NHLBI will establish new networks on pulmonary fibrosis, sickle cell, and heart failure

NHLBI will establish new networks on pulmonary fibrosis, sickle cell, and heart failure

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will establish three new clinical research networks over the next two fiscal years, according to plans presented at the September 2004 meeting of the institute’s Advisory Council. The new networks will bring the total number to 12 since NHLBI established the first such effort in 1993.

Pulmonary fibrosis is the focus of the first of the three new networks to be implemented in the current fiscal year (FY2005). NHLBI will assemble the heart failure and sickle cell research networks the following year.

Director of the Lung Division, James Kiley, PhD, presented the information on clinical research networks at the September Council meeting. He estimated that the FY2004 budget supporting the 9 extant networks was $60 million. He estimated that the process of moving from protocol concept review to implementation is at least 7 months shorter for clinical research networks than for investigator-initiated R01 applications.

Additional information about the NHLBI Advisory Council September meeting can be found at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/nhlbac/sept04sum.htm