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New National Cancer Institute Studies
Focus On Cancer-Prone Families
Institute: National
Cancer Institute (NCI)
The NCI is conducting four new studies focusing on cancer-prone
families. Researchers seek to learn which genes cause familial
or hereditary cancer, how these genes work, why some families
are at higher risk, and the types of monitoring and intervention
strategies that are best for members of cancer-prone families.
People, and often entire families, can carry susceptibility
genes which, when altered or mutated, may serve as genetic
markers that identify individuals who are at increased risk
of developing a certain type of cancer. Researchers want to
answer their many questions as they meet with North American
families fitting specific high risk profiles. The studies,
led by Mark H. Greene, M.D., Chief, Clinical Genetics Branch,
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, will offer
selected families a comprehensive medical and genetic research
evaluation at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Some eligible families may also participate by sharing their
medical information without traveling to the NIH. New studies
include:
Next steps:
Individuals who wish to be considered for participation in
one of these studies may contact the cancer genetics referral
nurse, Stephanie Steinbart, at 1 (800) 518-8474.
NIAAA Sponsors
Demand Treatment! Institute
When: April 2-5, 2003
Where: San Francisco, CA
Institute: National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
NIAAA continues its collaboration with Join Together and
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to sponsor Demand
Treatment! Institutes. Upcoming institute sessions will provide
information on screening, brief interventions, and referrals
to treatment; information about National Alcohol Screening
Day; different methods and instruments for screening; links
between alcohol and other diseases, particularly infectious
diseases and more.
Demand Treatment! is a national initiative to increase the
number of people who get quality treatment for alcohol and
other drug problems. Demand Treatment! Institutes are held
periodically to increase knowledge of new research findings
on addiction and dependency and to facilitate a discussion
of its implications for effective alcohol and drug abuse treatment
and prevention. The Demand Treatment! Institutes focus on
the four DT principles: leadership, information for action,
quality services, and ending discrimination against persons
seeking treatment and recovery.
The DT Partner Communities include: Boise, ID; Chicago, IL;
Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN;
Knoxville, TN; Manchester, NH; Mobile, AL; Nashville, TN;
Pittsburgh, PA; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco, CA; Trenton,
NJ; Tucson, AZ; Carroll County, MD; Everett, MA; Gallatin/Bozeman
County, MT; Genesee County/Flint, MI; Lancaster County/Lincoln,
NE; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee County, WI; Rochester, NY; Sacramento,
CA; San Diego, CA; Sarasota, FL; Washoe County/Reno, NV; Williamsburg,
VA;, and Southeastern PA. More detailed information is available
at: www.jointogether.org/sa/action/dt/program/partners/.
Collaboration for this event occurs under the National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Alcohol Research
to Practice Network, which underscores NIAAA's focus on the
crucial link between research and practice, and the interdependence
between the research and services communities. The goal of
the Network is to foster the application of alcohol research
as an important part of the solution for solving human problems
by encouraging the adoption of research advances into the
prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Next steps:
For additional information, visit www.jointogether.org/sa/action/dt
or contact Kelly Green Kahn, NIAAA Public Liaison Officer,
at kgreenka@mail.nih.gov
or (301) 443-0347.
Next steps:
For conference information, contact Tom Colthurst at tcolthurst@ucsd.com
or (858) 551-2951, or visit the conference Web site at: www2.edc.org/alcoholpolicy13/index.html.
Conference Focuses
on Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth
When: March 13-16, 2003
Where: Boston, MA
Institute: National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
NIAAA will provide support for alcohol researchers to attend
and present their findings at the 13th Alcohol Policy Conference:
Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth: Policy Approaches.
At the invitation of NIAAA, Mrs. Hope Taft (First Lady of
Ohio) will appear at the conference as one of the opening-day
keynote speakers.
This meeting is a forum for researchers, community advocates,
and public officials to gather and exchange findings, explore
research-based solutions, and consider strategies aimed at
minimizing risks associated with alcohol use.
The Alcohol Policy Conference Series has aided the
development of a number of national and international initiatives,
including national prevention policies and local actions.
