International Highlights

Summary of NIH International Highlights

March – May 2002

Program Developments

 Fogarty International Center

U.S.-China

Dr. Keusch represented NIH in the U.S.-China Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology held in Beijing April 25-26, 2002.  The JCM was co-chaired on the U.S. side by Dr. John Marburger, Science Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and on the Chinese side by his counterpart, Minister Xu Guanhua, Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.  Dr. Keusch co-chaired the session on Life and Health Sciences Cooperation with Professor Chen Zhu, Vice President for the Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.  Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation, also participated in this discussion.  Both sides agreed to explore a range of multi-disciplinary topics as priorities for future joint efforts.

Pierce Gardner attended the 10th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Singapore March 11-15, where he chaired a FIC sponsored seminar:"The Global Extension of Care for Persons with HIV/AIDS.

  Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

At the request of the Office of the Secretary, NIH assisted the Global Fund in establishing the terms of reference and operating procedures for the Technical Review Panel (TRP) to ensure that application proposals submitted for possible funding are reviewed appropriately.  Secretary Thompson serves as the U.S. representative to the Board.  In late March, FIC/DIR organized an intra-NIH meeting to develop a strategy for providing further NIH assistance in the review process.  As part of  this strategy, NIAID’s

Dr. Hortensia Hornbeak traveled to Geneva to help the TRP organize and carry out its first round of grant reviews on March 25-April 5.  Over 200 applications were reviewed in this first round, and TRP recommendations on those were submitted to the Fund’s Board, which met in New York City on April 22-24.  The Board approved for funding most of the applications, based on the TRP’s recommendations.  A second call for proposals is expected within the next few months.

Dr. Gerald Keusch and Ms. Nalini Anand, DASPA, participated in the conference "Crises of Neglected Diseases" sponsored by Doctors Without Borders and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Working Group in New York City, March 12-14.  Dr. Keusch gave a presentation on NIH activities in the field of neglected diseases as well as issues to consider. 

  Dr. Keusch attended a meeting of the Center for Management of Intellectual Property in Health and R&D (MIHR) in London, England, May 7-9.  The meeting focused on how MIHR can best support efforts in intellectual property management in the developing world.

Dr. Keusch, Dr. Hrynkow and FIC staff met with Dr. Jim Sherry of UNAIDS during his visit to Washington, DC, in early April to share information on FIC programs on AIDS and TB and to consider areas for strengthened cooperation.

Dr. Pierce Gardner represented the FIC at the Forum on Emerging Infections sponsored by the Institute of Medicine April 16-17 and gave a presentation on "New Directions in Capacity Building."

  Humanitarian De-mining

On March 8, FIC Deputy Director, Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, hosted a seminar on humanitarian demining to learn about the scope of injuries due to landmines and of USG and NGO efforts to address this problem.  The discussion is part of an exploration at FIC to consider trauma, burns, and injuries in the developing world.  Guest speakers were

Mr. David Rabadan and Ms. Stacy Davis, Office of Mine Action Initiatives and Partnerships, Department of State; Dr. Robert Jaeger, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Department of Education; Mr. Robert Horvath, Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund; and Dr Michael Weinrich, Director, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, NICHD.

  Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM)

MIM staff are busy with the preparations for the MIM Pan-African Conference to be held in Arusha, Tanzania, November 18-22, 2002.  The deadline for submission of conference abstracts was May 12 and over 700 abstracts were received.  The Conference Theme Coordinators will meet May 21-22 in Arusha to review the abstracts, make selections for sponsorship, and finalize the conference program.  Dr. Andrea Egan and Dr. Martin Alilio, representing the MIM Secretariat, will attend this meeting and carry out a site visit of the conference center. 

Dr. Egan attended the annual meeting of the MIM/TDR task force to observe the review of the applications for MIM/TDR research grants, in March 11-15 in Kampala, Uganda; five new grant applications will be funded, plus two network grants.

