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FYI from the NHLBI Index
May 2009: Vol. 10, Issue 1
Summaries of Meetings
and Announcements of Upcoming Events
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's February Meeting
Upcoming NHLBI Workshops and Working Groups
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council's February Meeting
February 10, 2009
Dr. Nabel welcomed members to the 233rd meeting. She announced two changes in NIH leadership: Dr. Raynard S. Kington was named Acting Director of the NIH on October 31, 2008, following the departure of Dr. Elias Zerhouni, and Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, is now also serving as Acting Deputy Director, NIH.
Dr. Nabel announced two changes in the NHLBI leadership: Dr. Keith Hoots joined the Institute in January as the Director of the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources. He was previously Professor of Pediatrics and Division Head of Pediatric Hematology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Section Head of Pediatric Hematology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Medical Director of the Gulf State Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Treatment Center. Additionally, Ms. Sally McDonough accepted the position of Director of the new NHLBI Office of Communications and Legislative Activities. She recently served as Director of Communications and Press Secretary to former First Lady Laura Bush.
Dr. Nabel announced that the NIH is operating on a Continuing Resolution through March 6, 2009. She reviewed the FY 2009 NHLBI budget and issues regarding the funding of competing and noncompeting research project grants during tight budgetary times. Dr. Nabel also discussed aspects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that would affect the NIH.
Dr. Nabel discussed the NIH policy for New and Early Stage Investigators and how recent data indicate that the Institute is successfully supporting New and Early Stage Investigators.
Dr. Salim Yusuf, Director of Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Canada, shared his insights on global health and chronic diseases. He addressed the future of epidemiologic investigation in cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Michael Lauer, Director of the Division of Prevention and Population Sciences, NHLBI, discussed the NIH role in comparative effectiveness research (CER), which is defined as a rigorous evaluation of the impact of different options that are available for treating a given medical condition for a particular set of patients. CER is prominent in the current national political debate, as policy makers recognize the serious implications of rapidly rising health care costs and the fact that higher costs do not always lead to better health outcomes.
Dr. Stephen Mockrin, Director of the Division of Extramural Research Activities, NHLBI, discussed progress in implementing the recommended actions resulting from the recent NIH-led study of the NIH peer review system. He summarized the status of key recommendations in each of four priority areas: engaging the best reviewers, improving the quality and transparency of review, ensuring balanced and fair reviews across scientific fields and career stages, and continuing review of peer review.
Ms. Victoria Pemberton, Clinical Trials Specialist in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases (DCVD), NHLBI, demonstrated a new NHLBI web site entitled Children and Clinical Studies that offers facts and insights to help families make informed decisions about whether to enroll their children in clinical studies.
Dr. Gail Pearson, Medical Officer in DCVD, NHLBI, announced that the main 10-minute video featured on the Institute’s web site has earned three Telly awards, including a silver (the highest award) in education, which she presented to Dr. Nabel. The prestigious awards honor outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs; film and video productions; and web ads, videos, and films.
Dr. Carl Roth, Associate Director for Scientific Program Operation, NHLBI, presented the Institute's biennial report on its procedures for, and results of, implementing the NIH policy for inclusion of women and minorities in clinical studies. The biennial report is mandated by the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993. The NHLBAC found the Institute to be in compliance with the requirements of the Act.
Dr. Mockrin presented the Annual Review of Delegated Authorities from the NHLBAC report. Delegated authorities allow NHLBI staff to perform specific functions without Council involvement, thereby adding flexibility and decreasing the burden on the Council. In FY 2008, the Institute undertook 74 actions using its delegated authorities. The Council accepted the report.
Full minutes of Council meetings and summaries of the initiatives are available.
Upcoming NHLBI Workshops and Working Groups
PIO representatives will be accommodated on a space-available basis and will be responsible for their own travel expenses.
NHLBI Workshop COPD 2009: Assessment of the Current State-of-the-Art for Basic and Clinical Research
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Date: June 29-30, 2009
Contact: Dr. Antonello Punturieri
Clinical Research in the Critically Ill Patient: Beyond Mortality
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Date: August 5-6, 2009
Contact: Dr. Andrea Harabin
Upcoming 2009 Events
NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health Moving Into the Future: New Dimensions and Strategies for Women’s Health Research
Date: May 27-29
Location: San Francisco, CA
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia 8th HHT Scientific Meeting
Date: May 27-31
Location: Santander, Spain
Alpha-1 Association 18th Annual National Education Conference
Date: June 5-7
Location: San Francisco, CA
Mended Hearts 2009 Annual Convention
Date: June 6-10
Location: Orlando, FL
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council 234th Meeting
Date: June 10
Location: Bethesda, MD
It’s My Heart National CHD Family Conference
Date: June 26-28
Location: Houston, TX
Platelet Disorder Support Association 2009 ITP Conference
Date: June 26-28
Location: Orlando, FL
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc. Patient & Family Conference
Date: July 10-12
Location: Indianapolis, IN
American Association for Respiratory Care AARC Summer Meetings
Date: July 16-20
Location: Marco Island, FL
Scleroderma Foundation National Patient Education Conference
Date: July 17-19
Location: St. Louis, MO
Children's Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) Foundation 2009 chILD Conference
Date: August 1-2
Location: Denver, CO
Histiocytosis Association of America National Conference on Histiocytic Disorders: Patient and Family Meeting
Date: August 1-2
Location: Milwaukee, WI
CFC International 2009 International Conference
Date: August 2-4
Location: Berkeley, CA
Noonan Syndrome Support Group, Inc. 2009 International Conference
Date: August 2-4
Location: Berkeley, CA
National Marfan Foundation 25th Annual Conference on Marfan Syndrome and Related Disorders
Date: August 6-9
Location: Rochester, MN
Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Inc. Annual Family Meeting
Date: August 7-11
Location: Casco, ME
Pulmonary Hypertension Association 2009 PH Resource Network Symposium
Date: September 24-26
Location: Arlington, VA
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. 37th Annual Convention
Date: September 30 - October 3
Location: Orlando, FL
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) 2009 Annual Meeting & Medical Education Conference
Date: October 9-11
Location: Chicago, IL
Narcolepsy Network 24th Annual Patient Conference
Date: October 23-25
Location: Jacksonville, FL
American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009
Date: November 14-18
Location: Orlando, FL
Please send us your feedback, comments, and questions by using the appropriate link on the page, Contact the NHLBI.
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