U.S. Senate FY 2011 Excerpts of Appropriations Report

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

National Cancer Institute

Behavioral Research on Tobacco Control — The Committee notes that NCI’s research on smoking cessation, smokeless tobacco and collaborations with NIDA, NICHD, and NHLBI are critical to building knowledge to reduce the use of tobacco by adolescents. The Committee also believes that behavioral science should facilitate FDA regulation of tobacco, including consumer perceptions, development of warning labels, product development and response, risk communication, and cultural effects, and recommends that the NCI support such research. [p. 96]

Social Media — The Committee encourages the NCI to fund research on how social media can be used to promote health behaviors and social support. [p. 98]

National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research

Behavioral Research — The Committee applauds the NIDCR’s recognition of behavior as a critical factor in oral health, and it encourages research on the development of educational and behavioral oral health promotion interventions to improve maternal and infant oral health. [p. 100]

National Institute of
General Medical Sciences

Behavioral Research Training — The Committee applauds the Institute’s leadership role in the OppNet initiative, which will support basic behavioral science throughout the NIH. The Committee encourages the NIGMS to support basic behavioral research to its fullest potential, and to incorporate basic behavioral training in its forthcoming training plan. [p. 105]

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Behavioral Neuroscience — The Committee is pleased that the NICHD supports a broad spectrum of behavioral neuroscience research, particularly as it relates to real-world problems. The Committee encourages further work on the effects of socioeconomic adversity on children’s brain development. [p. 106]

National Institute on Aging

Behavioral Economics — The Committee is pleased with the NIA’s focus on this emerging area of research, which is yielding insights into the neural and behavioral underpinnings of a variety of social and economic behaviors, and the Committee encourages additional work on this topic. [p. 110]

Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging — The Committee urges the NIA to continue supporting these important centers. [p. 110]

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Behavioral Genetics — The Committee encourages NIDA’s continued investment in behavioral genetics, especially in studies that combine genetic and behavioral approaches. The Committee particularly commends research on the relationships among behavior, genetics and nicotine addiction, and how they impact cognitive function. [p. 113]

Relapse Prevention — The Committee applauds the NIDA for supporting emerging research on the use of cognitive-enhancing therapy to reduce drug abuse relapse. The Committee understands that this research is currently conducted with animal models, and it encourages the NIDA to support research that tests this model in clinical populations. [p. 114]

Office of the Director

Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences — The Committee is pleased that the Basic Behavioral Opportunity Network (OppNet) was launched in fiscal year 2010 with the support of 24 Institutes and Centers and the NIH Director. The Committee has addressed basic behavioral science in many previous reports, and it applauds NIH’s recognition that basic behavioral research is essential in efforts to improve the Nation’s health. The Committee understands that OppNet represents a minimum of a 5-year, cross-NIH initiative designed to fill critical gaps in the NIH’s basic behavioral research enterprise. The Committee requests an update on OppNet’s progress in the fiscal year 2012 congressional budget justification. [p. 120]

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Center for Mental Health Services

Clinical Training — The Committee is aware that a new clinical accreditation program aims to ground practitioner training in empirically supported treatments to ensure that mental health and substance abuse treatment providers are scientifically equipped. The Committee is aware that SAMHSA is planning a conference on these issues, in collaboration with relevant professional organizations, and it encourages SAMHSA to continue this collaboration so that those seeking services are assured of receiving scientifically sound treatment. [p. 130]

HEALTH RESOURCES SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Allied Health and Other Disciplines — The Committee encourages HRSA to focus on supporting programs with demonstrated, scientifically based potential to improve the outcome of mental and behavioral healthcare services. These programs should include academic institutions with a demonstrated commitment for improving health outcomes, as documented by science-based accreditation processes. [pp. 48-49]