Subsequent to Dr. Egan attending the meeting of the International Committee Members of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), December 2001 in Orlando, Florida, and presenting possibilities for collaboration, ASH agreed to co-organize and co-sponsor a workshop on hematological research techniques for developing country malariologists working on malarial anemia to be held at the next annual ASH meeting.

  UN Ad Hoc Committee Against Human Reproductive Cloning 

Mr. George Herrfurth, along with Dr. Lana Skirboll, represented NIH at an interagency meeting jointly convened by the State Department and HHS on March 14 to discuss the outcomes of the meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on an International Convention against the Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings.  Most countries that participated in the February 25-March 1 meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee did not have a formal position to offer on a French-German proposal that called for the development of an international convention to ban reproductive cloning of humans.  The U.S. position at the meeting pressed for a ban not only on human reproductive cloning but on therapeutic cloning as well.  No further meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee have yet been planned, and the UN General Assembly is scheduled to review the issue when it meets next Fall.

  European Medical Research Councils

Dr. Sharon Hrynkow represented NIH at the 44^th Meeting of European Medical Research Councils (EMRC) held in Strasbourg, France in late April.  She gave a presentation to the Standing Committee on NIH’s implementation strategy on stem cells.  Prior to the EMRC meeting, she met with officials at INSERM, the NIH equivalent in France, to discuss the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria and other issues of common concerns.

NSF/Europe:  On April 29, Dr. Hrynkow, Ms. Rojo, and Mr. Pineda met with the head of NSF’s Europe Office to exchange information and consider partnerships on activities involving NIH and NSF in Europe.

Russia and NIS:  Natalie Tomitch, Program Officer for Russia, the Newly Independent States and Central and Eastern Euope, represented NIH at an initial planning meeting convened by the DHHS Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA) to discuss preparations for the upcoming U.S.-Russia Health Committee meeting, scheduled to take place in Washington in late July.  Secretary Thompson will chair the meeting with Minister of Health Shevchenko.  FIC is working with ICs to provide input for the meeting agenda in an attempt to reinvigorate the long-standing relationship with Russia in health collaboration.

The Caribbean :  Seventy junior and senior researchers from ten Caribbean countries participated in the NIH-Caribbean Research Cooperation Workshop on HIV/AIDS held on April 3-5 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The meeting was organized by FIC, in partnership with the NIH OAR, NIMH, NIAID, NIDA, and NICHD.  The goal of the workshop was to provide a forum for discussion and the establishment of collaborative projects.  Several working groups focused on the development of collaborative pre-proposals, including a significant number of research and training cooperative activities in the areas of mother-to-child transmission, risk behaviors, behavioral interventions, stigma research, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS care and management research. 

The workshop also promoted the sharing of information related to opportunities for cooperation in international training and research and financial resources for HIV/AIDS available through various NIH Institutes and Centers, other Federal agencies such as the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Latin American and Caribbean Council of AIDS Services (LACASSO), the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFar), the Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, and the Community Network for Clinical Research on AIDS (CoNCRA).  The complete report of the workshop will be available at the FIC website. 

Brazil:   On April 22, the Minister of Science and Technology of Brazil, the Director of FIOCRUZ, the President of the Council for Research (CNPq), and the President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences held productive meetings at NIH with the leadership and staff of FIC, NIAID, OTT, NICHD, NIMH, NIGMS, and NCCAM

At FIC, discussions focused on Brazil’s intent to join the Pan American Fellowship Program (PAF), which will bring Brazilian post-docs to campus on a 50/50 co-funding basis.  The Minister announced the creation of a new fund for biomedical and health research targeted to enhance  cooperation between the several institutes and organizations that are part of, or supported by, the Brazilian Ministries of Health and Science and Technology, and to enhance research cooperation activities between Brazil and NIH.  In addition, FIC and counterparts agreed to finalize the Letter of Intent to highlight areas of potential future cooperation in infectious diseases; environmental health; genetics and genomics; and bioinformatics.  NIH was invited to send a team to Brazil this summer to explore areas of cooperation; FIC will raise this possibility with NIH partners.

