Freedom of Information Act Office
IC Directors' Meeting Highlights
April 24, 2006
| To: | IC Directors |
| From: | Director, Executive Secretariat |
| Subject: | IC Directors Meeting Highlights—December 8, 2005 |
Discussion Items
I. Disease Control Priorities Project: An Update
Dr. Hrynkow updated the group on the DCPP, an alliance of organizations (the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and NIH’s NLM and FIC), with major funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The DCPP brought together leading economists, scientists, and health professionals to develop an evidence base to inform health decision-making in low-income countries and identified strategies to communicate findings to those decision makers.
She then introduced Dr. Dean T. Jamison, DCPP senior editor, and discussed the Projects Working Paper Series and Reprint Series as well as the forthcoming Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, second edition (DCP-2) due out in 2006. The first edition of this compendium was published in 1993 under the auspices of the World Bank. In 2001, FIC mobilized the partners for this DCPP effort (see http://www.fic.nih.gov/dcpp ), and in 2002 FIC was awarded the first of three grants in support of the effort, complemented by FIC’s support for the editors. In 2002, DCPP asked approximately 600 public health and policy experts (specifically seeking authors from developing countries) to research and write about burden of disease and cost-effective interventions. Since that time, the DCPP has convened over two dozen technical consultations and in 2005 began disseminating main messages and findings. Authors include scientists, epidemiologists, health economists, academicians, and public health practitioners from over 100 countries.
After noting the DCPP’s collaboration with the Center for Global Development on its publication of Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health (10/30/2004) (see http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/millionssaved ), Dr. Hrynkow then summarized several DCPP main messages and noted that DCPP products are scheduled to be unveiled at an meeting in Beijing in early April 2006.
Scientific Presentation
II. Progress in the Battle against the “Big Bad Wolf”
Dr. Katz provided background on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a multisystem disease that manifests in numerous symptoms and syndromes. All types express autoimmunity against particles of self DNA that develops from genetic and/or environmental factors.
He began by summarizing research that indicates that defects in the ability to clear out dying cells may promote the susceptibility to SLE and more recent research into how DNA interacts with the innate immune systems. He then discussed growing evidence that EBV may play a role in SLE and moved on to discuss major advances by Betty Diamond and Bruce Volpe related to neuropsychiatric lupus.
Dr. Katz noted recent research directions and advances and pointed to findings related to lupus signature genes and the genetics of complex diseases such as SLE. He concluded by mentioning progress in treatment of SLE, including work by Ginzler, et al. (published in the NEJM, November 24, 2005) showing that mycophenolate mofetil was more effective than intravenous cyclophosphamide in inducing remission of lupus nephritis and had a more favorable safety profile.
Dale Johnson
cc: OD Senior Staff
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