E9-9131. Notice of Meeting; Moving Into the Future-New Dimensions and Strategies for Women's Health Research for the National Institutes of Health

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), will convene a public hearing and scientific workshop on May 27-29, 2009, at the UCSF, Mission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco, California.

Purpose of the Meeting

With rapid advances in science and wider global understanding of women's health and sex/gender contributions to well-being and disease, the purpose of the meeting is to ensure that NIH continues to support cutting edge women's health research that is based upon the most advanced techniques and methodologies. The meeting format is designed to promote an interactive discussion involving leading scientists, advocacy groups, public policy experts, health care providers, and the general public. The San Francisco meeting is the second in a series that will be convened throughout the Nation to assist the ORWH and the NIH to move into the next decade of women's health research.

As science and technology advance and fields such as computational biology demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary research, it remains critical for sex and gender factors to be integrated into broad experimental methodologies and scientific approaches such as stem cell research. Biomedical and behavioral research are also necessary to understand how cultural, ethnic, and racial differences influence the causes, diagnosis, progression, treatment, and outcome of disease among different populations, including women of diverse geographic locations and socioeconomic backgrounds. Furthermore, health differences among diverse populations of women remain a critical area in need of continued focus and attention.

The ORWH challenges all meeting attendees to assist the NIH in defining the women's health research agenda of the future, thinking beyond traditional women's health issues. The attendees need to identify creative strategies and areas of research that are best poised for advancement, address innovative ways to approach persistent issues of health and disease, and explore new scientific concepts and investigative approaches. The attendees need to pay attention to new areas of science application, new technologies, and continuing basic science investigations. The attendees should also consider clinical questions that are not currently the focus of research priorities to ensure that women's health research is optimally served and that the ORWH can continue to provide leadership for the benefit of women's health, nationally and internationally.

Meeting Format

The meeting will consist of public testimony, scientific panels, and six concurrent scientific working groups. Specifically, on May 27, individuals representing a full spectrum of organizations interested in biomedical and behavioral research on women's health issues will have an opportunity to provide public testimony from 2-6 p.m. On May 28 and 29, plenary sessions will focus on the intersection of health care, public policy, and biomedical research; on emerging issues and trends in health care; and on research paradigms of the future. The six concurrent afternoon sessions on May 28 will focus on a range of research areas, including global health, stem cell research, environmental health and reproduction, HIV/AIDS and women, information technology, and women in biomedical careers. On May 29, the morning session will be devoted to reports by the working group co-chairs regarding the recommendations emerging from working group deliberations on the previous day. The meeting will adjourn at 1 p.m. on May 29.

Public Testimony

ORWH invites individuals with an interest in research related to women's health to provide written and/or oral testimony on these topics and/or on issues related to the sustained advancement of women in biomedical careers. Due to time constraints, only one representative from an organization or professional specialty group may submit oral testimony. Individuals not representing an organized entity but a personal point of view are similarly invited to present written and/or oral testimony. A letter of intent to present oral testimony is necessary and should be sent electronically to http://www.orwhmeetings.com/​movingintothefuture/​ or by mail to Ms. Jory Barone, Educational Services, Inc., 4350 East-West Highway, Suite 1100, Bethesda, MD 20814, no later than May 15, 2009. The date of receipt of the communication will establish the order of those selected to give oral testimony at the May meeting.

Those wishing to present oral testimony are also asked to submit a written form of their testimony that is limited to a maximum of 10 pages, double spaced, 12 point font, and should include a brief description of the organization. Electronic submission to the above Web site is preferred; however, for those who do not have access to electronic means, written testimony, bound by the restrictions previously noted and postmarked no later than May 15, 2009, may be mailed to Ms. Jory Barone at the above address. All written presentations must meet the established page limitations. Submissions exceeding this limit will not be accepted and will be returned. Oral testimony of this material at the meeting will be limited to no more than 5-7 minutes in length.

Because of time constraints for oral testimony, testifiers may not be able to present the complete information as it is contained in their written form submitted for inclusion in the public record of the meeting. Therefore, testifiers are requested to summarize the major points of emphasis from the written testimony, not to exceed 7 minutes of oral testimony. Those individuals and/or organizations who have indicated that they will present oral testimony at the meeting in San Francisco will be notified prior to the meeting regarding the approximate time for their oral presentation.

Individuals and organizations wishing to provide written statements only should send a copy of their statements, electronically or by mail, to the above Web site or address by May 15, 2009. Written testimony received by that date will be made available at the May 27-29 meeting. Logistics questions related to the May meeting should be addressed to Ms. Jory Barone at ESI, while program-specific questions should be addressed to Ms. Jennifer Millis at the University of California, San Francisco, 415-502-2563, [e-mail].

This meeting is the second of four regional public hearings and scientific workshops of similar design to be convened by the ORWH. At the conclusion of the regional meetings, the ORWH will hold a meeting at the NIH to develop a summation of the deliberations from the regional meetings. The resulting report to the ORWH and the NIH will ensure that women's health research in the coming decade continues to support a vigorous research agenda incorporating the latest advances in technology and cutting edge science.

Dated: April 14, 2009.

Raynard S. Kington,

Acting Director, National Institutes of Health.