Mexico:  On April 18, Minnie Rojo, Director of the Division of International Relations, and Luis Salicrup, Program Officer for the Americas, met with Dr. Efrain Aceves Pina, Director for International Cooperation, National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), to exchange ideas on enhancing NIH-Mexico collaboration.  Recent legislation in Mexico has elevated S&T issues, including the establishment of three new pools of funds, to foster scientific activities

  Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)-NIH Partnership

PAHO’s Office of Research Coordination has announced the new competition for the NIH-PAHO Pan American Fellowship (PAF) program.  The main goal of this program is to encourage cooperation in the biomedical and behavioral sciences between NIH scientists and the scientific community from the different countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region.  The program brings post-doctoral trainees, i.e., fellows, to NIH’s  intramural laboratories.  Deadline to apply is July 30, 2002.  For more information please contact Dr. Luis A. Salicrup, FIC Program Officer for the Americas at (301) 496-4784, or by e-mail at salicrul@mail.nih.gov

South Africa:  Ms. Judy Levin, Program Specialist for Africa and the Middle East, organized and participated in the visit to NIH of Ms. Carole Roberts, Director of the Office of International Affairs, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) on April 8.  Discussions were held with FIC, NHGRI, NIMH, NIDA, and NICHD to gather NIH input on the need for a formal national S&T policy and to exchange ideas on ways to more effectively engage the MRC in order to facilitate/ enhance research collaborations between NIH and South African scientists.  

Pakistan:  Mark Pineda, Program Officer for Western Europe and South Asia, represented FIC at a roundtable discussion with the S&T minister of Pakistan, sponsored by the State Department.  The roundtable provided an opportunity for representatives from U.S. agencies to hear the minister’s interests/plans for expanding S&T capacity in Pakistan and to consider possible areas for future collaborations.

  Medicine and the Media

The FIC hosted a consultation on "Developing A Model International Public Health Curriculum for Developing Country Journalists," May 2-3 in the Stone House.  The meeting participants considered a range of issues, including how training and research activities could relate; what the roles of physicians, scientists and journalists could be; and how scientific information could be pooled and made accessible to journalists.  On May 6, FIC hosted a consultation with deans of Schools of Medicine and Schools of Journalism, as well as reporters from North and South, to consider general issues of providing health information and research advances to the public in the developing world.  Mr. Michael McDowell, DASPA, served as the FIC lead for both consultations.  FIC will explore with NCI, NHLBI, OD, and other NIH partners approaches and potential program activities based on the discussions.

  Disease Control Priorities Program (DCPP)

Dr. Dean Jamison and co-editors Dr. Joel Breman of FIC and Dr. Tony Measham of the World Bank participated in the DCPP Consultation on Cardiovascular Disease in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 24 and in meetings of editors in Geneva on April 25-26 and in Annapolis, May 2-3.  Dr. Jamison gave a presentation to IC directors on DCPP in April and will meet with IC international representatives at their regularly scheduled meeting in May.

  Program Notes:

·        On April 18, FIC hosted a Network meeting of grantees and trainees of the International Training and Research Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Actions for Building Capacity in Support of ICIDR Programs.  The meeting was useful to exchange information on best practices among the PIs and trainees; to hear progress on individual projects; to allow FIC partner agencies opportunities to interact with the grantees; and to discuss administrative issues and concerns. 

          The following FIC programs are now in review:

-  International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA)   

-  International Collaborative Genetics Research Training Program

      (Partner ICs: NIMH, NIA, NIEHS, NIAAA, NINDS, NHGRI, NIDA)

      -  International Clinical, Operational, and Health Services Research

    and Training Award (ICOHRTA) II, Phase I

            (Partner ICs: NCI, NIAID, NICHD, NIMH, NINDS, NIAAA, NIDA, 

            OAR, OBSSR, ORWH)

-  International Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program

      (Partner ICs:  NCI, NICHD, NIMH, NINR, NIDA)

-  International Bioethics Education and Career Development Award

      (Partner ICs:  NIGMS, NIEHS, NCCAM, NIDCR)

