FYI from the NHLBI Index
January 2004: Vol. 4, Issue 3 Summaries of Meetings
and Announcements of Upcoming Events
Dr. Alving Talks with Virginia Women about Postmenopausal
Hormone Therapy
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council’s
Fall Meetings
- September 4, 2003
- October 29, 2003
Upcoming 2004 Events
Dr. Alving Talks with Virginia Women about Postmenopausal Hormone
Therapy
On Saturday, October 25, Dr. Alving sat down with participants at a Women’s
Issues Conference hosted by Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) to talk about the results
of the Women’s Health Initiative, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and
health concerns of menopausal and postmenopausal women. During the 45-minute
session titled Hormone Replacement Therapy: Fact and Fiction, Dr. Alving answered
questions and discussed information in the NHLBI
Facts About Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy booklet, the Food
and Drug Administration Menopause and Hormones fact sheet, and Fast
Facts on Osteoporosis from the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
– National Resource Center. She emphasized the importance of diet and
exercise to women of any age, and reminded women about the importance of regular
visits to a health care provider regardless of whether they take replacement
hormones or not.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council’s Fall
Meetings
September 4, 2003
Members of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) were
welcomed to the 211th meeting by Dr. Barbara Alving, Acting Director of the
NHLBI. Dr. Alving announced that Dr. Claude Lenfant retired as Director of the
Institute, effective August 30, and that she is serving as Acting Director until
a new director is appointed. Dr. Lawrence Friedman will serve as the Acting
Deputy Director in addition to continuing his duties as the NHLBI Assistant
Director for Ethics and Clinical Research. Dr. Alving also announced that during
September two NHLBI programs will be recognized officially – the Sickle
Cell Disease Program and the Cholesterol Education Program.
Dr. Carl Roth, Associate Director for Scientific Program Operation, presented
a budget overview for FY 2004. A small increase is projected in the number of
research project grants. Dr. Roth then paid tribute to Dr. Claude Lenfant, praising
him for his high standards and outstanding leadership. Dr. Lenfant served as
the Director of the Institute from July 1982 - August 2003. Dr. David White,
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Chair of the Task
Force appointed to review the 1996 National Sleep Disorders Research Plan, discussed
the Executive Summary of the 2003 Plan.
Dr. John Thomas, Division of Blood Diseases and Resources (DBDR), reviewed
the Institute’s stem cell research programs. Dr. Jean Henslee-Downey,
DBDR, described the NHLBI Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research
(SCCOR) in cell-based therapies for repair and regeneration of damaged heart,
lung, and blood tissues. The Council enthusiastically supported these programs.
Dr. Raynard Kington, Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
summarized the recommendations of the Congressionally mandated Institute of
Medicine (IOM) report on the organizational structure of the NIH.
During the closed portion of the meeting, the Council concurred on the award
of 122 grants for a total cost of $51,527,499.
October 29, 2003
Dr. Alving, Acting Director of the NHLBI, welcomed members to the 212th meeting
of the NHLBAC. She introduced Dr. Robert Jesse, the new ex officio Council member
representing the Department of Veterans Affairs, and announced four new Council
members, Dr. Roberto Bolli, Dr. Richard C. Boucher, Jr., Ms. Mary H. Deer, and
Dr. Robert F. Lemanske, Jr.
Dr. Amy Patterson, Director of the Office of Biotechnology Activities in the
Office of the Director, NIH, discussed steps the NIH is taking to harmonize
clinical research regulatory policies and processes. Dr. Gordon Bernard, NHLBAC
member and Medical Director of the Vanderbilt University Institutional Review
Board (IRB), described the challenges faced by the university’s IRB. Council
members voted unanimously to send Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director, NIH, a resolution,
which expresses their concerns that the current complexity of regulations to
protect human subjects in research settings is limiting scientific progress
without necessarily enhancing the protection of subjects.
Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, Director of the Clinical Research Program of the NHLBI
Division of Intramural Research, introduced Drs. Neal Young and John Barrett,
intramural scientists from the Hematology Branch. Dr. Barrett summarized the
progress made in allogenic bone marrow stem cell transplants at the NHLBI over
the past decade. Dr. Young reviewed the research undertaken by the Hematology
Branch involving intensive immunosuppression of severe aplastic anemia.
Dr. Friedman, Acting Deputy Director, NHLBI, recommended that at least 15 percent
of the competing T32 budget be devoted to new awards and returning to two application
receipt dates with applications funded bi-annually. The Council agreed with
the recommendations. Dr. Bruce McManus, Scientific Director of the Institute
of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH), Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR), described the mission of the CIHR and the activities of the
ICRH. He discussed three joint research initiatives that are part of the Canada
– U.S. Collaboration in Circulatory and Respiratory Health.
Sixteen initiatives were presented to the Council for their approval. The Council
was supportive of all submitted proposals, with members making selected recommendations
for their improvement. Dr. Alving will take them into consideration, along with
other budget issues, when determining which proposals to implement.
During the closed portion of the meeting, the Council concurred on the award
of 196 grants for a total cost of $118,697,000.
The next National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) meeting
is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on February 12, 2004. It is open to the public and
will be in NIH Building 31C, Conference Room 10.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff thanks Ms. Sue Byrnes, member of the NHLBAC and
Director of the LAM Foundation, for her efforts in preparing this summary. Full
minutes of Council meetings are available.
Upcoming 2004 Events
Dates: February 12, May 13
Location: Building 31C, Conference Room 10, NIH Campus, Bethesda,
MD
Details: Meetings are open to the public.
Date: February 14
Details: The Congenital Heart Information Network sponsors this
national awareness day to help reduce childhood deaths from congenital heart defect
related deaths.
Date: March 18
Location: Building 10, Lipsett Amphitheater, NIH Campus, Bethesda,
MD
Details: NHLBI representatives will discuss the signs, symptoms,
and modifiable risk factors of heart disease in women and interventions to encourage
heart-healthy lifestyles. The seminar is open to the public and sponsored by the
Office of Research on Women's Health, NIH.
Dates: March 26-28
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Details: The objectives of this conference are to advance LAM
research, to improve LAM clinical practices, and to provide support and inspiration
to patients, physicians, and investigators.
Dates: March 29-30
Location: Natcher Conference Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Details: Health care providers, public health and education experts,
policy makers, patient advocacy organizations, and sleep medicine specialists
will review the gaps between knowledge and effective health care related to sleep
and develop an action plan for improving public health. The National Center on
Sleep Disorders Research, the NHLBI, the NIH, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, and the Trans-NIH Sleep Research Coordinating Committee are sponsors.
Dates: April 23-25
Location: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Details: Patients, their families, and health care professionals
will discuss ways to improve health care and support for adults and adolescents
with congenital heart disease.
Dates: April 29-30
Location: Baltimore, MD
Details: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, this summit will focus on chronic disease prevention and health promotion
and will feature presentations on asthma, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and
stroke.
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