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Summary of the NIH International Representatives MeetingSeptember 10, 2008
Dr. James Herrington, Director, Division of International Relations (DIR), NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC), welcomed the NIH IC representatives to the NIH Stone House. He noted that today’s meeting would have a major focus on sub-Sahara Africa and its research needs and promise. He welcomed back NLM’s Julia Royall to the IC Reps after she spent the last year in Uganda as a Fulbright scholar. He also noted that FIC’s Kevin Bialy had just returned from over four months in CDC’s “International Experience in Technical Assistance” (IETA) program with service in Nigeria. NIH-hosted Conference on Africa: Dr. Herrington introduced Dr. Rachel Sturke from FIC’s Division of International Science Policy, Planning and Evaluation, who provided the background and overview on NIH research investments in Africa and a NIH-proposed meeting related thereto, sponsored by FIC and Dr. Elias Zerhouni. Dr. Sturke noted that approximately 12 percent of NIH foreign research dollars were spent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in 2004/05. She also noted that less than two-dozen SSA foreign scientists out of more than 3,000 foreign scientists are currently being trained at NIH. With this in mind, FIC, together with Dr. Zerhouni, will be hosting a small meeting on November 5, at the NIH Stone House, to discuss key challenges and opportunities related to scientific research in SSA. The purpose of the meeting is to identify opportunities than can stimulate and strengthen the scientific research presence in SSA. The meeting will seek to explore synergies between NIH and current SSA biomedical initiatives and what the role will be in improving the SSA research environment. It will also include a focus on exploring the role of SSA “Diaspora” scientists in facilitating and strengthening research collaborations with scientists in the SSA. The meeting will include 4-5 experts from around SSA, together with 20 experts from Africa who live and work in the United States, and approximately 35 NIH participants, including IC directors as well as 5-10 observers from CDC, USAID, the Wellcome Trust and other organizations. FIC Deputy Director, Dr. Michael P. Johnson, underscored that the meeting in question will also help inform and advise Dr. Zerhouni as he prepares for his participation in the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health being held in Bamako, Mali, in mid-November 2008 (see http://www.bamako2008.org/). The proposed agenda for the meeting is attached. Moreover, further information on it can be obtained from Dr. Sturke. Biomedical Research Needs in Africa: Dr. Herrington next introduced Dr. Doyin Oluwole, who serves as Director for Africa’s Health in 2010 at the Academy for Educational Development. Dr. Oluwole, a pediatrician by training, has 30 years as a public health practitioner in Africa. She focused her presentation on how SSA has benefited from north-south (developed and developing country) research cooperation in the past, but now needs to expand such cooperation in both South-North and South-South contexts. She noted that current issues involved in biomedical research conducted in SSA countries include: informed consent; standards of care; ethical reviews, appropriate legislative controls; research capacity building/technology transfer; appropriate allocation of resources (10/90 gap); and translating results into practice (TRIP). Dr. Oluwole then provided an overview on the pathway from research to the institutionalization of evidence-based practice in which biomedical and behavioral research produces dissemination of findings, which leads to the development of policies and interventions and the testing of interventions. She then highlighted several examples of SSA research needs related to malaria, tuberculosis, tobacco, family planning, HIV, nutrition and a range of neglected tropical diseases. In summary, Dr. Oluwole noted that in order to maximize benefits of research for SSA, intellectual solidarity between North-South institutions and professional associations need to be encouraged as well as capacity strengthening for research among younger generation SSA scientists. She stressed that increased funding for research is needed to reduce the 10/90 gap, by tapping into GFATM, PMI, Gates, the World Bank, USAID, Foundations and private sector resources. Dr. Oluwole’s PowerPoint presentation is attached. U.S. Department of State Embassy Science Fellows Program: Dr. Herrington introduced Ms. Eileen Kane from the Department of State’s Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, who provided an overview of the State Department’s Embassy Science Fellows Program. The Embassy Science Fellows Program offers U.S Embassies an opportunity to host a working scientist for a one to three month stay. Begun in 2001 as a State Department - National Science Foundation (NSF) partnership, the Embassy Science Fellows Program places USG scientists at posts to provide expertise, advice and assistance with science and technology-related issues. NIH, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Oceanic and Atmospherics Agency (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) have since become participating agencies, thus enlarging the available pool of scientific talent. Specific assignments are developed in consultation with parent agency, the Fellow, the Post, OES, and State’s regional bureau. The Fellow’s agency pays salary, non-lodging per diem and international travel costs, while posts must provide housing, office space, computer, email/internet access and local travel costs from their own resources. Ms. Kane noted that most USG agencies choose to send Fellows to countries not already covered by traditional S&T agreements. As a result, the fellows often provide important first impressions as to new institutional linkages with counterpart entities, which could assist USG agencies in fulfilling their research and development responsibilities. Their keen observations bring insight, which enable science-based approaches to be applied to US foreign policy objectives. The program builds upon the complementary strengths and needs of the partner organizations. The Embassy Science Fellows Program meets the objectives of all partner agencies in allowing posts to acquire high-level scientific advisory capacity to address S&T issues important to their missions, while simultaneously providing agency staff an opportunity for valuable international experience, training and networking. Further information on the program can be obtained from Ms. Kane (phone 202-663-2393 or kaneeh@state.gov).
Next Meeting: Set for Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the NIH Stone House. Attendance: Archives of Past IC Reps Meetings
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