      (Partner ICs: NEI, NINDS, NIA, NIEHS, NIMH, NHLBI, NIGMS, OAR, ODS,

      ORWH, OBSSR)

Grant Know-How

In preparation of the April 19 application deadline for the new Global Health Research Initiative Program (GRIP), the re-entry grant to provide research support to junior developing country scientists upon return to their home institutions, FIC cosponsored with NIGMS, OIR, and other NIH partners a grant-writing seminar in late March.  In April, FIC conducted a mock peer review session for developing country scientists.  Two NIH grantees spent the day with 20 participants to work through an unfunded application that was subsequently revised and funded.

  Dr. Aron Primack, Program Officer, Division of International Research and Training, gave presentations on "Training opportunities for Ethnic Minorities in the International Arena" at the Dr. Lonnie E. Mitchell National HBCU Substance Abuse Conference, Baltimore, MD, April 2, 2002; and "Funding Opportunities for Capacity Building in Cancer Research" at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in San Francisco, CA, April 9, 2002; and attended the Rockefeller Foundation meeting on "Globalizing the Response to Tobacco" on April 22, 2002 in New York.

  FIC Personnel Changes

Linda Kupfer, Ph.D., joined the Division of Advanced Studies and Policy Analysis (DASPA) on March 25.  She will be working on a number of issues, many of which will be related to evaluation and review of current FIC programs.  Her previous affiliation was with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where for the past 5 years she was director of the marine biotechnology program in the National Sea Grant Office.

Mr. Mark Pineda joined the Division of International Relations on April 7 as the new Senior Program Officer for Western Europe and South Asia.  Mark served most recently in NIAID’s Office of Science Policy.  He can be reached at 301 496-4784, or via e-mail at pinedam@mail.nih.gov.

Dean Jamison, Ph.D., recently joined the Division of Advanced Studies and Policy Analysis, where he will head the new Disease Control Priorities Project (DCPP) and work on other issues for the next two years.  Since 1988, he has been a professor at UCLA and most recently the Director of the Program on Global Health and Education.  During his career, he spent time at the World Bank as a senior economist in the research department, health project officer for China and The Gambia, and head of the divisions for education policy, and population, health and nutrition.  Dr. Jamison is the lead author for the Bank’s 1993 World Development Report: Investing in Health.  On partial leave from UCLA, he served as Director, Economics Advisory Service at the WHO in Geneva during 1998-2000.

National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute

THE AMERICAS: The “Pan American Hypertension Initiative” (PAHI), launched by NHLBI and PAHO has been endorsed by seven international scientific organizations.  This initiative is designed to develop collaboration between national programs in hypertension in the Americas.  PAHI will focus on the health problems of an estimated 140 million hypertensives in the region, emphasizing the need to prevent and control this condition, and its sequelae of heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, disability and premature deaths.  A joint blood pressure measurement standard has been developed with partners in the Americas, and tested by PAHO in its public health programs in Costa Rica.  A meeting with PAHO and country representatives was held in April 2001 at NIH to discuss further joint plans for implementing the PAHI initiative in the region.  A follow-up meeting in the Fall 2002 is being planned.

EUROPE: A joint position paper on “Women’s Health and Menopause: A Comprehensive Approach” has been developed in follow-up of the international conference held in Washington in May 2001 on “Women’s Health in Menopause: New Strategies for Improved Quality of Life.”  The document has been developed by NHLBI in collaboration with the Giovanni Lorenzini Foundation in Milan, Italy and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, and scientists from other NIH institutes.  The full report will be published by NHLBI in June or July 2002.  Chapter 13, Best Clinical Practices, was published in March 2002 and has been widely distributed in the United States as well as internationally.  Also, the national and international print and electronic media have called attention to the report, which is the first of its kind.  The document covers a number of areas related to the health of women, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and the role of hormone replacement therapy. 

