AREA, SO I'M REALLY, REALLY
EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE TODAY.
SO, AS NIBIB DIRECTOR, HE
OVERSEES A PORTFOLIO OF RESEARCH
PROGRAMS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON
DEVELOPING, TRANSLATING,
COMMERCIALIZING ENGINEERING,
PHYSICAL SCIENCE, COMPUTATIONAL
TECHNOLOGIES IN BIOLOGY AND
MEDICINE.
IN ADDITION, HE LEADS THE NIH'S
RAPID ACCELERATION EVER
DIAGNOSTICS TECHNOLOGY,
RADX-TECH INITIATIVE, LAUNCHED
DURING THE PANDEMIC TO INCREASE
SARS-COV-2 TESTING CAPACITY AND
PERFORMANCE, SO THAT'S A REALLY
INTERESTING AND DYNAMIC PROGRAM
THAT HAS SINCE BEEN I THINK
REPURPOSED FOR OTHER
INTERVENTIONS AS WELL.
HE ALSO MAINTAINS AND ACTIVE
RESEARCH LABORATORY THAT'S
FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PORTABLE BEDSIDE NON-CONTACT AND
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR
BIOMEDICAL SENSING IMAGING AND
THERAPY.
SO, DR. TROMBERG WILL SPEAK TO
US.
WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
AND THEN THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY A PRESENTATION FROM DR. ROGER
MILLER, OUR OWN NIDCD STAFF, HE
WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING IN THIS SPACE.
WELCOME, BRUCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEB.
AND I GUESS WE'LL GET THE SLIDES
TO COME UP.
I CAN'T TALK WITHOUT SLIDES.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
AS DEB FORESHADOWED MANY POINTS
IN MY TALK, WE'RE THE
ENGINEERING INSTITUTE AT NIH,
BUT AS I'LL SHOW WITH SOME
STATISTICS, YOU GUYS ARE THE
ENGINEERING INSTITUTE AS WELL,
AND SHOULD BE VERY PROUD TO
CLAIM YOUR INVESTMENT IN THAT
AREA.
I'LL GO OVER SOME OF THOSE, AND
I'M EXCITED ALSO TO MEET ROGER.
I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT ROGER.
I'M GOING TO HANG OUT FOR HIS
TALK AFTERWARDS.
SO MANY AREAS OF EXCITING
COLLABORATION.
THE TITLE, OUR GOAL, BRINGING
ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE
TOGETHER, THESE KINDS OF
PARTNERSHIP, I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL
ENGAGING IN THESE AND FAMILIAR.
I'M GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT IN
HISTORY.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY.
WE HAVEN'T HAD NATIONALLY KIND
OF DRIVE AND INCENTIVES FOR
BUILDING THESE KINDS OF
PARTNERSHIPS SO I'LL GO INTO THE
ORIGINS OF THIS, TALK ABOUT OUR
PORTFOLIOS, THINGS WE HAVE IN
COMMON, OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COLLABORATION, IN A SEMI RANDOM
WAY.
I HAVEN'T SYSTEMATICALLY GONE
OVER THESE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT
WILL STIMULATION DISCUSSION.
FIRST, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
CREATION STORY OF NIBIB, IT WAS
PRETTY IMPROBABLE.
NOBODY REALLY WANTED THIS
INSTITUTE TO FORM, THE NIH
DIRECTOR AT THE TIME HAROLD
VARMUS WAS TOTALLY OPPOSED AND
USED STRONG LANGUAGE AT THE TIME
TO SAY NO NEW INSTITUTES, NO
NIBIB.
BUT MIRACULOUSLY, DECEMBER 29,
2000, PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED
INTO LAW THIS HR-1795, WHICH
SAID THAT CONGRESS REALLY -- THE
LANGUAGE HERE IS PRESCIENT, IT'S
SURPRISING FOR LANGUAGE WRITTEN
IN THE LATE '90s, THE FIELD IS
CRITICAL TO IMPROVING HEALTH
CARE BUT FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT
FROM RESEARCH IN MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY, ON WHICH THE CURRENT
NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES AT
THE NIH ARE BASED.
SO, THAT WAS CERTAINLY AN
OBSERVATION OF TECHNOLOGY
COMMUNITY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY ELSE
FELT LIKE THAT.
BUT FROM THE COMING TOGETHER OF
THE ENGINEERING AND THE IMAGING
COMMUNITIES, THIS REALLY
PROVIDED THE KEY DRIVING FORCE
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS GOES ON, TO
ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR
THE 21ST CENTURY, THESE
DISCIPLINES REQUIRE AN IDENTITY
AND RESEARCH HOME AT THE NIH
THAT'S INDEPENDENT OF THE
EXISTING STRUCTURE.
SO, THIS SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW,
A POWERFUL STATEMENT AT THE
TIME.
NOBODY KNEW WHERE THIS WAS GOING
TO GO.
IN THE MIDDLE PLOT YOU SEE WHEN
NIBIB WAS ESTABLISHED, AND WHAT
WE'RE PLOTTING ON THE Y-AXIS IS
THE CUMULATIVE GROWTH OF THE
NUMBER OF BIOENGINEERING
PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE NOW HAVE OVER 175 -- AROUND
180, 18 5 WHAT WE CALL
ACCREDITED ENGINEERING
ACCREDITED BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING PROGRAMS IN THE
COUNTRY, MORE THAN 200 GRADUATE
PROGRAMS.
I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH
PROGRAMS AT YOUR INSTITUTIONS,
YOU'VE INTERACTED WITH THEM.
THIS WAS REALLY SYNERGIZED BY A
FOUNDATION CALLED THE WHITAKER
FOUNDATION WHICH INVESTED $760
MILLION IN A 20-YEAR PERIOD, THE
GOAL TO CREATE DEPARTMENTS OF
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU WERE
RECIPIENTS OR INVOLVED IN
WHITAKER AWARDS, SUCH A POWERFUL
TRANSFORMATION, BECAUSE THEY
REALLY WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE
DISCIPLINE, DEFINE THE
DISCIPLINE, AND CREATE EXPANSION
ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED AS A RESULT
OF ALL THIS, IF YOU WERE
AFFILIATED WITH THE SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING IN THE '90s, NO
ONE REALLY WAS WORKING ON HUMAN
HEALTH.
IT WASN'T PART OF STRATEGIC
PLANS, IF YOU'RE NOT IN A
STRATEGIC PLAN YOU DON'T EXIST.
THIS HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY.
HUMAN HEALTH HAS BECOME A TOP
PRIORITY OF ENGINEERING, IF IT'S
NOT ONE, TWO, OR THREE, YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT A SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT.
I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY
TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND FOCUS
HERE.
WE ALSO SEE, FINALLY, SCHOOLS OF
MEDICINE ARE A LITTLE SLOW ON
THE UPTAKE, BUT WE SEE SCHOOLS
OF MEDICINE HIRING BIOENGINEERS,
AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE TWO SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, AND TEXAS
A & M LED BY ROD PETTIGREW.
WE TEACH PHYSIOLOGY FROM A
BIOENGINEER POINT OF VIEW.
IN SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE THERE'S A
SIMILAR APPROACH WHERE MEDICINE
IS TAUGHT FROM AN ENGINEERING
PERSPECTIVE IN THESE TWO
SCHOOLS, AND IN AN EXPANDING
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND
OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
ROD CALLS THESE PHYSICIAN YEARS,
AND IT'S A CATCHY NAME.
I THINK IT'S STICKING AT LEAST
WITH THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY.
I HOPE WE CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO
THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO NOT TO MINIMIZE, I MEAN,
MANY, MANY ACADEMIC CENTERS HAVE
CENTERS FOR BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING WHICH ARE KIND OF
MATRIX ORGANIZATIONS, SOMETIMES,
EVEN PHYSICAL STRUCTURES THAT
PURPOSEFULLY DESIGN TO BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A
COLLABORATIVE SENSE.
AND HAVE JOINT APPOINTMENTS.
SO THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT THING.
AND ALL OF THIS HAS DRIVEN
INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
AND IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIVERSIFIED
SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERED, SO WE SEE
GEORGIA TECH HAS OVER 50% WOMEN
IN THEIR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
PROGRAM.
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE
PROGRAMS.
SOME CAMPUSES ARE SEEING THIS
EXTEND INTO OTHER ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENTS.
SO IT'S REALLY AFFECTED
BIOENGINEERING, BUT IN
TRADITIONAL AREAS, TOTALLY MALE
DOMINATED, WE'RE SEEING A
TRANSFORMATION, ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING, SIGNIFICANT UPTAKE
IN THE APPLICATION AREAS THAT
WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN.
SO NOT ONLY HAS IT DRIVEN
BIOENGINEERING, IT'S CHANGED
ENGINEERING, PHYSICAL SCIENCE,
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, SO WE'RE
PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT.
I DON'T THINK DR. VARMUS
ANTICIPATED THESE KINDS OF
EFFECTS OR IMPACTS.
NOW, WHAT HE DID HOPE FOR, HE
WASN'T AGAINST BIOENGINEERING SO
TO SPEAK, BUT HE THOUGHT IT
COULD RESIDE IN ALL THE
INSTITUTES.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED
TOO.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE TWO
THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, AT
FIRST CONTENTIOUS ACTUALLY
COEXIST AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE HAVE LESS THAN ROUGHLY A
PERCENT OF THE NIH BUDGET BUT WE
PARTNER AND COLLABORATE WITH AS
MANY NIH INSTITUTES THAT WILL
GIVE US TIME AND ATTENTION.
EVERYBODY WANTS NEW
TECHNOLOGIES.
THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS ARE
OFTEN AGNOSTIC ABOUT THEIR
APPLICATIONS, AND HOPEFUL THAT
THEY WILL BE ADOPTED FOR TRUE
SOLUTIONS.
AND SO THIS HAS CREATED A
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR
PARTNERSHIPS ESPECIALLY WITHIN
NIDCD AND SO MANY OTHER
INSTITUTES, INCLUDING ARPA-H.
I PUT THIS ON THE PLOT.
IF YOU NOTICE, THEIR RECENT
ANNOUNCEMENT, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
TRACKING BUT PRECISION SURGICAL
INTERVENTIONS, $120 MILLION,
$130 MILLION INVESTED IN THIS
GROUNDBREAKING POTENTIALLY
TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVE.
NINE AWARDS ANNOUNCED, ALL TO
OUR BIOENGINEERING COMMUNITY, IN
THE AREA OF BIOPHOTONICS AND
OPTICS, WITHOUT THESE
INVESTMENTS BY NIBIB OVER TIME
AND OTHER INSTITUTES IN THESE
TYPES OF TECHNOLOGIES, PSI,
PRECISION SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS
WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN OFF.
IT'S THIS KIND OF SYNERGY WE
HOPE TO ACHIEVE.
AND ARPA-H ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR
ABILITY TO MAKE DRAMATIC
INVESTMENTS, SO THAT'S UNHEARD
OF, $120 MILLION SUDDENLY
OVERNIGHT, AND THERE ARE MANY
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN LOOK
AT THAT THEY HAVE WITH REALLY
POWERFUL AMBITIONS.
SO QUITE SYNERGISTIC WITH US.
ALL RIGHT.
WHAT IS ALL THIS STUFF?
EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE
ICONOGRAPHY.
THIS IS OUR ICONOGRAPHY FOR WHAT
WE WORK ON, WHAT BOTH NIBIB
SUPPORTS, SO IN TERMS OF FORWARD
LOOKING, BUT ALSO IN REFLECTION.
THIS IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS
DOING.
SO, IN KIND OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL
TECHNOLOGY AREAS, WE WORK ON AND
SUPPORT ENGINEERED BIOLOGIC
SYSTEMS, SO THIS CAN SPAN FROM
MICROPHYSIOLOGIC SYSTEMS, SORT
OF TISSUE CHIPS, SYNTHETIC
BIOLOGY, A RAPIDLY MOVING FIELD,
TO THINK OF CELLS AS INTEGRATED
CIRCUITS, HAVE MATHEMATICAL
MODELING TO FACILITATE
REPROGRAMMING AND REMODELING
BIOLOGIC SYSTEMS AND BIOLOGIC
CELLS, MULTI-CELLULAR SYSTEMS.
NEUROMORPHIC CHIPS, SO BRINGING
COMPUTATIONAL POWER TO NEW
SYSTEMS FUNDAMENTALLY BASED,
ENGINEERED BIOLOGIC SYSTEMS.
WE SUPPORT SENSORS IN POINT OF
CARE DEVICE, BIOPHOTONNIC,
BIOELECTRONIC, BIOACOUSTIC,
WEARABLE, DELIVERED IN HOME
SETTINGS, WEARABLES, WHICH WE'RE
ALL FAMILIAR WITH, PROBABLY MANY
OF US ARE WEARING, BUT ALSO
MINIATURIZED TECHNOLOGIES THAT,
YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO HAD TO
BE IN HOSPITALS OR TERTIARY CARE
CENTERS, AND ARE NOW POTENTIALLY
DELIVERABLE IN POINT OF CARE OR
BEDSIDE.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED SPEAKING OF
BIG TECHNOLOGIES, I THINK OF
THOSE AS LITTLE PHYSICS.
WE SUPPORT BIG PHYSICS LIKE THE
BIGGEST PHYSICS, IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH WHOLE BODY PET
SCANNING, IT LIKES LIKE A
DETECTOR FROM THE LARGE HEDRON
COLLIDER, THE GUTS IS ALMOST
IDENTICAL TO LHC DETECTORS, IT
CAN DO A FULL BODY PET SCAN WITH
HALF A MILLION SIMULATORS IN ITS
DEVICE IN SEVEN MINUTES,
UPDATES, WHOLE BODY, EVERY
SECOND.
CAN YOU LOOK AT THE DYNAMICS OF
CONTRAST AGENTS AND DIAGNOSIS,
IT'S REALLY QUITE POWERFUL.
AND OF COURSE BIG PHYSICS
MRIs, AND OTHER PHYSICS
IMAGING APPROACHES.
WE SUPPORT THERAPEUTICS SYSTEMS,
SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT
AND INTEREST IN PUTTING ENERGY
INTO THE BODY, NOT CUTTING
THINGS OPEN.
THAT CAN BE ULTRASOUND, RF,
MICROWAVE, OPTICAL ENERGY,
DELIVERED IN WAYS
NON-INVASIVELY, MINIMALLY
INVASIVELY, IMPLANTABLE.
WE USE AND DEVELOP ROBOTIC
DEVICES, CONTROL NOT ONLY
ELECTROMAGNETIC OR ACOUSTIC
ENERGY YOU ABOUT ALSO MECHANICAL
FORCE, AND SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE
THINGS.
SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG -- LIKE
WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
ONE THING THAT TIES IT TOGETHER
IN THE CENTER IS DATA SCIENCE
MODELING AND COMPUTATION, AND
I'LL GET INTO THAT IN THE TALK.
I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED WHEN I GOT
HERE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAYING,
OH MY GOD, DATA SCIENCE, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT, AND ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE, AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS KIND OF FOUNDATIONAL FOR
ALL OF THE DEVICES AND
TECHNOLOGIES, BOTH TO DO SORT OF
DIGITAL TWINNING IN THEIR DESIGN
AND THEN TO EXTRACT INFORMATION
FROM ANY KINDS OF MEASUREMENTS
OR SYSTEMS THAT THEY PROVIDE.
SO, THIS IS THE WHOLE FIELD.
AND WE DON'T NEED A BIOLOGIC
HYPOTHESIS, SO IF YOU'RE AN
INVESTIGATOR, YOU CAN COME TO
NIBIB WITH CONCEPTS THAT WILL
PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON THESE TYPES
OF APPROACHES, BUT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO TIE IT TO A BIOLOGIC
IDEA.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIG
DISTINGUISHING FACTOR BETWEEN
NIBIB AND OTHER INSTITUTES.
SO, WHAT ABOUT THE TOTAL -- I
ALLUDED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL
INSTITUTES ARE INVESTING, AND I
THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON WHO
KEEPS SCORE ON THIS BUT HAPPY TO
SHARE THESE DATA.
IN 2023, IF YOU LOOK AT
INVESTMENTS, WE HAVE RCDC CODES,
COMPOSITES OF HUNDREDS OF
INDIVIDUAL SORT OF WORDS AND
PARAMETERS.
BUT 15% OF THE TOTAL NIH BUDGET
WAS SPENT ON BIOENGINEERING.
THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER $7
BILLION IN 2023.
FIVE-YEAR TOTAL OVER $30
BILLION.
A LOT OF THE POPULAR CONCEPTION
OF NIH IS THAT IT'S NOT THAT
TECHNICAL OF AN AGENCY.
YOU KNOW, BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE,
OF COURSE, FOUNDATIONAL.
BUT THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL
INVESTMENT ALL ACROSS ALL
INSTITUTES IN THESE
TECHNOLOGIES, AND THIS IS
INCREASING.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS DOUBLE, OUR
DOUBLING RATE IS ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO, I GUESS 30 YEARS OR SO
EVERYTHING WILL BE
BIOENGINEERING, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'LL HOLD ME TO THAT.
SO, THIS IS KIND OF AN
INTERESTING WAY TO LOOK AT HOW
ALL THE INSTITUTES ARE INVESTING
IN IT LIKE BREAKING THAT $7
BILLION DOWN, OR IN FACT THIS IS
OVER 10-YEAR PERIOD, 2013 TO
2023.
THE BUBBLE SIZE IS THE SIZE OF
THE I.C. APPROPRIATED BUDGET.
YOU SEE NCI AND NIAID, BIG
BUBBLES.
WAY OUT THERE ON THE RIGHT.
LITTLE BUBBLES ON THE LEFT, AND
OF COURSE WE BY DEFINITION,
NIBIB IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER,
BARESICALLY -- BASICALLY ALL OR
FUNDING GOES TO BIOENGINEERING.
THERE'S SOME RCDC CODES, SOME
AREAS OF IMAGING NOT FULLY
CAPTURED IN THAT, SO IT'S NOT
100%.
NIDCD IS TECHNICALLY THE THIRD
IN TERMS OF FRACTION TO
BIOENGINEERING, BEHIND NLM, 20
TO 30%.
NLM IS IN A VERY FOCUSED AREA IN
THEIR INVESTMENTS, INFORMATICS,
ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT, AND SO
FORTH.
NIDCD, YOU CAN CLAIM FROM A
BROAD BASED DEVICE AND
COMPUTATION MODELING, AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS THAT WERE IN MY
ICONOGRAPHY ABOUT WHAT IS
BIOENGINEERING, NIDCD IS PULLING
THEIR WEIGHT.
ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS
OF COURSE IF YOU'RE LIKE DEB AND
MYSELF, HARDLY A DAY GOES BY
WITHOUT AT LEAST TEN
CONVERSATIONS ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT A.I. AND
M.L. INVESTMENTS OVER TIME.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND I
NOTE THAT BEFORE 2019 THIS
WASN'T AN RCDC CODE, YOU
COULDN'T EVEN TRACK THIS.
THIS HAS GROWN MORE THAN
THREE-FOLD SINCE 2019,.
$1.5 BILLION, AN AREA THAT'S
QUITE SPECIAL, IT'S LIKE STEAK
AND CABERNET, A GREAT PAIRING,
A.I. AND IMAGING.
THESE TWO ARE ALSO
CO-INVESTMENTS GROWING RAPIDLY.
SO NEARLY FOUR-FOLD, SMALLER
INVESTMENTS, MORE SPECIALIZED
SELECTION, BUT THEY ARE GROWING
VERY FAST.
I'LL DIG INTO A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT.
SO, AGAIN, WITH ALL THE
DISCUSSION OVER A.I., YOU WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT LIKE THIS IS A
TOTALLY NEW THING, BUT THE FIRST
CLEARANCE BY THE FDA FOR A.I. OR
MACHINE LEARNING BASED SOFTWARE
FOR A DEVICE WAS IN NOVEMBER OF
1995.
SO, THIS IS THIS HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
882 TOTAL CLEARANCES BY FDA FOR
A.I. AND M.L.-ENABLED SOFTWARE
FOR DEVICES.
NOW, WE SEE THE VAST MAJORITY
HAVE BEEN IN RADIOLOGY.
SO, IN THIS WINDOW, ABOUT 77%
FROM 2014 TO 2024, OVER THAT
10-YEAR PERIOD, HAVE BEEN IN
RADIOLOGY.
AND IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS
AND THE STEADIEST GROWTH
COMPARED TO OTHER SPECIALTIES.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE ORIGIN
OF THAT?
SO, IF YOU'VE EVER MORE THAN
JUST LOOKED AT AN IMAGE A, IF
YOU'VE FORMED AN IMAGE, YOU KNOW
YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT
COMPUTATION.
YOU TAKE SOME SORT OF SOURCE AND
DETECTOR, AND YOU MAKE
MEASUREMENTS, IN MULTIPLE
LOCATIONS, OR THE DETECTOR HAS
BUILD INTO IT A MULTI-SPATIAL OR
TEMPORAL DIMENSIONALITY.
SO, IN ORDER TO MAKE, RENDER
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, YOU
HAVE TO DO MATH.
AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
APPROACHES, DEPENDING ON
IMAGING.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME MODELS TO COME
FROM PHYSICS TO HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND INFORMATION CONTENT.
THEY MAY BE STATISTICAL MODELS,
DATA SCIENCE-BASED APPROACHES.
A.I. IS A STATISTICAL METHOD.
AND THE BIG POWER FOR OUR
COMMUNITY FOR A.I. IS YOU CAN'T
MAKE AN IMAGE IF YOU DON'T HAVE
A SIGNAL THAT IS COMING OUT OF A
BACKGROUND.
AND IN A.I. YOU CAN HELP WITH
THE INSTRUMENT, REDUCE THE
BACKGROUND, DROP THE NOISE
FLOORS, ENHANCE INFORMATION
CONSENT AND QUALITY, ROBUSTNESS
OF THE SIGNAL.
AND SO THAT IN A VERY SIMPLE WAY
IS THE KIND OF A.I. AND A.I.
TOOLS THAT THE IMAGING COMMUNITY
IS USING QUITE A LOT.
IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE, BECAUSE
THERE'S A DICOM STANDARD FOR
IMAGING, TO GET LARGE DATASETS
AND TRAIN MODELS WHICH IN A.I.
THAT'S THE KEY, IF YOU'RE NOT
REALLY ADEQUATELY TRAINING YOUR
MODEL, WHEN YOU SOLVE THE
INVERSE PROBLEM, YOU MAY END UP
WITH A HALLUCINATION AS THEY SAY
IN A.I.
WE IN COMPUTATION SAY A FALSE
MINIMUM, NOT A TRUE GLOBAL
MINIMUM.
MODELS WE SEE IN ALL OF THIS FDA
STUFF ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW,
ASTOUNDING, THEY RANGE IN
COMPLEXITY FROM SHALLOW MACHINE
LEARNING TO MULTI-LAYERED DEEP
LEARNING.
A LOT IS HYBRID PHYSICS PLUS
A.I. MECHANISTIC MODELS.
EVERYONE WANTS EXPLAINABLE AND
INTERPRETABLE A.I.
THIS IS KIND OF OUR APPROACH FOR
GETTING THAT EXPLAINABILITY
INTERPRETABILITY.
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE, IF YOU BUILD
YOUR MODEL BASED ON KNOWN
PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES, WAVEFORMS,
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT YOU KNOW EXIST
IN YOUR SIGNAL, AND THEN YOU USE
MACHINE LEARNING TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THOSE WAVEFORMS, AND
SOME SORT OF AN OUTCOME, THAT'S
A HYBRID MODEL.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY QUITE
POWERFUL AND HELPS FACILITATE
SEGMENTATION AS WELL.
AND SO WE ARGUE THAT THESE ARE
REALLY MAJOR WAYS TO ACCELERATE
PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS, SO THAT'S
GOING TO LEAD ULTIMATELY TO
PRECISION MEDICINE.
YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION
CONTENT.
AND THERE'S ENORMOUS GROWTH.
SO, ANYWHERE YOU LOOK, YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE GROWTH
POTENTIAL IS, IT'S ANYWHERE FROM
40 TO 50% COMPOUND ANNUAL
GROWTH.
HERE IS ONE RANDOM PLOT THAT I
TOOK FROM THIS PARTICULAR SOURCE
THAT THOSE BETWEEN 2024 AND 20
2029
WE'RE EXPECT OF EXPECTING A
SEVEN-FOLD GROWTH IN A.I. AND
HEALTH CARE.
THE MARKET SHARE FOR IMAGE I
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CONT TO
CONTINUE, THE LOW BARRIER TO AC
ONE.
GENERATIVE TECHNIQUES CAPTURED
SO MANY PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES
AND PROBLEMS WITH THOSE, NOTABLY
EXPLAINABILITY,
INTERPRETABILITY, TRUE
SOLUTIONS, ETHICALLY SOURCED
COMPONENTS BUT TRYING TO
TRANSFER ATTRIBUTES IN THE
TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITIES TO OUR
COLLEAGUES IN OTHER AREAS TO
ENSURE ROBUSTNESS OF THOSE TYPES
OF ALGORITHMS.
BUT THE GROWTH AND SECTORS HERE
REMAIN TO BE SEEN.
TO HELP FACILITATE WE'VE
INVESTED QUITE HEAVILY IN WHAT
WE CALL MIDRC, THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT I WAS ABLE TO INVEST IN
BECAUSE OF ITS FOCUS, OUR FOCUS
INITIALLY ON COVID AND THORACIC
IMAGING, CT AND X-RAY IMAGING OF
THORACIC CAVITY.
IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINALS
INSURE OF -- ORIGINS OF COVID,
FIGURESS WERE OVER OVERWHELMED.
THIS WAS FOR ACUTE COVID
INITIALLY.
WHAT WE DID WAS BRING TOGETHER
AND WE THINK THIS IS A REALLY
GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR
COLLEAGUES SHOULD THINK ABOUT
FORMING DATABASES WHERE THEY
HAVE HARD PROBLEMS IN GETTING
VALIDATED A.I. ALGORITHMS.
SO WE BROUGHT TOGETHER THE KEY
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES, AACR,
RSNA, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF
RADIOLOGY, AAPM, AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICISTS IN
MEDICINE, ALL SUPPORTING IT,
PROVIDING WORK FORCE AND IMAGES
FROM THEIR DATABASES.
AND THERE ARE 24 CORE
INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY,
PLUS MANY, MANY MORE IN
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
CONTRIBUTING IMAGES.
SO, IT'S LED BY MARYELLEN GIGER,
A PIONEER IN CONTRAST IN
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED
APPROACHES TO EXTRACT CONTRAST
AND DO SEGMENTATION IN EXUDER
AIDED DIAGNOSTICS.
BUT A STELLAR GROUP, OF ALL THE
KEY PEOPLE WORKING ON THESE
ALGORITHMS, IT'S AN OPEN DATA
DISCOVERY COMMONS.
AN OPEN DISCOVERY DATA COMMONS,
IN ADDITION TO BEING A MACHINE
INTELLIGENCE AND COMPUTATIONAL
CAPABILITY REPOSITORY, WHERE
ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT IS
ONGOING, INITIALLY IT WAS FOR
COVID IN ACUTE SENSE, EVOLVED
OVER TIME TO LOOK AT LONG COVID
AND OTHER DISEASES AND
CONDITIONS.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET
FUNDING AND WORK IN STRONG
COLLABORATION WITH THE NETWORK
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE APPLICATIONS
IN MANY OTHER AREAS, SO WE HOPE
THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.
IF YOU GO TO THE MIDRC WEBSITE
THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF
INFORMATION.
AND THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION,
VOLUME OF IMAGING INGESTED,
567,000, I THINK I DOWNLOADED
THIS LAST MONTH, SO IT CONTINUES
TO GROW.
THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 180,000
IMAGING STUDIES RELEASED TO THE
PUBLIC.
TYPICALLY ABOUT THREE IMAGES PER
STUDY, SO PATIENT CASES ARE
ROUGHLY HALF OR A THIRD OF THAT.
MORE THAN 14 TERABYTES OF LIKE
TOTAL DATA THAT'S BEEN RELEASED,
SO YOU CAN GO ONTO THE WEBSITES,
INTERACT WITH THESE IMAGES.
THERE ARE OVER 600 COLLABORATING
INSTITUTIONS, SO ONE OF THE KEY
ETHICS ABOUT DATABASES, YOU
KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUS BUT WE'VE
REALLY KIND OF DISCOVERED THIS,
THERE ARE A LOT OF DATABASES
PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES NIH
MANDATES YOU TO DEVELOP THESE.
AND SO YOU GO, OKAY, NIH SAID WE
HAVE TO DO IT.
ONE OF THE TRICKS TO REALLY
MAKING THEM USEFUL IS TO BUILD A
COMMUNITY AROUND IT.
SO WE THINK THIS IS KIND OF PART
OF THE PLAYBOOK TO HELP INFORM
AND INSPIRE THAT.
LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS.
AND LOTS OF DOWNLOADS.
SO IT'S REALLY BUILT A STRONG
COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S A STRONG
PRESENCE IN THE PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETIES.
THIS IS PART OF THE GEN3 FABRIC,
OR DATA COMMONS, AND MIDRC IS
PART OF THE ARPA-H BIOMEDICAL
DATA FABRIC, A KEY FOUNDATIONAL
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL A.I.
