Announcements

Brain and Nervous System

• Workshop Explores How Computers Could Help “Locked-In” Patients
  When: May 26–27, 2006
  Where: Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  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 Steps
  You can view an agenda and summary of the workshop at www.nidcd.nih.gov/funding/programs/npp/workshop_bci_summary.htm.

Communication Disorders

• Workshop Explores How Computers Could Help “Locked-In” Patients
  When: May 26–27, 2006
  Where: Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  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 Steps
  You can view an agenda and summary of the workshop at www.nidcd.nih.gov/funding/programs/npp/workshop_bci_summary.htm.

Community Outreach

• Minority Biomedical Research Training Opportunities Now Available
  When: February 4–8, 2007
  Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  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 Steps
  You 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.

• Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign Launched
  Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  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:

  • Educational materials and services.
    
    
  • Current NIH research about celiac disease.
    
    
  • Additional information and resources, including an e-newsletter.

  Next Steps
  For 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

• Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign Launched
  Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  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:

  • Educational materials and services.
    
    
  • Current NIH research about celiac disease.
    
    
  • Additional information and resources, including an e-newsletter.

  Next Steps
  For 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.

Population Groups

• Minority Biomedical Research Training Opportunities Now Available
  When: February 4–8, 2007
  Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  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 Steps
  You 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.

Seniors' Health

• Major National Survey of Health and Retirement Renewed
  When: June 19, 2006
  Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  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 Steps
  Visit 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.

• Study Seeks Long-Lived Families
  When: September 2006
  Where: Nationwide
  Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  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 Steps
  If you’re interested in being part of the study, call the local LLFS recruitment offices at

  • Boston University: (888) 333-6327
    
    
  • University of Pittsburgh: (800) 872-3653
    
    
  • Columbia University: (800) 304-4317
  For information on health and aging, visit the NIA Web site at www.nia.nih.gov or call the NIA Information Center at (800) 222-2225.

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