HHS WEEKLY REPORT
August 15 - 21, 2004

THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
   http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Secretary Thompson on the President's Embryonic Stem Cell Policy
2) PREVENTION: CDC Offers Advice for People to Protect Themselves After a Storm
3) SCIENCE IN THE NEWS: Millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
4) MEDICARE MINUTE
5) Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule

Secretary Thompson on the President's Embryonic Stem Cell Policy

Three years ago, President Bush opened the nation's laboratory doors for the first time to federal taxpayer funding for human embryonic stem cell research. The President remains committed to this groundbreaking policy that is advancing medical research into some of our most debilitating diseases. As we look forward to further progress on stem cell research, both embryonic and adult, it is important to keep in mind several important points.

President Bush provided -- for the first time -- federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The President's unprecedented decision allows for federal funding of research using existing stem cell lines that were derived before Aug. 9, 2001, with no limits on private funding of research. The President believes that federal funds should not be used to encourage or support further destruction of human embryos, a principle that has been part of federal law since 1996. The impact of the President's decision was to open the flow of federal research dollars for embryonic stem cells and help accelerate work in this field.

The policy is working. Under President Bush, federal funding for embryonic stem cell research has grown from zero under previous administrations to $24.8 million in fiscal year 2003, with no limits on future federal funding of research on eligible lines. This investment has supported more than 500 shipments of stem cell lines to researchers around the world who are in the early stages of finding ways stem cells can be used to treat diseases such as neurological disorders, diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, in fiscal year 2003, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided $190.7 million in adult stem cell research, which continues to show exciting promise.

The Administration is working to maximize research opportunities within the federal guidelines. NIH is taking new steps to create a National Embryonic Stem Cell Bank that will provide a ready source of human embryonic stem cells to scientists, ensure consistent quality of the lines and provide other technical support that will make it easier for scientists to use these lines. NIH is also creating three new Centers of Excellence for Translational Stem Cell Research with the goal of exploiting new discoveries in basic embryonic and stem cell biology.

Let's take advantage of the great opportunity that exists before arguing that more is needed. The President's policy holds tremendous and yet-untapped potential, and there is much work to do. Before anyone can successfully argue that the existing federal stem cell policy needs to be broadened, we must first exhaust the potential of the stem cell lines made available within the policy, as well as the ability of the private sector to go beyond the policy. Keep in mind: More lines are available in the United States than any other country in the world. And while federal funding has paid for more than 500 shipments to researchers to date, more than 3,500 shipments are still available. Unlike many countries, there are no limits in the United States on private stem cell research. One study estimates that 1,000 scientists at more than 30 firms spent $208 million experimenting on embryonic and adult stem cells in 2002 alone.

The future is promising. Years of hard work remains to be done before the basic research of today can become viable treatments and cures tomorrow. There is good reason to be optimistic. And this optimism is made possible by the reasoned policy of President Bush.

Fair and reasonable people can disagree on this complex and difficult issue. President Bush made a tough decision that invested in the scientific promise of embryonic stem cell research without compromising an important ethical line. Three years later, it is clear that this balanced approach is working. The future is promising with the new research opportunities provided by President Bush's historic decision.

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PREVENTION

CDC Offers Advice for People to Protect Themselves After a Storm

As Americans brace for the impact of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley, they must also prepare for the threats that these storms may leave behind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following advice for people to protect themselves from illness, injury, and death after the storms subside:

CDC has expanded its website to include detailed information on hurricanes, floods, and lingering dangers for the affected communities. More information is available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp. Residents may also contact their local health authorities for additional guidelines, notifications and information.

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SCIENCE IN THE NEWS

Millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 - or 41 million people - have pre-diabetes, a condition that raises a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. To respond to this rapidly growing problem, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) launched a public awareness campaign August 10, called "We Have the Power to Prevent Diabetes" at the new Chickasaw Nation Health System's Diabetes Care Center, an annex of the Carl Albert Indian Health Facility in Ada, Oklahoma.

The campaign promotes the message that American Indians and Alaska Natives can fight the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in their communities if they take steps to lose a modest amount of weight by moving more, eating less, and making healthy food choices.

"We Have the Power to Prevent Diabetes" is part of NDEP's Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes campaign, which targets groups at highest risk for diabetes. The campaign uses "real life" testimonials from American Indians and Alaska Natives who have made lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes and encourages others to take up the charge.

"Diabetes is a growing epidemic in our communities, especially for high risk groups," Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said. "If we are going to make a difference, we need to reach people where they live, work, and play, with information that is consumer-friendly and practical based on the proven science of diabetes prevention. Our goal is to empower those at high risk for type 2 diabetes to take steps to prevent this devastating disease."

"We are asking American Indians and Alaska Natives to fight back because of their increased risk for type 2 diabetes. We're showing them how to take action to prevent or delay the disease," Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at NIH said. "The key is regular physical activity and modest weight loss - as little as 5 to 7 percent of your body weight. We want to encourage people to take this message of good health to their families and their communities, so we can put an end to the diabetes epidemic."

For more information about the diabetes prevention campaign and free materials, including tip sheets and the GAMEPLAN for Preventing type 2 Diabetes - tools to help people lose weight, get active, and track their progress - visit the NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 1-800-438-5383.

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MEDICARE MINUTE

When calling 1-800-Medicare, beneficiaries should be prepared to answer a few important questions about their prescription drug needs. CMS call centers use this information to sort through all of the medicines, drug discount cards, and pharmacies to give beneficiaries the specific, individual facts they need to decide about the drug card program. This includes:

The best times to call 1-800-MEDICARE is later in the week – Thursday through Sunday and between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern time.

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SECRETARY THOMPSON’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE

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Last updated: August 16, 2004
United States Department of Health and Human Services
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