RESEARCH RESOURCE.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT INTO A.I. SO
MUCH YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT
S IT'S A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR
INVESTMENT BY THE INVOLVED
CENTERED AT NSS COMPUTER SCIENCE
DIRECTORATE THAT SEEKS TO
DEVELOP A.I. TOOLS FOR THE
NATION AND DISTRIBUTE THEM SO
EVERYBODY CAN USE THEM.
SO MIDRC IS A FOUNDATIONAL
MEMBER AND PARTNER IN THAT.
BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE DATA
COMMONS, IMAGING DATA COMMONS,
AND GEN3 OVERALL ARCHITECTURE,
THEN MIDRC HAS META INDEXES,
THERE ARE MORE THAN 23
REPOSITORIES IN GEN3, MOST ARE
NIH SUPPORTED.
SO, YOU CAN DO IN A SINGLE
SIGN-ON, YOU CAN FIND, LET'S
SAY, COMMON PATIENTS THAT MAY
COME FROM NHLBI AND FROM THESE
CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE SITES THAT
ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MIDRC DATA
SO YOU CAN SEE IMAGING DATA,
CLINICAL DATA, GENOMIC DATA, THE
HOLY GRAIL OF INTEROPERABILITY.
WE'VE SHOWN INTEROPERABILITY
WITH NHLBI, CATALYST, N3C, NCATS
DATA ON COVID AS WELL.
THERE'S SOME OTHER VERY POWERFUL
TOOLS LIKE A DIVERSITY
CALCULATOR THAT ALLOWS YOU TO
COMPARE YOUR DATASET WITH THE
U.S. CENSUS.
AND THIS IS A KEY PROBLEM IN
BIAS IN DATA.
SO EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS
TO THAT, AND THAT'S NOW
AVAILABLE THROUGH MIDRC AND
THROUGH THE NATIONAL A.I.
RESEARCH RESOURCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET
COLLABORATION BETWEEN
UNIVERSITIES IN SUBMITTING DATA
TO A COMMON REPOSITORY.
AND PROBABLY ALL OF YOU HAVE
TRIED TO DO THAT AND RUN INTO --
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME
UNIVERSITY LEADER WHO THINKS
THAT IT'S ILLEGAL OR I'M GOING
TO SELL IT TO A COMPANY AND I
DON'T WANT IT -- YOU KNOW, THERE
ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
BUT WHAT THIS IS STRUCTURED TO
DO IS ALSO FACILITATE SORT OF
FEDERATED LEARNING, WITH
BUILDING EDGE NODES, SO IN OTHER
WORDS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE
TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR DATA TO THE
REPOSITORY.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE YOUR DATA
AND GET THE ALGORITHMS, AND HELP
THOSE ALGORITHMS OPTIMIZE AND
TRAIN IN A MORE LOCAL SENSE.
AND THEN STILL WORK WITH THE
NETWORK.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALL THESE
IMAGE CLASSIFICATION BIAS
AWARENESS TOOLS.
SO THE FDA HAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED
THE DECISION TREE FOR MEDICAL
IMAGING, CLASSIFICATION METRICS,
CLASSIFICATION, DETECTION,
LOCALIZATION, SEGMENTATION.
SO, THIS IS -- THESE ARE ALL
TOOLS YOU WITH FIND ON THE MIDRC
WEBSITE, NAIRR WEBSITE,
BIOMEDICAL DATA FABRIC,
REGULATORY TOOLS, A BIG INTENT
IS NOT JUST TO HAVE A
RESEARCH-ONLY DATABASE.
WE WANT TO MOVE ALL OF THIS
STUFF INTO THE CLINIC AND IF YOU
DON'T ENGAGE FDA FROM THE
BEGINNING YOU WON'T MAKE THAT
SUCCESSFUL.
FDA HAS BEEN WEIGHING IN, A
PARTNER IN THIS, APPLIED TO A
NUMBER OF FDA PRODUCT CODES WAY
BEYOND COVID AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASE AND EXTEND INTO CANCER
AND NEUROVASCULAR AND SO FORTH.
ANOTHER REALLY BIG PROBLEM THAT
KEEPS THE TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE
AWAKE AT NIGHT ARE THE MANY
SOURCES OF BIAS.
AND SO MIDRC HAS DONE A
REMARKABLE JOB BREAKING DOWN,
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT
THE BIAS ESTIMATOR, BIAS
ESTIMATOR TOOL.
DATA COLLECTION, PREPARATION,
MODEL DEVELOPMENT, MODEL
EVALUATION, ULTIMATELY THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE MODELS, EXCUSE
ME.
THERE ARE MANY SOURCES OF BIAS
IN THESE.
SO THIS REALLY BREAKS IT DOWN,
AND GOES PROBABLY FURTHER THAN
ANYONE, ALL OF YOU HAVE
CONSIDERED, BECAUSE YOU REALLY
NEED TO GET DEEPLY INTO THIS
PROBLEM TO UNDERSTAND WHICH ONES
YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT,
IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON
YOUR DATASET.
MOST POPULARLY PEOPLE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT POPULATION BIAS.
AND I THINK WE DO A NICE JOB
ADDRESSING THAT.
BUT IF I HAVE AN MRI IN ONE
PLACE, MRI IN ANOTHER PLACE AS
YOU KNOW THEY MAY NOT WORK THE
SAME.
DEVICES MAY HAVE THE SAME NAME
BUT THE DATA COMING OFF OF THOSE
THINGS COULD BE REALLY QUITE
DIFFERENT.
AND SO THIS REALLY HELPS ALERT
PEOPLE TO THAT.
ANOTHER A.I. INVESTMENT THAT WE
MAKE IS PART OF THE COMMON FUND
BRIDGE TO A.I., AND I THINK THIS
IS ALSO DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO
NIDCD.
IT'S THE VOICE PROJECT.
THE GOAL HERE IS TO BUILD AN
ETHICALLY SOURCED MULTI-MODAL
DATABASE TO FUEL VOICE RESEARCH,
A.I. VOICE RESEARCH.
AND SO THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP, 50
DIRECTORS, 15 ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS, ONE INDUSTRY
PARTER.
AND THE FOCUS HERE IS ON FIVE
DISEASE CATEGORIES.
MOOD DISORDERS, CARDIO
RESPIRATORY DISEASES, VOICE
DISORDERS, NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS,
PEDIATRIC SPEECH DISORDERS.
AND SO, THERE'S STANDARD
PROTOCOLS FOR ACQUIRING
INFORMATION IN EACH OF THESE
AREAS.
YOU GET RAW ACOUSTIC SOUND,
SPECTROGRAMS, EXTRACTED, ACCUSE
TIKE FEATURES, PHYSICS MODELS,
NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING, THE
GOAL TO SYNTHESIZE BIOMARKERS.
AND METADATA IS ALSO ACQUIRED
BIOAACOUSTIC WITH CHALLENGES,
TASKS, DEMOGRAPHICS,
QUESTIONNAIRES, CONFOUNDERS, OR
SMOKING, LIKE I HAVE NOW A COLD,
IS YOUR VOICE RASPY.
GENOMICS AND IMAGING A, MRICT
AND LARYNGOSCOPY.
YOU CAN REFINE THESE THOUGHTS
BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT THERE'S
POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE PERSONAL
SIZED HEARING EXPERIENCES, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LIKE, YOU KNOW,
I NOTICED PHONAK RELEASED A CHIP
FOR SOUND PROCESSING.
I TALKED TO BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERS, INNOVATORS,
ENTREPRENEUR, ALL THESE BUSINESS
PLANS WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP
A.I. THIS AND A.I. THAT.
LIKE I WONDER HOW ARE THEY GOING
TO GET ALL THE DATA AND THEY ALL
SAY, SO, WE WANT UNSUPERVISED
A.I.
AND YOU GO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
GET ALL THE DATA TO ENSURE THAT
THAT ACTUALLY WORKS?
ULTIMATELY THEY ARE GOING TO RUN
INTO THE FDA BECAUSE THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NOVEMBER
199 5 SO THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND
THIS.
BUT THIS DATASET HAS ALL THESE
COUGH AND BREATHING SOUNDS,
VOICE AND CHEECH, FOUNDATIONAL
MODELS COULD BE BUILT AND
VALIDATED TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE
ACCURACY, THE WAY INFORMATION IS
TRANSMITTED.
COMPANIES CAN PARTNER.
SOME PEOPLE MAY BE WORKING WITH
PHONAK IN THIS CONSORTIUM, COULD
USE DATASETS TO RAIL DATE MODELS
AND ASSESS PERFORMANCE
RECOGNIZING DIFFERENT NOISES.
BACKGROUND NOISE IS A PROBLEM,
DEB AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THAT.
THE DATA COLLECTED RIGHT NOW IS
PROBABLY INSUFFICIENT FOR
BACKGROUND NOISE CHALLENGE BUT
CERTAINLY I'VE TALKED TO THE
INVESTIGATORS OF THIS PROGRAM,
AND THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT PROBLEM AS WELL.
I THINK, THEY HAVE A LOT OF
VOICES, POTENTIALALLY
COMPUTATIONAL SYNTHETIC DATA,
COULD SYNTHESIZE SOME BACKGROUND
NOISE BUT EVEN THAT IS AN
OUTSTANDING QUESTION ABOUT THE
VALIDITY.
YOU COULD LEARN FROM DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SPEAKERS, SO YOU COULD
THEN INTRODUCE IN YOUR DEVOICE
KIND OF PERSONALIZED GAIN
ADJUSTMENT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US
DON'T HEAR OUR SPOUSES THEY WELL
BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARING
IMPAIRMENT, SO MAYBE IT WOULD
RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF YOUR
SPOUSE AND, YOU KNOW,
AUTOMATICALLY UP OTHER DOWN
ADJUST THE GAIN.
THEN THE COMBINATION WITH
METADATA HERE INSANELY
AMBITIOUS, YOU COULD COMBINE
DEVICES AND DEVELOP MORE TYPES
OF CLOSED LOOP NEUROMODULATORY
SYSTEMS, I'M THINKING POTENTIAL
TREATMENT FOR TINNITUS OR OTHER
APPROACHES.
THERE'S ENORMOUS POTENTIAL.
DEB MENTIONED RADx, THIS TOOK
OVER OUR LIFE AT NIBIB FOR
SEVERAL YEARS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
WE BUILT AROUND OUR POINT OF
CARE TECHNOLOGY NETWORK,
MULTIPLE INSTITUTIONS, A U54,
READY TO GO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
OF COVID DIAGNOSTICS AND
TESTING.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF LIKE THE
SHARK TANK, INNOVATION FUNNEL.
THAT'S WHAT WE STARTED OUT WITH.
WE WANTED EVERYONE IN THE WORLD
TO SUBMIT THEIR IDEAS TO THE
INNOVATION FUNNEL, MAKE IT
SKETCHY IDEA, LOW BARRIER TO
ENTRY.
THE POINT OF CARE NETWORK WAS
ACTUALLY THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU
COULD SEND YOUR IDEAS INTO SO
CIMIT WAS THE PRIMARY CONDUIT
FOR WHICH ALL THE ORGANIZATION
TOOK PLACE.
IDEAS CAME IN.
THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS SERVED IN
VARIOUS CAPACITIES, CREATED A
VALIDATION CORE.
EVERYBODY SUBMITS WITH A
TECHNOLOGY THAT WORKS PERFECTLY,
LIKE 99% tPA, IT'S POSSIBLE
FOR THINGS TO BE BUT EVERY
DEVELOPER SAYS THEIR DEVICE IS
PERFECT.
WE HAD A VALIDATION CORE TO TEST
AND EVALUATE THAT.
A CLINICAL STUDIES CORE TO DO
DIGITAL TRIALS, STANDARD TRIAL
DESIGN, DEPLOYMENT CORE TO DEAL
WITH SUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING
AND SO FORTH.
I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A
TECHNICAL PROBLEM AT FIRST.
IT'S EASY, I KNOW ALL THESE
TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE, AND WE CAN
SOLVE THE PROBLEM, GET TESTING
TO PEOPLE'S HOMES, TO POINT OF
CARE, BUT IT TRULY WAS A
CULTURAL PROBLEM CONVOLVED OF
COURSE WITH TECHNOLOGIES.
WE HAD TO INTRODUCE OTHER
PROGRAMS AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE
LEFT WHICH I WON'T GO THROUGH
BUT BUILT A DIGITAL HEALTH
PLATFORM AROUND THIS, DEALT WITH
VARIANTS.
WE SENT DIAGNOSTICS OUT INTO
PEOPLE'S HOMES, THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY WAS A CATCHMENT AREA TO
UNDERSTAND IF THEY LIKED OR USED
THEM.
WE THOUGHT NATURALLY LIKE
EVERYONE'S GOING TO WANT TO TEST
AT HOME.
BUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE
TOLD US WE DON'T TRUST PEOPLE
TESTING AT HOME.
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD TEST IN THE
LABORATORY.
WE HAD TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
WE FORMED A STRONG PARTNERSHIP
WITH FDA.
WE CALLED INDEPENDENT TEST
ASSESSMENT PROGRAM TO FACILITATE
RAPID AUTHORIZATION, LAUNCH THE
TEST TO TREAT PROGRAM, WAYS TO
REPORT YOUR TESTS, BROUGHT IN
ACCESS COMMUNITY AND ACCESS
BOARD WHICH WORKED WITH US
CAREFULLY TO REDESIGN TESTS SO
PEOPLE WITH VISUAL AND DEXTERITY
IMPAIRMENTS COULD DO THEM
BETTER.
WE HAVE A NEW SERIES OF TESTS
THAT HAVE COME OUT AND ARE
COMING OUT, JUST FROM A RESULTS
POINT OF VIEW BETWEEN THE
INNOVATION FUNNEL AND FDA,
ACCELERATED AUTHORIZATION
PROGRAM, THAT LED TO 56 EUAs,
EMERGENCY USE AUTHORRATIONS, 8
BILLION TESTS IN A 3-YEAR
PERIOD, A PARADIGM SHIFT.
LAB TESTS WERE FIRST, THEN,
OKAY, NOW EVERYONE'S EXPECTING
TO BE ABLE TO DO TESTS OF
VIRTUALLY ANYTHING IN THEIR
HOME, SO OVER THE COUNTER AND
POINT OF CARE HAVE COMPLETELY
OVERWHELMED LABORATORY TESTING
FOR THESE KINDS OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
MOST RECENTLY IN THE FIRST HALF
OF THIS YEAR WE'VE MOVED THROUGH
THE AUTHORIZATION PROCESS 15
DIFFERENT MULTIPLEX COVID-19 FLU
A AND B TESTS, SO THESE ARE
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, RAMPING
UP FOR FLU SEASON.
ALL THE TESTS ON THE MARKET HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE RADx I.T.
PROGRAM.
AS DEB ALLUDED TO THE RADx
PROCESS IS FOUNDATIONAL TO THE
WAY WE THINK AND OUR COMMUNITY
THINKS SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
EXTEND TO CHRONIC DISEASE, AS
WELL AS INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
THESE ARE OUR CURRENT ONGOING
PROJECTS, BLUEPRINT MED TECH
PROGRAM IS REALLY BUILT AND
INSPIRED AROUND THE RADx,
RADx CONCEPT, MULTIPLE
PARTNERS, THE BLUEPRINT I THINK
THERE ARE 12 BLUEPRINT NIH
INSURE ENTHUSE -- INSTITUTES IN
THAT.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH NICHD AND
OFFICE FOR RESEARCH AND WOMEN'S
HEALTH, LAUNCHING A RADx
CHALLENGE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH
TECHNOLOGIES, TEN TECHNOLOGIES
IN A SORT OF ROUND ROBIN
FINALIST STAGE BEING EVALUATED
IN VALIDATION CORE, HEMORRHAGE,
PREECLAMPSIA, POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION, URINARY TRACT
INFECTIONS, PRACTICAL, WEARABLE,
HOME-BASED POINT OF CARE
TECHNOLOGIES.
WE LAUNCHED A RADx FETAL
MONITORING CHALLENGE AGAIN WITH
NICHD, AND HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED
AN ACT ENDOCHALLENGE TO HELP
ACCELERATE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF
ENDOMETRIOSIS, A $3 MILLION
PRIZE, AGAIN WORKING WITH NICHD,
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT AS COMPARED TO
WRITING AN R01 IS THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE A PERFECTLY WRITTEN
PROPOSAL.
AND YOU COME IN TO OUR
COORDINATING CENTER WITH A
RUBRIC, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT, IF
IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD IDEA WE
WORK WITH YOU, WITH OUR TEAMS,
BOTH FROM OUR POINT OF CARE,
POCTRN NETWORK, CONSULTANTS WE
HIRE, TO FIND THE TRUTH, LIKE IS
THIS - DOES THIS REALLY HAVE
POTENTIAL AND CAN MOVE IT AND
PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES.
IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE, WE JUST
RECENTLY HAD A HEP-C NUCLEIC
ACID TEST, WITH A FINGER PRICK,
WE'RE PROUD OF THIS.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS IN A
PANDEMIC, AND WENT THROUGH
EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.
SO, THIS IS MORE REAL LIFE.
AND SO THIS IS JUST RELEASED, AT
THE END OF JUNE.
AND IT PAVES THE WAY FOR FUTURE
510(K)s IN VIREMIA TEST.
WE SUPPORTED THE FIRST Mpox
LESION-BASED DIAGNOSTIC AT POINT
OF CARE, SO SEFI HAS RELEASED
THAT AS Mpox CONTINUES TO
GROW, CLADE 1 AND DRC, WORKING
ON MULTI-LESION DIAGNOSTIC THAT
WILL HAVE MULTIPLE TARGETS AS
WELL AS SYPHILIS, AND ALSO WE'RE
DOING ONE IN HEP-B.
SO, KIND OF THIS LEADS TO THE
CORE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT, LIKE WHAT ARE WE AND
NIDCD DOING AND WHAT ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION?
WELL, WE LOOKED AT BY HAND
CURATED LOTS OF DCD PROJECTS AND
PROTECT THEM INTO KEY CONCEPT
GROUPS THAT FALL INTO OUR
RELEVANT CATEGORIES.
YOU SEE IMAGING IS REALLY
STRONGLY REPRESENTED THERE.
ON THE RIGHT YOU SEE OUR
PIECHART WHERE WE LOOK AT GRANTS
NIDCD PROBLEM DRIVEN,
OVERWHELMING NUMBER IN IMAGING.
I'LL TALK ABOUT INFORMATICS
BASED APPROACHES.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
>> TEN MINUTES.
>> I'M TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO SHOW YOU THE VIDEO.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN
UNDERGRADUATE BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN ACTION,
IT'S A REAL TREAT.
IT'S RELEVANT, YOU DON'T THINK
NECESSARILY THAT UNDERGRADUATE
BIOENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON
THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT, SO I JUST
WANT TO ADVERTISE THIS CHALLENGE
THAT WE HAVE DESIGNED BY UNDER
GRADUATE STUDENTS, YOU GET TO
BUILD MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUPS,
YOU CAN GET ELECTRICAL AND
COMPUTER ENGINEERS, BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERS, THEY COME TOGETHER.
IT'S ASTOUNDING WHAT THEY DO.
I'LL LET THE VIDEO SPEAK FOR
ITSELF.
WE GIVE $160,000 IN PRIZES
DIRECT LY TO STUDENTS AND SUPPOT
THEM IF THEY ARE PRIZE WINNERS
WITH OUR COMMERCIALIZATION AND
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM CALLED
C3i.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO ADD, YOU SEE
YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE, ALL OF
THESE FOLKS ARE CONTRIBUTING
$15,000 PRIZES, AND GET TO BE
PART OF THE EXCITEMENT OF SEEING
ALL THESE AMAZING APPLICATIONS
COMING IN.
A LOT OF APPLICATIONINGS FROM
STUDENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE SECOND
PLACE WINNER FOR NIBIB BECAUSE
THIS YEAR I JUST ANNOUNCED IT,
ON TUESDAY IN MY COUNCIL
MEETING, AND IT'S PRETTY
ASTOUNDING FOR YOU GUYS.
[ NO AUDIO ]
>> SO INCONCEIVABLE FIVE YEARS
AGO.
I WANT TO SHOW THAT AS A
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT POINT,
DEB AND I TALK A LOT ABOUT OCT,
AND UNDERGRADS AT UC RIVERSIDE
WORKING WITH KYLE PARK, A
PROFESSOR THERE IN BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING, PIONEER IN OCT, BUT
THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE THOSE
FOLKS IN DEPARTMENTS ALL AROUND
THE COUNTRY.
SO JUST A LITTLE MORE UPDATED
STATE-OF-THE-ART, WHAT IS STATE
OF THE ART IN OCT, SO THAT THING
WAS VERY COMPACT BECAUSE OF THE
TYPE OF LIGHT SOURCE THEY USE,
WHICH IS A KIND OF DIODE LIGHT
SOURCE, NOT EXACTLY A LASER.
ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE JUST A
SIMPLE SMALL LASER DIODE FOR
GUIDANCE AND POSITIONING.
SO THERE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN
LIGHT SOURCES, SWEPT SOURCE
LASERS, SO THIS IS FROM BRIAN
APPLEGATE AT USC, PROBABLY ABOUT
STATE OF THE ART IN TERMS OF
MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY AND
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN.
AND OF COURSE HE'S INTEGRATED
STANDARD OTO SCOPE INTO A SINGLE
HAND PIECE, ON THE LEFT YOU SEE
THE OPTICS AND THE MECHANICS OF
ALL OF THIS.
IT'S ABOUT 38-MICRON SPOT SIZE.
THAT DEFINES X RESOLUTION, A
7-MILLIMETER WORKING DISTANCE SO
THAT DEFINES APPROXIMATELY THE
REGION AND DEPTH OVER WHICH YOU
CAN SCAN AND GET ABOUT THE SAME
X RESOLUTION.
THAT X RESOLUTION IS A LITTLE
BIT DECEPTIVE BECAUSE WITH THESE
DEVICES WHICH ARE BROADBAND AND
CALLED FREQUENCY DOMAIN, YOU
MEASURE BOTH AMPLITUDE AND PHASE
OF THE SCATTERED BACK-SCATTERED
WAVE.
THIS IS A PHASE SENSITIVE
DEVICE, THE EARLY ONES WERE NOT
LIKE THAT.
WITH PHASE SENSITIVITY, YOU CAN
MEASURE -- IF YOU DON'T KNOW
THIS, YOU WON'T BELIEVE ME, BUT
YOU CAN MEASURE FRACTIONS OF
NANOMETERS IN TERMS OF
DISPLACEMENT, STRUCTURAL
DISPLACEMENT, LIKE A TENTH OF A
NANOMETER SO IT'S EXQUISITELY
SENSITIVE.
IN YOU CAN SEE IN A THE OTOSCOPE
AND OCT IMAGE, CORRESPONDING
LINE AND SCANS TO SEE
STRUCTURES, IN THOSE LINE SCANS,
C IS A FULL 3D RECONSTRUCTION OF
THE MIDDLE EAR, FROM TYMPANIC
MEMBRANE AND UMBO, YOU CAN NAME
ALL THE SINGLE LETTER NAMES
BETTER THAN I CAN.
IT'S SENSITIVE TO MOTION SO THE
PHASE SENSITIVITY ALLOWS YOU TO
MEASURE VIBRATIONAL PHASE, SOUND
IN THE B SCAN IN THE LOWER
RIGHT, RE-REPRESENTED IN A PHASE
PLOT SHOWING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
AIR AND BONE CONDUCTION OF THE
SOUND.
SO THAT'S FROM A HUMAN.
AND IT'S CAPTURED IN SECONDS.
THE INNER EAR IS THE HOLY GRAIL.
WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK
ABOUT WHAT SORT OF TECHNOLOGIC
IMPROVEMENTS, BUT JUST IN SORT
OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND TO SEE PROGRESS, I
MEAN, YOU'VE GOT UNDERGRADUATES
BUILDING HAND-HELD OCT DEVICES
THAT HAVE REALLY INCREDIBLE
POWER.
THERE'S GOT TO BE BOTH A DUAL --
THERE'S THAT ASPIRATIONAL GOAL,
BUT DISSEMINATION OF MORE
ACCESSIBLE INSTRUMENTS THAT
COULD LOOK IN OTHER AREAS THAT
ARE SUITED TO OTHER TYPES OF
PROBLEMS AND DILEMMAS, YOU KNOW,
IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY.
OKAY.
SO THIS IS PROBABLY -- WE
SUPPORT BRETT BOUMA, NIBIB IS
THE ONLY INSTITUTES THAT SUPPORT
THESE CENTERS OF TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE DIRECTED ONE
FOR 17 YEARS, IN LASERS AND
MICROBEAMS AND ACTUALLY WE
PIONEERED A LOT OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES.
OH, LET ME GO BACK AND DO THAT
VIDEO AGAIN IN CASE WE DIDN'T --
IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH IT, I MAY
NEED SOME TECHNICAL HELP IN
RUNNING THAT.
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE LAUNCHING.
THERE YOU GO.
15 KILOHERTZ SOUND, YOU CAN SEE
THE MENIBRUM TORSIONAL STRAIN,
COMPARING 500 HERTZ, NOT THAT
TORSIONAL STRAIN, YOU CAN SEE
500 HERTZ VERSUS 15 KILOHERTZA
DIFFERENCE IN PHASE BETWEEN THE
MOVEMENT OF UMBO AND STAPES,
FROM BRETT'S P41 CENTER, IT'S
NOT FROM A HUMAN SO MAYBE YOU
CAN TELL ME WHAT ANIMAL MODEL.
I HADN'T HEARD OF THIS FOR AN
ANIMAL MODEL, IT'S A CHINCHILLA,
BUT IT'S AN EX VIVO ANIMAL
MODEL.
BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS QUITE
SPECTACULAR PHASE SENSITIVE OCT
WITH DYNAMIC RECONSTRUCTION.
ALL OF THESE RECONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES REALLY DEPEND ON
MACHINE LEARNING AND ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE TO REALLY OPTIMIZE
THEM.
BUT ULTIMATELY THEY ARE ABLE TO
PROVE GROUND TRUTH WITH PHYSICS
MODELS SO THIS GIVES AN IDEA
WHAT SOME POTENTIAL IS EMPLOYING
INFORMATION, AS MANY OF OF YOU
KNOW YOU CAN CHANGE FREQUENCIES
AND LOOK AT THE
FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT PHASE
INFORMATION AND BACK OUT LOTS OF
INFORMATION CONTENT AND
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, MODULUS,
STRESS AND STRAIN RELATIONSHIPS,
AND SO FORTH.
ANOTHER -- I MENTION THE LESS
THAN A NANOMETER RESOLUTION IN
THE PHASE.
AND SO STEPHEN BOPPART WHO
DIRECTS A TECHNOLOGY CENTER WE
SUPPORTS THAT USED THAT PHASE
SENSITIVITY WITH A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF LIGHT SOURCE, A VERY
BROADBAND LIGHT SOURCE NOT SWEPT
BUT THE SPECTRAL INFORMATION
CONTENT IS ANALYZED IN
SPECTROMETER TO LOOK AT THESE
EXTREMELY SMALL STRUCTURES, AS
IT TURNS OUT THIS IS QUITE
POWERFUL FOR TEXTURE-BASED
SPECIATION OF OTITIS MEDIA AND
BACTERIAL BIOFILMS.
THIS PAPER IS JUST COMING OUT,
STEPHEN HAS PUBLISHED A LITTLE
BIT IN GENERAL ON THIS TECHNIQUE
SO IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF
TECHNOLOGY TO GET THE IMPACT
BIOFILM BUT THERE'S RELENTLESS
PROGRESSION, USING AN EARLIER
MORE EXPENSIVE TYPE OF BROADBAND
SOURCE, AS THEY EVOLVE THEY WILL
BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
I ASKED OUR TEAM TO HELP WITH
CT, I'M NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING
THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WITH
CT.
THERE'S A LOT OF AMBITION TO
DEVELOP CT APPROACHES.
THIS IS ONE I THINK IS A BIT
PROMISING.
THIS ACTUALLY JUST TAKES A
CONVENTIONAL CLINICAL CT AND
IT'S FROM G.E. HEALTHCARE SO
TECHNOLOGY THAT WE SUPPORT WITH
THE G.E. HEALTHCARE INNOVATION
FOLKS, CALLED ZOOMED IN PARTIAL
SCANS, ZIPS, REGION OF INTEREST
IS PLACED OFF CENTER IN THE
SCANNER SO YOU CAN GET HIGHER
MAGNIFICATION AND UPCARE OF
COUPLED IMAGES TAKEN WITH
OFF-CENTERED VIEWS IN ADDITION
TO FULL CT.
AND THEN ALL THAT INFORMATION IS
MAGICALLY PUT IN A COMPUTATIONAL
BOX AND USING THESE KINDS OF
BACK-PROJECTION MATHEMATICAL
APPROACHES CAN DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
THESE ARROWS ARE POINTING TO
REGIONS WHERE THE RESOLUTION IS
IMPROVED, IN THIS CADAVERIC
TEMPORAL BONE SAMPLE.
THIS IS A REGULAR CLINICAL CT,
AND ENERGY OF THE SOURCE IS
HIGH.
I DON'T KNOW, I'M ASSUMING THAT
TO GET TO MIDDLE AND INNER EAR
STRUCTURES YOU WOULD HAVE TO
DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THAT ENERGY
TO IMPROVE THE CONTRAST.
SO, WE SORT OF ASKED THE
INVESTIGATOR CAN YOU DO THAT, HE
SAID OF COURSE WE CAN DO THAT.
