Freedom of Information Act Office
IC Directors' Meeting Highlights
March 29, 2002
| To: | IC Directors |
| From: | Director, Executive Secretariat |
| Subject: | IC Directors Meeting Highlights—March 21, 2002 |
I. 2002 NIH Budget Retreat
After a brief discussion, the group agreed to hold the 2002 NIH Budget Retreat on Saturday, June 1.
II. Information Items
Dr. Kirschstein mentioned that five members of the ACD will be retiring this spring. With the expectation that a permanent NIH Director will be appointed in the next few months, she hopes to have a new slate ready to present. Dr. Kirschstein asked IC Directors to e-mail her their suggestions for nominees to replace the retiring members.
Dr. Kirschstein anticipates questions on stems cells and cloning at the Senate Appropriations Hearing later today, and the group discussed potential questions and answers. She noted that during the Bench to Bedside panel at the House hearing, it was clear that Mr. Regula's definition of translational research was not the same as NIH's. He wanted to know how NIH gets information about new therapies out to patients. This question may be asked again in one of the two remaining House hearings next month, and the group discussed how to handle this topic.
Dr. Baldwin reported that the indirect costs issue associated with embryonic stem cells has been resolved. She has written UCSF to clarify that the receipt of Federal funds for authorized purposes does not preclude an institution from conducting human embryonic stem cell research that would not be allowed with Federal funds provided that the unallowable work is paid for exclusively with non-Federal funds and the institution complies strictly with cost accounting principles governing all institutions that perform federally sponsored work. Two OMB Circulars, A-21 and A-122, address this issue and explain the requirements. This decision is very significant for universities.
Dr. Gallin reported that the Iowa state Senate has passed a bill outlawing any kind of cloning in the state; the Iowa House of Representatives is expected to pass the bill as well, and the governor is expected to sign it.
Dr. Gallin also mentioned that during the last two months the CC census has recovered from the September 11 downturn and for January and February 2002 exceeds the census for comparable months in 2001.
Karen Pelham O'Steen
cc: OD Staff
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