FY97 House Appropriations Report on NIH and CDC: Excerpts from House Report 104-659

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Office of the Director

Training-The Committee notes that the National Academy of Sciences recommended in its most recent assessment of the nation’s need for biomedical and behavioral researchers that NIH increase the number of NRSA awards in behavioral science, nursing research, health services research, and oral health research, while keeping the number of NRSA awards in the basic biomedical sciences at current levels. The Committee requests that the Director report to the Committee NIH’s progress in implementing these recommendations, including a plan and timetable to do so.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

The Committee is pleased that the OBSSR has established a research training task force. The Committee encourages the Office to work with the lCD’s [NIH Institute and Center Directors] to develop small grants programs for young investigators such as the B/ START program or other mechanisms the OBSSR may determine are appropriate.

National Institute on Child Health and Human Development

Training– As part of its effort to ensure the future supply of talented research personnel, the Committee encourages the NICHD to support an initiative such as B/START (Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition), aimed at younger behavioral science researchers.

National Institute on Aging

Training-As part of its effort to ensure the future supply of highly trained research personnel, the Committee encourages NIA to consider supporting an initiative such as B/START (Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition), aimed at younger behavioral science researchers.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Training-Since behavioral factors are important to alcoholism and alcohol abuse, the Committee encourages NIAAA to consider an initiative to support junior behavioral researchers, such as the B/START (Behavioral Science Track Awards for Rapid Transition) program which has been used by other Institutes.

Treatment matching-The Committee is interested to learn that Project MATCH, NlAAA’s clinical trial of patient treatment matching and treatment effectiveness, is approaching completion, and requests a report on the results of this important research as soon as it becomes available.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Behavioral science research-The Committee understands that behavioral research is important to solving problems of drug abuse and addiction, and that behavioral interventions are the most frequently administered treatments for drug addiction, in some cases, the only available treatment. The Committee commends NIDA for its basic and clinical behavioral science activities aimed at better identifying those at risk for drug abuse and developing effective approaches for breaking the cycle of addiction. The Committee also encourages NIDA’s initiatives in HIV/AIDS because of the increasing link between HIV infection and drug use and related behaviors.

National Institute of Mental Health

Clinical experiences-The Committee understands that much basic behavioral research can be brought to bear on the most serious mental disorders and encourages NIMH to develop mechanisms to build a generation of basic behavioral researchers who are sensitive to clinical issues.

Research plans-The Committee is pleased to learn that NIMH supported the development of a behavioral science research plan aimed at reducing depression, schizophrenia, and other severe mood and anxiety disorders. The Committee encourages NIMH to consider the plan in determining its research priorities, and looks forward to discussing the use of the plan in next year’s appropriations hearings.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Behavioral research-The Committee understands that NINDS supports a range of basic and applied behavioral research throughout its extramural divisions. The Committee encourages the Institute to continue its efforts to better understand the role of behavior in preventing and treating diseases and injuries of the brain.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

The Committee commends the Director’s efforts to promote behavioral and social sciences research at CDC and for creating the position of Assistant Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences. The Committee believes that such research is integral to the CDC mission and requests the Director to provide a status report on CDC’s activities relating to behavioral and social sciences research during the 1998 appropriations hearings.