Announcements

Community Outreach

• Health Fair at Tom Joyner Family Reunion a Huge Success
  When: September 1–3, 2005
  Where: Orlando, FL
  Institute: Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), Office of the Director (OD)

  More than 1,200 families attended the HHS Health Expo and Family Reunion celebration, an annual entertainment extravaganza hosted by television and radio personality Tom Joyner at Walt Disney World. Families learned about their health while listening to R&B acts like Jill Scott, Lionel Richie, and Al Green.
  
  As part of the health fair, the NIH distributed information focused on improving the health of African Americans. Brochures and giveaways from NIH Institutes and Centers promoted active steps that families can take to prevent cancer, eat healthy foods, control their weight, manage current health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, and deal with crises such as drug abuse.
  
  The fair was also the kickoff event for "Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day" on September 20, a national campaign sponsored by HHS that encourages individuals to take charge of their health. The NIH Office of Minority Health is the lead promoter of the campaign.

  Next Steps
  For more information about "Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day," visit www.omhrc.gov/healthgap/index.htm.

• Minority Science and Medical Students Learn About Biomedical Careers
  When: September 1–3, 2005
  Where: Aventura, FL
  Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  The Minority Trainee Research Forum for minority students in Aventura, Florida, included 72 students from high schools, colleges, and medical schools. The invited students were selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, based on the scientific merit and competitive review of their research abstracts and findings.
  
  The forum is a twice-yearly invitational meeting where biomedical professionals from academic, industry, and government laboratories give scientific presentations. The students heard about career opportunities at NIAID and received information on issues of funding and access to biomedical careers. The forum also gave participants the opportunity to share their own research projects with the group.
  
  The Minority Training Research Forum is sponsored by NIDDK, NIAID, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH, Merck & Company, and Johnson & Johnson and is housed at Temple University.

  Next Steps
  To learn more about the 2005 forums, visit the Minority Training Research Forum Web site at www.temple.edu/pstp/index.html.

Infectious Diseases

• Minority Science and Medical Students Learn About Biomedical Careers
  When: September 1–3, 2005
  Where: Aventura, FL
  Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  The Minority Trainee Research Forum for minority students in Aventura, Florida, included 72 students from high schools, colleges, and medical schools. The invited students were selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, based on the scientific merit and competitive review of their research abstracts and findings.
  
  The forum is a twice-yearly invitational meeting where biomedical professionals from academic, industry, and government laboratories give scientific presentations. The students heard about career opportunities at NIAID and received information on issues of funding and access to biomedical careers. The forum also gave participants the opportunity to share their own research projects with the group.
  
  The Minority Training Research Forum is sponsored by NIDDK, NIAID, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH, Merck & Company, and Johnson & Johnson and is housed at Temple University.

  Next Steps
  To learn more about the 2005 forums, visit the Minority Training Research Forum Web site at www.temple.edu/pstp/index.html.

Seniors' Health

• Seniors Can Volunteer for Neuroimaging Study
  When: October 1, 2005
  Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  The purpose of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative is to examine how brain imaging technology can be used with other tests to measure the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). This information will aid future clinical trials by providing a standard assessment tool to measure the effects of treatments being studied.
  
  The study will take place at approximately 50 sites across the U.S. and Canada. Investigators will recruit about 800 adults, aged 55 to 90, to participate in the research—approximately 200 cognitively normal older individuals will be followed for 3 years, 400 people with MCI will be followed for 3 years, and 200 people with early AD will be followed for 2 years.
  
  The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative is a $60 million, 5-year public-private partnership to test whether brain imaging technology such as serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), other biological markers, and clinical and neuropsychological assessment can be combined to measure the progression of MCI and early AD. The study will compare neuroimaging with biological and clinical information from study participants in an attempt to track the progress of memory loss from its earliest stages. Neuroimaging research has suggested that PET or MRI may serve as a more sensitive and consistent measure of disease progression than the neuropsychological and cognitive assessments now used in research. Ultimately, standardizing the methodology for neuroimaging could provide a better way to compare results from different trials and studies, a major goal of the initiative.

  Next Steps
  People interested in participating in the study should call the NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center at 1-800-438-4380. Additional information is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.alzheimers.org/clintrials/news.htm.

• Siblings with Alzheimer's Disease Wanted for Genetic Study
  When: October 1, 2005
  Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  The Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Study is a nationwide study to find the genes that play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Scientists hope this all-out effort will speed the discovery of the genes that increase the risk of AD in later life and of ways to prevent it.
  
  The AD Genetics Study is seeking families with two or more living siblings who have been diagnosed with AD. Volunteers should be aged 60 or older. A third family member also is needed—this family member may be either affected or unaffected by AD. Local sites will collect clinical and demographic information from the families for the National Cell Repository (NCRAD) at Indiana University. All information will be kept confidential. This study does not provide medical treatment.

  Next Steps
  People interested in participating in this study can call the toll-free NCRAD number, 1-800-526-2839, for more information. Study sites are located throughout the U.S., and arrangements can be made for eligible families who do not live near a participating site. Additional information can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.alzheimers.org/clintrials/news.htm.

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