ITALY: NHLBI co-sponsored a U.S.-Italy Joint Symposium of prominent U.S. and Italian scientists in March 2002 on Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches for Vascular Remodeling.  This is a cutting edge topic in international research, aimed at exploring new strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.  The meeting was held at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia, in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American College of Cardiology.  Topics of discussion included: an overview of vascular genetics, angiogenesis, genetic therapies, smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the pulmonary system, the regulation of macrophages, extracellular matrix, and drug metabolism in cardiovascular disorders.

POLAND:  A new Summary of Discussion has been signed between NHLBI and Jagellonian University School of Medicine, Krakow for cooperation in pulmonary research.

RUSSIA:  Exchanges of scientists in basic research in cardiovascular disease and in arrhythmia are continuing with visits of two Russian scientists to the U.S. in Fall 2002 .  One scientist will visit Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.  Another Russian scientist will work at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.

AFGHANISTAN:  The NHLBI has developed a proposal for training of Afghan health professionals in blood resources management and training.  This is part of a DHHS U.S.-Afghanistan initiative.

CHINA:  The Associate Director for International Programs, NHLBI, met with the Chinese Deputy Minister of Health to discuss joint interests in future collaboration in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in direct follow-up of the NHLBI’s 20-year collaboration with China in cardiopulmonary epidemiology.  The proposed new collaboration will focus on hypertension and obesity and the Institute has shared recent NHLBI reports with the Chinese Deputy Minister.

INDIA:  Collaboration between NHLBI Nobel Laureate Dr. Marshall Nirenberg and a scientist from India is continuing on drosophila neuronal cell lineage.

MULTINATIONAL 

The NHLBI and the World Hypertension League (WHL) Working Group on Hypertension  conducted a joint symposium on Hypertension and Obesity on April 10, 2002 in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the National Conference on Cardiovascular Health.  Seven resource experts presented current scientific information on obesity and hypertension in developed and developing countries, including China and Egypt.  The discussions focused on the physiology, prevention, detection and management of the two risk factors.  A Special Panel from the  Hypertension Working Group will present the Public Health/Population perspective.  In follow-up of the symposium, recommendations for a suggested WHL action plan to prevent and control hypertension and obesity are being developed.  The Director, NHLBI, is the President of the WHL, and the Vice President is from China.

  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

DHHS-Led Delegation Visits Africa

Dr. Yvonne Maddox, Acting Deputy Director, NIH, Deputy Director, NICHD, and Acting Associate Director for Prevention Research and International Programs, NICHD, was a member of the delegation that was led by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson during his first official visit to Africa, March 31 through April 6, 2002.  The delegation visit included stops in Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, and Côte D’Ivoire.  The purpose of the visit was to strengthen partnerships and continue dialogue on strategies to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which combined claim nearly 6 million lives a year.   Secretary Thompson led the delegation on tours of facilities offering prevention services, voluntary counseling and testing, care and treatment, and support services to persons with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.  Additionally, the group met with the respective Ministers of Health in each country to discuss the development of cross-cutting health partnerships and capacity building efforts to prevent and control these diseases, such as the development of disease surveillance systems.  The Secretary also discussed ways to strengthen and expand biomedical research and training efforts in those countries. While in South Africa, Secretary Thomson announced the appointment of F. Gray Handley as the Department’s first health attaché in Africa, based at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria. 

NICHD Solicitations Focus on Africa and Eastern Europe  

The Institute has received 39 applications in response to the Partnerships for HIV/AIDS Research in African Populations RFA (HD 02-003) for resource-related grants that are intended to enhance the infrastructure and capacity of African institutions and scientists to conduct behavioral and social science research related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment needs of women, children, and families in Africa.  This RFA, co-sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Fogarty International Center, was developed in response to the urgent research needs that were identified by the African scientific community at the March 2001 Botswana Consultation on “Exploring a Research Agenda to Improve the Care and Management of Mothers and Children Affected by HIV in Africa.”