ANYTIME NIH SAYS CAN YOU DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY ALWAYS
SAY YEAH.
BUT I THINK WITH JUST THIS, JUST
SHOWING 100-MICRON RESOLUTION,
AND A REALLY HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN
THE ALIASING AND RECONSTRUCTION.
I WAS LOST HERE.
THINK THIS IS THE AUDITORY
CANAL, RIGHT HERE.
I THINK THE POTENTIAL HERE IS
INTERESTING.
WE DO SUPPORT SEVERAL
APPLICATIONS.
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ONE WHERE
DCC IN COLLABORATION COULD DRIVE
FORWARD PURPOSE-BUILT
TECHNOLOGY.
I'M JUST -- MAYBE I'LL GO VERY
FAST OVER THE NEXT FEW.
THEY ARE NOT JUST CLINICAL
TOOLS.
THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL RESEARCH
TOOLS, FRIS DISZ -- FRISZ.
THIS ONE IS SPECTACULAR.
IT IS LOCATED IN A TRANSMEMBRANE
DOMAIN, SO EXTRACELLULAR ZINC
BINDS TO IT.
IT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE
QUANTUM YIELD OF FLUOROPHORE,
FLUORESCENCE GOES UP.
SOUNDS ELICITS SYNAPTIC
SIGNALING, I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I
LOOKED AT THE SLIDES.
THERE'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL
LINEAR RESPONSE THAT YOU CAN SEE
IN THIS PLOT OF RESPONSE VERSUS
SOUND INTENSITY.
THESE TWO LOWER PLOTS ARE
CONTROLS WITH OTHER DYES, SO YOU
SEE THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL LINEAR
INCREASE AND THE RAW DATA HERE.
IMAGING IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD, OR YOU CAN GET
SOPHISTICATED.
SO YOU JUST USE -- THIS IS IN A
MOUSE MODEL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THIN THE
SKULL.
SO 590 EXCITATION, LOOK AT READY
MISSION AT 650, TRANSMITS
BEAUTIFULLY.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO REMOVE THE
SCALP BUT IN OTHER CASE US DONT
NEED TO DO THAT.
A LOT OF INTRINSIC SIGNAL OPT
CAM IMAGING IS EMERGED, IN SMALL
ANIMAL MODELS.
PEOPLE WOULD WIGGLE A WHISKER
AND LOOK AT REFLECTANCE, SIMPLE
OPTICAL CHANGES CORRESPONDING TO
OXYHEMOGLOBIN AND
DEOXYHEMOGLOBIN TO FIGURE OUT
THE fMRI BOLD SIGNAL, INITIAL
DIP, REPERFUSION, THAT CAN BE
ENCODED IN OPTICAL SIGNALS OF
HEMOGLOBIN.
THIS WHOLE FIELD HAS GOTTEN A
LOT MORE SOPHISTICATED WITH OCT
BECAUSE WITH THIS TYPE OF OCT
DEVICE, IN ADDITION I MENTIONED
OCT LOOKS AT THE SCATTERED
LIGHT, AMPLITUDE, LOOKS AT THE
PHASE OF SCATTERED LIGHT.
AND IF WE USE A SUFFICIENT
NUMBER OF WAVELENGTHS WE CAN
LOOK AT THE DOPPLER SHIFTED
COMPONENT OF THAT STACK
SCATTERED LIGHT, ENCODES
MOVEMENT, MOVEMENT OF
ERYTHROCYTES, SO YOU CAN
COMPLETELY FORM AND RECONSTRUCT
AN IMAGE OF THE STRUCTURES THAT
ARE HOLDING THE MOVING OBJECTS,
THOSE ARE BLOOD VESSELS.
SO THAT B IMAGE AND D, THOSE ARE
LABEL-FREE RECONSTRUCTIONS OF 3D
MICRO VASCULATURE, D IS A
PROJECTION IMAGE.
CAN YOU LOOK AT CELL COUPLING IN
CORTEX AND SMALL ANIMAL MODELS,
THIS INVESTIGATOR JONATHAN
FISCHER AT NEW YORK MEDICAL
CENTER, HE'S LOOKING AT NEURAL
AND VASCULAR NEUROVASCULAR
COUPLING WITH LOWER INTENSITY
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND, A RING
TRANSDUCER AROUND THE OPTICAL
RIG APPLYING LOW INTENSITY
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TO AUDITORY
CORTEX, HOPEFULLY THIS COULD BE
AN APPLICATION IN TINNITUS.
SPEAKING OF THAT, HOW DO YOU
TRANSLATE FROM SMALL ANIMAL
MODELS?
THIS IS A SUPER HOT AREA.
THIS IS A GROUP THAT WE'RE
SUPPORTING BLUEPRINT-MED TECH,
INCLUDES LOW INTENSITY
TRANSDUCERS WITH OPTICAL
TRANSDUCERS, BUILT BY OPEN
WATER.
MARY LOU IS MAKING THIS OPEN
SOURCE.
CAN YOU GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, YOU
GET FULL OPEN SOURCED DESIGN ON
THE HARDWARE, AND SOFTWARE, SO
THESE ARE -- IT'S AN EARLY STAGE
BUT THE IDEA OF LOW INTENSITY
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND
NEUROMODULATION IS CATCHING ON,
BOTH IN CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND SEVERAL
PROJECTS IN BLUEPRINT-MEDTECH
ARE SUPPORTING THAT.
ONE UNIQUE FEATURE IT'S COMBINED
IN A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM WITH
FUNCTIONAL NEUROINFRARED
SPECTROSCOPY WHICH LIKE I WAS
EXPLAINING BEFORE WITH INTRINSIC
SIGNAL OPTICAL IMAGING IN SMALL
ANIMAL MODELS LOOKING AT OXY
HEMOGLOBIN AND DEOXYHEMOGLOBIN
DYNAMICS.
IT DOESN'T GO BENEATH THE CORTEX
BUT CORTEX CAN PROVIDE
INFORMATION, YOU CAN PUT YOUR
PROBES WHEREVER POTENTIALLY OVER
AUDITORY CORTEX.
THIS ONE IS FOR PREFRONTAL LOBE.
I'LL WRAP THIS UP.
HERE IS OUR ICON.
WE WORK ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF.
AND WE HAVE ACCELERATED
MECHANISMS FOR DEVELOPING,
VALIDATING, GETTING AUTHORIZED
LIKE CLEARANCE, OTC AND POC
TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH TOOLS,
OBVIOUS AREAS IMAGING SENSING
AND COMBO MODULATORY, DATA
REPOSITORY AND A.I. ALGORITHMS,
HAVE YOU TO BE VIGILANT IF WE
WANT TO GET TO TRUTHS.
AND ENGINEERED AND SYN
BIOPLATFORMS, THEY WORK LIKE THE
BRAIN DOES WHICH I DON'T THINK
ANYONE HAS QUITE FIGURED OUT AT
BUT A LOT OF THINGS IN PARALLEL
AND SPIKING SO THAT'S THE
UNDERSCORED AMBITION THERE.
THIS GREAT WORKSHOP WHICH I
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT UNTIL I
STARTED TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES
TO HELP ME WITH SOME SLIDES WITH
MIRAB AND SHUMIN, IT'S INTERNAL
BUT I BELIEVE YOU'LL PUT THE
RESULTS UP.
SO THAT'S EXCITING.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> WOW, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, EFFORTS THAT YOU SUPPORT
THAT ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, SO
RELEVANT TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME BUT
HAPPY TO TAKE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE.
YEAH.
>> AM I ON?
THANKS.
I GUESS I WANT TO THANK YOU TOO
FOR REALLY EXCITING OVERVIEW,
REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
I GUESS I'LL START BY SAYING I'M
PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN
FUNDED FOR MOST OF MY CAREER BY
THE NIDCD, NOT SURPRISING GIVEN
THIS GROUP.
BUT I'VE BEEN FUNDED BY THE
NIBIB AT ONE POINT IN TIME, ALSO
BY THE WHITAKER FOUNDATION, A
COUPLE AGENCIES YOU'RE WELL
FAMILIAR WITH.
NIBIB PROJECT IS A PROJECT I
THINK DOES SORT OF FALL IN THE
CRACK BETWEEN THE TWO
INSTITUTES, WHY I'LL SAY A FEW
WORDS BIT, A PROJECT WE WERE
LOOKING AT MOVING MRI.
AND FOR BACKGROUND YOU DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME BUT I'M A
SIMILAR RESEARCHER, STUDY PART
OF THE INNER EAR THAT RECORDS
HEAD MOTION.
AND WE HAVE NO WAY TO, IN
HUMANS, DO BRAIN IMAGING IN
HUMANS DURING MOTION, PROVIDING
NATURAL STIMULATION OF
VESTIBULAR SYSTEM.
WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE PUT COLD
WATER IN THE AIR, MAKE SOME
MEASUREMENTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO THIS MOVING MRI PROJECT, THE
IDEA IS TO CREATE, TO PUT AN MRI
MAGNET AND A HUMAN ON A MOVING
DEVICE THAT MOVES TOGETHER SO
THAT WE CAN MEASURE WHOLE BRAIN
ACTIVITY, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE OR YOUR
INSTITUTE HAS DONE ON FUNCTIONAL
IMAGING, FUNCTIONAL MRI, TO BE
SPECIFIC, AND BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT IMAGING IN A MOVING HUMAN
SUBJECT.
SO SOMETHING I THINK REALLY
FALLS IN BOTH OF YOUR MISSIONS,
IF YOU WILL.
NO QUESTION THERE, JUST A
STATEMENT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR
NIBIB, NIH IS A LITTLE WEIRD, AS
I FOUND OUT, SINCE I CAME HERE.
AND EVERY INSTITUTE SORT OF THE
APPLICATION DRIVEN AND DISEASE
FOCUSED ONES WANT YOU TO HAVE A
PRETTY WELL VALIDATED TECHNOLOGY
BEFORE THEY WILL TAKE THE RISK.
AND THEN WE'RE WAY UPSTREAM OF
THAT, SO WE ARE -- THERE'S KIND
OF A BIAS AGAINST EVEN HAVING AN
APPLICATION.
SO WHAT FIRST COMES TO MIND I
WOULD THINK FOR VESTIBULAR
DISORDERS THAT'S AMAZING BUT IF
YOU SORT OF COME IN AND THERE
ARE JUST A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN
ASSESSING NEUROMUSCULAR
INTERACTIONS DURING MOVEMENT,
THAT ACTUALLY HAS STIMULATED THE
GROWTH OF FULL BRAIN
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
MOBILE MAPPING, SO THINKING
ABOUT BROADER APPLICATION, YOU
WANT YOUR CORE APPLICATION, BUT
IF I WERE ADVISING ON YOU NIBIB
PUT IN ALL THESE OTHER HARD
CHALLENGES, AND THEN PICK, YOU
KNOW, ONE THAT YOU MIGHT WORK ON
AND THEN COLLABORATE WITH DCD,
ALSO BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET
THESE THINGS VALIDATED FURTHER
BEFORE THE OTHER INSTITUTES ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THEM.
BUT I WOULD THINK MANY EXCITING
IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS BECAUSE
MOTION, LIKE WHEN WE STOP
MOVING, THAT'S IT.
YEAH.
THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT COMES FROM MY PROFESSIONAL
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND PASSION
IN AREA OF STUTTERING.
GOING BACK TO THE VOICE PROJECT,
I THOUGHT EVERYBODY GOING --
EVERYTHING GOING ON THERE IS
INTERESTING.
HAS THERE BEEN CONSIDERATION OR
CONVERSATION ABOUT A.I. WITH
INDIVIDUALS WHO STUTTER,
PEDIATRIC SPEECH DISORDERS,
WITHIN THE STUTTERING COMMUNITY
DISCUSSION GOING ON WITH VOICE
RECOGNITION, A.I., BEING USEFUL
WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO STUTTER,
HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION
THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS FOR
SURE, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE
INTERACTED WITH AT OUR MEETINGS
AND JUST SORT OF KEEPING UP WITH
THEM ARE INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND
CURIOUS, AND RELENTLESS.
I WOULD THINK, BUT I WILL GO
BACK AND ASK, OUR PROGRAM
DIRECTOR WHO LEADS THAT IS GRACE
PENG, I CAN HELP YOU CONNECT
WITH GRACE.
AND SHE HERSELF IS A PIONEER IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A.I.
APPROACHES MODEL-BASED
APPROACHES, AND BRINGS ALL OF
NIH TOGETHER AROUND THAT.
I'M SURE ROGER ALSO CAN HELP.
ROGER WORKS -- IS A CLOSE
COLLEAGUE OF GRACE'S, AND, YEAH,
I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE A
HUGELY IMPORTANT AREA.
SO I IMAGINE THERE'S PROBABLY
SOMETHING GOING ON BUT I DON'T
KNOW FOR SURE.
>> I THINK LISA COUGH MAY BE
ABLE TO SPEAK CAN YOU ABOUT THAT
AS WELL.
BRUCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU STAYING FOR
ROGER'S TALK AND MAYBE WE'LL
HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AFTER THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'LL WELCOME DR. ROGER
MILLER, NIDCD PROGRAM OFFICER
FOR NEURAL PROSTHESIS
DEVELOPING, GIVING AN UPDATE ON
THE PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN
ACTIVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
TODAY HE WILL PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT AND HOW
OUR SPONSORED RESEARCH
ENCOURAGES SYNERGIES THAT DRIVE
ADVANCES WITHIN OUR MISSION
AREAS.
SPECIFICALLY HE WILL TALK ABOUT
ADVANCES WITH RESPECT TO
DEVELOPMENT OF COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS, HEARING AIDS, AND
BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES THAT
SUPPORT COMMUNICATION.
I'VE TALKED LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU
NOW HAVE YOUR SLIDES OF.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE KIND
INTRODUCTION.
I'LL TRY AND KEEP TRACK OF MY
TIME UP HERE.
OH, SORRY.
SO, WHAT IS A NEURAL
PROSPECTIVELY TEASE --
PROSTHESIS, A QUESTION I GET A
LOT.
IN THE CONTEXT OF NIDCD IT'S
SOMETHING, IT'S A PROSTHESIS,
SUPPORTS A LOSS, TRIES TO
RESTORE A LOST FUNCTION.
IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT GETTING
INFORMATION INTO AND OUT OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
SO, WE DON'T REALLY THINK OF A
HEARING AID AS A NEURAL PROCESS
IS BUT A GAP, LOSS OF FUNCTION,
LOSS OF AUDITABILITY.
THIS HAS BEEN A MAIN STAY OF
NIDCD.
MY Ph.D. IS IN BIOPHYSICS,
TRYING TO BUILD TOOLS TO BE USED
IN THE CLINIC.
ONCE THE TOOL HAS BEEN BUILT,
IT'S BEING USED IN TENS AND
TWENTIES OF PEOPLE I TURNED IT
OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE KELLY KING,
IT'S A CLINICAL STUDY IN HER
EXPERTISE TRYING TO LEVERAGE
SCIENCE AND CREATE A NEW WAY OF
GETTING INFORMATION IN OR OUT OF
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
I'M INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING
IN THAT, THAT EFFORT.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A
WELL-DEVELOPED INDUSTRY THAT WE
WORKED WITH AND COUNT ON TO
TRANSLATE OUR IDEAS INTO
WIDESPREAD SUES.
WHEN NIDCD STARTED LOOKING AT
THE HEARING AID INDUSTRY AND
WAYS TO INSPIRE INNOVATION WE
DID A WORKSHOP IN 2014, I CAME
ACROSS A WONDERFUL PAPER FROM
ONSEMI.
IF YOU USE A HEARING AID IN A
CLINICAL STUDY YOU'RE EXERCISING
THE CAPABILITY OF THAT CIRCUIT
AS WAS DESIGNED BY ENGINEERS.
IF YOU GET THEIR CHIP YOU CAN DO
SOMETHING MORE UNUSUAL, UNIQUE,
BUT STILL RESTRICTED TO WHAT
ABLE TO BUILD IN 2014, TEN YEARS
AGO.
ONSEMI DID A WONDERFUL JOB
TALKING ABOUT THREE PRIMARY
CHALLENGES, STILL TRUE TODAY,
THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE TEN
YEARS AGO, SO GOOD FOR THEM.
WE WANT A HEARING AID THAT'S
SMALL, INVISIBLE WOULD BE GREAT.
THEY ARE SMALL, THEY SIT POWER,
THAT LEAVES A SMALL AREA.
THEY CAN RESTORE AUDITABILITY,
HAVE AN AMPLIFIER, DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BRONZE, GOLD, SILVER,
DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES IN
PERFORMANCE, DRIVE UP THE
SURPRISE HAPPENS, BUT THEY ARE
STUCK IN THIS AREA.
IN NIDCD SUPPORTED RESEARCH,
IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE
DRIVE THINGS FORWARD.
SO INSTEAD WE DECIDED TO
REJIGGER THAT COMPROMISED SET.
WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BE PORTABLE BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO
BE INVISIBLE.
WE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS GOING TO BE
UGLY.
THAT WAS OKAY.
WE WANTED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
THAT WAS RECONFIGURABLE,
REUSABLE.
I SAID RESEARCH GRADE, OPEN
SOURCE, I WAS TOLD THAT'S NOT A
GREAT WORD SO HELP ME COME UP
WITH A BETTER WORD.
WE WONT SOMETHING THAT
RESEARCHERS CAN USE, NOT A TOY.
THIS WAS THE BIG CIRCLE THAT WAS
EVERYTHING.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE RAW
PROCESSING POWER TO THE RESEARCH
COMMUNITY.
AND THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO
FLIP OUT, TO LOOK AT ALGORITHMS
THAT WON'T BE REALLY PRACTICAL
FOR ANOTHER 10, 20 YEARS BUT
THEY CAN BUILD IT HERE WITH
SOMETHING THAT IS SOMEWHAT
PORTABLE, NOT A LAP TOP,
SOMETHING BETTER.
INDUSTRY CAN INCORPORATE IT
LATER AND WE'LL HAVE A
TRANSLATION.
SO, WE HAD A NUMBER OF AWARDS,
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT TWO AND
SHOW HOW THEY LEVERAGES THAT
INITIAL CHARGE AND THEY ARE
STILL GOING STRONG TODAY.
ONE WAS THE TYMPANUM, INTISH,
SBIR,
STILL AVAILABLE, THEY USED OPEN
SOURCE DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM,
TRACTABLE AND WELL UNDERSTOOD,
AND AS BRUCE SAID DON'T DISMISS
THE UNDERGRADUATES AND
Ph.D.-LEVEL ENGINEERING
STUDENTS.
IF THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON
SOMETHING, THEY CAN START TO
BUILD THINGS THAT YOU NEVER
BELIEVED WAS POSSIBLE.
SO VERY AVAILABLE.
EASY TO PROGRAM.
THE KEY WARD IT HAD TO OPERATE
IN REAL TIME.
THIS HAS ENOUGH POWER TO DO
THAT.
ANOTHER KEY CHALLENGE FOR
ANYBODY TO DO THIS, REMEMBER
THIS STARTED IN 2014, OPEN
SOURCE HEARING AID WAS NOT
SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD FIND ON
THE INTERNET.
YOU HAD TO BUILD, DO A HIGH
QUALITY RECORDING, PLAY IT BACK
TO AN EARPIECE.
THEY BUILT THAT IN THERE, USING
SYSTEMS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE
BUT NOT INTEGRATED ON TO ONE
BOARD.
PORTABLE, THEY BUILT A NICE
CASE, INTEGRATED WITH A
SMARTPHONE APP.
SO THIS WAS DONE AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS AGO.
IT WAS AVAILABLE.
AND THEN LET'S SEE WHAT THE
WORLD WAS ABLE TO DO WITH IT.
WELL, ANYTIME SOMEBODY BUILDS
SOMETHING IT'S GOING TO BE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO USE IT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A USER FORUM.
WE SUPPORTED THAT UNDER A
FIVE-YEAR SBIR GRANT AWARD, THIS
FORUM IS STILL ACTIVE, PEOPLE
ASKING I NEED HELP, WANT TO USE
MICROPHONE OPTIONS, AND NOW
WE'RE SEEING A STEADY STREAM OF
PUBLICATIONS COMING OUT, HAD NO
IDEA WHAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD DO
IF THEY HAD THE TOOLS BUT THEY
CAN RECONFIGURE, REUSE, BASICS
ARE THERE, WHAT WILL THEY BUILD
ON TOP OF IT?
WE HAVE NIGHT BAYESIAN INFERENCE
TO DO SIGNAL AID PROCESSING THAN
PERHAPS AVAILABLE IN COMMERCIAL
HEARING AIDS BUT THIS IS OPEN
SOURCE.
THERE'S NO MYSTERY TO WHAT IT'S
ACTUALLY DOING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY, WELL, WE
GOT IT TO A CERTAIN POINT AND
SAW RESEARCH PROJECTS DEVOLVING,
WHAT'S THE HEARING AID DOING?
YOU KNOW IT'S OPEN SOURCE.
THIS BECAME THE HEART OF ANOTHER
PROJECT, A DISSIMEETER FOR A
NIOSH PROJECT.
INTEGRATING MULTIPLE
MICROPHONES, THAT'S PREDICTABLE
BUT IF SOMEBODY HAS EXPERTISE
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO BASE LEVEL
SIGNAL PROCESSING ALGORITHMS FOR
A HEARING AID ALREADY AVAILABLE
IN THE OPEN SOURCE PLATFORM.
THAT WAS THEN.
THE IDEA WE'VE CONTINUED TO
PROVIDE MIPS, I WAS DELIGHTED TO
SEE A PRESENTATION AT OUR MOST
RECENT INTERNATIONAL HEARING AID
CONFERENCE MEETING WHERE THEY
CREATED AN A.I. REALTIME SIGNAL
PROCESSING BOARD WHICH TAKES
ADVANTAGE OF SPARSEITY TO MAKE
IT TRACTABLE WITH LOW POWER,
WORK IN REAL TIME, A BEAUTIFUL
EVALUATION BOARD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE THINK THEY
WOULD HAVE HOPE OF BUYING THAT
BOARD, HOOKING TO A MICROPHONE
AND DOING STUDIES?
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
LOOK WHAT THEY DID.
THEY FOUND THE TYMPANUM ON THEIR
OWN, THIS IS TRACTABLE TO OUR
RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
SO WELL DONE FOR THEM.
WE DIDN'T MAKE THIS ONE AWARD,
WE WANTED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY,
COME BACK, DISCUSS WHAT WORKED,
WHAT DIDN'T WORK.
ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES FOR
THIS OPEN SPEECH EFFORT WAS TO
BUILD OUT HIGH QUALITY
EARPHONES, MICROPHONE UP BY THE
EAR, A SPEAKER UP BY THE EAR,
NOT HAVE FEEDBACK, GET THE
SIGNAL BACK DOWN TO THE
PROCESSING STATION HERE.
SO THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE
EFFORT, AND THEY BUILT A NICE
OPEN FACE HEARING AID, THEY HAVE
EARPIECES AS WELL, CONTINUING TO
DEVELOP THEIR PLATFORM, A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT.
THIS TOOK AN OPEN MASTER HEARING
AID, WHICH RAN ON A LINUX
PLATFORM, COLLABORATED WITH
THAT.
GOT IT TO RUN IN A PORTABLE
PLATFORM, THEIR FORUM IS STILL
UP AND RUNNING.
YEARS LATER WE SEE DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE
HEARING HEALTH CARE ARE ENABLED
BY THIS AND THEY CAN DO THE
RESEARCH STUDIES, THERE'S NO
MYSTERY ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING.
IF THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE
CONNECTIVITY, THE WIRELESS
CONNECTIVITY, EVERYTHING ELSE IS
STILL WORKING.
THEY CAN ADD THAT FUNCTIONALITY.
IF THEY WANT TO DO A STUDY TO
SEE WHAT SORTS OF SYNERGIES THEY
CAN GET FROM RECORDING EEG
SIGNALS AT THE EAR,
SYNCHRONIZING WITH AUDIO STREAM,
THEY HAVE TO DO HALF THE
PROBLEM, IT'S RECONFIGURABLE.
SELF-FITTING PHASE CAN BE DONE,
UNLIKE USING A COMMERCIAL
HEARING AID THEY DON'T HAVE TO
SIGN AN NDA, THEY BUILT IT IN
AND CAN LEVERAGE WHAT'S BEEN
PUBLISHED, WHAT ARE THE
ALGORITHMS.
THIS DE-RISKS PROPOSALS SO THEY
CAN COME IN, BE PEER REVIEWED,
AND IF SOMEBODY SAID I'M GOING
TO BUILD THIS THEN MY SECOND AIM
IS GOING TO DO CONNECTED
HEARING, POWER I CAN GET FROM
COMPUTATIONAL PROCESS IN THE
CLOUD, THAT WOULD NEVER FLY.
WITH THIS TYPE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS POSSIBLE.
SO, A CORE ASPECT OF NIDCD
ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE FIELD
ARE CONFERENCES THAT HAPPEN
EVERY TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL
HEARING AID CONFERENCE, I JUST
WENT TO THAT THIS SUMMER, FOUND
OUT ABOUT THE A.I. CHIP, BUT
THESE CONFERENCES, I INCLUDE THE
NAME OF THE P.I. HERE AND
INSTITUTION BECAUSE IT'S A LABOR
OF LOVE TO FOSTER SCIENTIFIC
COORDINATING COMMITTEE, AND
REVIEWING ALL THE ABSTRACTS SO
EVERY TWO YEARS PEOPLE CAN GO TO
A RETREAT STYLE CONFERENCE AND
HEAR ABOUT THE LATEST
INNOVATIONS, HAVE OPEN
DISCUSSIONS, AT THE MICROPHONE,
OPEN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
THAT CONTINUED ONGOING REVIEW OF
IDEAS IN THE FIELD IS REALLY
CRITICAL AND HELPS THE FIELD
DEFINE FOR ITSELF WHERE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
I WENT TO THIS MEETING, THERE
WAS THE A.I., MORE A.I. THAN I
EXPECTED.
AND THE COMMUNITY IS
SELF-GOVERNING AS IT SHOULD BE
AND CAN ACCELERATE, TAKE ON THE
MOST RECENT RESEARCH QUESTIONS
AT THEIR OWN PACE.
ANOTHER AREA I'LL TALK ABOUT
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS AND BCIs AND
I'LL BE DONE.
ANOTHER CORE TECHNOLOGY IS
COCHLEAR IMPLANT, VERY
SUCCESSFUL NEUROPROSTHESIS, MANY
OF US ARE AWARE OF BASIC DESIGN.
I'LL GO OVER IT FROM THE DIE
DRAM.
IT HAS AN EXTERNAL PROCESSOR,
FOR THE SPEECH.
THIS IS WHERE THE BATTERY GOES.
THIS IS WHERE THE CONTEMPORARY
ELECTRONICS GOES, THERE'S A
MICROPHONE BESIDE THE EAR TO
PICK IT UP.
SIGNAL SENT IN
ELECTROMAGNETICICALLY, THAT
POWERS THE DEVICE.
PEEL OFF THE PROCESSOR, IT'S A
GREAT DESIGN FEATURE, VERY
INSPIRED.
BECOMES INERT.
IT'S CONNECTED TO THE REAL
MAGIC, ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
FOR THE ELECTRODES GOING INSIDE
THE COCHLEA, A WONDERFUL REVIEW
PAPER BY ROB CARLIN SHOWING THE
DESIGN CHALLENGES.
THIS SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO BE
SAFE.
THIS WAS -- PEOPLE SAY IT HASN'T
EVOLVED MUCH IN 30 YEARS, THAT'S
BECAUSE SOME REALLY REMARKABLE
THINKING WENT INTO IT, SO LITTLE
--
INTO THE OVERALL DESIGN FROM THE
OUTSELF.
PUTTING ELECTRODES HERE, YOU ARE
INSERTING ELECTRODES AT
DIFFERENT SITES WHICH CORRESPOND
TO DIFFERENT BEST FREQUENCIES
INSIDE THE COCHLEA BUT THERE'S A
COST TO THIS SAFE APPROACH.
AND THAT IS, THE ELECTRODE IS
SITTING IN THE SALIENT SOLUTION,
AND CURRENTS WANT TO GO UP AND
DOWN, THEY DON'T WANT TO CROSS
THE BARRIER AND GET WHERE THE
SURVIVING AUDITORY NEURON FIBERS
ARE, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO MODIFY
ELECTRODE, GAMES TO PLAY THERE.
YOU COULD PUT 5 AMPS IN, TAKE
4.9 OUT, CREATE A BEAM FORMED
MICROPHONE TO STIMULATE NEURONS.
NIDCD HAS HAD TO PARTNER WITH
DOING BASIC RESEARCH OVER A
PERIOD OF DECADES, THAT BASIC
RESEARCH FED REGULATORY SCIENCE
TO SUPPORT DESIGNS, MAYBE
ELECTRODE NEEDS TO BE SHORTER TO
NOT DAMAGE THE COCHLEA, SUPPORTS
RESIDUAL HEARING.
ALL DESIGNS NEED TO BE DONE IN
COLLABORATION WITH HEARING AID
MANUFACTURER WHICH BUILDS A
SPECIAL DEVICE TO ENABLE
CLINICAL STUDIES, THAT HAPPENS
OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.
THEN THE REGULATORY SCIENCE THAT
WE'VE ESTABLISHED FROM THE R01
FEEDS FORWARD TO THE FDA SO THEY
ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA,
IT CAN GO FORWARD INTO CLINICAL
STUDIES.
