FYI from the NHLBI Index
May 2001: Vol. 2, Issue 1 Summaries of Meetings
and Announcements of Upcoming Events
Representatives Emphasize Public Interest Organizations' Similarities
On January 31, 2001, representatives from approximately 50 public
interest organizations (PIOs) met in Rockville, MD, to discuss how the
groups could work together and with the NHLBI to meet common goals.
Despite varied backgrounds, experiences, and disease interests, representatives
quickly identified many common opportunities and activities that could be
addressed in the context of the PIO meetings. The representatives emphasized
the need for PIOs to work together while maintaining separate
identities reports from breakout sessions on supporting research,
participating in clinical research, and getting the message out each
emphasized that there is a "strength in numbers" that groups need to
utilize to be more effective. Many suggestions regarding ways that the
NHLBI could help the PIOs focused on communication. The other recurring
theme was collaboration, both in the form of NHLBI support for activities
such as meetings and conferences
(see article on Conference Grants) and through
organizations' support of researchers. The NHLBI has already incorporated
many of the suggestions regarding the NHLBI Express
Web site and plans are under way for next year's meeting.
A summary of the 2001 meeting is available.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's
February Meeting
In his introductory remarks, Dr. Lenfant acknowledged the public members who
attended the public interest organization (PIO) meeting the previous day.
Council members who attended the PIO meeting noted that the
Institute had been responsive to the concerns, needs, and issues raised at the
2000 meeting. It was suggested that future meetings include opportunities for
the representatives to collaborate with "like" organizations, more break-out
sessions, and workshops on non-profit organizational issues.
Dr. Lenfant discussed a number of legislative developments including
funding for the NHLBI. The final NHLBI appropriation for fiscal year (FY)
2001 was $2,299 million, 13.6% more than the amount for FY 2000. Another item
of interest was the Public Health Improvement Act, which requires the
Secretary, DHHS, to make recommendations for placing and maintaining
automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in federal buildings. Dr. Lenfant
provided copies of a newspaper article about a woman whose life was saved by
an AED after she went into cardiac arrest while attending an inaugural gala in
Washington, DC. Washington is one of 25 cities participating in a
study to evaluate the feasibility of placing defibrillators in
public places to
improve emergency treatment for victims of cardiac arrest.
Dr. Carl Roth, NHLBI, presented data relevant to the NIH Revitalization
Act of 1993 and its mandates that women and minorities be included in all
clinical studies conducted by the NIH. He also described a proposal to
capitalize on the rich, multidisciplinary research environments of Program
Project Grants and Specialized Centers of Research by allowing applicants
for these programs to apply for an additional $100,000 to enhance the skills of new
investigators in areas related to the NHLBI's mission. The NHLBAC
endorsed the concept but questioned whether $100,000 would be enough.
After briefly describing a newly authorized loan repayment program that allows
scientists to work in research environments in exchange for partial repayment
of their educational loans, Dr. Lenfant described a legislatively mandated
increase in the salary cap for
FY 2001 grants and cooperative agreements. The cap of $143,100 was raised
to $157,000 for the first quarter of FY 2001, which began October 1, 2000; as
of January 1, 2001, the cap was increased to $161,200.
In its closed session, the Council awarded 187 grants for a total cost
of $73,469,214.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff thanks Ms. Paula Polite, member of the
NHLBAC and President of the Sarcoidosis Research Institute, for her
efforts in preparing this summary.
Full minutes of Council meetings are available.
NHLBI Public Outreach Activities Acknowledged by
NIH Community
On March 5, 2001, NIH Acting Director Dr. Ruth Kirschstein
honored the FYI from the NHLBI, the NHLBI Express,
the NHLBI's Cardiology Unit Patient Information page,
and other winners of the first annual NIH Plain Language Awards.
The awards are one way the NIH is encouraging its staff to implement
the federal Plain Language Initiative to make all communication
with the public "more responsive, accessible and understandable."
The NHLBI's Cardiology Unit Patient Information page, highlighted in
December's issue of the FYI from the NHLBI,
received a "superior plain language product" award; both
the FYI from the NHLBI and the NHLBI Express received honorable
mentions as examples of how plain language can be
used to reach a critical part of the Institute's constituency.
May is High Blood Pressure Education Month
Being physically active is one of the most important steps
you can take to prevent or control high blood pressure, but it
doesn't have to mean sweating, puffing, and panting. And, finding
time to "exercise" may be easier than you thought. Activities you
already do, such as gardening, spring cleaning and painting, mowing
the lawn, raking leaves, playing with young children,
and walking, can improve your heart health. All you need are 30 minutes
on most, and preferably all, days of the week. You even can divide
it up as long as you do at least 10 minutes at any one time. For more
information on high blood pressure and moderate activities to
help you control it, visit the NHLBI's high blood
pressure education program Web site.
Upcoming Events
American Thoracic Society
International Conference
Dates: 5/18/01 - 5/23/01
Location: San Francisco, CA.
Details:
Program covers the latest
information in clinical, basic, and behavioral sciences
regarding respiratory disease and public health education.
Advances in Cholesterol Management: Putting the New
National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines into Practice
Dates: 6/3/01 - 6/5/01
Location: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008.
Details: Participants will learn about the new National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP) guidelines in the Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection,
Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults
(Adult Treatment Panel III, or ATP III), their scientific evidence base, and methods for overcoming
barriers to applying the recommendations in clinical practice.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
Date and Time: 6/14/01; 8:30am - 2:00pm
Location: NIH Main Campus, Building 31C, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD.
Details: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council Meeting is
open to the public.
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation Annual Patient and Family Conference
Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01
Location: St. Louis, MO.
Topic: "The Status of Research and Treatment of Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes."
1st National CDC Prevention Conference
on Heart Disease and Stroke
Dates: 8/21/01 - 8/24/01
Location: Atlanta, GA.
Topic: "Building and Expanding Comprehensive State-Based Cardiovascular Health Programs."
30th Annual Scientific Meeting - International
Society of Experimental Hematology
Dates: 8/25/01 - 8/28/01
Location: Tokyo, Japan.
Details: ISEH 2001
is designed to present the latest basic and translational research findings
related to experimental hematology.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
Date and Time: 9/6/01; 8:30am - 2:00pm
Location: NIH Main Campus, Building 31C, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD.
Details: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council Meeting is
open to the public.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
Date and Time: 10/18/01; 8:30am - 2:00pm
Location: NIH Main Campus, Building 31C, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD.
Details: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council Meeting is
open to the public.
Please send us your feedback, comments, and questions by using the appropriate link on the page, Contact the NHLBI.
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