December 16, 2010

December 16, 2010
 
The NIAMS Update is a monthly digest published for those interested in the latest scientific news and resources on diseases of the bones, joints, muscles, and skin. We encourage further dissemination of this resource.

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Office of Communications and Public Liaison
niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov

Janet S. Austin, Ph.D.
Director

Melanie M. Martinez, M.P.A.
Public Liaison Officer

Trish Reynolds, R.N., M.S.
Media Liaison

 

 

An Update on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
January 11, 2011, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time
NIH Campus, Building 31, Room 6C6
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Come and hear about the exciting update on and advances regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap Initiative: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). This update will provide an overview of how PROMIS can help institutions and grantees; the science behind item response theory/computer adaptive testing (CAT); and the advantage of using CAT. For more information about the meeting, please contact Sandra Wearins. To learn more about PROMIS, visit the NIH Common Fund website.


 

Highlights of Current NIAMS Pediatric Rheumatology Research
The NIAMS supports a broad portfolio of projects related to rheumatic diseases in children. According to a 2008 report from the National Arthritis Data Workgroup, about 294,000 children are affected with arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.

A Statement from the NIH Director, Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., on the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Recipients
Eighteen NIH grantees and two intramural scientists have been selected by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to be among this year’s 120 researchers to receive this presidential award, the nation’s highest honor for scientists at the beginning of their professional careers. Since the program began in 1996, the NIH has now funded a total of 173 PECASE recipients. A complete list of NIH-supported PECASE recipients and program information is available on the NIH website.

NIAMS grantee Edward A. Botchwey, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, was selected for his research on ways to promote the growth of mature microvascular networks by therapeutic induction of arteriogenesis.

Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D are two essential nutrients long known for their role in bone health. But since 2000, the public has heard conflicting messages about other benefits of these nutrients—especially vitamin D—and also about how much calcium and vitamin D they need to be healthy. To help clarify this issue, the United States and Canadian governments asked the Institute of Medicine to assess the current data on health outcomes associated with calcium and vitamin D, as well as update the nutrient reference values, known as Dietary Reference Intakes.

 

 
 

Save the Date: The NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting
The next NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting will be held February 1, 2011, in Building 31, 6th floor, C Wing, Conference Room 6, NIH Campus.

The NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series
The NIH's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are Continuing Medical Education-certified lectures, open to the public and available live via Webcast.

Upcoming lectures:

January 12, 2011
Dr. Susan Wente
“Beyond the Nuclear Pore: From mRNA Export to Translation”

January 19, 2011
Dr. David Goldstein
“Human Genetics in the Next Generation: Rare Variants and Common Cures”

 

 
 
 

Congressional staffers gather around scientist Dr. Massimo Gadina, from the NIAMS Translational Immunology Section, to hear how the discoveries in his lab further enhance patient diagnoses and outcomes.

An outstanding event focusing on NIAMS research took place recently at the NIH Campus. Organized in part by the NIAMS Coalition, NIAMS Awareness Day offered an opportunity for staffers of congressional offices to hear presentations by scientists and to tour NIAMS labs for a firsthand look at the Institute's innovative research.

The event was a resounding success. The experience was invaluable in building awareness on Capitol Hill about the cutting-edge technology and research advances that have led to significant improvements for patients. NIAMS Director Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., and leading NIAMS scientists gave excellent overviews of NIAMS research and what impact it has for the country. The lab tours were especially thrilling, bringing “real science” to the Hill staffers and highlighting the progress that was a direct result of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The increased awareness of the NIAMS that this event fostered will affect how well Congress understands the Institute's work.

The day included tours of the advanced light imaging equipment that can help researchers better understand skeletal muscle cell biology; the latest technology for sequencing the human genome; and how these state-of-the-art technologies enable groundbreaking treatment strategies in translational research, resulting in lifesaving clinical care.

Interested in participating in future Coalition-sponsored events? Let us know by emailing NIAMS Coalition Co-Chairs Annie Kennedy or Sheila Rittenberg.

Signed,

 
Annie Kennedy Sheila Rittenberg


Note: The NIAMS Coalition is an independent group of more than 70 different professional and voluntary organizations concerned with the programs of the NIAMS. For more information about the NIAMS Coalition, please contact Co-Chairs Annie Kennedy or Sheila Rittenberg.
 
 

 
 

2011 Pocket Planner With Tips and Resources for Healthy Bones for Life
The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center (NRC) has released a 12-month pocket planner that contains tips and resources for improving bone health. Free 2011 planners are available. To order your copy, please contact the NRC at 800-624-2663 or order online.

NIH Research Matters
NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, at the NIH.

NIH Public Bulletin
Read about the latest public events, activities and health information resources from the NIH in the latest issue of the NIH Public Bulletin.

NIH News in Health
Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by the NIH's medical experts and is based on research conducted either by the NIH's own scientists or by our grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.


 
 
NIH Roadmap Initiative Announcement

Integrating Comparative Effectiveness Research Findings into Care Delivery through Economic Incentives (R21)
(RFA-RM-11-001)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: December 18, 2010
Application Receipt Date: January 18, 2011

The Market for Long-Term Care Insurance (R01)
(RFA-RM-11-002)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: December 18, 2010
Application Receipt Date: January 18, 2011

Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54)
(RFA-RM-10-020)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: May 11, 2011
Application Receipt Dates: All renewal applications: June 11, 2011; all new applications: October 3, 2011

NIAMS Research Announcement
Other Research Announcements

If you would like to review information about funding opportunities more frequently than our monthly updates allow, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities. You can also request a weekly Table of Contentsfrom the NIH Guide.

 
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