The NICHD, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has reissued the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research RFA (HD 01-024).  This solicitation seeks to complement the existing Global Network with the addition of Research Units from Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States, and Africa.  The Global Network addresses research questions to help improve health, and to prevent premature disease and death among women and children, primarily in developing countries.  The efforts of the Global Network cooperative agreement awardees will continue to focus on safe pregnancy and birth outcomes, within the broader context of women's and young children's health.  Twenty applications have been received in response to this RFA.  

Both the “Partnerships in Africa” and “Global Network” RFA applications will be reviewed by June or July 2002 and meritorious grants will be considered for award at the September meeting of the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council.

  NIH-Caribbean Workshop on HIV/AIDS

Dr. Leslie Serchuck, Medical Officer, Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS (PAMA) Branch, Center for Research for Mothers and Children (CRMC), NICHD, represented the Institute at the NIH-Caribbean Workshop on HIV/AIDS that was held April 2 –5, 2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The workshop was organized by the Fogarty International Center in Coordination with the NIH Office of AIDS Research, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Pan American Health Organization.  The goals of this workshop were to provide an effective forum for discussion and the establishment of collaborative projects between Caribbean scientists and researchers from or supported by grants from the NIH.

Delegation of Russian Physicians and Health Administrators Visits NIH

Dr. Charlotte Catz, NICHD Clinical Research Coordinator, and Dr. Heather Watts, PAMA, CRMC, met with a delegation of 12 Russian physicians, community health care and hospital administrators on April 17, 2002.  The meeting at NIH was organized by the Fogarty International Center and included representatives of several ICs.  Among other topics, the group expressed an interest in NICHD-supported HIV/AIDS research, especially in the area of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

  Visit of the Brazilian Minister Science and Technology

On April 22, 2002, at a session at NIH that was organized by the Fogarty International Center, Dr. Florence Haseltine, Director, Center for Population Research, NICHD, and Dr. Heather Watts, Medical Officer, PAMA, CRMC, NICHD, had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg, Brazil’s Minister of Science and Technology, and with Dr. Paulo Buss, Head of FIOCRUZ (Fundacado Oswaldo Cruz).  The NICHD supports several research efforts  that involve Brazil and Brazilian investigators, including the Reproductive Sciences of the Americas Network and three major HIV/AIDS related initiatives.

  Seminar on Humanitarian De-mining  

Dr. Michael Weinrich, Director, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, NICHD, represented the Institute at the special seminar hosted by the Fogarty International Center on the topic of humanitarian de-mining, held on May 8, 2002.

  Global Forum for Health Research Proposal Review

Dr. Gilman Grave, Chief, Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Growth Branch, CRMC, NICHD, is a member of the Core Group that directs the activities of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) of the Global Forum for Health Research.   From April 16 to April 20, 2002, in Zurich, Switzerland, Dr. Grave participated in the review of applications received by the CHNRI in response to a Request for Proposals on nutrition research resources in developing countries.  He also participated in discussions regarding future initiatives for the CHNRI and recruitment of new members.

  Microbicides 2002 Meeting

The following NICHD staff plan to participate in the International Meeting on “Microbicides 2002” that will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, May 12-15, 2002:  Drs. Joanne Luoto, Medical Officer, and Patricia Reichelderfer, Microbiologist, Contraception and Reproductive Health Branch, CPR, Dr. Susan Newcomer, Statistician, Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch, CPR, and Dr. Leonid Margolis, Chief, Section of Intercellular Interactions, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics.  Drs. Reichelderfer and Newcomer have been actively involved in helping to plan and organize this meeting and will also attend post-conference planning sessions. 

  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

  International Collaborative Oral Health Research

The NIDCR’s Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch hosted a meeting of researchers from other countries regarding collaboration in tissue arrays, on campus, February 25-26. Staff from the Office of International Health presented an overview of NIDCR’s international opportunities to the group.

Staff participated in the first ever meeting of deans of dental training institutions from across Africa, in Cape Town, South Africa, April 23-26.  The Associate Director for International Health and the International Health Officer discussed the rationale and importance of research in the dental school, offered suggestions for strengthening research capacity and building networks for collaboration, and provided information regarding NIH resources for research training.  In addition, participants were shown the film, “Science Knows No Country,” and copies of the film were given to all the dental school deans in attendance.  This meeting resulted in the formation of an African Oral Health Education Association.

