FYI from the NHLBI Index
December 2000: Vol. 1, Issue 3 Summaries of Meetings
and Announcements of Upcoming Events
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's Fall Meetings
- September 8, 2000
- October 19, 2000
NHLBI to Hold Second Annual Public Interest Organization Meeting
February is American Heart Month
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's Fall Meetings
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) meets four times a year in Bethesda, MD. Full
minutes of Council meetings are available online. The Council's
next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2001, at 8:30 AM. It is open to the public and will be held at
the NIH in Building 31C, Conference Room 10.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff thanks Mrs. Judith Simpson, member of the
NHLBAC and Vice President, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, for her efforts in preparing this article.
September 8, 2000 Meeting
Following preliminary remarks by Dr. Claude Lenfant, Director of the NHLBI,
the Council engaged in a discussion of patient safety during clinical trials. It is of paramount
importance to the NIH that investigators conducting studies with human subjects ensure patient safety. Dr.
Amy Patterson, Director of the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities, described the oversight of
NIH-funded gene therapy trials. Dr. Sonia Skarlatos, NHLBI, described the roles of data and safety
monitoring boards. A discussion ensued about patient education and informed consent. It is hoped that
recommendations for improvements in ensuring patient safety will emerge from a NIH patient safety
symposium and a cardiovascular safety symposium to be held this winter.
Dr. Susan Old, NHLBI, presented information on the NIH Biomedical Information Science and Technology
Initiative and Consortium. Simply put, the data deluge has created informatic and computational
challenges in areas including surgery, clinical practice, medical genetics, clinical trials, drug
development, and cell biology.
Dr. Carl Roth, NHLBI, presented information about the increase in
the average cost of research grants. Dr. Lenfant noted that the primary
concern is that as big dollar grants grow, the amount of funding for investigators
with innovative research projects will decrease. On the other hand, genomics research
and other new research areas that require big-ticket grants will change the way medicine
is practiced. The Council began discussing possible ways of achieving a balance in
funding to ensure continuation of both types of projects.
The Council awarded 115 grants for a total cost of $72,730,466.
October 19, 2000 Meeting
In his opening statement, Dr. Lenfant acknowledged and thanked five Council members whose
terms are expiring and announced the appointment of five new members.
Dr. Teri Manolio, NHLBI, reported on the activities pertaining to NHLBI training programs. Discussion
focused on training in new disciplines to improve clinical and behavioral research, developing
multidisciplinary programs to bridge areas of expertise, encouraging future research training programs
and mentorships, and involving students early (for example, at the elementary school level) in exciting,
interesting science. With rapidly emerging developments, it is the goal of the NHLBI to match research
needs with appropriate training opportunities.
Dr. Robert Balaban, NHLBI, described how noninvasive imaging technologies have moved rapidly into
clinical applications. Dr. George Sopko, NHLBI, discussed the surgical treatment of ischemic heart
failure. Investigators are asking if the NHLBI, with cooperation and support from the Health Care
Financing Administration, would be willing to receive a grant application to study the effectiveness of
surgical anterior ventricle restoration (SAVR) in treating ischemic heart failure. SAVR, which has been
performed for years in locations scattered throughout the country, reshapes the diseased heart from a
watermelon shape to its original football shape. The Council recommended that the Institute agree to
review the application.
Thirteen concepts for future NHLBI scientific initiatives were reviewed and supported by the Council.
The recompetition for the ten Comprehensive Sickle Cell Centers that the NHLBI is required by law to support
also was discussed. The Council concurred on the award of 152 grants for a total cost of $59,558,494.
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On January 31, 2001, the NHLBI will bring together representatives from 70 public interest organizations,
members of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC), and senior Institute
staff to discuss how the organizations and the Institute can better support research, get the
message out, and promote high quality clinical studies. As it did for last year's meeting, the
Institute is supporting travel for one representative selected by each invited organization.
Many of the representatives also are planning to attend the NHLBAC meeting the following day. The
Council, which is composed of a diverse mix of scientific and public leaders, plays an essential role
in establishing and implementing NHLBI objectives. They have been strong proponents of all of the
Institute's public liaison activities, including the FYI from the NHLBI and the
NHLBI Express that arose from last year's meeting.
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On December 20, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson approved a joint congressional
resolution to designate February as American Heart Month. Since
the tradition began, our nation has made enormous progress in its
fight against heart disease. Scientists have identified risk
factors (e.g., smoking, high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity) and
treatments to prevent and treat heart disease. The death rate
from coronary heart disease has fallen dramatically in the
United States, with a nearly 60-percent reduction since its
peak in the mid-1960s. However, heart disease remains a serious
health problem. More than 58 million Americans have one or more
types of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and each year nearly 1
million Americans die from CVD. Many of the factors that
increase a person's risk of CVD are at least partially
controllable. Please, do your part and take care of your heart.
Ask your physician to help you determine the best strategy for
reducing your risk for heart disease. And help us spread the
word by circulating the FYI
from the NHLBI to people who might be interested.
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