy are being actively encouraged and accepted until November 16, 2004. Next Steps To comment on the draft proposal, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/public_access/add.htm. Alternatively, comments may be e-mailed to PublicAccess@nih.gov or mailed to NIH Public Access Comments, National Institutes of Health, Office of Extramural Research, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 350, Bethesda, MD 20892-7963. * NIH Opens New Clinical Research Hospital Topic(s): Research When: September 22, 2004 Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD Institute: Office of the Director (OD) The NIH celebrated its most significant campus addition in more than 50 years when the new Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center opened last month. This new hospital totally dedicated to clinical research梤esearch involving patients梡rovides a unique opportunity for scientists, clinicians, and patients to study and conquer both chronic and acute disease in the 21st century. Patients will move into the new hospital in December. The 870,000-square-foot Hatfield Center connects to the existing Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, or Building 10, which opened its doors to patients in 1953. Since then, NIH has worked in partnership with more than 350,000 participants in clinical studies from every state and from other nations. NIH advances include: o First cure of a solid tumor with chemotherapy, o First chemotherapy for childhood leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, o Discovery of evidence for a genetic component in schizophrenia, o First use of nitroglycerin for acute myocardial infarction, o First use of hydroxyurea to treat sickle cell anemia, o First gene therapy, o First successful replacement of a mitral valve, o First use of AZT to treat AIDS, and o Development of screening tests for AIDS and hepatitis, which reduced the transmission rate of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis from 30 percent to near zero. Annually, more than 1,000 clinical studies are conducted at NIH and the proximity of labs, equipment, and patient-care units will help to rapidly move biomedical laboratory findings into the mainstream of medical practice梒arrying on the "bench-to-bedside" tradition of the original NIH Clinical Center. In 1989, Congress approved construction of a new hospital, followed by renovation of the existing Clinical Center. Named in honor of former Senator Mark O. Hatfield, who served in Congress for 30 years and provided steadfast support to NIH and clinical research, the new hospital will allow for cutting-edge research and patient care in the 21st century. It will accommodate approximately 240 inpatient beds and 80 day-hospital stations. Laboratories and patient rooms are highly flexible and can quickly adapt to meet new requirements and changing priorities. Next Steps For more information about the new hospital, visit www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/crc. To learn more about NIH, visit www.nih.gov. * NIH Roadmap for Medical Research Webcast on One-Year Anniversary Topic(s): NIH Road Map for Medical Research When: October 14, 2004 Where: NIH Campus, Lipsett Amphitheater, Clinical Center Building 10, Bethesda, MD Institute: Office of the Director (OD) On the one-year anniversary of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., and other NIH senior staff held a webcast for the general public that included a question-and-answer session. The NIH Roadmap is a series of far-reaching initiatives designed to transform the nation's medical research capabilities and speed the movement of scientific discoveries from the bench to the bedside. It provides a framework of the priorities the NIH must address in order to optimize its entire research portfolio and lays out a vision for a more efficient and productive system of medical research. Over the past year, NIH has made significant progress toward accelerating the pace of discovery. The scientific community's response to NIH Roadmap solicitations has been robust, yielding many more new grant applications than expected, and drawing new researchers into the field. Newly funded projects aim to greatly increase the efficiency of the medical research enterprise. Among these new projects are innovative programs to train clinical researchers and to fund highly creative thinkers, a nationwide interconnected network of bio-computing centers, and projects supporting the development of a diverse array of small molecules and imaging probes freely available to all researchers. Next Steps More information about the NIH Roadmap and the one-year anniversary webcast are available at http://nihroadmap.nih.gov. To view the webcast, click on "Public Meetings and Workshops." Information about the NIH can be found at www.nih.gov. * Provide Input on NIH Complementary/Alternative Medicine Research Goals Topic(s): Complementary and Alternative Medicine When: October 7朜ovember 15, 2004 Where: Nationwide Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) As part of its continuing effort to inform and involve the public when making decisions about research priorities, NCCAM is inviting the public to review and comment on its draft five-year strategic plan for 2005�09. The plan includes goals and objectives for the next five years. The public may view the draft and submit comments online through November 15. This draft already incorporates input from several hundred NCCAM stakeholders, including researchers, health care providers, CAM practitioners, and others. NCCAM will review the public comments and release a final version of the plan in January 2005. Next Steps To read the draft plan online and submit comments visit http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/2005/index.htm. * Rocky Mountain Laboratories Highlights Prion Work for Fairgoers Topic(s): Infectious Diseases When: September 1� 2004 Where: Hamilton, MT Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Scientists� efforts to understand and slow the spread of prion protein diseases, such as 搈ad cow� disease and chronic wasting disease, were featured in a display booth that NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories hosted at the recent Ravalli County Fair in Hamilton, Montana. An estimated 600 visitors stopped at the booth to talk with laboratory staff and receive literature about NIAID and its work. Display panels showed elements of the brain-wasting diseases and the research under way at RML to develop therapies. About two dozen RML scientists are studying prior protein diseases. RML Senior Investigator Byron Caughey, Ph.D., and Visual Arts Specialist Anita Mora developed the display. Based in Hamilton, Montana, RML is a state-of-the-art research facility for studying infectious microbes that cause disease in humans and animals. Next Steps For more information, contact Ken Pekoc at (406) 375-9690. * Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists Symposium Topic(s): Community Outreach When: November 2� 2004 Where: Austin Marriott at the Capitol and Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX Institute: NIH Office of the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management (OEODM) In 2003, the NIH entered into a partnership with the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES). An element of NIH's support is to participate in the MAES Annual International Symposium and Career Fair. This year, NIH will offer workshops, a career fair exhibit, and presenters from various NIH Institutes and Centers who will speak about NIH research initiatives and opportunities. As part of its support, NIH has identified student 搑ole models� to participate in MAES workshops on science, math, and technology-related subjects. It has also provided technical assistance for the MAES Research Design Competition Guidelines. The MAES mission is to promote excellence in engineering, science, and mathematics while promoting the value of cultural diversity. Next Steps For more information about the upcoming MAES symposium and career fair, including the registration fee, visit www.maes-natl.org or call (281) 557-3677.