Staff attended the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) annual meeting in Seattle, April 30 – May 5, to meet with the WHO project officer and the team leaders of the NIDCR/WHO project to build an international collaborative network for research in craniofacial anomalies.

  International Association for Dental Research

During the annual meeting of the American/International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in San Diego, March 6-9, NIDCR sponsored a Hands-On Workshop entitled, “Case Studies in International Collaborative Oral Health Research.”  This workshop was a follow-up to an introductory session at the previous year’s IADR in Japan.  During the workshop, participants divided into smaller groups to hear and discuss the ethical issues raised in each of five case studies.  As in Japan, Dr. James Lavery of the Fogarty International Center played an instrumental role in organizing the session, and presented an overview of international bioethical issues and the guidelines governing the conduct of international collaborative research.  Dr Arthur Schafer of the University of Manitoba presented the closing plenary address.  Plans are being developed to hold a similar workshop at the 2003 IADR meeting in Goteborg, Sweden.

In addition to attending scientific sessions, staff also participated in business meetings of both the IADR and other organizations which hold meetings in conjunction with the IADR.  NIDCR staff contribute to several different IADR committees, including the Tobacco Committee, the Regional Development Program Committee, and the Nominations Committee.

  Other

Staff met with the Dean and faculty of Nova Southeastern University Dental School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on January 24-25, to discuss Nova’s plans for international collaborative research.  As part of the two-day agenda, Nova organized a brown bag lunch session open to all dental school faculty, at which staff presented an overview of the Institute’s international research agenda and portfolio, including showing the film, “Science Knows No Country.”

The International Health Officer was invited to serve as a member of the Steering Committee for the American Dental Association’s Dentistry Overseas program.  He attended the annual working meeting of the committee in Miami, January 25-27.

NIDCR staff meets on a regular basis with the Executive Directors of the American Dental Association, the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Dental Education Association, and the Chief of Oral Health for the Pan American Health Organization.  The purpose of these quarterly meetings is to discuss international oral health issues and initiatives.  The American Dental Association hosted the most recent meeting at its Washington, DC, office on March 15.

Staff participated in the International Federation of Dental Education Associations/DentEdEvolves Conference on Dental Education, held in Singapore, April 4-7.  The Associate Director for International Health presented a plenary session on gender issues in dental education and later chaired a breakout group on this same topic.  This meeting was a follow-up to a similar European meeting held in Prague last year, and was part of a larger effort to look at global issues in dental education.  This conference was specifically aimed at inclusion of the perspective of dental education institutions in Southeast Asia.

Staff provided comment on a draft document on nutrition and oral health, which is being prepared as background for a WHO Expert Group.  WHO will use the Expert Group to update a document in the broader area of the impact of nutrition on non-communicable diseases.

WHO named Dr. Poul-Erik Petersen, of Denmark, to the position of Chief, Oral Health.  Dr. Petersen replaces Dr. Gennady Pakhomov, who retired last year.

Staff organized an April 17 seminar by Dr. Howard Bailit, University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center, who discussed his recent trip to assess the national oral health care system in Moldova, and to proposed an appropriate intervention strategy to enhance child health in that context.  Representatives from NIDCR, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Fogarty International Center attended.

The Associate Director for International Health presented testimony regarding Noma to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on May 2. This caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Tom Lantos, Donald Payne and Diane Watson. Two investigators associated with the NIDCR/FIC ITREID supported project at the University of Maryland also presented testimony, as did the Ambassadors from Niger and Nigeria. A spokesperson from a WHO Collaborating Center at the University of Pennsylvania presented material on WHO's program on Noma.

