DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
157th Meeting of the NATIONAL DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES ADVISORY COUNCIL
The minutes of the 157th meeting of the NDDK Advisory Council meeting are presented in two subsections: 1) A closed session that was held on September 20, 2001 and 2) an open session that was held on December 10, 2001. Together, these meetings represent the 157th meeting of the NIDDK Advisory Council.
Part I - Closed SessionConference Room 9A51, Building 31, Conference Room 701, Two Democracy Plaza, and Telephone Conference September 20, 2001, 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
NIDDK Director Dr. Allen Spiegel called to order the 157th National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council meeting on September 20, 2001, at 3:00 p.m.
The entire meeting was closed to the public in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 552b(c)(4), 552b(c)(6) and 552b(c)(9), Title 5 U.S. Code and 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2). The meeting was limited to the consideration of grant applications.
The Council members listed below participated through a telephone conference call.
A. Attendance
Council Members Present
Mr. David Baldridge
Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr.
Dr. D. Montgomery Bissell, Jr.
Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon
Hon. Levan Gordon
Dr. Edward W. Holmes
Dr. C. Ronald Kahn
Dr. Carolyn Kelly
Dr. James W. Kikendall (ex officio)
Dr. John McConnell
Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky
Dr. Daniel Porte Jr. (ex officio)
Dr. Sandra Puczynski
Dr. Vicki Ratner
Dr. Robert W. Schrier
Dr. Joseph T. Spence (ex officio)
Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai
Dr. Rena R. Wing
B. NIDDK Staff
Attendance by NIDDK extramural staff was limited to those individuals with a need to be present for the closed session consideration of grant applications.
C. Conflict of Interest Statement
Dr. Robert Hammond called to the attention of the Council the Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Statements. After discussing the scope of confidentiality and conflict of interest, he instructed the Council members to read and sign the Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest forms that were sent to them and to return the signed form at the conclusion of the meeting.
Dr. Allen Spiegel reminded the attendees that the entire Council meeting would be closed for review, discussion, and evaluation of grant applications.
II. CONSIDERATION OF REVIEW OF GRANT APPLICATIONS
A total of 980 grant applications, requesting support of $239,156,985 were reviewed for consideration at the September 20, 2001 meeting. Funding for 947 applications was recommended at a level of $235,843,964.
III. ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Spiegel
Dr. Spiegel thanked the Council members for their attendance and advice. There being no other business, Dr. Spiegel adjourned the 157th meeting of the NDDK Advisory Council on September 20, 2001 at 3:30 p.m
Part II - Open Session
Conference Room 9A51, Building 31, Conference Room 701, Two Democracy Plaza, and Telephone Conference December 10, 2001, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
NIDDK Director Dr. Allen Spiegel called to order the 157th National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council meeting on December 10, 2001, at 3:30 p.m.
The Council members listed below participated through a telephone conference call. NIDDK staff members were present at the two locations listed above.
A. Attendance
Council Members
Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr.
Dr. D. Montgomery Bissell, Jr.
Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon
Dr. Edward W. Holmes
Dr. C. Ronald Kahn
Dr. Carolyn Kelly
Dr. James W. Kikendall (ex officio)
Dr. John McConnell
Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky
Dr. Daniel Porte Jr. (ex officio)
Dr. Sandra Puczynski
Dr. Vicki Ratner
Dr. Robert W. Schrier
Dr. Joseph T. Spence (ex officio)
Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai
Dr. Rena R. Wing
NIDDK Staff
Dr. Josie Briggs
Dr. John Connaughton
Dr. Judith Fradkin
Dr. Robert Hammond
Dr. Steve James
Dr. Saul Malozowski
Dr. Catherine McKeon
Ms. Barbara Merchant
Dr. David Miller
Mr. David Mineo
Dr. Phil Smith
Dr. Allen Spiegel
Dr. Robert Star
II. CONSIDERATION OF SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE MAY 2001 COUNCIL MEETING
Dr. Spiegel
The Council members present accepted the summary minutes of the May 2001 NIDDK Advisory Council meeting unanimously.
III. FUTURE COUNCIL DATES
Dr. Spiegel
Before discussing future Council dates, Dr. Spiegel thanked outgoing Council members Dr. Bissel, Dr. Podolsky, and Dr. Tsai for their service.
Dr. Spiegel asked for consideration of meeting dates for future NDDK Advisory Council meetings, and the following meeting dates were proposed and accepted:
February 13-14, 2002
May 30-31, 2002
September 18-19, 2002
February 19-20, 2003
June 11-12, 2003
September 24-25, 2003
IV. REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dr. Spiegel
Dr. Spiegel's Director's report covered three primary topics.
