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Carole A. Heilman, Ph.D., Director, DMID
Dr. Carole Heilman, Director of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID), chaired the May 24, 2004 NAAID Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Subcommittee meeting. Dr. Heilman announced that Dr. Ernie Takafuji, Director of the Office of Biodefense Research Affairs (OBRA) has moved to the Office of the Director, NIAID, to take on the role of Assistant Director for Biodefense Affairs and that Ms. Deborah Katz has assumed the role of Acting Director of OBRA; she then asked the Branch Chiefs/Acting Branch Chiefs in attendance to introduce their own respective new hires.
Dr. Heilman began her presentation by providing updates on the Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Biocontainment Laboratories, Food and Water-Borne Diseases Integrated Research Network, and Respiratory Pathogens Research Network. She described the wide range of ongoing activities, from the use of mathematical models for infectious diseases, to the development of a vaccine for smallpox. One theme Dr. Heilman reiterated throughout her discussion was how to “merge” the basic research findings from these various programs, with the ultimate endpoint being the development of new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines for a variety of diseases.
Dr. Heilman concluded her remarks by updating Subcommittee members on NIAID and DMID’s international program changes, respectively. She gave an overview of the new NIAID Office of Global Affairs and how it will provide overall coordination of NIAID international activities through a matrix of international liaisons including other NIH components and DHHS agencies. Recognizing that the scope of global health research continues to expand and has relevant activities throughout DMID, Dr. Heilman announced that she has created the position of Assistant Director for International Research in Infectious Diseases within her office, and appointed Dr. Polly Sager to this position. Dr. Sager will coordinate all international research activities across the Division and will interface with the Office of Global Affairs in the NIAID/OD.
Dr. Heilman stated that one example of how this new role would play out within the Division would be through the recompetition of the International Collaborations in Infectious Disease Research (ICIDR) program, a long-standing DMID program that supports research on parasitic and other infectious diseases that predominantly affect populations living in developing countries but also are of global importance. Historically, this program has been overseen solely by the Parasitology and International Programs Branch but will now be coordinated by Dr. Sager in collaboration with relevant staff from the different branches.
Dr. Heilman then turned the meeting over to Dr. Linda Lambert, Acting Chief, Influenza, SARS, and Related Viral Respiratory Diseases Section. Dr. Lambert provided a brief overview of the current DMID influenza program staff structure by introducing the various program officers and their respective research portfolios, both of whom would be providing overviews of their programs; she also announced that Dr. Robert Webster would be giving a presentation on H5N1 influenza in Asia and on the state of pandemic preparedness from his perspective. Dr. Christina Cassetti, Program Officer, Influenza and Related Respiratory Viruses, began the influenza overview, providing an update to Subcommittee members on relevant basic and preclinical influenza research activities within NIAID; Ms. Sonnie Kim, Program Officer, Influenza and Select Paramyxo Viruses, discussed the status of various influenza clinical trials and related product development activities. Dr. Robert Webster’s presentation focused on the history of influenza, and the genesis of the H5N1 avian virus and its prospects for control; he also discussed other emerging flu viruses.
The following concept was presented for approval by the Subcommittee: Tularemia Vaccine Development. This initiative will support further development of tularemia vaccines by supporting research on development of standardized animal models for comparison of vaccine candidates. The Subcommittee was very supportive of this initiative and it was unanimously approved.
Dr. Heilman introduced Dr. Ed Nuzum, Chief, Product Development Section, Office of Biodefense Research Affairs (OBRA) DMID, who provided an update on ongoing biodefense product development activities for both rPA and MVA. back to top |