The series has been a forum for researchers, community advocates,
and public officials to convene and exchange findings, explore
evidence-based solutions, and consider adoption of laws aimed
at minimizing risks associated with alcohol use. AP13 will
continue the series tradition by focusing on the unique problems
arising from alcohol consumption by adolescents and young
adults. National and international science—with a special
focus on issues important to the New England and mid-Atlantic
states—will inform the agenda. Cooperating organizations
will share their perspectives. Advocates, educators, civic
and government leaders, and others concerned with younger
people will forge new partnerships in pursuit of prevention
strategies. The agenda will focus on illegal and high-risk
alcohol consumption among 13 - 25 year olds.
Next steps:
For conference information, contact Tom Colthurst at tcolthurst@ucsd.com
or (858) 551-2951, or visit the conference Web site at: www2.edc.org/alcoholpolicy13/index.html.
NIAAA College
Drinking Experts Share Expertise at State Briefings
When: February 24, 2003
Where: Springfield, Illinois
Institute: National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
The Illinois Higher Education Center hosted a regional briefing,
"Setting the Standard for Campus and Community Prevention
Efforts." NIAAA researchers provided an in-depth look
at the implications of NIH's first report on college drinking
and how to use that report to improve the effectiveness of
campus prevention efforts. College and university presidents,
senior administrators and campus prevention staff across the
state were invited to attend.
NIAAA has been working with the Higher Education Center for
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and several states to disseminate
new research findings and recommendations on college drinking
to schools nationwide. As a result of this partnership, NIAAA
researchers presented college drinking data at similar briefings
in 2002 to audiences in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington,
and Massachusetts.
The goals of statewide briefings are to share information,
motivate administrators, encourage the use of research-based
interventions and open discussion. College presidents, administrators
and campus prevention staff learn about the scope of the problem
and the state of research on alcohol prevention programs currently
in use.
Next steps:
For additional information please contact Amy Matush, NIAAA
Outreach Specialist at amatush@mail.nih.gov
or 301-443-0469.
Fourth Annual Public Interest Organization
Meeting
When: February 5, 2003
Where: Bethesda, MD
Institute: National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Representatives of 49 public organizations met on February
5 to exchange ideas with one another and with NHLBI staff;
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council members;
and leaders of professional societies. The meeting provided
opportunities for organization representatives to explore
collaborations with professional and public groups and with
the NHLBI.
The meeting began with an enthusiastic discussion, led by
Dr. Elias Zerhouni Director, NIH, about future directions
for NIH programs. Next, representatives engaged in a roundtable
on the development of workshops and conferences. That session
was led by NHLBI staff and Ms. Paula Polite, President, Sarcoidosis
Research Institute; Ms. Lorna Stevens, President and Co-founder,
Neutropenia Support Association; and Ms. Sue Byrnes, Executive
Director, LAM Foundation and member, National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Advisory Council. Later, Ms. Virginia Ladd, President
and Executive Director, American Autoimmune Related Diseases
Association, presented a case study on how organizations can
collaborate to get their messages heard, and Dr. Richard Cannon,
Clinical Director, NHLBI Division of Intramural Research,
described ongoing research activities related to the potential
of stem cells for treatment of ischemic heart disease. The
bulk of the afternoon consisted of concurrent community forums
moderated by NHLBI staff and leaders from the American Heart
Association, American College of Cardiology, American Thoracic
Society, and American Society of Hematology, followed by a
question-and-answer session with Dr. Claude Lenfant, Director,
NHLBI.
Next Steps:
A meeting summary will be available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/public/pinterest.htm.
Winners of National "How I Get
a Heap of Sleep" Contest Announced
When: January 28, 2003
Where: Shadd Elementary School,
Washington, DC
Institute: National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Shadd Elementary School students met Garfield the Cat when
prizes were awarded to three "How I Get a Heap of Sleep"
contest winners. The contest, which challenged children to
describe what they do before bed to help them sleep, was part
of the "Sleep Well. Do Well. Star Sleeper" Campaign
to teach children and their parents about the importance of
sleep. It was offered to children nationwide through online
and classroom promotions, including a lesson plan sent to
44,000 second and third grade classrooms.