A. Budget issues
As of December 10, Congress had not yet passed a final budget for Fiscal Year 2002. A Continuing Resolution, funding activities at the Fiscal Year 2001 level, was in effect until December 15. Both the House and Senate had passed bills to fund DHHS and the differences between the two bills were still being ironed out in a conference committee. Dr. Spiegel pointed out that, in light of the terrorist attacks on September 11 and the subsequent changes in Federal spending priorities, the proposed doubling of the NIH budget - scheduled to be completed in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget - may be in jeopardy and that NIDDK should develop contingency plans accordingly.
B. Vacancies at leadership positions at NIH
Dr. Spiegel reminded Council members that, as of December 10, there was still no permanent NIH Director. Dr. Spiegel also reviewed the status of Directorships at several other Institutes, including
National Cancer Institute - Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, head of Urologic Oncology at M. D. Anderson Hospital is scheduled to assume the position of Director in January, 2002.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering - A search is ongoing for a permanent Director of this newly-created Institute.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - A search is ongoing for a permanent Director of this Institute.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Dr. Enoch Gordis, Director of this Institute for 15 years, will retire on December 31, 2001. A search committee - co-chaired by Dr. Richard Hodes of the National Institute on Aging and Dr. Ellie Ehrenfeld of the Center for Scientific Review - has been formed.
National Institute on Drug Abuse - Dr. Alan Leshner, who was Director of this Institute for approximately six years, recently left to assume the position of CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A search committee has been formed to find a replacement. The committee is co-chaired by Dr. Jim Battey of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and Dr. Yvonne Maddox, Acting Deputy Director of NIH.
National Institute of Mental Health - Dr. Steve Hyman has returned to Harvard University to serve as Provost. A search committee to fill his position has been formed; it is co-chaired by Dr. Francis Collins of the National Human Genome Research Institute and Dr. Claude Lenfant of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
C. Agenda items for the February 2002 Council meeting
Items to be discussed at the next Council meeting include the Institute's Loan Repayment Program. Also, the trans-DK planning groups will provide updates of their progress. There will also be consideration of concepts for new initiatives.
V. REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL OPERATING PROCEDURES WORKING GROUP
Dr. Hammond
The Council Operating Procedures Working Group is comprised of NIDDK Extramural staff as well as at least one representative from each of the three subcouncils. Currently, the Council representatives are Mr. Baldridge, and Drs. Benz, Caro, and Wing. The charge of the Working Group is to review current Council operations and revise them as needed, to ensure that the Institute is extracting maximum benefit from the advice provided by the Council.
The Council considered three proposed modifications to current Council procedures.
A. Expedited Concurrence of En Bloc Actions
The application review and award process takes a minimum of nine months from application submission to potential award and in many cases the period takes approximately a full year or longer. Over the years the number of applications reviewed and the addition of new requirements has increased the steps and time necessary to issue an award. This proposal recommends implementation of NIDDK Advisory Council expedited en bloc concurrence procedures in specific circumstances and is intended to provide staff with the opportunity to make awards meeting those specific circumstances in a more timely, responsive and responsible manner.
The proposal was discussed and approved unanimously.
B. Delegation for Administrative Supplements
This proposal is to formally implement previous authorities and secure Council concurrence with operational procedures for administrative supplements and other necessary administrative actions. The NIDDK Advisory Council - by approval of this presentation - delegates authority to the Director, NIDDK for staff to negotiate adjustments in dollars and/or the terms and conditions of grant and cooperative agreement awards recommended by the Council. In general, these operational guidelines for administrative actions are developed to provide a day to day framework for the smooth and effective operations necessary after review of grant applications by the Council and are principally intended to enhance the administration of assistance portfolio by the NIDDK.
The proposal was discussed and approved unanimously.
C. Revision of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Policy on MERIT Award Extensions
The Method to Extend Research in Time (R37) award was established by the NIH in 1986. The objective of the MERIT award is to provide long-term research grant support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are highly likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. The current NIDDK policy allows MERIT grantees to request an extension of up to three years in duration. No other NIH Institute or Center restricts the extension application to fewer than five years. This proposal would allow consideration of MERIT extension requests of up to five years duration.
The proposal was discussed and approved unanimously.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Spiegel
Dr. Spiegel thanked the Council members for their attendance and advice. He also thanked again Drs. Bissel, Podolsky, and Tsai for their service. There being no other business, Dr. Spiegel adjourned the 157th meeting of the NDDK Advisory Council on December 10, 2001, at 4:30 p.m.
I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing summary minutes and attachments are accurate and complete.
Allen Spiegel, M.D.
Director, National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases
and
Chairman, National Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases Advisory Council