THAT WAS REALLY HOW NIDCD WAS
ABLE TO PURSUE A NUMBER OF IDEAS
BASED ON MODIFICATIONS TO THE
COCHLEAR IMPLANT ELECTRODE.
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS WENT THROUGH
AN INSPIRED EARLY STAGE OF
DESIGN IN THE '70s AND DON
EDINGTON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
UTAH, UTAH WILL COME UP A COUPLE
TIMES HERE FOR REASONS I DON'T
UNDERSTAND BUT IT WAS
INTERESTING WHEN I PREPARED THE
TALK TO NOTE THAT.
HE SAID WE DON'T KNOW IF WE PUT
ELECTRODES HERE, ELECTRODES
CIRCA 1970, 1980, WE KNOW HOW TO
MAKE THE ELECTRODES INSERT SO
THEY DON'T DISSOLVE.
WE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE
ELECTRODE AT THE TIPS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO
PUT IN FOR ELECTRICALLY
STIMULATING THE AUDITORY SYSTEM.
WE CAN CREATE OPEN
RECONFIGURABLE REUSABLE DEVICE
TO PLAY ALL THE SORTS OF GAMES
WE NEED TO TO MAKE THIS DEVICE
WORK.
THAT WAS THE MAINSTAY OF THE
RESEARCH PROGRAM IN THE 90s TO
2005, MANY SUPPORTED BY A
CONTRACT.
HERE'S A PERSON WHO RECEIVED THE
IMPLANT, AND ALLOWED THEMSELVES
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RESEARCH,
DRIVE THE FIELD FORWARD.
THIS CONNECTOR PROVIDED MEANS
FOR INFINITE CYCLES OF R&D WITH
ALL SORTS OF STIMULATION
TECHNIQUES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WORKED BEST.
IT STOPPED IN 2005, I THINK DR.
TUCCI IS ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE
TO PLACE ONE OF THESE DEVICES
INSIDE A PERSON AND DO THE
RESEARCH STUDIES.
SO, THIS IS ALL ABOUT
STIMULATION, RIGHT?
WELL, THIS IS A VERY FLEXIBLE
RESEARCH INTERFACE.
ALLOWS YOU TO DO ANYTHING.
AND TO GROUP IT AT -- A GROUP AT
RTI FIGURE HOW TO STIMULATE,
RECORD, EVOKE SIGNALS BACK,
DEVELOP WHAT WE CALL NEURAL
RESPONSE TELEMETRY, A FITTING
METHOD USED IN THE CLINIC TODAY.
THAT'S 2005.
THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS THAT HAVE
A PERCUTANEOUS CONNECTOR WERE
DWINDLING, TO CONTINUE NIDCD HAD
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PARTNER
WITH SCIENTISTS, WITH COLLEAGUES
AT FDA, AND CONTINUE TO DO SAFE
STUDIES WITH MODERN COCHLEAR
IMPLANT DESIGNS.
AND THROUGH A SERIES OF CONTRACT
FUNDS AND THEN ULTIMATELY GRANT
FUNDING, DEDICATED EFFORTS BY
RESEARCH TEAM HERE, THAT GAVE
RISE TO CCI MOBILE RESEARCH
PROCESSOR.
AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
SUCCESS FOR NIDCD, IN THAT
COCHLEAR IMPLANT IS A CLASS 3
MEDICAL DEVICE, YOU DON'T TAKE
THEM APART AND DO WHAT YOU WANT
WITHOUT GETTING AN IDE WITH THE
FDA, WITH CAREFUL THOUGHT A PLAN
WAS DEVELOPED TO MAKE BASICALLY
A GATE KEEPER CHIP INSIDE THIS
PROCESSOR, OPEN SOFTWARE, OPEN
HARDWARE, WOULDN'T WANT TO BUILD
IT.
IT'S HARD TO GET THE COMPONENTS.
THERE'S A CHIP IN HERE WHICH YOU
CANNOT CHANGE, THAT CHIP LOOKS
AT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, KNOWS
WHAT'S SAFE, AND GUARANTEES
SAFETY.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO WORK
WITH THE FDA, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD
BE ABLE TO DO LONG-TERM STUDIES,
WE CAN LEARN TO SEE HOW PEOPLE
ADAPT TO DIFFERENT COCHLEAR
IMPLANT STIMULATION REGIMES
OUTSIDE THE LABORATORY AND YOU
DON'T NEED AN IDE.
THIS IS A WAY TO PARTNER WITH
INDUSTRY, IF A P.I. CAN COME UP
WITH AN IDEA UNDER THEIR R01
THAT WORKS, IT CAN BE TRANSLATED
INTO USE OF THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT
COMPANY AND THE REGULATORY
PATHWAY HERE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
HOWEVER, THE NEXT REALLY GREAT
IDEA IS TO STEP OVER THAT
BARRIER THAT WE'VE HAD FOR SO
MANY YEARS OF FOCUSING ON SAFETY
WITH ELECTRODES IN THE COCHLEA
AND MOVE -- THIS DOESN'T GO IN
THE COCHLEA, IT GOES IN THE
AUDITORY NERVE, BRIDGING THE
SAFETY GAP, REQUIRES AN IDE.
IT'S HAPPENING WITH BRAIN
FUNDING, NOW INSTEAD OF TRYING
TO INJECT CURRENTS INSIDE A
SALINE-FILLED AREA, THE
ELECTRODE IS GOING STRAIGHT INTO
THE NERVE.
THIS IS AN ARRAY OF FIVE BY
THREE, EACH SITE WILL STIMULATE
UNIQUE PORTION OF THE AUDITORY
NERVE AND WE'RE HOPING WE CAN
FINALLY GET OVER THE FUNDAMENTAL
GAP IN SAFETY CONSTRAINTS FOR
ELECTRODE INSIDE THE COCHLEA.
THE ONLY WAY TO GO FORWARD IS
TEST IN PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL
HAVE RESULTS ALONG THOSE LINES
SOON.
ALL THESE IDEAS AGAIN COMMON
THEME.
WE HAVE TO HAVE CLINICIANS,
BASIC RESEARCHERS, REGULATORY
AND SCIENTISTS AND INDUSTRY AT
THE SAME MEETING AT MEESE
MEETINGS.
JAY RUBIN STEIN IS THE P.I.,
IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1983.
NIDCD STARTED SUPPORTING IT,
BEFORE 2000, THIS MEETING'S BEEN
CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF A
NUMBER OF AUDITORY PROCESSES
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FDA THERE,
WE CAN HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS
WHERE THEY CAN LISTEN, WE HAVE
ACADEMIC P.I.S.
THIS IS THE CRUCIBLE THAT KEEPS
THE IDEAS MIXING AND ALLOWS US
TO TRANSLATE THEM.
IT'S ONE OF THE CORES TO
SUCCESSES.
FINAL TECHNOLOGY I'LL TALK ABOUT
IS IMPLANTABLE BRAIN-COMPUTER
INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION.
THIS WAS SUCH AN EXCITING
ADVANCE BASED ON THE UTAH
ELECTRODE ARRAY AND PERCUTANEOUS
CONNECTOR.
SYSTEM WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER IN
2002, AND THE TERM BRAINGATE
1.0, WE'RE AT 2.0 NOW, AND THE
IDEA IS SIMPLE.
THIS SMALL BABY ASPIRIN-SIZED
DEVICE IS PLACED IN THE CORTEX
AND YOU CAN RECORD INDIVIDUAL,
YEAH, YOU CAN RECORD BRAIN
ACTIVITY, SINGLE UNIT RESPONSES,
ALONG EACH OF THESE 10 X 10 GRID
OF ELECTRODES, PERCUTANEOUS
CONNECTOR, CAN YOU DO SPIKE
SORTING.
NO WAY FORT TECHNOLOGY TO
WIRELESSLY SUPPORT THE
TELEMETRY, THIS ALLOWED TWO
DECADES OF RESEARCH, NOW WE'RE
GETTING CLOSE ENOUGH, I DON'T
KNOW THAT WE ARE, ALLOWED
RESEARCH TO ADVANCE FIRST
THROUGH THE BRAINGATE 1.0 IN
2002, 2004 WAS APPROVED BY THE
FDA FOR HUMAN USE, 2007 A
WORKSHOP, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT
IN A MOMENT.
NOW IN 2001 DIFFERENT DESIGN,
IT'S A BREAKTHROUGH DEVICE.
THIS IS THE BASIS, THIS BASIC
APPROACH IS THE BASIS OF
EXCITEMENT, WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE
CAN GET THE BRAIN SIGNALS OUT SO
THE USER CAN THINK OF SOMETHING
AND THEN WE CAN TAKE SOME ACTION
BASED ON THAT.
THIS IS A NICE REVIEW PAPER.
MEANWHILE, THERE WAS THE GRID OF
ELECTRODES PLACED EITHER ON TOP
OF THE DURA OR ON THE SURFACE OF
THE BRAIN, AND THESE STUDIES
WERE ONGOING, CONNECTOR'S NOT SO
IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A LATER VERSION OF THE
SYSTEM.
BUT THIS WAS GOING ON SAME
PERIOD HERE, AND HERE ACTIVITIES
ARE REPORT.
IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET THAT
SIGNAL BECAUSE PATIENTS WERE
ALREADY IN THE CLINIC FOR
TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY.
SOME BIT OF BRAIN TISSUE WOULD
BE RESECTED, BY HAVING THESE
SIGNALS THE SURGEON -- SURGICAL
TEAM COULD KNOW WHICH BRAIN
TISSUE TO AVOID DAMAGING, WHICH
BRAIN SETS OF AREAS THEY COULD
FOCUS SURGICAL RESECTION ON.
HUMAN STUDIES, TWO DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGIES.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS JUST GOING
TO BE A ROBOTICALLY USE TO
COMMUNICATE, WHICH CERTAINLY WAS
A GREAT BENEFIT FOR SOMEBODY WHO
WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOCKED IN.
YOU SEE THE SYSTEM HERE.
THE CLASSIC TASK AT THAT TIME
WAS VECTOR SUM MOVEMENT WHERE
THE PERSON WOULD BE INSTRUCTED
TO LOOK AT A 2D CURSOR ON THE
COMPUTER SCREEN, ALL THESE
SIGNALS FED INTO A CONTROLLER,
AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO
DETAILS BUT A LOT OF HARD WORK
WENT INTO IT.
SOPHISTICATED MATHEMATICS.
THE PERSON WOULD IMAGINE
MOVENING SOMETHING AND THE
CURSOR, OKAY, MOVE THAT MORE,
BRING, HERE, NOW BRING IT BACK.
A CENTER-OUT TASK.
IN 2007 LANA AND I PARTNERED TO
ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO GO
BEYOND JUST THIS TYPE, THIS IS
2006, THIS IS A SUMMARY PAPER
LATER.
THAT WAS THE STATE OF THE ART IN
THE FIELD.
YOU COULD GO FURTHER, YOU COULD
SAY CAN YOU GO MOVE THE CURSOR
TO GREEN DOTS, AVOID RED DOTS,
YOU SEE THAT USER-CONTROLLED
CURSOR ACTIVITY HERE.
IT'S POSSIBLE.
IT'S SLOW.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE BEST WE WERE
GOING TO DO WAS CREATE A VIRTUAL
KEYBOARD INTERFACE.
BUT THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS SAFE, IT
WAS MOVING FORWARD.
AND THEN WE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH.
EDDIE CHANG'S LAB FOUND GOLD IN
SIGNALS WITH THE LESS DESIRABLE
BUT GRID ELECTRODES ON THE
SURFACE OF THE BRAIN, HE WOULD
RECORD THE SIGNALS, THEY HAD
WAVEFORMS THERE, HE COULD
DETERMINE WHEN SOMEONE WAS
TRYING TO SPEAK, IN OTHER WORDS
THIS EPOCH, AND WHEN THEY WERE
NOT TRYING TO SPEAK.
HE COULD TAKE THAT DATA IN THAT
AREA, AND DECODE IT TO WHAT
PHONING THEY WERE TRYING TO
SPEAK FROM A RESTRICTED
VOCABULARY OF 50 WORDS.
HERE IS THE TARGET.
YOU SEE THIS NICE CORRELATION OF
THE APP.
THIS CHANGED EVERYTHING.
HE WAS ABLE TO DO NEURAL SIGNAL
PROCESSING IN A WAY WHERE HE DID
NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE CODER
EVERY DAY.
WHEN THE PREVIOUS GRAPH WHERE WE
WERE LOOKING AT THE MOVEMENT,
THE PERSON WAS TOLD TO THINK
ABOUT MOVING A VIRTUAL KNOB,
SOFTWARE WOULD CREATE THE
VIRTUAL KNOB, REDONE EVERY DAY
IN THE MORNING.
THINK ABOUT THE DECODER
YESTERDAY IS NOT WORKING, OR IF
THE PERSON WOULD THINK ABOUT
MOVING THE SAME KNOB DECODER
WOULD START CHANGING AND THEY
COULD MOVE IT AGAIN.
IT WAS A TEDIOUS PROCESS.
EVERY DAY A COUPLE HOURS HAD TO
BE SPENT CALIBRATING DECODER,
THEN THE PERSON COULD MOVE.
THAT'S LIKE TRYING TO GRAB THE
STICK SHIFT ON YOUR CAR TO START
DRIVING.
YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE A STICK
SHIFT, BUT TO DRIVE THE CAR YOU
HAVE TO PUT IT IN GEAR, LET OUT
THE GAS.
EDDIE FIGURED HOW WITH A SAFE
SIGNAL SOURCE, A HUGE
BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE FIELD.
THE WONDERS OF WORKING INSIDE A
COMMUNITY, ONE PERSON LEARNS
FROM THE OTHER.
ONCE EDDIE'S BREAKTHROUGH CAME
OUT, WE'RE BACK TO THE UTAH
ELECTRODE ARRAY.
THIS IS THE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
SMALLER SET BUT NOW EACH
PERCUTANEOUS CONNECTOR THERE'S
TWO OF THESE.
DETAILS NOT IMPORTANT BUT THE
SAME TINY IMPLANT, IMPLANTED
DOWN THE CENTRAL SULCUS, PICKING
UP SIGNALS, BEING DECODED.
GOING THROUGH NEURAL NETWORK
PROCESS, EVERY 80 MILLISECONDS A
BIT OF SPEECH IS GETTING KICKED
OUT.
AND THEN THAT GOES THROUGH A
LANGUAGE MODEL, TO SAY DOES THAT
MAKE SENSE OR DOES THAT NOT, AND
THEN THE WORD COMES OUT, FINALLY
THE SENTENCE, BASED ON OTHER
WORK SUPPORTED BY THE NIDCD WE
HAVE THIS TEXT CAN GO TO SPEECH,
SPEAK CAN MATCH THE USER'S
ORIGINAL VOICE IF IT'S BEEN
BANKED.
RECREATED.
NOW YOU HAVE SOMEBODY UNABLE TO
SPEAK FOR YEARS, ABLE TO SPEAK
AT A PRETTY GOOD RATE, FIRST
WITH A 50 WORD VOCABULARY, THEN
125 WORDS, DECORRODER -- DECODR
DOESN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED, HUGE
BREAK THROUGH.
WE SPONSORED THIS SINCE 1999, WE
BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS IN
BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE, THEY
ARE NOT ALL SUPPORTED BY NIDCD,
MOST OF THEM ARE VERY INTERESTED
IN THE LIMB PROSTHESIS, A GOOD
MIXING POINTS FOR IDEAS TO HELP
ADVANCE OUR BRAIN-COMPUTER
INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION.
SYNERGIES I THINK ARE VALUABLE
FOR ALL OF US TO REFLECT ON IS
HOW ARE THESE ADVANCES POSSIBLE?
CERTAINLY I DIDN'T DO THEM.
NIDCD'S FUNDING WAS ABSOLUTELY
HELPFUL BUT REALLY IT GOES TO
THE BACK OF THE R01 WHO REFUSES
TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
THESE ARE HARD CHALLENGES.
THEY HAVE TO STICK WITH THE
PROBLEM FOR -- I'VE SEEN PEOPLE
STICK WITH THE PROBLEM FOR 20
YEARS BEFORE IT BEARS FRUIT.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
DEDICATION.
WE WANT THEM TO GET
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS.
IT'S THE CURRENCY OF ACADEMIC
CAREERS.
AND IT GETS THE INFORMATION OUT
IN WAYS THAT OTHER GROUPS CAN
UTILIZE IT TO MOVE THEIR
RESEARCH FORWARD.
BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE I THINK
REUSABLE RECONFIGURABLE OPEN
SOURCE TOOLS SO ONE PERSON
DOESN'T HAVE TO START FROM
SCRATCH TO WORK IN THE AREA.
THESE RETREAT-STYLE CONFERENCES
WITH NARROW FOCUS ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
P.I.s DON'T COME IN, GIVE
THEIR TALK, AND LEAVE.
THEY COME, THEY STAY, AVAILABLE
FOR CONVERSATIONS OVER LUNCH,
COLLABORATIONS ARE FORMED.
COMPREHENSIVE ONGOING PEER
REVIEW, I THINK, IS CRITICAL FOR
THESE FIELDS.
AND THESE OPEN DISCUSSIONS THAT
OCCUR AT THE MEETING, I THINK
THEY ARE UNIQUE TO NIDCD'S
RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
I CAME FROM A GROUP PEOPLE WOULD
COME IN, WOULD TALK, YOU WOULD
NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK
EXCEPT FOR FIVE MINUTES AFTER
THE TALK AND THEN THEY WOULD
LEAVE.
IT'S VERY HARD TO KNOW HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD IN A FIELD WITHOUT
SORT OF POSTER-STYLE DISCUSSIONS
NIDCD SPONSORS AT MEETINGS I'VE
BEEN PART OF.
REVIEW GROUPS HERE AT NIH HELP,
IT'S A PAINFUL PROCESS, BUT HELP
P.I.s REFINE AND ADVANCE THEIR
IDEAS.
AND IF REVIEWERS HAVE BEEN AT
THESE MEETINGS AND ARE AWARE OF
TECHNOLOGY THAT BECOMES PART OF
THE SAME DISCUSSION.
OCCASIONALLY WE NEED SPECIAL
REQUESTS FOR APPLICATION,
SPECIAL REVIEW, SPECIAL
PAYLINES, CLINICAL TRIALS ARE A
GOOD EXAMPLE, WE NEED THE HELP
OF OUR MEDICAL CENTERS TO MANAGE
RISK, TRANSLATIONAL RFA,
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE READY TO
LEAVE THE BASIC RESEARCH AND TRY
AND GET OUT INTO CLINICAL USE.
AND OCCASIONALLY WE CAN DO A
DEDICATED RFA FOR THE HEARING
AID TECHNOLOGY WHICH I DESCRIBED
EARLIER.
AND THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT
STRUCTURES OF AWARDS THAT THE
BASIC RESEARCH THAT COMES OUT OF
THE R01 IS KEY FOR DEFINING THE
REGULATORY SCIENCE FOR THE
FIELD.
PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY HAS
BEEN CRITICAL FOR US BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH
THEM.
LEVERAGE THE DECADES OF KNOW-HOW
FOR BUILDING HERMETICALLY SEALED
DEVICE, NOT TRIVIAL, AND MAKING
IT WORK, OVER ONE TO TWO YEARS
CAN GET THAT BUILD AND WILL GO
INTO A U01 STUDY OVER A
FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU, ROGER.
THAT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE
OVERVIEW.
I'LL ASK, BRUCE, DO YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS?
IF YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT --
>> NO, ROGER, I THINK YOU
CAPTURED THE OPEN INNOVATION
SPIRIT AND THE ADVANCES IN
CHIP-BASED TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE
REALLY DRIVEN BY OTHER FIELDS
LIKE COMMUNICATION AND CONSUMER
ELECTRONICS AND YOUR ABILITY TO
CAPTURE THAT IS AMAZING.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY STRONGLY
COUPLE INTO THOSE MOVEMENTS.
ALSO KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON
BASIC DESIGN, BECOMING MORE
UBIQUITOUS WITH BOUNDARIES ALL
OVER.
WHEN I WAS IN ACADEMIA, I
DECIDED, OKAY, I'VE GOT TO DO
ASICS NOW, APPLICATION
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, STUFF WE
WANT, INSTEAD OF WORK YOUR PHONE
BETTER.
I FOUND IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD
JUST TO GET A WAFER.
ONCE YOU DO THAT, IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT TO SORT OF GET IT INTO
YOUR CHIP.
SO, WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THESE
DEVICES I THINK IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT, AND THEN THE NEXT
PHASE OF MAKING PURPOSE DRIVEN
DEVICES FOR YOUR APPLICATIONS IS
A BIG, BIG FRONTIER.
WITH THE EXPANSION AND
INVESTMENT IN THE CHIPS AND
SCIENCE ACT, THIS IS NOW A BIG
DRIVING FORCE.
THIS COMES AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT
TIME, AND I THINK PROMOTING THIS
KIND OF WORK I DON'T KNOW IF
EVERYONE FROM THE ENGINEERING
COMMUTER IS AWARE OF THESE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES,
AND I WAS ALSO SUPER EXCITED TO
SEE THE UNDERGRADS ENGAGED IN
TYMPAN.
YOU REALLY ARE ON THE PULSE OF
ALL THESE CHANGES, IT'S A BIG
WAVE THAT'S COMING.
>> THANKS FOR MENTIONING THE
CHIPS ACT.
THAT'S PROBABLY UNDERUTILIZED IN
OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS?
YEAH, MARIO.
>> THANKS, ROGER.
THAT WAS GREAT.
I'M INTRIGUED ABOUT -- I AGREE
WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
DEVICES THAT ARE PORTABLE AND
FLEXIBLE, BOTH.
THE LANGUAGE YOU USED TO EXPLAIN
THE IMPORTANCE OF PORTABILITY
WAS TESTING OUTSIDE THE LAB.
IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT IF NOT
MORE TO BE ABLE TO USE THESE
DEVICES OUTSIDE OF THE LAB
BECAUSE WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
IT'S NOT LIKE PRESCRIPTION
EYEGLASSES, IF THEY WORK, THEY
WORK.
YOU NEED TIME TO ADAPT TO THEM.
PERHAPS SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS OF
DAILY USE.
I WOULD MAKE THE CASE THAT BEING
ABLE TO USE THE DEVICE OUTSIDE
THE LAB IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
BEING ABLE TO TEST OUTSIDE THE
LAB, WHICH YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO
WITH A NON-PORTABLE DEVICE LAP
TOP COMPUTER AND SO ON.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
THOSE TWO ASPECTS, TESTING
OUTSIDE THE LAB, USING OUTSIDE
THE LAB?
>> ORIGINALLY I WAS EXCITED
ABOUT HAVING AN OPEN SOURCE
PORTABLE COCHLEAR IMPLANT
INTERFACE BECAUSE THE BEST THE
FIELD COULD DO WOULD BE TO COME
UP WITH NOVEL PARADIGM, SAY WE
THINK THE SIGNAL IS CLEAR WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE SIMULATOR
PROCESSING.
WE TESTED WITH A PATIENT FOR AN
HOUR, AND THEY PERFORMED REALLY
NO WORSE THAN CLINICAL PROCESSOR
WHICH THEY HAVE YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE WITH.
WE THINK THIS IS PROMISING.
THAT'S JUST A TOUGH ARGUMENT FOR
A P.I. TO MAKE.
THEY NEED TO GIVE IT TO THE
PERSON, LET THEM GO HOME, USE
ANYTIME DAILY LIFE.
SAY I WASN'T SO GOOD BUT AT THE
BEGINNING BUT AFTER THREE MONTHS
OF USE I'M BETTER.
WE KNOW FROM SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
STUDIES IT TAKES A PERIOD OF
MONTHS.
A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR SAID YOU
CAN SEE THE WORLD VISUALLY BY
LOOKING AT NEGATIVES.
HE PUT ON A CAMERA AND LIVED
LOOKING AT THE WORLD IN NEGATIVE
FOR -- IT TOOK THREE MONTHS.
HE SAID NOW I CAN DO IT.
MY BRAIN ADAPTED.
WE KNOW PLASTICITY IS THERE BUT
IF WE DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE
RESEARCH TOOLS THEY WON'T BE
ABLE TO BE INDEPENDENT
INNOVATORS.
THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH A
COCHLEAR IMPLANT COMPANY.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> NOT A QUESTION BUT A COMMENT.
TO SEE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CLINICIANS
AND ENGINEERS, IMPORTANT IN MY
OWN CAREER, IT'S SOMETHING THAT
CAME OUT BEAUTIFULLY THIS
MORNING.
I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO
TO PROMOTE THAT, WHETHER IT'S
UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL,
DURING ACTUALLY CLINICAL
TRAINING, RESIDENCY, AFTERWARDS
WOULD BE GREAT.
I THINK THERE'S TWO DISCIPLINES
THAT COMMUNICATE, SO
SYNERGISTIC.
ANYWAY, I CONGRATULATE BOTH OF
OUR SPEAKERS THIS MORNING
EMPHASIZING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR
PATIENT CARE AND THEIR
EXPERIENCES.
>> AMEN.
I AGREE COMPLETELY.
ALL RIGHT.
OH, YEAH, SORRY.
>> ONE QUESTION.
SO, THIS QUESTION COMES BY WAY
OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW, WHO
CONSTANTLY IS LOSING HIS HEARING
AIDS.
HE'S OLDER.
HE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF DEMENTIA.
BUT IT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE
TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN
MAKE THIS WORK BETTER.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY NEW
IDEAS, EVEN AT THE END USER
POINT, IN TERMS OF NOT LOSING
YOUR -- YEAH.
>> THE IMPLANTABLE HEARING AIDS
[CROSSTALK]
>> LIKE 20% HERE HAD THIS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU TO ROGER AND TO
BRUCE.
ALL RIGHT.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LACK OF
BREAK BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE AHEAD.
I'M GOING TO TRUNCATE MY REMARKS
A LITTLE BIT AND MOCH PART OF
WHAT I WAS GOING TO -- MOVE PART
OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY TO
JANUARY.
I WILL JUST SUMMARIZE IN A
COUPLE MINUTES, I THINK, THE
POINT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO
TALK ABOUT.
COULD WE HAVE MY SLIDES UP
PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY.
SO, NOW AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN
THE PAST FEW MEETINGS, I WOULD
LIKE TO GO AROUND AND JUST ASK
EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE MANY, MANY NEW MEMBERS
HERE TODAY.
AND PLEASE JUST INTRODUCE
YOURSELF, SAY WHERE YOU'RE FROM,
JUST SAY A QUICK WORD ABOUT YOUR
AREA OF EXPERTISE OR INTEREST IN
NIDCD'S MISSION.
SO WE WILL START AS WE USUALLY
DO WITH MISS KATHERINE BOWTON.
>> YOU TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.
I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY, I'M
HERE BECAUSE I HAVE HEARING
LOSS.
I HAVE A HEARING AID IN MY RIGHT
HERE, COCHLEAR IMPLANT IN MY
LEFT EAR.
AND BASICALLY NOW I WORK FOR A
LONG TIME AT THE "NEW YORK
TIMES," NOW I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR
PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS FOR
BETTER ACCESSIBILITY.
I LOVE BEING ON THIS PANEL
BECAUSE I HEAR SO MANY THINGS.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED IN
ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH DR.
EMILY BUSS.
>> HI, I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, AT
CHAPEL HILL.
WHERE I STUDY HUMAN HEARING WITH
A FOCUS ON AUDITORY DEVELOPMENT,
SPEECH PERCEPTION, SPATIAL
HEARING.
>> AND MISS VICKIE DEAL
WILLIAMS.
>> HELLO, I'M THE CEO AT THE
AMERICAN SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING
ASSOCIATION, I AM A SPEECH
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST BY TRAINING
PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO
MULTICULTURAL POPULATION.
>> DR. ANDY GROSS.
>> ANDY GROSS, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
MY LAB WORKS ON THE DEVELOPMENT,
REGENERATION, EVOLUTION OF THE
INNER EAR.
>> DR. NEIL LOWANI.
>> I'M AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL CENTER, FOCUS RESEARCH
ON DESIGNING TECHNOLOGY MICRO
NEEDLES FOR DIAGNOSTIC
ASPIRATION AS WELL AS
THERAPEUTIC DELIVERY, IN THE
INNER EAR DIRECTLY WITHOUT
CAUSING HEARING LOSS,
INCREASINGLY FOCUSING ON MUSIC
ENJOYMENT, WITH COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS OR JUST HEARING LOSS
AND HEARING AIDS.
>> DR. DAN MARIFFEL.
>> I'M A FACULTY MEMBER
PROFESSOR AT OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY, I STUDY VESTIBULAR
FUNCTION, HOW WE SENSE MOTION,
ALSO STUDY OUR SENSE OF BALANCE.
>> DR. SUSAN TEBOW.
>> I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON,
EXPERTISE IN THE AREA OF VOICE,
SPECIFICALLY I STUDY THE BIOLOGY
OF VOCAL MUCOSA.
>> DR. MEG WALLHAGEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, PROFESSOR IN
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGIC
NURSING UC-SAN FRANCISCO, MY
AREA FOR DEALING WITH PERSONS
WITH HEARING LOSS, OLDER ADULTS,
ESPECIALLY WITH COMMUNICATION
ACCESS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM,
MAKING SURE COMMUNICATION IS
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE,
RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE
PARTNERS THEMSELVES, SO I DO A
LOT OF DYADIC RELATIONSHIP WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW WE HAVE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHO ARE GOING TO BE ROTATING
OFF, SO THIS IS THEIR LAST
MEETING, SADLY.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EACH MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AT THE
END OF THE MEETING, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO.
