The NIH Director
Statement by NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., on opportunities for advancing LGBT health research
January 4, 2013
In March 2011, the Institute of Medicine issued its report of the NIH commissioned
study on The
Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation
for Better Understanding
. At
that time, I asked the NIH institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs) to form
the NIH LGBT Research Coordinating Committee (RCC). I charged this committee
to consider carefully the report's recommendations and to suggest strategies
for how the ICOs can support research to increase the knowledge base for promoting
the health of the LGBT community. I am pleased to say that the RCC has fulfilled
their charge. I thank them for their thoughtful analysis of the NIH portfolio
on LGBT research and for identifying several important opportunities for promoting
research and knowledge in LGBT health. The NIH is now developing a multi-pronged
plan to implement a number of these opportunities to extend and advance the
knowledge base for promoting LGBT health. Key elements of this plan can be
found in the Plans for Advancing LGBT Health Research document under More Information.
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health
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