FYI from the NHLBI Index
May 2000: Vol. 1, Issue 1 Summaries of Meetings & Announcements of Upcoming Events
- The NHLBI Strives to Enhance Public Participation
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's February Meeting
- Upcoming Events
- World Asthma Day 2000
- American Lung Association (ALA)/American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference
- American Society of Hypertension: 15th Scientific Meeting
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
- Sickle Cell Disease Advisory Committee
- Post-Resuscitative and Initial Utility in Life Saving Efforts (PULSE) Workshop
- 15th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks
- 29th Annual Scientific Meeting - International Society of Experimental Hematology
On February 9, 2000, representatives from nearly 50 interest groups assembled for the first Public Interest Organization
Meeting of the NHLBI. The resulting enthusiastic discussions and thoughtful, constructive comments affirmed the
NHLBI's commitment to enhance public involvement and have reinforced the NHLBI's ongoing effort to develop
similar events and other forums for constituent input.
The diversity of the NHLBI's constituency was apparent at this meeting.
Not only were the large, nationally recognized organizations represented, but smaller, "grass-roots" organizations
also were actively involved in bringing a broader perspective to the table. The approximately 100 participants
engaged in a dynamic interaction, exchanging views and ideas and learning from each other's experiences.
A full summary of the meeting and the participants suggestions that are under consideration can be viewed at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/public/liaison.htm.
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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council met on February 10, 2000, in Bethesda, MD. Sixteen Council
members, two ex-officio members, and the Chair, Dr. Claude Lenfant, were present.
Full minutes of this and previous Council meetings can be viewed at
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/nhlbac/index.htm.
The Council reviewed the NHLBI budget for FY 2001 that President Clinton recently submitted to Congress.
Although the proposal includes a 5.4% increase, or $100.4 million, this increase is far less than the 15% increases
received in FY 1999 and 2000. However, the budget legislation is not completed and the figures presented are
tentative.
The Council spent considerable time discussing the NHLBI's first Public Interest Organizations' Session, held February
9, 2000. The organizations' representatives were interested in, among other things, "how to make things happen,"
models of action, and improved communication with NHLBI. They are committed citizens active in volunteerism
with a wide range of sophistication and knowledge of their particular disease who were "tremendously helpful."
The message conveyed was "if the quality of science is good, it will get funded." A report of the meeting and
recommendations of the group can be found at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/public/liaison.htm.
Dr Lenfant gave an update of the NHLBI strategic plan which is a rolling document providing a 5 year plan for the Institute.
Details of the Strategic Plan can be found at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/fromdir/plan.htm.
The following proposed initiatives (Requests for Applications) that the NHLBI is considering supporting were presented to the
Council for its review: Genetic Aspects of TB in the Lung; The Framingham Study-renewal; Ancillary Studies in
Heart, Lung, and Blood Disease Trials; and Chelation Therapy of Angina Pectoris. All but the last received the
Council's enthusiastic support. The Council concurred on the award of 246 grants (both from previous NHLBI
announcements and investigator initiated proposals) for a total cost of $97,818,826.
Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, Acting Director of NIH's 25 institutes and centers, addressed the Council at this meeting. She said
that President Clinton's proposed budget for the entire NIH is for $18.8 billion.
As a separate topic, Dr. Kirschstein expressed concern about the widening health disparities between majority and minority groups.
She noted, however, that each Institute is developing and implementing a strategic plan on health disparities to
address this problem by providing the best, most creative scientific research possible.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for 8:30 AM on May 18, 2000. This meeting is open to the public and will
be held at NIH in Building 31C, Conference Room 10.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff wishes to thank Mrs. Judith Simpson, member of the NHLBAC and Vice
President, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, for her efforts in preparing this article.
Modified 5/3/00
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World Asthma Day 2000
Date: 5/3/00
Location: Throughout the World
The theme of World Asthma Day is Let Every Person Breathe, emphasizing the need for the world's asthma
sufferers to have access to timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and education to help control their condition.
The NHLBI's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program is coordinating activities in the United States.
American Lung Association/American Thoracic Society International Conference
Date: 5/5/00 - 5/10/00
Location: Toronto, Ontario.
Program covers the latest information in clinical, basic, and behavioral sciences regarding respiratory disease and public
health education.
American Society of Hypertension: 15th Scientific Meeting
Date: 5/17/00 - 5/20/00
Location: New York, NY.
Physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals and paraprofessionals with an interest
in the mechanisms or management of hypertension will profit from attending this meeting.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
Date: 5/18/00
Time: 8:30am - 2:00pm
Location: NIH Main Campus Building 31C, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council Meeting is open to the public.
For additional information, go to the NHLBAC's Web page.
Sickle Cell Disease Advisory Committee
Date: 6/5/00
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: NIH Rockledge Building II, Conference Room 9100, Bethesda, MD.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Intitute's Sickle Cell Disease Advisory Committee Meetings are open to the public. For additional information, contact Dr. Charles Peterson, (301) 435 - 0050 or go to
the Sickle Cell Disease Advisory Committee's Web page.
15th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks
Date: 7/8/00-7/12/00
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The conference is focused on improving outcomes through comprehensive care of patients with hypertension.
29th Annual Scientific Meeting - International Society of Experimental Hematology
Date: 7/8/00-7/11/00
Location: Tampa, FL.
ISEH 2000 is designed to present the latest basic and translational research findings related to experimental hematology.
Modified 9/25/01
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