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FYI from the NHLBI Index
September 2003: Vol. 4, Issue 2
Summaries of Meetings
and Announcements of Upcoming Events
September is National Cholesterol Education Month
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council’s May Meeting
September is National Cholesterol Education Month
Visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov to learn how to reduce your risk of heart disease.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council May Meeting
On May 29, 2003, Dr. Lenfant welcomed members to the 210th meeting of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC). He presented awards to Drs. Sidney Smith and Aram Chobanian, who have worked closely with the NHLBI. Dr. Smith, Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine at the University of North Carolina, received an award for his service to the NHLBI during his tenure as the Vice President for Science of the American Heart Association. Dr. Chobanian, Dean and Provost of the Medical Campus at the Boston University of Medicine, was acknowledged for his role in developing the 7th Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
In a presentation to the Council, Dr. Chobanian described aspects of the report including data from recent clinical trials, new and simplified classifications of blood pressure, and concise guidelines for all clinicians. The Council discussed how to increase patient adherence to treatment regimens and the development public health interventions to reduce the prevalence of hypertension.
Dr. Carl Roth, NHLBI Associate Director for Scientific Program Operation, discussed the NIH requirement that grant applicants obtain approval before submitting applications for more than $500,000 in direct costs for any budget period. Data presented by Dr. Roth showed that the NHLBI has accepted more than 80 percent of requests each year for the past three years. The number of grant applications in excess of $500,000 submitted to the Institute has not decreased since the requirement was initiated.
Dr. Gregory Morosco, Director of the NHLBI Office of Prevention, Education, and Control, presented an overview of the Institute's outreach programs. Council members also heard presentations on:
- The Heart Truth, a campaign to raise the level of awareness among women about the dangers of heart disease and the risk factors leading to its development.
- Hearts N' Parks, a program to reduce obesity and risk of coronary heart disease.
- Salud para su Corazón, an initiative to train health educators in Latino communities.
- Healthy Hearts in Housing, a project to develop a cardiovascular health program in Baltimore's public housing communities.
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Council members who had attended the recent meeting of the NHLBI Board of Extramural Advisors described some of the topics that were presented at the meeting. They included the need for physician scientists to continue medical research and the issue of patient privacy rights associated with biological samples.
Seventeen initiatives were presented and reviewed by the Council. While Council members supported all of them, they had several specific recommendations. NHLBI leadership will take these recommendations into consideration, along with other issues, when determining which programs will be implemented.
During the closed portion of the meeting, the Council concurred on the award of 426 grants for a total cost of $198,757,000.
The fall 2003 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) meetings are scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on September 4 and October 30. They are open to the public and will be in NIH Building 31C, Conference Room 10.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff thanks Ms. Sue Byrnes, member of the NHLBAC and Director of the LAM Foundation, for her efforts in preparing this summary. Full minutes of Council meetings are available.
Upcoming 2003 Events
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Dates: SeptemberDetails: Because September is "back to school" month, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America wants you to reflect on the children and adults whose education has been affected by sickle cell disease.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
Dates: September 4, October 30Location: NIH Campus, Building 31C, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD
Details: Meetings are open to the public.
Lupus Today Conference
Dates: September 5Location: Washington, DC
Details: Panels of researchers and patients will explain what recent advances represent for current and future management of lupus.
Cardiac Arrhythmias Research and Education (CARE) Foundation Patient Empowerment Program
Dates: September 13Location: Rochester, NY
Details: Patients who have inherited heart rhythm disorders are encouraged to attend with their doctors, school nurses, athletic coaches, and friends so they can become better informed about cardiac arrhythmias such as long QT syndrome.
Living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Seminar
Dates: September 20Location: Durham, NC
Details: The seminar will address IPF diagnosis, current standards of care, emerging research, lung transplantation, life management issues and support resources available to IPF patients and families.
National Histiocytic Disorders Symposium
Dates: September 21Location: Philadelphia, PA
Details: Participants will learn about histiocytosis research and treatments and will meet other families that have been affected by histiocytic disorders.
31st Annual Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Convention
Dates: September 24 - 27Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Details: Patients, health care providers, educators, advocates, and community-based organizations are welcome at this conference on "Empowerment Through Education and Advocacy."
11th Annual Conference on Sarcoidosis
Dates: September 26 - 27Location: Seattle, WA
Details: Patients will meet with doctors, researchers, counselors, and others who are interested in and affected by sarcoidosis. For more information, email the conference coordinator.
Adult Congenital Heart Association Northern California Regional Conference
Dates: October 11Location: Mountain View, CA
Details: Adults with congenital heart defects and their families will learn about advances and resources to help people who are living with congenital heart disease.
2003 National Conference of the Narcolepsy Network
Dates: October 12 - 14Location: Atlanta, GA
Details: Titled "Fragmented Sleep - Fragmented Lives," the conference will a ddress how families cope with sleep disorders, medications that may help people who have narcolepsy, and advances in understanding sleep and sleep disturbances.
11th Annual Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Conference
Dates: October 17 - 18Location: Dallas, TX
Details: Patients and their families will attend lectures on HHT, learn about research advances in the understanding of HHT and in treatments for patients who have HTT, and have questions answered by health care professionals.
American College of Chest Physicians - CHEST 2003
Dates: October 25 - 30Location: Orlando, FL
Details: The annual conference for physicians and allied health professionals provides an update of pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, pediatric chest medicine, thoracic surgery, and cardiovascular medicine.
55th Annual National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) Conference
Dates: November 6 - 8Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Details: Patients of all ages and their families will learn about information resources for patients and their doctors, the latest in treatment advances, and the NHF advocacy program.
Indiana Sarcoidosis Conference
Dates: November 7 - 8Location: Indianapolis, IN
Details: The conference theme is "Reaching New Heights of Sarcoidosis Awareness."
American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions
Dates: November 9 - 11Location: Orlando, FL
Details: This annual meeting is the world' s largest convention for scientists and healthcare professionals devoted to the science of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Conference
Dates: November 14 - 15Location: Arlington, VA
Details: COPD and respiratory specialists, representatives from federal health agencies, public health experts, and others will confront the growing problem of COPD at this conference organized by the U.S. COPD Coalition.
Please send us your feedback, comments, and questions by using the appropriate link on the page, Contact the NHLBI.
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