NHLBI Director Dr. Claude Lenfant and Dr. Carl E. Hunt, Director
of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at the
NHLBI--joined by Garfield the Cat- awarded prizes to Danielle
Wodka, age 7, of Illinois, and Amanda Davol of Massachusetts
and Qian Wang of Kentucky, both age 8. Ninety Shadd Elementary
School children joined in welcoming the youngsters to the
Nation's Capital and their school. Also, six Shadd students
were awarded Star Sleeper status for winning a local version
of the contest.
Among the things the awardees said they did each night to
help them get a good night's sleep was saying "a prayer
for my parents, baby sister, and our President Bush"
from Wodka; not watching TV from Davol; and finishing his
homework early "because then I can get a relaxing evening"
from Wang.
The Campaign is co-sponsored by Paws, Inc., the corporate
entity behind Garfield the Cat.
Next steps:
Information about the Star Sleeper Campaign is available at
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/starslp/index.htm.
Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy
Development Workshop
Where: Baltimore, MD
Institute: National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
A new NHLBI report, Mobilizing African American Communities
to Address Disparities in Cardiovascular Health: The Baltimore
City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop,
summarizes strategies that have been used in Baltimore, Maryland,
to implement community heart health education and outreach
activities for black Americans living in public housing developments.
Recommendations summarized in the report were developed at
a workshop cosponsored by the NHLBI and the Baltimore City
Cardiovascular Health Partnership partner institutions of
Morgan State University Public Health Program, the Baltimore
Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, and the Baltimore
City Department of Recreation and Parks. The workshop was
held to develop recommendations and strategies for implementing
culturally and contextually appropriate community heart health
education and outreach activities for Baltimore City African
Americans, particularly residents of public housing developments.
Next steps:
Go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/other/balt_rpt.htm.
NIAAA Researchers Present at the National
Association of Drug Court Professionals 4th Annual Juvenile
and Family Drug Court Training Conference
When: January 8, 2003
Where: Washington, DC
Institute: National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
NIAAA hosted a pre-conference workshop at the National Association
of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) 4th Annual Juvenile and
Family Drug Court Training Conference. During a session moderated
by Raye Litten, Chief, NIAAA Treatment Research Branch, NIAAA
researchers Robert Swift, M.D., Ph. D. and Darlene Moak, M.D.
presented on medications utilized in treating alcoholism.
An overarching concept behind this conference is to use the
drug court model as a vehicle to bring collective resources
of a community into the recovery process of each individual
and their family.
In addition to moderating, Raye Litten also spoke about NIAAA
and research the Institute is funding in this area. Dr. Swift
provided information about how drugs and alcohol work in the
brain, described the rationale for the use of medications
in alcoholism treatment and presented evidence that medications
combined with psychosocial therapies can improve treatment
outcomes. Dr. Moak focused on the pharmacological treatment
of comorbidity—the prevalence, consequences, mechanisms,
evaluation and treatment of comorbidity.
NADCP's Annual Juvenile and Family Drug Court Training Conference
is attended by judges, prosecutors, treatment providers, law
enforcement and child/family services professionals.
Next steps:
For more information about the conference visit www.nadcp.org/events/
or contact Amy Matush, NIAAA Outreach Specialist at amatush@mail.nih.gov
or (301) 443-0469.
Symposium Addresses Improved Access
to Treatments for Stroke Patients
When: December 12-13, 2002
Where: Arlington, Virginia
Institute: National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
An NINDS-sponsored symposium, "Improving the Chain of
Recovery for Acute Stroke in Your Community," was held
to develop a consensus and unify the medical community in
the recognition that thrombolytic treatment works and should
be used and the benefits of early treatment for strokes. Experts
at the conference developed recommendations concerning the
creation of systems that will improve treatment and benefit
more stroke patients. Once finalized, the recommendations
will be widely circulated.
More than 300 individuals representing 70 Federal agencies,
professional organizations, and voluntary groups participated
in the meeting. The symposium is a follow-up meeting to an
earlier symposium held in 1996 entitled, "Rapid Identification
and Treatment of Acute Stroke." Both meetings are part
of a nationwide effort to fundamentally change how stroke
is recognized and treated in the United States
Next steps:
A webcast of the symposium can be viewed at www.strokesymposium.org.
For additional information, contact the NINDS Office of Communications
and Public Liaison at (301) 496-5751.
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