BUT THE FIRST IS DR. NIRUPA
CHOWDHURY.
>> YES, I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE, AND MY AREA OF
RESEARCH IS IN CHEMICAL SENSES,
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE EAR AND
VESTIBULAR ORGANS, THESE ARE
ALSO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
THAT AFFECT PEOPLE ACROSS THE
PLANET.
SO I STUDY TASTE IN PARTICULAR,
AND FROM MOLECULAR AND
PHYSIOLOGIC PERSPECTIVE, AND WE
CAN COME BACK.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
DR. CAROL ESPY-WILSON.
>> HELLO, I'M A PROFESSOR IN THE
ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SPEECH
PROCESSING IN PARTICULAR.
CURRENT AREAS LOOKING AT TAKING
ACOUSTIC SIGNAL TRANSLATING INTO
WHAT ARTICULATORS WITH DOING
WHEN YOU SPEAK, LOOKING IT'S A
SPEECH AS A BEHAVIOR OF SIGNAL
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE BRAIN FOR MENTAL HEALTH
ASSESSMENT.
AND THEN THE LAST I WOULD SAY
SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT HEARING
TODAY, I HAVE A COMPANY AND
WE'RE LOOKING AT REMOVING
BACKGROUND NOISE TO ENHANCE
SPEECH FOR HEARING AIDS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS.
>> DR. LISA KAUFFMAN.
>> HI, SENIOR SCIENTIST AT BOYS
TOWN NATIONAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL,
I STUDY LANGUAGE, SPEECH, AND
SPEECH MOTOR AND MANUAL
DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS,
ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG CHILDREN
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE
DISORDER AND THOSE WITH SPEECH
SOUND DISORDER.
>> THANKS.
DR. ARGYE HILLIS IS ONLINE.
>> HI.
I'M ARGYE HILLIS, I'M A
PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY AT JOHNS
HOPKINS.
AND I STUDY MECHANISMS OF
LANGUAGE RECOVERY AFTER STROKE,
AS WELL AS WAYS TO AUGMENT
APHAGIA RECOVER AFTER STROKE
PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST YEAR
AFTER STROKE.
>> MISS LYNN MURPHY BREEN.
>> I'M AN ATTORNEY, ADVOCATE FOR
PEOPLE WITH USHER SYNDROME,
LEADING CAUSE OF DEAFNESS AND
BLINDNESS, AS WELL AS FOR
CHILDREN WITH PRE-LINGUAL
HEARING LOSS.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW WE HAVE NINE NEW MEMBERS.
SO I'LL CALL ON EACH OF YOU AND
ASK YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
STARTING WITH DR. LINDA BARLOW.
>> HI, NICE TO BE HERE.
I'M A PROFESSOR IN CELL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY,
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE.
AND WE WORK ON THE SENSE OF
TASTE, IN PARTICULAR WE FOCUS ON
REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL
BIOLOGY AND IN A CLINICAL
CONTEXT WE'RE EXPLORING HOW
DIFFERENT CANCER THERAPIES
IMPACT TASTE, HOMEOSTASIS AT THE
CELL AND MOLECULAR LEVEL TO GAIN
INSIGHT INTO WHY A PATIENT
SUFFERS TASTE DYSFUNCTION.
>> THANK YOU.
DR. JAY GOTFRIED.
>> I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE,
AFTER SOME TIME ON THE AD HOC.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE, EXCITED
ABOUT THIS.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,
WHERE I AM PROFESSOR OF
NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
WHICH KIND OF DOUBLES ME UP MORE
THAN I PERHAPS WISH I COULD DO.
BUT ANYHOW, I STUDY THE HUMAN
SENSE OF SMELL IN ALL VARIOUS
SHAPES AND FORMS, AND YOU'LL
HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT LATER
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
DR. KIA JOHNSON.
>> HI, I'M A SPEECH LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGY IS, DIRECTOR OF THE
THAT
ARTHUR BLANK STUTTERING CENTER
AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN.
FOCUSED ON MITIGATING SOCIETAL
CONFORMITY TO FLUENCY IN
STUTTERING, AND TRAINING OF
SLPs AND STUDENTS INTERESTED
IN STUTTERING.
I'M ALSO VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION,
IMPLICIT BIAS AS RELATES TO
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
CLINICAL OPPORTUNITIES AND
RESEARCH.
>> DR. SWATHI KERN?
>> HI, IT'S NICE TO BE HERE.
I'M A PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF
CENTER FOR BRAIN RECOVERY,
BOSTON UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH AREA
IS STROKE, REHABILITATIONAL
STROKE, NEURAL PLASTICITY.
I ALSO STUDY PEOPLE WITH
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, WHEN THEY
HAVE APHASIA, INTERESTED IN
DEVELOP THERAPIES FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
>> DR. JAY PICARILLO, UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON ST. LOUIS, HE WILL
BE WITH US NEXT TIME.
DR. ALYSSA RAMIREZ STAPLETON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT CAL STATE
FULLERTON, EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP.
I'M A BLACK DEAF STUDIES AND
HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLAR, LOOK
AT CULTURE, ACCESS, HISTORY OF
DEAF EDUCATION, ALSO ON THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR BLACK
DEAF PROJECT WORKING WITH BLACK
FAMILIES WITH DEAF CHILDREN, TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT IN
TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES,
WORKSHOPS, WORKING WITH
RESOURCES, ANTI-BLACK NECESSARY
EDUCATION.
>> DR. MARIO SPEERSKI.
>> PROFESSOR AT NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,
MY WORK HAS FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT
AREAS RELATED TO SPEECH AND
HEARING, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.
AND WHAT'S MOST FUN FOR ME WHEN
I GET TO INTERACT WITH EITHER
CLINICIANS, BASIC
NEUROSCIENTISTS, IN A
SYNERGISTIC WAY DOING THINGS
NEITHER OF US COULD DO
INDEPENDENTLY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND DR. LARRY TRUSSELL.
>> I'M LARRY TRUSSELL, PROFESSOR
AT THE OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY, IN PORTLAND, OREGON.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN THE
CELLULAR NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF
AUDITORY AND VESTIBULAR
PROCESSING IN THE BRAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
DR. NANCY YOUNG.
>> HELLO, I'M A SURGEON AND
PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY, BASED AT THE
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHERE I RUN
A LARGE COCHLEAR IMPLANT PROGRAM
FOR CHILDREN, AND MY AREA OF
RESEARCH IS USING BRAIN IMAGING
AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO
PREDICT LANGUAGE OUTCOMES IN
CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE COCHLEAR
IMPLANTS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME
TWO EX OFFICIO MEMBERS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND NIOSH,
THE FIRST DR. MAY SONN IS
ATTENDING FOR DR. JEREMY NELSON.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY HELLO?
OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
MAY HAVE TROUBLE UNMUTING.
MISS CHRISTY THEMIAN.
>> HI, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH, REPRESENTING
THE CDC.
I WORK PRIMARILY IN HEARING LOSS
PREVENTION AMONG WORKER
POPULATION, WORK ON EPIDEMIOLOGY
OF HEARING LOSS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
INTRODUCTIONS.
WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL DO A LITTLE
BIT OF BUSINESS.
THE MINUTES WERE POSTED IN THE
ELECTRONIC COUNCIL BOOK, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYBODY
HAS ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS
TO THE MINUTES.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO APPROVE
THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN?
AND SECOND.
AND ANY DISSENT.
NO, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, MINUTES ARE
ACCEPTED.
AND NEXT SLIDE IS THE FUTURE
COUNCIL MEETINGS, SO AS ALWAYS
WE'LL HOLD THE JANUARY COUNCIL
MEETINGS VIRTUALLY.
AND THE MAY AND SEPTEMBER
MEETINGS IN PERSON.
THESE CAN EITHER BE ONE OR TWO
DAYS, SO PLEASE SET ASIDE THE
TWO DAY SESSION IN THE LIST HERE
AND LET US KNOW IF YOU KNOW OF
ANY CONFLICTS FOR ANY OF THESE
DATES.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS TODAY'S AGENDA.
AND WE WILL BE HEARING FROM DR.
KELLY KING SHORTLY, WE'LL THEN
HAVE REPORTS FROM OUR SCIENTIFIC
DIRECTOR, - LISA CUNNINGHAM,
CLINICAL DIRECTOR, DR. JOSH
LEVY, A BUDGET REPORT FROM
MR. ERIC WILLIAMS, BUDGET
OFFICER.
WE'LL HEAR ABOUT SIMPLIFYING
REVIEW FRAMEWORK AND NEW REVIEW
FRAMEWORK THAT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED BY NIH SHORTLY.
REPORT OF DIVISION OF SCIENTIFIC
PROGRAMS, AND WE'LL HAVE THREE
NEW COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS, AND
REMARKS FROM RETIRING MEMBERS.
NEXT SLIDE.
SKIP THIS ONE.
PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT.
I I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR
NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SINCE WE
MET LAST I TOLD YOU THAT WE HAD
EXTENDED AN OFFER TO A NEW
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FOLLOWING THE
RETIREMENT OF TIM WILLIS, VERY
FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT
DR. MARK STEPHENS.
HE SERVES AS PRIMARY ADVISER TO
ALL THE SENIOR OFFICIALS AT
NIDCD, PROVIDING STRATEGIC
GUIDANCE ON THE INSTITUTES
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS.
I'VE FOUND HIS HELP INVALUABLE
IN THE SHORT THREE MONTHS HE'S
BEEN WITH US, IT'S HARD TO
BELIEVE HE'S ONLY BEEN HERE FOR
THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
HE IS A HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED
ADMINISTRATOR AND LEADER WITH
MORE THAN A DECADE OF HANDS-ON
EXPERIENCE IN NIH POLICIES AND
PROCESSES, AND PRIOR TO JOINING
NIDCD HE WAS THE DEPUTY E.O. AT
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGIC
DISORDERS AND STROKE.
AND BEFORE THAT HE WAS THE LEAD
MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYST
IN THE NIH IMMEDIATE OFFICE OF
MANAGEMENT.
SO WELCOME, MARK STEPHENS.
HE'S HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHORT
REPORT ON GENDER DIVERSITY AND
OUR SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE, I'M
GOING TO PUT THIS OFF UNTIL
JANUARY SO I CAN TAKE A LITTLE
BIT MORE TIME TO GO THROUGH THE
SLIDES.
YOU DO HAVE THESE SLIDES.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IF I CAN
JUST GIVE THE BOTTOM LINE UP
FRONT IS THAT WE HAVE A FAIR
NUMBER ACTUALLY MORE THAN 50% IN
MOST CASES FUNDED FEMALE
SCIENTISTS IN OUR TRAINING
PIPELINE, IN OUR EARLY CAREER
AWARDS, IN OUR EARLY-STAGE
INVESTIGATOR POOL, BUT THEN
WOMEN DROP OUT TYPICALLY WHEN
YOU GET TO THE TOTAL R01-FUNDED
POOL.
AND SO WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS IN A
NUMBER OF WAYS, AND I CAN TALK
MORE ABOUT THIS NEXT TIME, BUT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE INTEND
TO CONTINUE TO TRACK.
WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO THINK OF
WAYS TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE
OF FEMALE R01 RECIPIENTS AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS
IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING
THAT I HAD TO COVER.
AND SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME
AND BEING ABLE TO SPEND MORE
TIME ON THE REST OF THE PROGRAM,
I WILL NOW INTRODUCE DR. KELLY
KING WHO IS ALREADY COMING UP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM DR.
KELLY KING ON TWO TOPICS.
KELLY IS AN AUDIOLOGIST AND
PROGRAM OFFICER WHO OVERSEES
GRANTS FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING
HEARING LOSS AND TREATMENTS FOR
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS.
TODAY SHE IS FIRST GOING TO
PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF A RECENT
WORKSHOP THAT WAS SPONSORED BY
NIDCD AND OCCURRED AT THE END OF
JUNE, AND IT INCLUDED NATIONAL
INSTITUTE ON AGING AND FDA, THIS
IS ON THE TOPIC OF HEARING
HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND
AFFORDABILITY.
AND THEN SECOND SHE WILL BE
PRESENTING A CONCEPT CLEARANCE
FOR COUNCIL REVIEW.
THANK YOU, KELLY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, DR. TUCCI.
NOTHING LIKE RUNNING BEHIND
BEING BETWEEN YOU AND LUNCH.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL KEEP YOU FOR
A FEW MORE MINUTES FOCUSED.
SO, I'M PLEASED TODAY TO GET TO
SHARE WITH YOU A SUMMARY OF A
MEETING WE HELD A COUPLE MONTHS
AGO IN THIS VERY ROOM, ON THE
TOPIC OF ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE HEARING HEALTH CARE
WHICH MANY OF YOU KNOW HAS BEEN
A PRIORITY FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR
15 YEARS.
AND SO IT'S WORTH STARTING WITH
WHERE WE BEGAN AS AN INSTITUTE,
IN 2009, ON THIS TOPIC.
OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE DR. AMY
DONAHUE DECIDED TO HOLD A
MEETING IN BETHESDA, TACKLING
ISSUES OF ACCESS AND AFFORDABLE.
PARTNERED WITH JUDY DUBNO, AND
LU BECK FROM THE V.A.
THEY PULLED TOGETHER A GROUP OF
20 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE U.S. AND
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, WHO
BROUGHT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES AND EXPERTISE,
INCLUDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
FDA AT THAT TIME, AND THE
PURPOSE WAS TO DEVELOP A
RESEARCH AGENDA TO INCREASE
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
OF HEARING HEALTH CARE IN ADULS
WITH MILD TO MODERATE HEARING
LOSS, WITH FOCUS ON ACCESSIBLE
AND LOW COST HEARING AIDS.
THE OUTCOMES -- LET'S SEE.
THE OUTCOMES OF THAT MEETING
WERE A SET OF RESEARCH
PRIORITIES THAT CREATED A
BLUEPRINT FOR THE INSTITUTE AND
FOR THE FIELD AROUND HOW TO
ADVANCE THESE ISSUES ON ACCESS
AND AFFORD ABILITY, THIS
EDITORIAL CAPTURED THE PRIMARY
THEMES OF THE MEETING.
NIDCD ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF AT
THIS TIMES ON THE HEELS OF THE
2009 WORKING GROUP, AND GIVEN
WHAT CAN BE A GLACIAL PACE OF
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY, I THINK
IT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A
FLURRY OF ACTIVITIES IN THE
YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.
THAT PUSHED THE FIELD FROM A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
FIRST OF ITS KIND NEW CATEGORY
OF OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS
WHICH BECAME LAW IN 2017, AND
THE FINAL REGULATION WAS
PUBLISHED JUST TWO YEARS AGO, IN
OCTOBER OF 2022.
BREAKING NEWS SINCE THIS MEETING
BEGAN FDA RELEASED A PRESS
RELEASE ANNOUNCING FIRST
APPROVAL OF AN OTC HEARING AID
SOFTWARE FROM APPLE, SO THIS IS
A MAJOR MILESTONE, WE CAN TALK
MORE ABOUT WHY THATS BUT WE'RE
CONTINUING TO MAKE ADVANCEMENTS
BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS
SLIDE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THE SEISMIC
SHIFT CAN TRACE ITS ROOTS BACK
TO THAT 2009 WORKING GROUP
MEETING, INDEED MUCH OF THE WORK
THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE
MIDDLE HAS BEEN DONE BY THE
SCIENTISTS WITHIN OUR FIELD WHO
HEARD THE CALL AND LAID THE
FOUNDATIONAL GROUND WORK TO
ESTABLISH OTC HEARING AIDS AS A
VIABLE SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WHILE
OTC HEARING AIDS HAVE RIGHTLY
RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION AND
FOCUS THE INITIATIVE AROUND
MAKING HEARING AND HEALTH CARE
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE IS
BROADER THAN A SINGLE ISSUE OF
OTC HEARING AIDS.
SINCE 2019 -- I'M SORRY, SINCE
2009 PUBLISHED 19 FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING
NUMEROUS RFAs, ONE OF OUR
STRONGEST SIGNALS TO THE
COMMUNITY TO INVITE INTEREST IN
A NEW AREA.
ONE NOTICE OF SPECIAL INTEREST,
FUNDED 59 COMPLETED PROJECTS TO
DATE, WITH 19 CURRENTLY ACTIVE
GRANTS, THAT FALL UNDER THIS
INITIATIVE.
THE RESEARCH TOPICS ARE BROAD.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEMINAL WORK
AROUND OTC HEARING AIDS, BUT
WE'VE ALSO FUNDED SCIENCE THAT'S
LOOKED AT MAKING DIAGNOSTIC
TOOLS MORE AFFORDABLE, LOW COST,
AND DEPLOYABLE IN LOW-RESOURCE
SETTINGS.
EXPLORING AND ADDRESSING
BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND BARRIERS AND
INCENTIVES FOR ADULTS SEEKING
HEALTH CARE, TESTING WAYS TO
PROMOTE HEARING HEALTH CARE AC
SEELINGS -- ACCESS, AND EMPHASS
ON REDUCING DISPARITIES IN
ACCESS.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY 15 YEARS.
15 YEARS LATER WE DECIDED IT WAS
APPROPRIATE TO REVISIT WHAT
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, WHAT STILL
NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHAT NEW WORK
HAS EMERGED, GIVEN CHANGING
LANDSCAPE OF ADULT HEARING
HEALTH CARE OVER 15 YEARS.
THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECALIBRATE US, AND MAKE SURE WE
CONTINUED TO BE ON THE RIGHT
PATH ESPECIALLY AROUND
PRIORITIZING RESEARCH THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
SO I WAS JOINED IN THIS EFFORT
BY TWO PHENOMENAL CO-CHAIRS,
SUMIT DHAR AND CARRIE NIEMAN
FROM JOHNS HOPKINS, WITH JACLIN
SCHURMAN, SPENT SEVEN MONTHS
PLANNING THE MEETING, A DAY AND
A HALF OF HARD WORK AND SOME
FUN.
THE WORK CONTINUES, I'LL TELL
YOU MORE ABOUT BUT OUR GOAL WAS
TO HEAR FROM SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS AND PARTNERS ABOUT THE
NEEDS THAT REMAIN ABOUT NEW WORK
THAT SHOULD BE DONE, IN THE
CONTEXT OF OTC HEARING AIDS BUT
MORE BROADLY CHANGING LANDSCAPE
OF HEALTH.
HEALTH CARE, THAT SHOULD SAY.
WE BROUGHT TOGETHER AN
INCREDIBLY DIVERSE SET OF
PANELISTS ALL FOCUSED ON
ADDRESSING THIS FROM DIFFERENT
AREAS, WE HAD VARIOUS CAREER
STAGES, DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUND,
TECHNOLOGISTS, REGULATORY FOLKS
REPRESENTED, WE HAD SCIENTISTS,
CLINICIANS.
THEY VARIED BY INSTITUTIONAL
AFFILIATION, WHETHER THEY WERE
IN RESEARCH OR PRACTICE
SETTINGS, WE ALSO HAD AN
AUDIENCE OF 50.
WE LIMITED THAT BECAUSE IT WAS
AN IN-PERSON EVENT BUT WE COULD
HAVE TRIPLED GIVEN THE INTEREST.
IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM SO
MANY PEOPLE WHO WANTED SIMPLY TO
COME AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE
CONVERSATION.
WE STARTED WITH THREE KEYNOTE
ADDRESSES, FIRST ON THE
INTERSECTION OF HEALTHCARE
POLICY AND RESEARCH.
NEXT ON HEALTHCARE ECONOMICS.
AND THE THIRD WAS GIVEN BY THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND
HEALTH DISPARITIES, MONICA WEBB
HOOPER, WHICH FOCUSED ON NIMHD
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK AROUND HEALTH
DISPARITIES.
AND I WANT TO SAY WE DECIDED
FROM THE OUTSET THAT WE DIDN'T
WANT TO MAKE HEALTH DISPARITIES
AND INEQUITIES ITS OWN SORT OF
SLIVER OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE SET OUT, OUT OF THE GATE, TO
EMPHASIZE ALL AREAS TOUCHED ON
HEALTH DISPARITIES AND
INEQUITIES AND SOLUTIONS NEEDED
TO BAKE THAT IN COMPLETELY.
WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE A SINGLE
PIECE, WE WANTED IT TO PERMEATE
ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS.
WE WERE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE
FRAMED THE DAY.
BOTH THE WORK LEADING UP TO IT,
CONVERSATIONS DURING, ALSO THE
WORK THAT WE ASKED OF OUR
PANELISTS AFTERWARDS.
WE USED -- WE ADAPTED A
FRAMEWORK FROM LITERATURE AROUND
HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND BROKE OUR
DAY INTO FOUR SECTIONS, FIRST
BEING HEALTH CARE NEEDS, DESIRE
FOR CARE, SECOND REACHING AND
UTILIZATION, THIRD HEARING
HEALTH CARE CONSEQUENCES AND
OUTCOMES, AND UNDERLYING FINAL
DISCUSSION WE HELD TECHNOLOGY AS
ENABLER OF ACCESS WHICH TOUCHES
ON ALL THESE ISSUES.
OUR GOALS INCLUDED REVISITING
RESEARCH NEEDS THAT WERE SET AS
PRIORITIES 15 YEARS AGO, WE
SPENT TIME BEFORE THE MEETING
SORT OF GENERATING WHAT WE
RECALLED THE REPORT CARD OF WHAT
HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED, WHAT STILL
NEEDS DOING, WHAT NEW WORK
SHOULD BE DONE.
WE WANTED TO CONTEXTUALIZE
CONVERSATION AROUND CURRENT
LANDS SCAPE AND FUTURE NEEDS IN
THE CONTEXT OF OTC HEARING AIDS
PARTICULARLY, WE WANTED TO
INITIATE THINKING ABOUT RESEARCH
FRAMEWORKS THAT COULD GUIDE THE
FIELD FOR THE NEXT PHASE, WE
REALLY SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE
FIELD, SECOND GENERATION, WHERE
15 YEARS AGO WE WERE MUCH MORE
IN A FIRST GENERATION OF THE
CONVERSATION.
WE WANTED TO SPARK INDIVIDUAL
AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS TO
ADDRESS RESEARCH NEEDS.
WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO HOLD
THIS MEETING IN PERSON.
WE FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT.
WE'VE SEEN FRUITS OF THAT
ALREADY TO GET PEOPLE IN THE
SAME ROOM HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER MATTERS.
WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY RESEARCH
PRIORITIES TO HELP GUIDE
RESEARCHERS, FUNDING AGENCIES,
REGULATORY BODIES, PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND
POLICYMAKERS.
WE WERE JOINED IN CO-SPONSORSHIP
BY THE FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL
INSTITUTE ON AGING, THEIR
COLLABORATION MADE THIS
POSSIBLE.
FDA WAS INVOLVED 15 YEARS AGO AT
THE 2009 MEETING, MAJOR PLAYERS
IN MANY ADVANCES WE'VE SEEN,
THEY CONTINUE TO BE VERY
INVOLVED IN WANTING TO HEAR FROM
THE COMMUNITY AROUND WHAT NEEDS
ARE.
SO THESE WERE WONDERFUL PARTNERS
TO ENGAGE WITH.
WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM A
NUMBER OF FEDERAL PARTNERS,
WHICH JUST GIVES A SENSE HOW
ISSUES AROUND ACCESS AND
AFFORDABILITY TOUCH MANY
AGENCIES ACROSS THE FEDERAL
LANDSCAPE.
THAT WAS A LOT OF INTEREST FROM
FOLKS IN WHAT WE WOULD BE
TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAD A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS REPRESENTED,
PROFESSIONAL BODIES, ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS, THE INDUSTRY,
HEARING AID INDUSTRY WAS
REPRESENTED.
WE HAD JOURNAL EDITORS PRESENT.
PCORI PROGRAM OFFICERS PRESENT,
PATIENT CENTERED RESEARCH
OUTCOMES INSTITUTE.
I WILL SAY IN 2009 THERE WAS --
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN
THE FIELD OF TOPICS.
KNOWING WE COULD ONLY HEAR FROM
SO MANY PEOPLE DURING THE DAY
AND A HALF, AND THAT THERE WERE
GOING TO BE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
COULDN'T GET IN THE ROOM AND
MAKE IT, WE PUT OUT A REQUEST
FOR INFORMATION THIS SUMMER,
CALLING FOR INTERESTED PARTIES,
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, TO
COMMENT ON NIDCD FUTURE RESEARCH
DIRECTIONS TOWARD IMPROVING
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY,
AN OPEN CALL FOR 60 DAYS, AND WE
HAD A FAIRLY ROBUST RESPONSE.
IT'S CLOSED LAST MONTH.
WHAT'S NEXT?
THE WORK CONTINUES.
WE'RE RIGHT NOW COLLATING AND
REFINING THE RESEARCH PRIORITIES
GENERATED AT THE MEETING, THE
ONES WE IDENTIFIED STILL
REMAINING FROM PRIOR WORK, AND
ALSO THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE
RFI.
WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE
WORKING GROUP PANEL ONE MORE
TIME TO ASK THEM TO HELP US
PRIORITIZE THOSE.
BOTH IN AN AREA OF IDENTIFYING
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AND
IMMEDIATELY FEASIBLE, WE WILL
POST AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF ALL
OF THIS ON THE NIDCD WEBSITE AND
WE'LL WORK THROUGH A VARIETY OF
CHANNELS TO DISSEMINATE THE
THEMES AND PRIORITY QUESTIONS
THAT EMERGE.
AND THERE'S ALSO BEEN
CONVERSATION ABOUT SEVERAL
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
THAT COULD COME OUT OF THIS
MEETING, ONE OF WHICH I'LL SAY
IS A COLLABORATION WITH NIMHD TO
ADAPT THEIR HEALTH DISPARITIES
AND INEQUITIES FRAMEWORK FOR
HEARING HEALTH CARE, AND WE'VE
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND
SOME PARTNERS IN THE FIELD ABOUT
CARRYING THIS FORWARD, AND SO
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT
GOES.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK
THE 29 MEMBERS OF OUR PANEL WHO
IT WOULD TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME
TO NAME BUT THEY WERE REALLY A
PHENOMENAL GROUP OF FOLKS TO
WORK WITH.
WE PUT THEM TO WORK BEFORE THE
MEETING, WORKED HARD DURING THE
MEETING, STILL HAVING OF THEM
AFTER THE MEETING -- STILL
ASKING OF THEM AFTER THE
MEETING.
MY GRATITUDE TO THEM.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE ABOUT HOW THAT WENT OR
WHERE YOU THINK THINGS MAY BE
GOING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
OF THIS EFFORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
MAYBE WE CAN GO TO CONCEPT
CLEARANCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
NEXT WE BASICALLY WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE THIS WORK.
THERE'S A LOT STILL TO BE DONE.
AND THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT
CONCEPT CLEARANCE ESPECIALLY FOR
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE COME
TO YOU WITH A PROPOSAL TO EITHER
START A NEW AREA OF WORK OR
CONTINUE AN AREA OF WORK.
WE SEEK YOUR COMMENTS AND
FEEDBACK.
WE BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION
TYPICALLY BY ASKING A COUPLE
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COMMENT ON
IT.
WHAT I CAN SHARE ALREADY FROM
THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IS
WE'VE IDENTIFIED A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT THEMES THAT HAVE
EMERGED FROM THE WORKING GROUP
AND RFI, THESE INCLUDE
CONSEQUENCES OF UNADDRESSED
HEARING LOSS, STIGMA, SCREENING
AND ASSESSMENT, CARE SEEKING,
NAVIGATION, OUTCOMES, OTC
HEARING AIDS, TECHNOLOGY,
ECONOMICS AND IMPLICATIONS,
WORKFORCE, DIVERSITY AND HEALTH
EQUITY.
SO WE'VE SEEN RESEARCH QUESTIONS
AND PRIORITIES EMERGE UNDER
THEMATIC BUCKETS.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE BOTH MEG AND
EMILY TO COMMENT ON THIS
INITIATIVE.
AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE
TO FOLLOW.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT AND FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THIS
RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THE
FOCUS ON ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE HEARING HEALTHCARE.
AS NOTED, EMPHASIS OVER THE PAST
YEARS HAS RULED RESULTED IN
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
INCLUDING REALIZATION OF
OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS,
AGREE ADDITIONAL ISSUES REMAIN
THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS
PARTICULAR FOCUS.
THE THEMES NOTED WHILE VERY
GENERAL SUGGEST A RANGE OF
ISSUES THAT NEED FURTHER
RESEARCH.
GIVEN THESE AND IN CONSIDERATION
OF THE POSSIBLE SPECIFIC
TARGETS, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THREE TOPICS THAT MAY BE
IMPORTANT TO MAKE HEARING AIDS
AND CARE ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDSABLE.
A BIAS FROM MY BACKGROUND AND
WORK, FALLS WITHIN THE THEME OF
SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A LOT
GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO
INTEGRATE SCREENING INTO PRIMARY
CARE AND MAKE IT A ROUTINE
COMPONENT OF THE WORK FLOW.
OUR DATA AND THAT OF OTHERS
SUPPORT THE IMPORTANCE THE
IMPACT A PRACTITIONER CAN HAVE
ON AN INDIVIDUAL IF THEY SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR HEARING
LOSS.
