J.E.FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER
International Services International Services-icon
News, Events and Information International Services Programs and Initiatives Regional Activities
Back Home page About FIC Search

 

May 2003


 
IC International Representatives Meeting

May 13, 2003

 

                                                   Summary

Welcome and Introduction of guest:  Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, FIC Deputy Director, welcomed the IC representatives to the Stone House and welcomed Sir David Weatherall, Fogarty Scholar and primary author of the 2002 WHO Advisory Committee on Health Research report: “Genomics and World Health”.  FIC, NIDDK, NIEHS and NHGRI are sponsoring Professor Weatherall in his role as a Fogarty Scholar and he will be spending time at NIH both this Spring and later in the Fall to interact with various ICs with respect to genetic technologies and their role in reducing global health disparities.  Dr. Philip Chen, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Director for Intramural Research, presented Professor Weatherall with an embedded desk medallion honoring him as a Fogarty Scholar.   

 

Presentation on Genomics and World Health

Professor Weatherall noted that he was asked by WHO to serve as lead author of the “Genomics and World Health” report (released in April 2002) following the announcement in June 2000 of the partial completion of the Human Genome Project.  The report was developed over a 12-month period and was based on a wide-ranging consultative process involving scientists, clinicians, ethicists, public and private funders of genomics research, health policy makers and others.  Dr. Dan Brock, formerly at WHO and currently at NIH’s Clinical Center, served as one of two expert consultants who assisted in the drafting of the report.

Professor Weatherall highlighted some of the main points of the report.  He underscored that current applications of genomics for day-to-day clinical practice in low- and middle-income countries are very limited, and that it was difficult to predict when this would change in any given country.  He noted that advances in genomics for global health care must be assessed with respect to their relative value in the practice and delivery of health care compared with the costs and efficacy of current approaches to public health, disease control and provision of basic preventive medicine and medical care and on the extremely complex backdrop of ethical, legal and social implications.  Sir David also outlined the impact of genomics on health care today, focusing, in particular, on human and vector genome projects.  He provided an outline of the global burden of genetic disease and congenital malformation and reviewed common genetic disorders of hemoglobin.  He drew on his experience in Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other nations in addressing inherited blood disorders, particularly the thalassemias, in the discussion. 

In conclusion, Professor Weatherall noted that future objectives of genomics and global health should be to reduce the North-South health care divide and mitigate the 10/90 gap in medical research.  He challenged the NIH community to work toward development and implementation of more effective diagnostics that would benefit low- and middle-income countries.  He called for strengthened training programs, along the lines of the FIC models, to allow nations to engage more fully in the development and application of genetic technologies for improved health.

The full Summary of the 241-page WHO Genomics and World Health report is found at: http://www3.who.int/whosis/genomics/pdf/genomics00.pdf

 

Announcements

Dr. Hrynkow provided the group with an update on the May 20-21 35th FIC anniversary Symposium that will be held in the Natcher Building, including with respect to the revised agenda.  She welcomed all the IC Representatives to attend the Symposium and also noted that it would also be on the NIH webcast.

Dr. Hrynkow noted that she is serving as the NIH representatives on the HHS Working Group on Iraq.  She indicated that she will be contacting the ICs in the near future to seek input on what the NIH scientific community views as priorities in the field of biomedical and behavioral research and to ascertain possible collaborations that ICs can undertake in Iraq.  She noted that NLM is already engaged in identifying ways to assist in rebuilding Iraqi medical libraries.

Dr. Hrynkow will be co-chairing a U.S.-Israel symposium on women’s health later in the year.  A steering committee will meet on May 16 in the FIC conference room to discuss a proposed topic on the effects of interpersonal violence on women’s health.  The IC representatives were invited to attend this meeting.

Dr. Yuan Liu noted that NINDS is working to convene a consultation on systems biology in Japan under a U.S.-Japan agreement related to brain research.  She will provide IC international representatives with a written description of the agreement, the NINDS proposed meeting, and will seek input and support from partner ICs.

  

The next meeting of the IC International Representatives will be held on Tuesday, July 8, in the Stone House.

 

 

Attendance:

Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, Deputy Director, FIC; Ms. Minnie Rojo, Director, Division of International Relations, FIC; Mr. George Herrfurth, Executive Secretary, FIC; IC Reps: Dr. James McKearney, NCI; Ms. Helen Wegman and Dr. Douglas Boyd, NHLBI; Dr. Danuta Krotoski, NICHD; Dr. Pat Needle, NIDA; Dr. Juan Ramos, Dr. David Lozovsky and Dr. Donna Mayo, NIMH; Dr. Yuan Liu, NINDS; Ms. Linda Cook, NINR; Dr. Mary Frances Picciano, OD; Ms. Susan Wise, OAR; Dr. Phil Chen, OIR; Dr. Lois Cohen, Dr. Kevin Hardwick, and Dr. Rochelle Small, NIDCR; Ms. Karen Kun, NCCAM; Dr. John Norvell, NIGMS; Dr. Jerry Robinson, NCRR; Ms. Julia Royall, NLM; Dr. Chris Schonwalder, NIEHS/FIC; Ms. Patricia Turner, NINDS; HHS/OS Staff: Dr. Peter Henry and LT Liz Yuan; and FIC staff: Dr. Ken Bridbord, Mr. Kevin Bialy, Ms. Emmy Cauthen, Dr. Allen Holt, Ms. Sonja Maderas,  Dr. Flora Katz, Ms. Natalie Tomitch, , Mr. Mark Pineda, Dr. Aron Primack, and Dr. Luis Salicrup.