The Second Annual David E. Barmes Global Health Lecture is scheduled for October 28, 2002.  Professor Nevin Scrimshaw has been selected as the honorary lecturer, and will speak on nutrition and its impact on global health and disease.  The purpose of this memorial lecture is to raise the awareness on campus about major cross-cutting issues of global health.  NIDCR and Fogarty International Center co-sponsor this event, and this year, the lecture will serve as the first event in Fogarty’s year-long celebration of its 35-year anniversary.

Library of Medicine

In January, NLM representative made a visit and assessment of malaria research sites in Libreville and Lambarene, Gabon, Africa, for the malaria research telecom network.   The Libreville site is located in an urban hospital while the site in Lambarene is at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the midst of a rain forest.   Upgraded dependable telecommunication is badly needed in both places in order that researchers might carry out their work, including participation in the SMAC (Severe Malaria in African Children) network, a multi-country project.

Organized a successful meeting of three NLM projects which focus on networking and information access in remote, hard to reach locations, one domestic and two international:  Tribal Connections (Indian tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska), Latin American/CRID (disaster relief information El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua), and African malaria researchers.  The objective of the gathering was for the project leaders and technical directors to present technologies used and strategies for implementation.

  Office of AIDS Research

The Office of AIDS Research (OAR) develops an annual NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research.  This Plan contains a section on International Research to address the global epidemic.  A group of experts met February 14, 2002 to develop a comprehensive plan for NIH-supported research in foreign settings and to identify specific priorities in this area.  Participants in the Planning Workshop included eight scientists from Africa, Asia, and Latin America; U.S. investigators working in resource-diverse geographic settings; representatives of other governmental agencies, such as CDC, USAID, and DOD; and staff of the NIH institutes with international AIDS portfolios.

The OAR sponsored a “Consultation on Studies of HIV Disease in Developing Countries,” held February 20.  The purpose of the consultation was to 1) identify needs for and aims of long-term studies in developing countries that would provide the basis for the most appropriate interventions, allowing for cross-study analysis across different countries; 2) outline key elements of a possible core protocol for such studies; and 3) identify challenges in the formulation and implementation of such a core protocol.  Participants included seven researchers from developing countries, U.S. investigators working in developing countries, and NIH staff.

The AIDS Panels of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program held their annual joint meeting March 19-21, 2002 in Seattle, Washington.  The OAR serves as the Secretariat for the AIDS Panels.  More than 40 participants met over three days to present and discuss scientific papers focusing on animal and human responses, particularly in relation to development of HIV vaccines.  The meeting also provided an opportunity for strengthening ongoing and developing new joint U.S.-Japan collaborations.

OAR staff participated as members of a delegation headed by the Secretary, DHHS, to Guyana to meet with Ministers of Health from across the Caribbean.  The meeting was held April 20 following the regular meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).  During the meeting, the Secretary emphasized his commitment to enhancing DHHS activities in the region.  Ms. Linda Reck provided an overview for participants of NIH HIV-related activities in the Caribbean and opportunities for enhanced cooperation and collaboration.  At the end of the meeting, the Secretary signed the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS for the U.S. as a demonstration of DHHS commitment.  He also offered DHHS technical assistance to the countries with respect to applications to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  The Secretary and Health Ministers agreed to hold joint meetings annually. In collaboration with NIGMS and NCRR, the OAR provided support for the “Caribbean Workshop on Health Disparities in AIDS.”  Held May 1-3 in San Juan, Puerto, the Workshop was attended by approximately 100 researchers from 25 countries in the region.  After plenary sessions, breakout workshops addressed Role of Community and Social Organizations, People at Risk and Youth Sexual Behavior, Cohort Database for the Caribbean, Training and Education of Professionals, Prevention of Perinatal Transmission and Clinical Care.  Satellite symposia addressed Outline for Communities Responding to the Threat of AIDS, Plans for Long-Term Success, and Management of Patients with Resistance to Protease Inhibitors.  During the Workshop, the OAR demonstrated a Database of HIV/AIDS Research Funding Opportunities for the Caribbean Region that is currently under development.  Continued development of the database will be guided by feedback from the participants.

Updated May 2003