IT'S A REALLY KEY AREA FOR
INDIVIDUALS ACROSS SETTINGS AND
IN VARYING FINANCIAL RESOURCES
TO GET INTO THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM AND COULD HELP IN
IDENTIFYING NEW MODELS OF CARE.
IN ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS
RESEARCH I THINK WE REALLY NEED
TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF
DOING CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS
RESEARCH IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN
SUBJECTS AND COST CONSTRAINTS.
IT'S NOT EASY WHEN YOU HAVE TO
DO THE ISSUES AROUND CONSENTING
AND SO FORTH.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE
WORKFLOW BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE
IN TERMS OF THE DEMANDS ON
HEARING HEALTHCARE OR ON WHAT
YOU'RE ASKED TO DO ALREADY TO
SCREEN AND SO FORTH.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT
THAT.
WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE IDEA
OF IF THEY ARE REFERRED WE DO
RUN INTO THE PROBLEM OF COST AND
THOSE GET INTO SOME OF THE OTHER
AREAS I MIGHT COVER.
RELATED TO THIS I THINK THE
SPECIFIC TOPIC IS A BROADER
INTEGRATION OF HEARING
ASSESSMENTS ACROSS THE
HEALTHCARE SETTING AND
ACCOMPLISH THIS IT MAY BE USEFUL
TO LEVERAGE OTHER INTEGRATIVE
MODELS SUCH AS AGE FRIENDLY
HEALTH SYSTEMS NOW BEING MORE
RECOGNIZED IN MANY HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS, CMS CAME OUT WITH
MAKING IT AGE FRIENDLY.
TO PROMOTE EQUITY WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND OR UNTANGLE AND
UNDERSTAND MORE CAREFULLY THESE
IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND
ACTUALIZATION.
THE SECOND AREA I'VE BEEN
INTERESTED IN RELATES TO WHAT I
WOULD CALL ISSUE OF
INTERSECTIONALITY, HOW THIS
IMPACTS ACCESS AND USE.
I HAVE A MODEL IN MY BRAIN ABOUT
WHAT THIS MEANS BUT HARD TO
ARTICULATE, LOOKING AT MULTIPLE
EXPERIENCES RECOLLECT NIGHTED TO
MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HEARING
HEALTHCARE WITH THE GOAL OF
PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE
HEALTH.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S REALLY
MULTIPLE INTERSECTIONALITIES IN
TERMS OF EXPERIENCE OF STIGMA.
WE TEND TO THROW THAT TERM OUT,
AS IF WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, BUT
I DON'T THINK STIGMA IS EQUAL TO
STIGMA IS EQUAL TO STIGMA, NOT
ONLY RELATED TO PERSONAL
INTENSITY BUT WHERE THE PERSON
IS IN THEIR LIFE TRAJECTORY AS
WELL A LITTLE THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL
SETTINGS, CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS,
VALUING OF HEARING, RESOURCE
ACCESSIBILITY AND COMORBIDITIES,
ALL OF THOSE FACTORS COME
TOGETHER THAT WILL INFLUENCE HOW
PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS.
I THINK TO PROMOTE HEALTH
EQUALITY MANY ISSUES NEED TO BE
UNTANGLED AND UNDERSTAND AS THEY
IMPACT DECISION MAKING, THIS
GETS TO THE FINAL AREA IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME ESPECIALLY BUT
SORT OF TAKING THE CONTRARY VIEW
OF THE TECHNOLOGY BEING AN
ENABLER.
SORT OF PROBLEMATIZING THAT,
WHERE WE HAVE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, IT MAY BE A
BARRIER.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING COVID ACCESS
TO COMPUTERS, WEB LINKS, ET
CETERA, IMPACTED HOW INDIVIDUALS
COULD STAY ENGAGED, HOW CHILDREN
COULD PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL, AND
HOW OLDER ADULTS IN LONG-TERM
CARE SETTINGS COULD STAY
ENGAGED.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE
RESOURCES, YOU'RE AT A
DISADVANTAGE.
SO IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT
ACCESS TO HEARING HEALTHCARE
HIGH LEVEL HEARING AIDS PERSONAL
ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO USE WITH
HEARING AIDS ARE AT AN ADVANTAGE
VERSUS THOSE WHO DON'T IN TERMS
OF COMMUNICATION ACCESS,
EMPLOYMENT ENGAGEMENT, EVEN
CONSIDERING THE OVER-THE-COUNTER
HEARING AIDS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE
THAT I WORK WITH OR THINK ABOUT
RESOURCE, IT'S POSSIBLY LESS
EXPENSIVE THAN THOSE PRESCRIBED,
TWO TO THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS,
EVEN LESS THAN THAT, IS NO SMALL
PIECE OF CHANGE IF YOU CAN'T PAY
RENT.
SO I DO THINK WE MAY NOT ALWAYS
BE REACHING THE PERSONS WE MOST
WISH TO REACH, UNLESS WE STILL
FOCUS TO THE POLICIES AROUND
INSURANCE COVERAGE, GOING
FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT SOME PRELIMINARY
DATA THAT I GOT, NOT A LOT AT
THIS POINT, BUT THE EXPECTATIONS
FOR WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT IF
THEY DID PURCHASE IT OVER THE
COUNTER VARIES A LOT.
WE NEED A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING
OF THAT UPTAKE AND SO FORTH.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COMMENTS OF
OTHERS.
.
>> THANKS.
IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND ONE THAT I HAVE NOT THOUGHT
QUITE AS MUCH ABOUT.
BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT AND SOUNDS
LIKE THE PROCESS THAT YOU WENT
THROUGH HAS BEEN THOUGHTFUL AND
INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE.
REALLY WHERE I START WITH ON
THIS TOPIC IS THE IMPORTANCE OF
SOUND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ECONOMIC,
BASICALLY ENGAGEMENT WITH
SOCIETY.
SO THE ABILITY TO GET A HEARING
AID AND ENGAGE IN SOCIETY IS
ALMOST LIKE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
AND THE VALUE AND IMPACT OF OUR
WORK AND OUR HEALTHCARE IN
GENERALLY DOESN'T COME TO
FRUITION UNLESS PEOPLE HAVE
ACCESS AND ABILITY TO AFFORD IT.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS?
YES?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING
TO ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE
I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MY
FAMILY WITH HEARING LOSS, AND
YOU CAN -- EVEN IF YOU HAVE
ABILITY TO ACCESS A HEARING AID,
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE HALF
OF IT.
IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.
I CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT THINGS
ON IT.
AND I GO ALL IN.
SO, I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO
GIVE ACCESS TO HEARING AIDS, YOU
WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE
ENGAGE, FOR EXAMPLE MY FATHER
HAD A HEARING AID, WOULD HAVE
BEEN GREAT IF HE COULD HAVE
FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE IT TO
STREAM THE TV, COULDN'T DO IT,
COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT TO HIM.
THAT TYPE OF THING OR TO USE IT
THROUGH HIS PHONE, IF HE WAS OUT
AT A RESTAURANT HE COULD USE
THAT NOISE CANCELLATION, OR EVEN
MY PRE-TEEN DAUGHTER WHO IS
BETTER AT THAN ME DOESN'T KNOW
ALL THE WAYS, SO MAYBE HAVING
SOME FOCUS ON WHEN YOU GET THE
PERSON A HEARING AID, REALLY
TEACHING THEM THE SCOPE OF WHAT
THEY CAN USE TO INCREASE THEIR
ACCESSIBILITY WOULD BE GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
YES?
>> I HAVE MORE OF A QUESTION
ABOUT FOLKS INVOLVED.
I SAW LOTS OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES
AND INTERESTED PARTIES BUT I'M
CURIOUS ABOUT ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS, FOLKS REALLY KIND
OF GRASS ROOTS ON THE GROUND AD
THEIR COMPLEXITY, THE DAY-TO-DAY
EXPERIENCES AND HOW THAT INFORMS
THE WORK YOU'RE GOING, ARE ANY
OF THOSE FOLKS AT THE TABLE, IN
THE ROOM, INFORMING WHAT IS
HAPPENING?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE THERE
WHICH I THINK I GLOSSED OVER,
AND DIDN'T MENTION, BUT WE
ABSOLUTELY INCLUDED INDIVIDUALS
WITH HEARING LOSS, AS PART OF
THE PANEL TO HEAR FROM THEM.
THEY HAD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ALL
OF THESE ISSUES.
THE HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION FOR
AMERICA IS THE LARGEST ADVOCACY
GROUP FOR ADULTS WITH HEARING
LOSS.
THEY HAVE BEEN A VERY ENGAGED
PARTNER FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY WERE ALSO IN THE ROOM, AARP
WAS REPRESENTED.
THEY HAVE RECENTLY IN THE LAST
YEARS BEEN INTERESTED BECAUSE IT
AFFECTS A HUGE NUMBER OF THEIR
MEMBERS AS WELL.
AND WE DISSEMINATED REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION WIDELY ACROSS, YOU
KNOW, NOT JUST OUR SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY BUT THE ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW HAVE
AN INTEREST IN THIS SPACE TO
ENCOURAGE THEM TO RESPOND AS
WELL.
YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
KATHERINE?
>> I WANT TO GO BACK, ALL THESE
IDEAS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT,
BUT MEG MENTIONED SCREENING BY
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, AND I
THINK IF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
DON'T DO THIS SCREENING,
GERIATRICIANS DON'T EVEN DO IT,
FOR THE MOST PART.
NOTHING HAPPENS.
SO IT'S VERY HARD TO RECOGNIZE
HEARING LOSS IN YOURSELF, IT
COMES ON GRADUALLY, YOU WILL
RESIST ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU,
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARING LOSS.
I REALLY THINK THIS HAS TO GO --
REALLY IMPORTANT FOCUS ON MAKING
IT PART OF AN -- MAKING A
HEARING SCREENING PART OF AN
ANNUAL PHYSICAL, ESPECIALLY PART
OF AN ANNUAL MEDICARE PHYSICAL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT,
KATHERINE.
THIS WAS A DEFINITE POINT OF
DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING,
ACTUALLY I HEAR THIS COME UP A
LOT.
THE REALITY IS THE PREVENTIVE
SERVICES TASK FORCE THAT MAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE INCLUSION
OF HEARING SCREENING AND OTHER
SCREENINGS INTO PRIMARY CARE
CONSISTENTLY SAYS THERE'S
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT
SHOULD BE DONE, WHICH TO US
SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED MORE
RESEARCH.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE REALLY LAID
OUT A BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT
EVIDENCE THEY NEED IN ORDER TO
MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, SO WE
ENCOURAGE THE FIELD TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT AND BRING US THEIR
IDEAS AND PROPOSALS BECAUSE
THAT'S EXACTLY THE SORT OF
SCIENCE WE WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN SUPPORTING AND SEEING DONE.
>> AS A CLINICIAN, I'M SOMEWHAT
PERPLEXED HOW TO TELL MY
PATIENTS WHEN I THINK THEY
QUALIFY FOR AN OVER-THE-COUNTER
DEVICE, WHERE TO GO NEXT, WHAT'S
OUT THERE.
THERE'S A RELUCTANCE BY MY
AUDIOLOGY TEAM TO INCHEWED --
INCLUDE IT.
A BARRIER TO IMPLEMENTATION IS A
GOOD SOURCE OF INFORMATION BOTH
FOR PRACTITIONERS BUT ALSO
CONSUMERS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.
A RESOURCE FOR, OKAY, THESE ARE
THE DEVICES OUT THERE, YOU CAN
MAKE A CHOICE BASED ON FEATURES,
BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE HOW
TO GIVE THAT ADVICE.
THAT PART, WE NEED TO OVERCOME
THAT BARRIER FOR ACCESSIBILITY
BY OUR PATIENTS AND
PRACTITIONERS.
>> TO ADD THOUGH IN TERMS OF THE
RESEARCH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
WITH THE PREVENTIVE SERVICES
TASK FORCE THEY ONLY LOOK AT
RANDOMIZED CONTROL STUDIES,
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT ABOUT DOING
THAT RESEARCH, GETTING THE KIND
OF DATA THEY WANT, IS NOT VERY
EASY.
SO, I -- IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
FAIR AMOUNT OF SUPPORT TO GET
THAT KIND OF WORK DONE.
>> TWO OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES
HERE, CARE SEEKING AND CARE
SYSTEMS, AND NAVIGATION, I THINK
ARE CRITICAL AREAS AS WELL
BECAUSE EVEN WHEN YOU START
TALKING ABOUT ANNUAL PHYSICALS,
SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T GO GET AN
ANNUAL PHYSICAL.
SO I THINK THAT -- YOU'VE GOT TO
LOOK AT WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEEKING
CARE AND, YOU KNOW, THE CVS ON
THE CORNER AND MINUTE-CLINIC ARE
PLACES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO
GET CARE AND HOW DO WE FIGURE
OUT HOW TO GET RESEARCH ON WHERE
PEOPLE ARE GETTING THAT CARE,
HOW TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT
WHERE TO GET THAT SCREENING
DONE, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE
GOING, NOT WHERE WE THINK THEY
SHOULD.
>> I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT
ALL OF THIS.
I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
INCLUDING THAT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF HEARING AIDS THAT HAVE
GPS LOCATORS ON THEM.
THOSE ARE PRESCRIPTION DEVICES,
I'M QUITE SURE APPLE'S MODEL
WILL ALSO HAVE A FIND MY HEARING
AID.
BUT I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME I'LL PASS BACK AND I'LL BE
AVAILABLE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR COMMENTS.
>> KELLY, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A
LOT OF INTEREST.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO COME
BACK TO THIS AT A FUTURE COUNCIL
MEETING BECAUSE I THINK THIS
DISCUSSION COULD GO ON FOR A
LONG TIME.
THERE'S A LOT TO SAY.
>> YEAH.
>> I WILL SAY THAT OUR INSTITUTE
HAS BEEN A PIONEER AT NIH IN
PUBLIC HEALTH ACCESS, AND THAT
OTHER INSTITUTES COME TO US AND
ASK US HOW WE MANAGE TO GO
THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS FROM
2009 TO THE PRESENT.
THIS HAS BEEN VERY, VERY
EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN, IN ADDITION
TO RESEARCH.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
AND NOW WE GET TO HAVE LUNCH.
SO LET BECKY TELL YOU ABOUT
THAT.
>> WE'LL BREAK FOR LUNCH.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP ON
SCHEDULE FOR THE AFTERNOON SO BE
BACK AT 1:15.
I KNOW IT'S A SHORT LUNCH.
LUNCH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER,
IF YOU ORDERED ONE, IN 1175.
SO JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
NIH MANAGEMENT AND UNITED AUTO
WORKERS FELLOWS BARGAINING TEAMS
ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
NEGOTIATIONS.
THE NIH MANAGEMENT BARGAINING
TEAM CONSISTS OF 15 INDIVIDUALS
FROM ACROSS NIH, AND THE TEAM
INCLUDES OUR DEPUTY SCIENTIFIC
DIRECTOR, WHO SERVES AS OUR
TRAINING DIRECTOR.
I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON
OUR INTRAMURAL DIVERSITY
EFFORTS.
ONE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD FOR
SEVERAL YEARS IS THAT WE HAVE A
COMMITTEE THAT GOES THROUGH THE
APPLICANT TO THE NIH POSTBAC
PROGRAM, AND I WAS A POOL OF
HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONS TO THE
PROGRAM FOR CONSIDERATION, PART
OF AN EFFORT TO INCREASE
DIVERSITY IN OUR -- IN THE
TRAINEE POPULATION, CURRENTLY
EIGHT FELLOWS ARE SUPPORTED
CENTRALLY FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, IN 2024,
AND THAT IS 2/3 OF OUR CURRENT
POSTBAC FELLOWS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS DONE A NICE JOB
OF GROWING AND PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL DIVERSITY IN OUR
POSTBAC POPULATION.
ALL SUMMER INTERNS IN 2024 WERE
CENTRALLY FUNDED BY THE OFFICE
OF THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR.
THIS MEANT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
HOST 15 SUMMER INTERNS THIS
SUMMER, THAT'S THE LARGEST
POPULATION OF SUMMER INTERNS IN
OVER 10 YEARS.
AND I REALLY FEEL THE SUMMER
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL
PROGRAM FOR OUR FIELD, BECAUSE
IT ALLOWS US TO BRING IN EXCITED
ENGAGED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN
INTEREST IN SCIENCE BUT HAVEN'T
YET PROGRESSED SO FAR IN THEIR
CAREER THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED
EXACTLY WHAT AREA OF SCIENCE
THEY WANT TO BE IN.
AND SO SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPOSE THESE EXCITED ENGAGED
YOUNG PEOPLE TO OUR MISSION
AREAS.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT
PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
ENGAGEMENT IN THOSE SUMMER
INTERNS.
I ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE YOU AN
UPDATE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR
INTRAMURAL SUBCOMMITTEE AND
NIDCD DIVERSITY WORKING GROUP,
ONE MAJOR ACTIVITY THIS YEAR THE
GROUP HAS COMPLETED IS THEY FINE
FINALIZED THE SPEAKERS BUREAU
ADVERTISING NIDCD SCIENTISTS AS
AVAILABLE SPEAKERS, SEVERAL
REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ANDED A AND ADVOY
GROUPS TO SPEAK AT THEIR GROUP.
ANOTHER MAJOR EVENT I'LL SAY A
BIT MORE ABOUT IN A MOMENT IS
THIS GROUP WORKED HARD TO UPDATE
THE NIH-WIDE MENTORING
GUIDELINES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING TRAINEES, HASN'T BEEN
UPDATED IN A DECADE AND THE
GROUP WORKED HARD TO UPDATE
GUIDELINES.
THE GROUP ADVISED ON THE
CREATION OF DIR TRAVEL
SUPPLEMENT AND DIR DIVERSITY
SUPPLEMENT, TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT IS
A POOL OF MONEY TO ATTEND
DIVERSITY-FOCUSED CONFERENCES
BECAUSE MOST OF OUR TRAINEES
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND
ONE CONFERENCE A YEAR AND WE
DIDN'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN A MORE
SCIENTIFICALLY FOCUSED AREA
SPECIFIC CONFERENCE AND
CONFERENCE THAT IS MORE ABOUT
ENGAGING DIVERSE ARRANGEMENT OF
SCIENTISTS.
SO TRAINEES WHO WANT TO ATTEND
ONE OF THESE CONFERENCES CAN
APPLY TO THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR
FOR SUPPORT TO ATTEND THAT
ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE.
I MENTIONED WE HAD A GROUP THAT
WORKED ON THE NIH GUIDELINES FOR
MENTORING DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING INDIVIDUALS, THIS WAS
LED BY THE INTRAMURAL
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE NIDCD
WORKING GROUP.
THEY EXPANDED THE SCOPE BEYOND
TRAINEES, NOW IT IS GUIDANCE FOR
MENTORING AND WORKING WITH AND
SUPPORTING DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING INDIVIDUALS AT NOT ONLY
TRAINEES BUT ALSO STAFF AT THE
NIH.
THEY SOURCED A LOT OF FEEDBACK,
AS THEY REDEVELOPED THIS GUIDE,
INCLUDING FROM THE NIH OFFICE OF
INTRAMURAL TRAINING AND
EDUCATION, OFFICE OF EQUITY,
DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION EQUITY,
THE NCI DEAF SCIENTIST TRAINING
PROGRAM, A PROGRAM WITH THE
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, AND
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
TRAINEES AT NIDCD AND DEAF AND
HARD OF HEARING ALUMNI OF OUR
PROGRAM.
THEY FINALIZED THIS SET OF
GUIDELINES, JUST RECENTLY, AND
REVISED SET OF GUIDELINES NOW
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE
WEBSITE OF THE NIH OFFICE OF
INTRAMURAL RESEARCH.
I'M EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NIH
INTRAMURAL CENTER FOR
ALZHEIMER'S AND RELATED
DEMENTIAS, ALSO CALLED CARD.
THIS PROGRAM HAS A PROGRAM WHERE
THEY BRING IN DATA SCIENCE
MASTER'S STUDENTS AND PAY FOR
THE DATA SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP
WHICH IS A TWO-YEAR MASTER'S
DEGREE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE FORMALIZED A PARTNERSHIP
TO ENSURE THAT NIDCD CAN BRING
IN DATA SCIENCE STUDENTS AND
HAVE THEM BE PART OF THE
INTRAMURAL TRAINING PROGRAM.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE
CURRENTLY HAVE -- I'M SHOWING
THE FIRST CLASS OF TWO DATA
SCIENCE STUDENTS, WE ADDED TWO
MORE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
TIME TO GET PHOTOS OF BECAUSE
THEY ARE VERY NEW.
WE'LL HAVE TWO OF THESE FELLOWS
A YEAR, SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A
COHORT OF FOUR, WE'LL HAVE FOUR
EVERY YEAR.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION THAT
DIVISION OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH
CAN MAKE TO OUR MISSION AREAS
BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP
A PIPELINE OF DATA SCIENCE
STUDENTS WHO HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE WITH OUR MISSION
AREAS, AND MY HOPE IS SOME OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL REMAIN
ENGAGED, REMAIN IN OUR -- WORK,
IN NIDCD MISSION AREAS,
CURRENTLY CENTRALLY FUNDED IN
ORDER TO BUILT THIS DATA SCIENCE
PIPELINE IN OUR MISSION AREAS.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
OUR EARS-SSENTIALS COURSE,
CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES OF
CONTEMPORARY HEARING RESEARCH,
FREE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE
IT, LECTURES OPEN TO ANYONE WHO
REGISTERS, AND YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE ONLINE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TO
NIDCD TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
COURSE.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO ADVERTISE
OUTSIDE OUR NORMAL ORGANIZATIONS
LIKES GROUPS ALREADY FOCUSED ON
HEARING RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE REACHING INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE NOT ALREADY ASSOCIATED
WITH OUR MISSION AREAS.
HERE I'M SHOWING AN IMAGE OF OUR
EARS-SSENTIALS COURSE
PARTICIPANTS, ON THE SCREEN CAN
YOU SEE VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS OF
THE THIS YEAR THE FORMAT WAS
SPLIT OVER TWO WEEKS.
WE HAD -- HYBRID EVERY DAY.
WE HAD FACULTY PRESENT 20-MINUTE
MINI LECTURES IN THE MORNING,
AND EACH ONE OF THE MINI
LECTURES HAS AVAILABLE ONLINE AN
ARCHIVED FULL LENGTH LECTURE IF
THE PARTICIPANT IS INTERESTED IN
HAVING MORE INFORMATION ON THAT
PARTICULAR TOPIC.
WE HAD A SEPARATE WEEK THIS
YEAR, THE FIRST YOU'VE WE'VE
DONE TWO SEPARATE WEEKS, FOR
IN-PERSON LABS FOR TRAINEES,
INCLUDING SOME IMPORTANT
TECHNIQUES IN THE FIELD LIKE
DISSECTION OF MOUSE INNER EAR,
HYBRID MOUSE GENETICS LAB.
THIS YEAR WE ARE PARTICIPANTS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, THERE
ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT COURSES IN
THE FIELD, MOST OF WHICH ARE IN
PERSON.
THIS COURSE IS FREE.
AND AVAILABLE ONLINE, SO THAT
ANYONE CAN TAKE IT, AND I THINK
IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION
THAT ALLOWS ANYONE WHO IS
INTERESTED IN OUR MISSION AREAS
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COURSE.
I MENTIONED THE SUMMER
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, SHOWING YOU
HERE PHOTOS OF OUR 15 SUMMER
INTERNS, THIS YEAR WE SUPPORTED
THESE INTERNS WITH REGULAR
MEETINGS, WITH OUR TRAINING
DIRECTOR, DR. MONTACK AND HER
DEPUTY, THEY RECEIVED SPORT FROM
THE -- SUPPORT FROM THE NIH
OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL EDUCATION.
A NEW PROGRAM WE ADDED THIS YEAR
IS THE BRAIN CHILD DOCTORS
HERTZANO AND DR. POLING, OUR
DIRECTOR OF AUDIOLOGY.
THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO DEVELOP
AN AUDIOLOGY SUMMER PROGRAM THIS
YEAR TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP FROM
BENCH TO BEDSIDE BY EXPOSING
TRAINEES TO CLINICAL ASSESSMENT
OF HEARING BALANCE FUNCTIONS AND
DISORDERS.
AND THE TRAINEES LOVED THIS.
IT WAS AN 8:00 IN THE MORNING,
DESPITE THAT ALL 15 OF OUR
SUMMER INTERNS FULLY
PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.
AND REALLY ENJOYED IT AND GAVE
EXCEPTIONAL FEEDBACK.
SO, DR. POLLING AND DR. HERTZANO
ARE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING NEXT
YEAR TO MAKE ADDITIONAL
OFFERINGS AVAILABLE SO THAT
NIDCD TRAINEES HAVE MORE ACCESS
AND EXPERIENCE WITH CLINICAL --
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, OR
DISCUSSIONS.
>> THANK YOU, LISA.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
YEAH?
>> THE PROGRAMS ARE IMPRESSIVE.
WE DO SOMETHING SOMEWHAT SIMILAR
FOR I PRESUME THESE ARE YOUR
SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS
CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE?
>> SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
WILL TAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE IN
COLLEGE.
>> IS THERE A STIPEND?
>> THERE IS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, DOESN'T
MAKE YOU RICH BUT THERE'S A
STIPEND ASSOCIATED.
>> WHERE DID THEY STAY?
I KNOW THAT LODGING IS ALWAYS A
HUGE CHALLENGE FOR THESE
PROGRAMS.
>> SO THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DISCOVERING THEIR HOUSING, AND
IT HAS BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
BUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,
SEVERAL OF OUR INTERNS HAVE
STAYED IN -- ONE OF THE LOCAL
COLLEGES MAKES ITS DORMITORY
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THE D.C. AREA FOR THE SUMMER.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL SUMMER INTERNS
STAY IN THOSE DORMITORIES AND
IT'S WORKED WELL FOR THEM.
>> I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE
RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND ARE
THERE SPECIFIC INSTITUTIONS YOU
REACH OUT THERE AND ANY
RELATIONSHIP WITH HBCUs OR
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
>> FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAMS?
>> REALLY ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU
MENTIONED, CURIOUS HOW STUDENTS
FIND OUT ABOUT THIS.
IS THERE A PIPELINE TO INCREASE
DIVERSITY IN THE PROGRAM?
LIKE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> SUPER.
SO, WE HAVE -- WE PULL FROM THE
NIH SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM,
MORE APPLICANTS THAN NIH CAN
SUPPORT.
WE ALSO PRESENT EVERY YEAR AT
HOWARD ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE.
ALSO, WHEN I OR OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE FACULTY GIVE A TALK ANY
WHERE WE GO THERE ARE SLIDES
ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE AT NIDCD.
WE REACH OUT TO -- DR. OWENS IN
OUR OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL
TRAINING, I'M SORRY, OFFICE OF
INTRAMURAL RESEARCH, HAS A
LISTSERV OF 900 PEOPLE THAT HE
SENDS INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION TO
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO REACH
OUT AND ENGAGE AS BEST WE CAN,
BUT IF ANYONE HAS ADDITIONAL
SUGGESTIONS TO HOW WE CAN
INCREASE OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS I
WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR THEM.
>> ANDY?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TRIED
WITH BIOLOGY AT THE INNER EAR
COURSE EVERY TWO YEARS ON THE
OFF YEAR TO INVITE SIX FACULTY
MEMBERS FROM INSTITUTIONS THAT
MIGHT NOT NORMALLY SEND STUDENTS
TO OUR COURSE, TO GET THEM TO
PARTICIPATE FOR FOUR OR FIVE
DAYS, TO SORT OF GET A FLAVOR OF
WHAT IS INVOLVED, BECAUSE I
THINK OFTEN THE OUTREACH, IF YOU
PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE
STUDENTS THEMSELVES, HAVING A
MENTOR OR, YOU KNOW, A MORE
SENIOR FIGURE TO ENCOURAGE THEM
TO DO THIS AND GIVING THOSE
PEOPLE DIRECT EXPOSURE TO SOME
OF THESE AMAZING COURSES MIGHT
ALSO HELP.
YOU MAY ALREADY BE DOING IN A.
>> I'M NOT, AND I'M HAPPY TO
EXPLORE HOW WE CAN DO A BETTER
JOB.
THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, THANKS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP
WITH WHERE YOU WERE HEADED WITH
YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE WE SAW
VERY LITTLE DIVERSITY I THINK
AMONGST THE STUDENTS.
I WOULD SAY THAT A LOT OF THE
STUDENTS AT HBCUs ARE ON
FINANCIAL AID, AND SO DEPENDING
UPON YOUR STIPEND THEY MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO COME AND
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM,
THAT'S OUT OF TOWN FOR THEM.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE YOU
MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IF YOU
WANT TO HAVE MORE DIVERSITY IN
THE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE -- WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
SUPPLEMENT THE STIPEND, AND I
AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE
PROBLEM.
ONE APPROACH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO TAKE IS THAT WE HAVE
INSTITUTED MAKING SURE THAT
ANYONE WHO IS COMING TO NIDCD
RECEIVES A MOVING ALLOWANCE.
THAT WAS SORT OF UNEVENLY
APPLIED.
WE DECIDED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
GETS THE MOVING ALLOWANCE TO TRY
TO REDUCE THE BARRIER OF MOVING
TO THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA AS
A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION IN
OUR PROGRAMS.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT'S A
CONCERN, YES.
>> JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT I'M
HAVING IN FULL DISCLOSURE, PAST
CHAIR OF THE BLACK ASSOCIATION
FOR SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND
HEARING, THINKING OF MAKING SURE
THIS INFORMATION IS CIRCULATED
TO THEIR STUDENTS, OR OUR
STUDENTS.
WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF ABOUT
MAYBE 40%, CLOSE TO 40% OF OUR
ASSOCIATION MADE UP OF STUDENTS,
AND BECAUSE I'M ALREADY THINKING
ABOUT IDEAS, YES, YOU ALL DON'T
SUPPLEMENT BUT PERHAPS THERE ARE
MEMBERS WITHIN OUR ASSOCIATION
WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER,
JUST IDEAS, TO SUPPLEMENT A
STUDENT TO ATTEND.
THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER
MULTICULTURAL CONSTITUENCY
GROUPS IN THE AMERICAN SPEECH
AND LANGUAGE HEARING ASSOCIATION
TO REACH OUT TO THEIR STUDENTS
AND LEAVING IT UP TO THEIR GROUP
TO SUPPLEMENT IF THERE'S SOMEONE
INTERESTED AND CAN'T FINANCIALLY
ACHIEVE IT.
THE LAST POINT IS THE McNAIR
PROGRAMS, RONALD McNAIR IS A
GREAT WAY TO TAP INTO FIRST
GENERATION, LOW SES,
UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS, JUST
SOME IDEAS.
AT LEAST FROM EMBASLA WOULD BE
WILLING TO CONNECT TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE.
WE'VE PROVIDED INFORMATION BUT
MAY NOT HAVE PROVIDED TO THE
RIGHT PERSON OR IN THE RIGHT
WAY.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THE
ENGAGEMENT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LISA.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THOSE
EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM DR. JOSH
LEVY, CLINICAL DIRECTOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
>> FANTASTIC TO BE HERE.
AND I RECOGNIZE THIS IS MY FIRST
TIME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS COUNCIL, AND I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT OF PRIDE
FOR ME.
SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
SPEAKING TO YOU I WANTED TO TAKE
A MINUTE OR TWO TO SHARE MY
BACKGROUND AND WHERE I'M COMING
FROM.
I JOINED NIDCD APRIL OF LAST
YEAR, AS CLINICAL DIRECTOR,
REPLACING DR. CARTER -- IS THAT
BETTER?
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SO I REPLACED CARTER VAN WAES,
OUR CLINICAL DIRECTOR FOR
SEVERAL DECADES.
HE WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL AND
SUPPORTIVE OF THE NIDCD CLINICAL
PROGRAM, AS WE KNOWED TODAY.
I'M A TRAINED OTOLARYNGOLOGIST,
HAVE A SEPULVEDA -- WITH A SPE.
I CREDIT DR. TROMBERG AND THE
RADx PROGRAM GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD MY CLINICAL
TRIALS CHOPS AND BEFORE JOINING
US HERE AT THE NIDCD, I SERVED
AS CLINICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE
RADx PROGRAM, TEST VALIDATION
CORE, HELPED GIVE TESTS AS WE
WERE SCREENING TO DETERMINE
EFFICACY.
THIS IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF
FOCUS AREAS I'VE TAKEN ON SINCE
ARRIVING, BREAKS DOWN INTO OUR
CLINICAL TRIALS UNIT.
THIS IS TH ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT TEAM WE UTILIZE TO
SUPPORT OUR INVESTIGATORS AND
PROTOCOLS, WHICH IS NIH
INTRAMURAL-SPEAK FOR CLINICAL
TRIALS.
WE RUN AN ACTIVE CLINIC, WITH
RESEARCH PATIENT VISITS AS WELL
AS CONSUL VACCINATIONS, THAT'S
BEEN AN ININCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
FOCUS TO ENSURE PATIENT CARE AT
THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVELS.
WE'VE ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL
SMELL AND TASTE CENTER,
SOMETHING I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF, AND HAPPY TO SHARE SOME
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON IN THE
FOLLOWING SLIDES.
AND WE'VE ALSO WITH THE
PARTNERSHIP OF RONA, LISA, AND
DR. TUCCI, HAVE REINVIGORATED
OUR PROGRAM, FOR CLINICIAN WHO
IS HAVE IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR
FURTHER TRAINING IN CLINICAL AND
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH.
NONE OF THIS, NONE OF IT IS
POSSIBLE WITHOUT WHAT I CONSIDER
THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE NIH'S
INTRAMURAL CAMPUS, THIS IS THE
CLINICAL CENTER, BUILDING 10, ON
CAMPUS JUST DOWN THE STREET.
THIS IS THE LARGEST CLINICAL
RESEARCH CENTER IN THE WORLD.
PERIOD.
200-BED HOSPITAL, WITH ADJACENT
RESEARCH LABS.
NUMBER OF OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE
ABLE TO RUN BETWEEN FLOORS OF
CLINIC TO THE OPERATING ROOM, TO
THE LAB.
IT'S INCREDIBLY
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, AND TRULY A
PLACE WHERE EVERY STAFF MEMBER
YOU INTERACT WITH IS ON THE SAME
FOCUSED MISSION, TO ADVANCE
PATIENT CARE BY ADVANCING OUR
SCIENCE.
THERE'S THREE BUILDINGS THAT
MAKE UP BUILDING 10.
IT'S VERY EASY TO GET LOST, AS
YOU'RE MOVING FROM AREA TO AREA.
AND WE HAVE A FOURTH MAJOR TOWER
UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS WE SPEAK.
THE CLINICAL CENTER EMPLOYS 1200
PHYSICIANS, 1600 PROTOCOLS,
NIH-SPEAK FOR CLINICAL TRIALS,
AND WE SEE ALL INSTITUTES, ABOUT
10,000 PATIENTS EACH YEAR.
THIS IS A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT.
OF THE 27 INSTITUTES AND CENTERS
THAT MAKE UP THE NIH, 17 HAVE A
CLINICAL FOOTPRINT AT THE
CLINICAL CENTER.
NOW, WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THE
CLINICAL CENTER IS NOT THE LIST
OF DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU SEE.
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T.
SO THIS IS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL
HOSPITAL THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN
EMERGENCY ROOM.
IN FACT, IN ANY OF US WERE TO
TRIP AND NEED MEDICAL CARE,
THERE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AN
AMBULANCE COME ON CAMPUS, PICK
US UP FROM THE HOSPITAL, AND
DRIVE US ACROSS THE STREET.
IT'S A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT.
LIKEWISE, THERE IS NO INSURANCE.
THESE PATIENTS ARE NOT BILLED
FOR ANY OF THE PATIENT CARE
INTERACTIONS, RESEARCH
ACTIVITIES THAT THEY ENGAGE IN.
SO IT'S INCREDIBLY UNIQUE
RESOURCE.
AND, AGAIN, EVERYONE IS ON THE
SAME PAGE REGARDING OUR MISSION.
THIS IS -- IT CAN BE TAKEN FOR
GRANTED BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT
YOU FEEL DAY TO DAY.
WE'RE ALL THERE TO PROVIDE
EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO OUR
PATIENTS.
SO, WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH
PORTFOLIO LOOK LIKE?
AND I HAVE ONE SLIDE HERE,
SHARING PERCENTAGES FOR THE
ENTIRE CLINICAL CENTER.
AND THEN WE'LL DRILL DOWN TO
LOOK AT NIDCD AND OUR PATIENT
VISITS.
SO, ABOUT HALF OF THE STUDIES
ARE CLINICAL TRIALS IN THE
CLASSIC DEFINITION.
THESE ARE INTERVENTIONAL
STUDIES.
ANOTHER 50% OR SO ARE
OBSERVATIONAL.
MANY FALL INTO THE NATURAL
HISTORY CATEGORY, LONGITUDINAL
STUDIES, SEEING AS A DISEASE
PROCESS EVOLVES WHAT CHANGES ARE
THERE THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM.
THE MOTTO IS FIRST IN HUMAN.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CLINICAL
CENTER DOES EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING
THAT'S RECOGNIZED EXTERNALLY AS
WELL.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE
BIG BANG THEORY TO YOU ALL
TODAY.
BUT ON THE BOTTOM LEFT IS
RICHARD PARSONS, ACTOR FROM THAT
TV SHOW.
HE SEVERAL YEARS AGO SPENT TWO
WEEKS AT THE CLINICAL CENTER
EMBEDDED IN THE PATIENT CARE
SETTINGS, EMBEDDED IN THE LABS,
AND THEY PRODUCED A THREE-PART
DOCUMENTARY FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A HUGE POINT OF PRIDE FOR
ALL OF US.
AND I'M BIASED BUT I THINK IT'S
A REALLY INTERESTING WATCH.
IT'S WORTHWHILE TIME SPENT.
SO, SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DOES THE
NIDCD'S CLINIC LOOK LIKE?
WE'RE IN OP5, OUTPATIENT CLINIC,
IT'S OUR OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND
AUDIOLOGY SERVICE.
WE HAVE A CONSULTATION CLINIC.
WE ARE BUILDING, IT'S WHY YOU
SEE STARS NEXT TO THE NEXT TWO,
A SINUS AND ALLERGY CLINIC, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTE
ON ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASE.
AND A CLINIC TO SUPPORT PATIENTS
WITHIN THE NATIONAL SMELL AND
TASTE CENTER.
BOTH OF THESE WILL BE ACTIVE AND
WILL BE WELCOMING PATIENTS BY
THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WE'RE WELL STAFFED.
WE HAVE TWO ADVANCED PRACTICE
PROVIDERS, STAFF R.N.s, A
NUMBER OF ROOMS, VESTIBULAR
SUITE, AUDIOLOGY BOOTH, THAT
REALLY DOES SUPPORT OUR
ACTIVITIES.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD 10 NIDCD
TRIALS, AND I ADDED THE STAR TO
HIGHLIGHT THESE ARE NOT ALL
STUDIES WHERE NIDCD IS THE LEAD
INSTITUTE.
IN FACT, THERE ARE FIVE STUDIES
THAT ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING WHERE
NIDCD IS THE LEAD.
THE OTHER FIVE ARE COLLABORATIVE
STUDIES WITH OTHER INSTITUTES.
WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT TRAVEL FOR
ALL NORTH AMERICANS, EXCUSE ME,
U.S. PARTICIPANTS, SO THAT
LOCATION SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER
TO PARTICIPATION IN ANY OF OUR
STUDIES.
THE TAKEHOME, HOWEVER, IS THAT
WE HAVE ROOM TO GROW.
I WILL SHARE IN THIS SLIDE
NUMBERS OF PATIENT ENCOUNTERS
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU OUR BASELINE
BEFORE COVID WAS CLOSER TO 2,000
PATIENT VISITS A YEAR.
SO, WE'RE SEEING GROWTH AND A
RETURN TO WHAT I CONSIDER
NORMAL.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO CHALLENGE
MYSELF AND LET YOU KNOW THE NEXT
OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO UPDATE YOU
ALL, I EXPECT FOR US TO BE MUCH
BUSIER.
AND THEN LOOKING CLOSELY AT OUR
PATIENT VISITS, WE'RE ABLE TO
SEE A BREAKDOWN WHERE 15% OF OUR
VISITS ARE CONSULTS.
THESE ARE -- AND REMEMBER,
THERE'S NO EMERGENCY ROOM.
THESE ARE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE
ENT AND AUDIOLOGIC CARE FOR A
PATIENT THAT DEVELOPS AN ISSUE
WHILE THEY ARE ON CAMPUS.
WHILE THEY ARE ENROLLED IN
ANOTHER TRIAL.
THESE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN
RELATIVELY CONSISTENT OVER THE
PAST FIVE YEARS.
NOW, WHAT HASN'T BEEN
CONSISTENT, AND I THINK IS A
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR
INVESTIGATORS, IS THIS BOTTOM
LINE ON THE RIGHT, WHERE WE HAVE
YEAR AFTER YEAR SEEN A GROWTH OF
50 PEDIATRIC PATIENTS A YEAR,
EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
STRATEGICALLY THINKING THROUGH,
FURTHER SUPPORT FOR PEDIATRIC
PATIENTS, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE
SOMEONE DOWN TO A MINIMUM AGE OF
2 YEARS AT THE CLINICAL CENTER,
BUT WE HAVEN'T EXPANDED ALL OF
THE SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO
FACILITATE THESE VISITS.
THAT'S AN ACTIVE AREA OF
DISCUSSION AS THE NIH CONTINUES.
I'VE RECRUITED DR. VALERIE ASHER
TO THE RIGHT HERE, STANDING WITH
KATIE LADECKI ON RETURN FROM
OLYMPICS, A GENERAL ENT WHO
BRINGS OVER 25 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE TREATING PATIENTS IN
THE BETHESDA AREA.
SHE'S COMING TO THE NIH FOR, IN
MY OPINION, THE RIGHT REASONS.
SHE'S NOT A SCIENTIST.
BUT LIKE MANY OF US, SHE'S
IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF CLINICAL
QUESTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE
ANSWERED BY FURTHER STUDY IN
SCIENCE.
SHE VIEWS HERSELF AS THAT
SUPPORT SYSTEM TO FURTHER
INCREASE OUR ENROLLMENT AND OUR
STUDY ACTIVITIES TO ULTIMATELY
HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS HER FOURTH DAY.
AND I WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED
IF I DIDN'T TAKE A MOMENT TO
MENTION OUR INCREDIBLE AUDIOLOGY
TEAM.
I'VE HIGHLIGHTED DR. POLLING,
HERE, SHE IS APPROACHING HER
FIRST YEAR AS OUR CHIEF RESEARCH
AUDIOLOGIST.
AND SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND HARD.
SHE HAS RECRUITED A NUMBER OF
TRAINEES, AUDIOLOGY ASSISTANTS,
NEW STAFF, AND TRULY IS LEADING
AN INCREDIBLY VIBRANT GROUP, A
CROSS-SECTION OF THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO JOIN NIDCD
AUDIOLOGY IS LISTED HERE.
I MENTIONED OUR CLINICAL TRIALS
UNIT.
THIS IS OUR INTEGRATED TEAM OF
CLINICAL TRIALISTS AND SUPPORT
STAFF.
IT'S A QUITE LARGE TEAM.
NAVIGATING CLINICAL RESEARCH
WITHIN THE NIH ENVIRONMENT IS
DETAILED AND DOES REQUIRE A GOOD
AMOUNT OF EXPERTISE.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR
TEAM.
WE HAVE PICTURED HERE, AND VERY
EXCITED TO GROW WITH THEM.
WE'RE POSITIONED TO SUPPORT NOT
ONLY STUDIES WE'RE CURRENTLY
ENGAGED IN BUT MORE AS WE
CONTINUE TO GROW.
THEN I MENTIONED FIVE PROTOCOLS,
RESEARCH PROTOCOLS CURRENTLY
ACTIVE AND ENROLLING THROUGH OUR
CLINIC.
THE SCREEN PROTOCOL, THE FIRST
TWO I CONSIDER FOUNDATIONAL.
SO, TO COMMON TO THE NIH -- OR
THE NIH CAMPUS AS A PATIENT, YOU
HAVE TO BE ENROLLED IN A
PROTOCOL.
WHICH CAN BE A BARRIER.
HOW DO YOU GET IN FOR THE FIRST
TIME?
WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SCREENING
PROTOCOL WHICH BROADLY ALLOWS US
TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGIC
AND OTOLARYNGOLOGYIC ENT EXAM ON
ALL THESE PATIENTS.
AT THIS TIME WE CAN SCREEN AND
IDENTIFY IF THEY ARE A CANDIDATE
FOR ONE OF THE OTHER PROTOCOLS.
INTERVENTIONAL OR OBSERVATIONAL.
WE HAVE A TISSUE BANK, MORE
EFFICIENT TO HAVE A CENTRALIZED
PROTOCOL TO BUILD BIOBANK AND
ASK FUTURE QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A COMMON PROTOCOL ALL
INVESTIGATORS CAN UTILIZE.
THIS YEAR, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
DR. CUNNINGHAM.
WE'VE ACTIVATED COMPLETED THE
SITE ACTIVATION VISIT AT THE
NIH, FOR OUR FIRST
INTERVENTIONAL TRIAL.
DR. CUNNINGHAM IS THE P.I. IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH NIKKI SCHMIDT
AT EMORY, AND THIS IS ALSO FROM
MY UNDERSTANDING OUR FIRST
U01-SUPPORTED STUDY THAT
COMBINES EXTRAMURAL AND
INTRAMURAL INVESTIGATORS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES.
BOTTOM IS A HEARING INSTABILITY
PHENOTYPING STUDY THAT MIKE HOA
HAS BEEN LEADING SINCE 2021,
HE'S ENROLLED COMING UP ON HIS
50th SUBJECT.
NEXT IS GENETIC ANALYSIS OF
NON-SYNDROMIC AND SYNDROMIC
DEAFNESS IN PAKISTAN.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE, AS YOU
CAN SEE, LONGSTANDING STUDY THAT
THOMAS FRIEDMAN BUILD HIS CAREER
ON, IDENTIFYING NEW LOCI OF
MUTATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
HEREDITARY DEAFNESS.
WE ALSO HAVE A NATURAL HISTORY
OF DOMINANT HEARING LOSS, THIS
IS A STUDY LED BY WEI CHEN.
SINCE 2020 HAS ENROLLED ALMOST
30 PARTICIPANTS.
SO ON THE RIGHT IS A PIECE OF
ARTWORK THAT WE DEVELOPED TO
SUPPORT OUR SMELL AND TASTE
CENTER.
AS PART OF THIS, WE'VE HAD TO DO
A LOT OF STRATEGIC THINKING, HOW
CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FIELD
AND OUR PATIENTS?
THE FIRST ANSWER, AS A
RHONOLOGIST TO ESTABLISH A
CLINICAL SERVICE LINEA CONSULT
SERVICE FOR OUR OTHER INSTITUTES
TO IDENTIFY PATIENTS WITH A
SMELL AND TASTE DISORDER THAT WE
CAN CLINICALLY EVALUATE, AND
ALSO AN OPEN CLINIC FOR PATIENTS
EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES OF SMELL
AND TASTE FROM THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
ALSO, IN TAKING A LESSON THAT I
BRING FROM ACADEMIA, AND THE
IMPACT OF THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY
CLINIC ON A PARTICIPANT, A
PATIENT, WHO IS DEALING WITH
ISSUES THAT INVOLVE THEIR ENTIRE
AIRWAY, OUR TRAINING OFTENTIMES
IS TOO SPECIALIZED, TOO
SEGMENTED, AND BY PARTNERING
WITH IMMUNOLOGISTS AT NIDA I'M
PROUD AND EXCITED TO OFFER THIS
CLINIC FOR THESE PATIENTS.
SO AN OVERVIEW OF THE SMELL AND
TASTE CENTER IS THREE PILLARS,
SUPPORT AND LEAD INNOVATIVE
RESEARCH, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE
COMPREHENSIVE CARE, AND LEAD IN
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THAT MAY
BE PERHAPS THE BIGGEST IMPACT WE
HAVE, IS TO TAKE A LESSON FROM
EARS-SSENTIALS, THE PROGRAM THAT
TRULY TRAININGS THE SCIENTISTS
AND CLINICIANS HOW TO ASK AND
ANSWER THESE IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS.
I'VE ASKED DR. JOSEPH FROM THE
NIAAA, THE ALCOHOL INSTITUTE, TO
CO-LEAD THE CENTER WITH ME.
PAULE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE FIELD
AND HAS LED SINGLE-HANDEDLY THE
SMELL AND TASTE STUDIES AT THE
NIH FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.
SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER IN
THIS EFFORT.
ONE QUICK EXAMPLE OF OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES I SEE.
THIS IS A FIGURE OF THE BRAIN
THAT'S AFFECTED BY PARKINSON'S,
IT'S DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT THE
SPREAD OF ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN IN THE
BRAIN, AS DISEASE PROGRESSES.
THE DARKER THE COLOR, DARKER
BROWN, IS EARLIER PRESENTATION,
EARLIER SITES OF INVOLVEMENT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE
OLFACTORY BULB RIGHT HERE IS
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE FIRST
SITES WHERE ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN WILL
ACCUMULATE.
THE CHALLENGE AND THE
LIMITATION, CLINICAL IMPACT OF
THIS UNDERSTANDING, IS HOW DO
YOU GET TO THE OLFACTORY BULB?
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT BE
EASILY BIOPSIED.
ON THE RIGHT IS FINDINGS FROM A
PAPER IN 2020 THAT FOUND WE CAN
SWAB THE NOSE, VERY CAREFULLY,
BUT WE CAN USE A BRUSH AND
COLLECT CELLS FROM THE LINING OF
THE NOSE.
THESE CELLS CONTAIN OLFACTORY
NEURONS, AND NOT ONLY THAT,
BOTTOM CENTER, HOPE IT SHOWS UP,
WE CAN DETECT ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN.
THIS IS A POTENTIAL CLINICALLY
IMPACTFUL AND RELEVANT NEW
BIOMARKER THAT I'M VERY EXCITED
TO REPLICATE AND SEE TRULY IF
THIS CAN BE APPLIED AT THE POINT
OF CARE.
FIVE YEAR PLAN ESTABLISH THE
SMELL AND TASTE CLINIC AND
CONSULT IT WAS BY THE END OF THE
YEAR, INCREASE TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES, EXPAND PATIENT
ACCESS, IN ADDITION TO THE
CLINICAL CENTER THE BALTIMORE
LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF AGING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF AGING IS GOING TO
BE A SECONDARY SITE, AND WE'LL
BEGIN SEEING PATIENTS AS PART OF
OUR GROUP.
AND I'M EXCITED TO LAUNCH
INTERVENTIONAL PROTOCOLS AND I'M
ACTIVELY SEEKING PARTNERS, BOTH
FROM ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY,
WHERE WE CAN ADVANCE, UTILIZE
THE CLINICAL CENTER'S UNIQUE
RESOURCES TO IMPACT PATIENT
CARE.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GOING TO
IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF
CHEMOSENSORY DYSFUNCTION AND
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE, TO
IMPACT PATIENT LIVES.
WE HAD AN INAUGURAL SEMINAR IN
JULY OF THIS YEAR.
WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH OUR
EXTERNAL ADVISORS, I'M VERY
PROUD OF THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT
WE'VE BUILT, CONTAINS PATIENTS,
EXPERTS, AND THOUGHT LEADERS
WITHIN SMELL AND TASTE
COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CONGRESSIONAL
REMARKS.
KEYNOTE WAS GIVEN BY PROFESSOR
THOMAS HUMMEL, WHO RUNS ONE OF
THE MOST ESTABLISHED SMELL AND
TASTE CENTERS.
AND WE HAVE THREE PANELS.
WE'VE DISCUSSED STANDING ON THE
SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, LEARNING
FROM OUR PAST, THE FUTURE OF
SMELL AND TASTE RESEARCH, AND
THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PATIENT
VOICE IS CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE
OF OUR TEAM.
I WANTED TO END ON TRAINING
INITIATIVES.
CLINICAL ELECTIVES PROGRAM IS A
CLINICAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
INTERESTED MEDICAL STUDENTS, AND
THIS IS ROBERT, WHO SPENT THE
PAST MONTH WITH US.
AND IS A REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE NIH'S
RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE WITH
THESE TRAINEES.
ROBERT WAS PRESENTING A STORY OF
HIS FATHER'S CASE, REALLY QUITE
EMOTIONAL AND IMPACTFUL.
HE HAD A SINONASAL CANCER,
ULTIMATELY PASSED FROM IT, WHICH
WAS ROBERT'S MOTIVATION TO COME
TO THE NIH AND TO LEARN.
DR. CUNNINGHAM MENTIONED THE
SUMMER AUDIOLOGY COURSE, I
WANTED TO INCLUDE THESE TWO
SLIDES TO HIGHLIGHT HOW
IMPACTFUL THIS WAS AND
COMPLICATED THE OFFERING WAS.
THIS WAS NOT A ONE-DAY COURSE OR
A SINGLE SEMINAR.
IT'S ACTUALLY A STRUCTURED
FOUR-WEEK INITIATIVE WHERE
PATIENTS, PROVIDERS, YOU NAME
IT, WERE ALL THERE FOR THE
STUDENTS.
AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE ME
AGAINST THE BACK WALL THERE, AS
I'M PEPPERED WITH AUDIOLOGY
QUESTIONS FROM THE STUDENTS.
I WAS QUITE NERVOUS.
AND I THINK I DIDN'T LIE.
FINAL SLIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON
THE OHNS SURGEON-SCIENTIST
PROGRAM SHARED WITH COUNCIL IN
THE LAST YEAR, GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REVITALIZE
THIS PROGRAM, AND ARE CURRENTLY
SEEKING INTERESTED CANDIDATES.
THESE ARE JUNIOR FACULTY,
RECENTLY GRADUATED CLINICIANS,
WHO WANT TO INCREASE THEIR
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN
TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL
RESEARCH.
SO, VERY EXCITED BY THIS
PROGRAM, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SUPPORT THESE OTOLARYNGOLOGIST,
NOT TRAINEES, THROUGH THEIR
INTRAMURAL AND THEN FOLLOWING
COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM IN
THE EXTRAMURAL PHASE AS WELL.
FACILITIES ARE BEING UPDATED.
WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE BACK ON
CAMPUS.
>> HELLO TO EVERYONE AT THE
INAUGURAL SEMINAR AT THE NIH NEW
NATIONAL SMELL AND TASTE CENTER.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE
RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS,
ADVOCATES GATHERED TODAY FOR ALL
YOU DO TO ADVANCE OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHEMICAL
SENSES.
ANYONE WHO WENT TO A FOURTH OF
JULY BARBECUE LAST WEEK KNOWS
OUR SENSES OF TASTE AND SMELL
MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER.
THINK ABOUT THE SMELL OF BURGERS
ON THE GRILL.
I AM RIGHT NOW.
FIRST, BITE OF CORN ON THE COB,
BIG DEAL IN MINNESOTA.
THE TASTE OF YOUR FAVORITE ICE
CREAM ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
COOKIES AND CREAM.
WE TAKE THESE MOMENTS FOR
GRANTED.
WHICH IS WHY WHEN SOMEONE LOSES
THEIR SENSE OF TASTE OR SMELL,
IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING.
WE SAW THIS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN MORE THAN 60% OF COVID
PATIENTS REPORTED LOSING AT
LEAST ONE OF THESE SENSES, BUT
THIS ISSUE IS MUCH BROADER THAN
COVID.
25% OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
PATIENTS EXPERIENCE A DIMINISHED
SENSE OF TASTE BETWEEN 75 AND
90% OF PARKINSON'S PATIENTS
EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF SMELL.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR UP TO
90% OF ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T JUST
ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT OUR MOMS AND DADS,
GRANDMAS, GRANDPAS, FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GATHERED
TODAY.
BY SHOWING UP AT TODAY'S SEMINAR
YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART TO BEGIN
THAT INCREDIBLE WORK AND THE
REJUVENATION OF THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING ON TASTE AND SMELL
RESEARCH.
NOW WE MUST DO OUR PART.
THAT'S WHY I'M FOCUSED ON
INCREASING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
BASIC MEDICAL RESEARCH.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 10th YEAR
IN A ROW THAT I WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO INCREASE NIH
FUNDING BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S
SEARCHING FOR A CURE FOR CANCER,
IMPROVING THE WAIT WE TREAT
MENTAL ILLNESS OR CARRYING OUT
TASTE AND SMELL RESEARCH BRINGS
US CLOSER TO A HEALTHIER FUTURE
EVERY FEDERAL DOLLAR WAVES THE
WAY FOR TREATMENT -- PAVES THE
WAY FOR TREATMENTS TOMORROW.
RESEARCHES, CLINICIANS AND
ADVOCATES, WE CAN BUILD A MORE
COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CHEMICAL SENSES.
I'LL END WITH THIS.
IF YOU VISIT MY OFFICE, YOU'LL
SEE A PICTURE HANGING ON THE
WALL.
IT'S A DRAWING OF A WOMAN,
HOLDING THE EARTH, BEING HANDED
TO HER BY AN ANGEL.
IN MY DREAM THE ANGEL SAID IF WE
FAIL THIS TIME, IT WILL BE A
FAILURE OF IMAGINATION.
AND THEN SHE PLACED THE WORLD
GENTLY IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.
THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH ON THE
CHEMICAL SENSES IS IN THE PALMS
OF OUR HANDS.
OF YOUR HANDS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO DEDICATION,
IDEAS, PASSION OF EVERYONE
GATHERED TODAY WE WON'T FAIL
BECAUSE THERE IS NO LACK OF
TALENT OR AM BINGES IN THIS
ROOM.
AMBITION IN THE ROOM.
I KNOW YOU HAVE THE IMAGINATION
WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN OUR WORLD.
LET'S GET GOING ON THIS
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH.
WE ALL CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE
WORK THAT COMES OUT OF IT.
THANKS.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SPEND A
FEW MOMENTS WITH YOU, EVEN IF IT
IS VIA VIDEO.
THANKS, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>> I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD SUCH
AN INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO BEFORE.
IT'S AMAZING.
WELL, THANK YOU, JOSH.
ANY DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
EVERY TASTE AND SMELL RESEARCHER
OUT IN THE EXTRAMURAL COMMUNITY
HAS PROBABLY EXPERIENCED IS AN
E-MAIL, IT USED TO BE LETTERS,
FROM SOMEBODY WHO SAYS MY SON
HAS THIS THING THAT JUST
HAPPENED LAST WEEK, AND NOW THEY
CAN'T SMELL ANYTHING.
