As we look forward to a bevy of fall activities, I’d like to update you on some of the Office of Special Populations’ (OSP) recent happenings and activities. Read on to find out what we’ve been doing and what we’re planning for the near future.
Carl V. HILL,
Director, Office of Special Populations,
Office of the Director (OD).
Dawn BERAUD,
Health Science Policy Analyst,
Office of the Director (OD).
How do we grow a field rapidly? That’s the question that drove us when we began receiving large increases in support for research on Alzheimer’s disease and its related disorders—a total of $1.3 billion across fiscal years 2014–2018.
Robin BARR,
Director, DEA,
Division of Extramural Activities (DEA).
Infrastructure may seem like an odd word to use when thinking about research into Alzheimer’s disease. We want to see clinical trial results. We want answers on the basic mechanisms. We want prevention measures. And we want them all now! Infrastructure may seem less exciting, but it’s absolutely necessary to achieve our goals for research in Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why NIA has substantially increased the grant award to the Indiana University School of Medicine for the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD).
Nina SILVERBERG,
Program Director, Alzheimers Disease Center,
Division of Neuroscience (DN).
I have good news for you! We’re giving 6 percent back to all the competing awards that we cut by an average of 18 percent in 2018. We will also be working from an average cut of 12 percent for awards we make in FY 2019. We’ve also expanded our general pay line to the 23rd percentile.
Robin BARR,
Director, DEA,
Division of Extramural Activities (DEA).
The first study to specifically focus on the effects of sustained caloric restriction (CR) in humans—CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy)—collected a trove of biosamples and data. CALERIE investigators are now aiming to facilitate new studies and analyses that will take advantage of these resources.
Giovanna ZAPPALA,
Health Scientist Administrator,
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG).
Sticks and stones aren’t the only things that can break your bones—osteoporosis is also a main cause. In fact, 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men over age 50 will break a bone because of low bone mass or poor bone quality. To better understand current knowledge gaps in osteoporosis research and identify future needs in using osteoporosis drugs, NIH is hosting a Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Workshop: Appropriate Use of Drug Therapies for Osteoporotic Fracture Prevention.
Lyndon JOSEPH,
Health Scientist Administrator,
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG).
It was great to see so many of you at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference last month! I was thrilled to catch up with colleagues, attend the special events, and learn about many new Alzheimer’s research findings. In case you missed it, NIA and the Alzheimer’s Association hosted a pre-conference symposium: “Enabling Precision Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease Through Open Science.”
On Monday, July 30, I presented, on behalf of NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, the Fiscal Year 2020 NIH Professional Judgment Budget for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias at the meeting of the HHS Secretary’s Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services. The estimate—commonly referred to as a Bypass Budget—is based on scientific opportunities that NIH could pursue to achieve the research goal of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease—to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.
NIA staff are gearing up for the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018, taking place this year in Chicago, July 22-26. AAIC is dedicated to advancing dementia science, and we’re looking forward to attending alongside thousands from the Alzheimer’s community.