AND HE'S COMPLETELY DISTRAUGHT.
AND WE ALL SORT OF COME UP SHORT
WITH WHAT DO WE WRITE BACK.
IT'S ALWAYS LIKE OKAY, NOT JUST
BECAUSE I'M NOT A CLINICIAN, BUT
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A
PLACE TO GUIDE JUST THIS VERY
DISTRIBUTED PATIENT POPULATION
THAT DOESN'T HAVE A
WELL-IDENTIFIED TARGET FOR EVEN
SOME SORT OF CLINICAL RESPONSE,
YOU KNOW.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING NOW, SAY, A VERY
FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, TELEMEDICINE
INTAKE, THAT WOULD HELP JUST,
SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED
TO SAY TO YOUR LOCAL -- TO YOUR
PRIMARY CARE, OR IT COULD BE,
YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR
WAY TO THE CLOSEST MEDICAL
CENTER, AND LOOK FOR THUS AND
SUCH.
AND I MEANT PERHAPS DEPENDING ON
THE SEVERITY, I THINK SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
VIRTUAL RESOURCE, WOULD BE --
SHOULD BE AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL
FOR US BECAUSE I THINK THAT
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A LOT OF
TASTE AND SMELL.
ANY KIND OF CHEMICAL SENSE
DISORDERS.
>> THANK YOU, NIRUPA.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
I'VE ENTERED SMELL AND TASTE
RESEARCH FROM PERSPECTIVE OF A
SPECIALIST WHO STRUGGLED IN
TREATING IT.
IT'S TERRIBLY FRUSTRATING BUT I
DEVELOPED A LITTLE PITCH THAT I
WOULD TELL MY PATIENTS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SINUS DISEASE,
AND I PROMISE OUR TREATMENTS, WE
CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THESE
SYMPTOMS.
BUT SMELL, WHICH IS A DEFINING
FACTOR OF SINUS DISEASE, I CAN'T
PROMISE YOU A THING.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL
RESOLVE, IF MY TREATMENTS WILL
HELP OR HURT.
THE NEED IS VERY WELL PUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOSH.
THAT WAS GREAT.
NOW WE HAVE MR. ERIC WILLIAMS,
BUDGET OFFICER, WILL PRESENT THE
BUDGET.
>> HERE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION
ON THE CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION.
AS I START ALL OF THEM WITH
OUR -- WE CALL IT OUR MECHANISM
TABLE, HOW WE LAY OUT BUDGETS,
ALL THE DATA YOU SEE IS
TYPICALLY DELAYED.
I JUST GOT MY E-MAIL TODAY THAT
I COULD SHOW YOU THE THIRD
QUARTER INFORMATION.
IT'S DELAYED UNTIL IT'S
TRANSMITTED TO CONGRESS.
I HIGHLIGHT WITH RED OR GREEN
NUMBERS GOING UP OR DOWN FROM
WHERE WE STAND.
SO, THIS MECHANISM TABLE IS
SHOWING WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID IN
FY 23, AND WHAT OUR PLAN AT THE
END OF JUNE WAS FOR FY 24.
OUR NUMBERS FOR NON-COMPETING
WILL BE GOING DOWN, SEVERAL
MILLION, AND IT WILL BE PROBABLY
A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT WE DID
IN 23.
AND WHAT THIS ULTIMATELY HAS
DONE FOR US IS ALLOWED US TO
SPEND MORE FUNDS ON
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS AND
ON COMPETING RPGs.
THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE
INCREASING, LOOKING MORE LIKE FY
23.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED A LITTLE BIT
MORE FUNDING TO TRAINING,
INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL
TRAINING, Fs GOT A BOOST.
WE'VE ADDED A LITTLE BIT TO OUR
R&D CONTRACT PORTFOLIO TO COVER
LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM AND OTHER
THINGS.
IT WASN'T A BIG INCREASE.
WE ALSO HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
INCREASE TO OUR RESEARCH
MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.
JUST A SMALL INCREASE TO HELP
ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT PAY ITEMS
THAT WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF.
THIS SLIDE IS JUST A BIGGER
CONVERSATION TO HAVE BECAUSE IT
REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE STRUGGLES
WE'RE HAVING WITH THE FEDERAL
BUDGET, SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR
PROGRAMS.
UP UNTIL 23, FY 23, WE HAD SEVEN
CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GROWTH, NOT
ALWAYS CONSISTENT, SOME YEARS
1%, OTHER YEARS 3%.
GROWTH PRESENTS ITS OWN PROBLEMS
WHEN THEY ARE UNEVEN, AS YOU'RE
TRYING TO BALANCE A
NON-COMPETING BASE AGAINST A
BUNCH OF COMPETING GRANTS, AND
KEEPING A THRIVING COMPETING
PROGRAM, BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO
HAVING BACK-TO-BACK-TO BACK FLAT
BUDGETS.
AND IN FACT FOR FY 25 I DON'T
KNOW IF WE HAVE A FLAT BUDGET
YET OR NOT.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS WE'LL BE
STARTING FY 25 ON A CONTINUING
RESOLUTION, WHICH MEANS THAT
CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO HAVE --
AND THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING
TO HAVE A BUDGET ESTABLISHED ON
OCTOBER 1
THE PROPOSALS IN PLACE ARE TO
PUNT UNTIL EITHER THE END OF
DECEMBER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
SENATE'S BILL PROPOSAL OR TO THE
END OF MARCH IF YOU LOOK AT THE
HOUSE'S PROPOSAL.
SO, THERE COULD BE TWO
ADMINISTRATIONS, THERE COULD BE
TWO DIFFERENT CONGRESSES.
THERE'S A LOT THAT HAS TO BE
SORTED OUT IN THERE.
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES WE WERE
TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE FLAT.
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IS VERY
SLIGHT GROWTH, NOT QUITE 1%, A
TINY GROWTH, A FRACTION OF A
PERCENT ACTUALLY.
SO, WHAT IT DOES TO US IS IT'S A
LOT OF THINGS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO
FUND THESE.
WE'VE ABSORBED SEVERAL PAY
RAISES THAT ARE MANDATORY, HAS
TO COME OUT OF THAT AMOUNT.
WE'VE ABSORBED INFLATION, COST
OF AN R01, NEW R01 COMING IN,
STEADILY INCREASING EVERY YEAR.
THESE ARE ALL MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
THE COST OF RENEWING CONTRACTS,
WHETHER THAT BE PERSONNEL
SUPPORT CONTRACTS, I.T.
CONTRACTS, VARIETY OF I.T.
CONTRACTS, ANY KIND OF CONTRACT,
THOSE ARE ALL GOING UP.
THE COST OF NIH TO FUND SECURITY
FORCE, PAY FOR THE LIGHTS, PAY
FOR CENTRALIZED I.T. SERVICES,
CUTTING THE GRASS, EVERYTHING IS
INCREASED, AND WE PAY A PART OF
EVERYTHING.
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING SOME
PRESIDENTAL TRANSITION
MATERIALS, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
IS IF THE CURRENT SERVICES WERE
CONTINUED, WHAT SHOULD YOUR
FUNDING BE NOW, OR WHAT IS THE
LEVEL OF DEMAND THAT YOU WOULD
NEED FUNDING FOR, AND IT'S BY
THOSE ESTIMATES WE'RE PROBABLY
14 OR $15 MILLION UNDERFUNDED,
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR FUNDING
IN FY 23 WAS WHAT WE NEEDED.
SOMEWHERE IN A VERY FLAT BUDGET,
WE'VE TRIED TO SQUEEZE THE SAME
LEVEL OF RESEARCH AND SUPPORT IN
A BUDGET THAT IS, YOU KNOW, $10,
$15 MILLION SHORT OF WHAT IT
IDEALLY WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN THE
SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.
SO WE'VE JUMPED THROUGH
DIFFERENT HOOPS.
WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT FUNDING
TRICKS.
WE'VE PRE-FUNDED WHERE WE COULD
PRE-FUND.
WE'VE DEFERRED WHERE WE COULD
DEFER.
WE'VE SCRAPED UNOBLIGATED
BALANCES WHERE WE COULD.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO
BEING TAPPED OUT ON THE PLACES
THAT WE CAN DO THINGS.
MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, THE
INSTITUTE IS STRIVING FOR
GROWTH.
YOU SAW DR. LEVY'S FIVE-YEAR
PLAN, SOMEBODY HAS TO FUND THAT,
RIGHT?
WE HAVE -- OUR DIVISION OF
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS HAS WORKED
FOR YEARS TO DEVELOP NEW
PROGRAMS, THEY HAVE SENT OUT
ADVERTISEMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS,
AND THOSE ARE ROLLING IN.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO ABSORB AS
MUCH OF THAT IN THE SAME BUDGET.
SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS A
CHALLENGE TO DO ALL OF THESE
THINGS.
AND GOING INTO FY 25, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALREADY IN -- WE HAVE A
SHORTFALL, SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
MANAGE AND FIND A WAY OF DOING,
NON-COMPETING ANNIVERSARY AWARDS
THAT ARE ALL 10% UNTIL WE
RECEIVE SOME LEVEL OF FUNDING,
THE INTENT IS TO RESTORE THAT
WHEN FUNDING IS RESTORED BUT WE
HAVE TO BE FRUGAL GOING INTO
NEXT YEAR, CONTINUE TO DO THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING
TO SAVE HERE, SKIMP HERE, DEFER.
IN A WAY IT DOES DELAY SOME
THINGS, IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, IF
THE CONGRESS POPS UP AND SAYS
WE'RE HAVING 3% GROWTH NEXT YEAR
IT HELPS BUFFER INFLUX OF CASH
THAT'S ALSO HARD TO MANAGE.
SO WE'RE -- WE'VE DONE REALLY
WELL TO MANAGE SO FAR BUT WE'RE
AT A POINT NOW WHERE SOME OF OUR
OPTIONS WE'VE BEEN LEVERAGING
HAVE BEEN ABSORBED AND HAVE RUN
OUT, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO OUR
BEST, TO SUPPORT ALL THESE
THINGS THAT WE CAN.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG TEAM
EFFORT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> SO FIRSTLY, THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM, OPERATING IN A VERY
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AT THE
MOMENT.
I THINK HEARING THIS HELPS US,
YOU KNOW, GO BACK TO OUR
DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES AND
EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S
GOING ON.
MY QUESTION FOLLOWS FROM ALL THE
CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU JUST
DESCRIBED THAT YOU'RE OPERATING
UNDER.
THAT SPEAKS TO WE KNOW THE
PAYLINES, YOU KNOW, STANDARD R01
GRANTS IS DROPPING SIGNIFICANTLY
THIS ROUND.
IS THAT IN PART A SORT OF
ATTEMPT TO AT LEAST FOR A WHILE
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
NON-COMPETING AWARDS SO THAT
YOU'RE NOT SORT OF STORING UP
MORE TROUBLE DOWN THE LINE?
OR IS THAT OVERSIMPLIFICATION.
>> WE HAVEN'T HAD THE ROOM TO
--
IT'S BEEN SOMEWHAT FLAT.
NIDCD APPLICATIONS SCORE WELL.
WITH PAYLINES 10%, IN MANY CASES
13 OR 14 OR 15% OF APPLICATIONS.
I DID AN ANALYSIS OF PRIOR TEN
YEARS WHEN I CAME IN, 15th
PERCENTILE, 15% OF OUR
APPLICATIONS.
AND SOME YEARS WE'VE HAD, IT
DOES LINE UP.
IN OTHER YEARS, WE'RE FUNDING A
MUCH HIGHER PERCENTILE OF
APPLICATIONS.
THE ACTUAL PERCENTILE IS BASED
ON NIH-WIDE DATA.
NOT NIDCD DATA.
SO OUR GRANT SCORE APPLICATIONS
SCORE WAY BETTER THAN THE
TYPICAL NIDCD -- NIH
APPLICATION.
THAT'S PART OF IT.
THE COST OF GRANTS, OF
APPLICATIONS, REQUEST TO COST,
THAT'S UPDATE AS WELL.
THAT'S JUMPED AS WELL.
WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AWARDING
SIMILAR NUMBER OF NEW R01s
EVERY YEAR.
WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
TYPICALLY ABOUT% THROUGH THE
PAYLINE, ANOTHER 20 THROUGH
HPPs BETWEEN 110 AND 120, HIGH
COMPARED AGAINST PRIOR YEARS,
EVEN THE PAST FEW COUNCILS, THE
COSTS HAVE JUMPED.
>> GOOD INFORMATION, SOMETHING
OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE TRENCHINGS
FOCUS ON THE PAYLINES, RATHER
THAN THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF
AWARDS.
>> WE ALWAYS -- YEAH, THERE'S
ABSOLUTE NUMBER, THERE'S THE
ACTUAL PERCENTILE OF NIDCD
APPLICATIONS.
ANOTHER THING THAT PLAYS INTO IT
IS YEARS AGO WE HAD A LOT OF --
I MIGHT GET THE WRONG
COMPARTMENTED APPLICATIONS THAT
ARE CAPPED, AM I USING THE RIGHT
WORD?
MODULAR APPLICATIONS WOULD
OFFSET.
YOU HARDLY SEE MODULAR
APPLICATIONS SCORING WELL, EVEN
IN THE PAY LINE, THAT WOULD
OFFSET MORE EXPENSIVE
APPLICATIONS IT'S NOT DOING THAT
ANYMORE.
>> SO, THIS IS -- THANK YOU,
ERIC.
YOU'RE SO CLEAR ABOUT HOW YOU
PRESENT THESE MATERIALS, HELPING
US UNDERSTAND, THOSE OF US IN
THE TRENCHES.
SO, I'M JUST WONDERING DOES
ANYBODY AT THE LEVEL OF CONGRESS
OR SOMETHING HAVE A PLAN OF HOW
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK LONG
TERM?
BECAUSE WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT
TRAINING NEW TRAINEES AND
BRINGING IN MORE PEOPLE INTO
RESEARCH IN THESE KEY AREAS THAT
WE ALL AGREE ARE ESSENTIAL, AND
THEN WE SORT OF HAD A MENTION
ABOUT HOW STIPENDS AND SALARIES
FOR RESEARCHERS AT ALL THE
LEVELS GO UP, AND THEN WHEN WE
HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE $500 CAP,
$500,000 CAP, IT HAS BEEN THE
SAME ONE FOR MANY YEARS, THE
250,000 PER YEAR MODULAR BUDGET
CAP HAS BEEN THE SAME FOR MANY
YEARS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO
MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF COMPETING
APPLICATIONS, AS THE NUMBER OF
P.I.s INCREASES.
SOMEWHERE THERE'S A DISCONNECT,
RIGHT?
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHO IS
GOING TO IN THE LONGER TERM
RESOLVE THIS.
I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER FROM
YOU, OR FROM DEB OR ANYBODY
ELSE.
>> I'D SAY OUR APPLICATIONS HAVE
ACTUALLY -- THEY HAVEN'T GONE
THROUGH THE ROOF.
THEY ARE PRETTY STEADY.
IF ANYTHING, A SLIGHT TRICKLE UP
IN THE LONG TERM.
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HASN'T
BEEN DRIVING PAYLINE ISSUES I
WOULD SAY
>> I WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I
THINK THAT THAT REFLECTS TO SOME
EXTENT PEOPLE DROPPING OUT.
WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE DROPPING
OUT OF THE RESEARCH, NOT
TRAINING PIPELINE, BUT AS DEB
MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ACTUAL
P.I. WORKING SCIENTIST GROUP,
AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS A
DISCOURAGEMENT.
SO I THINK THE APPLICATIONS
COMING IN HOLD STEADY BECAUSE
YOU SORT OF HAVE THIS IT'S
DISCOURAGEMENT FROM THE LEVEL OF
SUCCESS.
SO, I THINK THAT'S SORT OF
ALREADY BAKED INTO THAT CAKE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THIS TENDS TO
CYCLE.
I MEAN, I THINK, JUDITH, YOU'VE
BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH THAT
YOU'VE SEEN REALLY TIMES WHEN
IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
TO GET FUNDING, AND THEN IT
TENDS TO LOOSEN UP.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS
THAT DRIVE THAT.
SO, WE ADVOCATE AS BEST WE CAN
BUT BASICALLY CAN'T ADVOCATE TO
CONGRESS BUT SO MUCH SO WE RELY
ON OUR COMMUNITY TO DO THAT.
SOME YEARS IT'S MORE EFFECTIVE
THAN OTHERS BUT THERE'S A LOT WE
WANT TO DO AND WE NEED THE MONEY
TO DO IT.
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE
ENJOYED A 3.4% INCREASE IN THE
BUDGET WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO
IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
EXAMPLE AND STILL KEEP THE
PAYLINE THE SAME.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS IS ONE-
TO TWO-YEAR BLIP, YOU KNOW.
WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL SO
WE CAN'T KNOW THAT.
WE HAVE TO BE WISE IN THE WAY WE
ALLOCATE FUNDS, TRYING AND KEEP
OUR PROGRAMS AS ROBUST AS WE CAN
POSSIBLY DO.
CAROL, DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING?
>> YEAH, I JUST NOTICED THAT
MANY OF THE CONFERENCES THAT I
ATTEND, YOU JUST -- I JUST GOT
BACK FROM ONE, MORE OF AN
ENGINEERING CONFERENCE, LESS AND
LESS AMERICANS AT THESE
CONFERENCES THAT ARE
INTERNATIONAL.
SEEMS LIKE THE GOVERNMENTS OF
OTHER PLACES ARE PUTTING MORE
MONEY INTO RESEARCH, AND
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES,
THAN WE'RE DOING HERE.
IT'S SCARY BECAUSE THE NUMBERS
ARE REALLY QUITE DIFFERENT NOW
THAN WHAT I'M USED TO.
>> WE HAVE A HAPPEN.
WE HAVE A FLOOR WE HAVE TO MEET
FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS AND WHAT
NOT.
>> RIGHT, YEAH.
LINDA?
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK A MORE
GENERAL QUESTION.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T ADVOCATE.
>> CLOSER TO THE MIC.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK A
MORE GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT
TRAINEE FELLOWSHIPS, SO I
REALIZE THERE WAS A KIND OF
FORCED PAY RAISE FOR THE
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS BUT STUDENT
FELLOWSHIPS NOW ARE WAY UNDER
WATER COMPARED TO WHAT WE PAY
OUR -- STIPENDS WE PAY OUR
GRADUATE STUDENTS.
AND SO -- AND AS YOU'RE PROBABLY
AWARE, WE CAN'T USE TWO GRANTS
BECAUSE OF THIS HUNDRED PERCENT
EFFORT.
SO I THINK THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM
FOR THE NIH.
AND I THINK IT ALSO ADDRESSES
THESE DIVERSITY ISSUES FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSIDERING
GOING INTO RESEARCH, AS A
GRADUATE -- GETTING GRADUATE
TRAINING, JUST SIMPLY NOT
AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THE STIPENDS
ARE SO LOW.
SO, I DON'T KNOW WHOSE JOB IT IS
TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE INSTITUTES OR TO
CONGRESS, OR HOW -- HOW CAN WE
ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS TO GET
THEM THE ATTENTION THE
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS HAVE
GOTTEN, TO SOME DEGREE IMPROVE
THEIR SITUATION?
>> YEAH, WE DO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO AS PART OF THE POSTDOC SALARY
DISCUSSION WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
ALL TRAINEES AND, YOU KNOW, WE
ALL VERY MUCH RECOGNIZE THE
PROBLEM.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THIS
COUNCIL BEFORE.
WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO BE ABLE TO
PAY MORE TO TRAINEES, BUT THE
SAME FOR TRAINEES AS FOR
POSTDOCS, IS THAT THERE'S A
FINITE POT OF MONEY, AND IF YOU
SPEND MORE MONEY IN SALARIES
THEN YOU HAVE FEWER TRAINEES IS
BASICALLY I THINK THE EQUATION.
IT'S A FIXED POT OF MONEY.
SO I THINK THESE ARE REALLY VERY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE, AND
THERE ARE -- THERE HAVE BEEN
EFFORTS TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT
ABOUT PRIORITY SETTING AND THIS
IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION, YOU
KNOW.
YEAH, THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT.
>> ERIC THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS CLEAR AND HELPFUL.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE ALMOST ON TIME, EXACTLY ON
TIME.
OKAY.
WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND
WE'LL COME BACK AT 2:40 AND HEAR
ABOUT SIMPLIFYING THE REVIEW.
GREAT.
>> FOR THE FOLKS WHO WANT MORE
COFFEE, WE DO HAVE KURIG PODS IN
THE VENDING KITCHEN AREA,
THERE'S MACHINES IF YOU WANT
FRESH COFFEE THIS AFTERNOON.
>> NIH IS ALWAYS TRYING TO
IMPROVE THE REVIEW PROCESS,
FORTUNATE TO HAVE DR. SHIM AND
CYR HERE, SIMPLIFYING REVIEW
FRAMEWORK FOR NIH.
>> I'M JANET CYR, A PROGRAM
OFFICER, MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW
SIMPLIFYING PEER REVIEW
INITIATIVE.
SO, KATHY IS A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
OFFICER WITHIN NIDCD.
SO, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF THE NEW SIMPLIFYING
PEER REVIEW ON RESEARCH GRANTS,
AND KATHY WILL TALK ABOUT THE
FELLOWSHIPS AFTER ME AND WE'LL
TAKE QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE TIME
AT THE END.
SO, WHAT IS THE SIMPLIFYING PEER
REVIEW INITIATIVE?
HOPEFULLY NOT THE FIRST TIME
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS.
BUT IF IT IS, I'LL GIVE A LITTLE
BIT OF INFORMATION AND
BACKGROUND BECAUSE THIS IS GOING
TO IMPACT YOU, BOTH AS AN
APPLICANT AND REVIEWER, WHEN YOU
GET OFF OF COUNCIL, ALSO AS A
COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, BACK IN 2019, THE CENTER FOR
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW STARTED TO
TAKE A DETAILED LOOK AT THE
FIRST LEVEL OF PEER REVIEW, AND
TO DETERMINE IF IT NEEDED TO
MAKE CHANGES IN THE PROCESS.
SO, WHAT THEY WERE HEARING FROM
REVIEWERS AND FROM NIH STAFF WAS
THAT THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS HAD
STARTED TO BECOME TOO COMPLEX.
THAT THEY WERE HEARING THIS
CONSISTENTLY FROM THE REVIEWERS
AND THEN ALSO THAT THE REVIEWERS
WERE HAVING TO LOOK AT AND
COMMENT ON TOO MANY ASPECT OF
THE APPLICATION HAVING TO DO
WITH POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE
THINGS.
AND WHAT THAT WAS DOING WAS
DETRACTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM
CRITICAL PRIMARY ROLE OF
EVALUATING SCIENTIFIC MERIT OF
THE APPLICATION.
THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS
BECOMING APPARENT WAS THAT THERE
WAS THIS REPUTATIONAL BIAS THAT
WAS BEING SEEN.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE
REPUTATION OF EITHER THE
INVESTIGATOR OR OF THE
INSTITUTION WAS IMPACTING REVIEW
OF APPLICATION IN SOME
INSTANCES.
SO THAT INVESTIGATORS THAT WERE
MORE WELL KNOWN OR THAT WERE
FROM INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE A
VERY GREAT REPUTATION WERE
PERHAPS NOT GETTING QUITE AS
CLOSE A LOOK AS APPLICATIONS
THAT WERE COMING FROM
INVESTIGATORS THAT DIDN'T HAVE
THE SAME REPUTATION OR WERE NOT
FROM THE SAME LEVEL OF
INSTITUTION.
THAT WAS INFORMATION HEARD FROM
THE COMMUNITY, ALSO OBSERVATION
BY STAFF AND LEADERSHIP.
SO, STARTING IN 2019, THE
ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC
REVIEW, THE CSR, FORMED WORKING
GROUPS AND THEN OVER THE PAST
THREE TO FOUR YEARS THERE HAVE
BEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT
NIH INCLUDING STAFF AT NIDCD
INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT THIS AND
LOOKING HOW CAN WE SIMPLIFY PEER
PEER
REVIEW AND LET THEM FOCUS TO
EVALUATE THE MERIT OF THE
APPLICATION.
SO THIS WILL TAKE IN EFFECT ON
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED
ON JANUARY 25 OF NEXT YEAR AND
BEYOND.
SO REMEMBER I'M TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT RESEARCH GRANTS RIGHT NOW,
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT R01s,
R21s, R15s AND CORRESPONDING
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR
THOSE.
AND THEN KATHY WILL TELL YOU HOW
THIS IMPACTS FELLOWSHIPS.
SO, CURRENTLY REVIEWERS ARE
ASKED TO GIVE SCORES, AND TO
EVALUATE FIVE CRITERIA,
SIGNIFICANCE, INVESTIGATORS,
INNOVATION, APPROACH,
ENVIRONMENT.
THESE WILL BE RECONTEXTUALIZED
INTO THREE FACTORS, THEY ARE
FACTOR 1, WHICH IS ASKED TO
COMMENT ON IMPORTANCE OF
RESEARCH, AND THAT WILL BE
SCORED.
THE SCORING SCALE WILL BE THE
SAME, 1-9 SCALE, 1 THE BEST, 9
IS THE WORST.
FACTOR 2 WILL BE RIGOR AND
FEASIBILITY, AND THEN FACTOR 3
WILL BE -- THAT WILL ALSO BE
SCORED.
FACTOR 3 IS ABOUT THE EXPERTISE
AND RESOURCES.
AND THIS WILL NOT RECEIVE A
SCORE BUT IT WILL BE CONSIDERED
WHEN THE REVIEWERS GIVE THEIR
OVERALL IMPACT SCORE AFTER THE
APPLICATION.
BUT IT WILL NOT RECEIVE AN
INDIVIDUAL SCORE.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GO
THROUGH THESE THREE FACTORS AND
TALK ABOUT THEM A LITTLE BIT AND
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT WILL
BE REMOVED FROM REVIEWERS.
FIRST IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
RESEARCH.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY COMBINING
WHAT USED TO BE THE SIGNIFICANCE
AND INNOVATION CRITERIA.
SO, REVIEWERS WILL BE ASKED TO
EVALUATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
RESEARCH, CONTEXT OF THE
CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES.
AND ALSO RATIONALE AND CONTEXT
OF LITERATURE AND PRELIMINARY
DATA THEY PRESENT IN THEIR
APPLICATION.
FOR INNOVATION, THEY WILL BE
ASKED TO ASSESS WHETHER THE
PROPOSAL AND PROPOSED WORK
APPLIES NOVEL CONCEPTS,
APPROACHES, HOW THAT WILL IMPACT
THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT.
AND AS I MENTIONED THIS WILL BE
SCORED.
FACTOR 2 IS TALKING ABOUT RIGOR
AND FEASIBILITY.
THIS ENCOMPASSES MUCH OF WHAT
WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE
APPROACH CRITERIA.
SO THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LOOK AT
THE RIGOR OF THE APPLICATION,
AND TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL
FOR THE WORK TO PRODUCE
UNBIASED, ROBUST, REPRODUCIBLE
DATA.
AND THERE WILL BE THINGS THEY
WILL BE ASKED TO LOOK AT, ONE IS
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, AND THE
ANALYSIS THAT'S PRESENTED IN THE
PROPOSAL.
AND THEN IF HAS HUMAN SUBJECTS
THEY WILL LOOK AT INCLUSION OF
WOMEN, MINORITIES, SUBJECT,
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.
IF IT'S A CLINICAL TRIAL THEY
WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE STUDY
TIMELINE.
FOR FEASIBILITY IT'S
SELF-EXPLANATORY BUT THEY WILL
ESSENTIALLY BE LOOKING AT
WHETHER THE STUDIES CAN BE
COMPLETED IN THE TIME FRAME THAT
THEY PROPOSED.
AND THEY WILL LOOK AT THE
CHALLENGES THAT THE WORK WILL
PRESENT, AND ANY ALTERNATIVE
APPROACHES, PRESENTED BY THE
APPLICANT.
AND THEN THE IMPACT IN LIGHT OF,
YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL -- IN LIGHT
OF POTENTIAL ADVANCES, SO
UNCERTAINTIES VERSUS ADVANCES
THAT COULD BE MADE BY THE WORK.
THIS WILL BE SCORED.
HERE WHAT WE'RE DOING ON FACTORS
3, WE'RE -- THE NIH IS
ADDRESSING THAT INSTITUTIONAL
AND REPUTATIONAL BIAS THAT HAS
BEEN OBSERVED.
SO THIS WILL NOW BE FACTOR THAT
WILL NOT RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUAL
SCORE, AND THE REVIEWERS WILL BE
LOOKING AT THE INVESTIGATOR, AT
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, THEIR
BACKGROUND, THEIR EXPERTISE,
CAREER STAGE, TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THEY ARE APPROPRIATE TO
CONDUCT THE WORK THAT'S
PROPOSED, IF IT'S A MULTIPLE
P.I. GRANT THEN ALSO HOW THOSE
TWO P.I.s OR THREE P.I.s,
HOWEVER MANY, WILL INTERACT WITH
ONE ANOTHER, COORDINATE,
COLLABORATE FOR THE SUCCESS OF
THE PROJECT.
AND THEN THE ENVIRONMENT.
IS THE ENVIRONMENT THE RIGHT
PLACE TO BE DOING THE WORK?
ARE THE RESOURCES THERE?
AND IS THE ENVIRONMENT
APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE THE WORK
CAN BE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETED.
SO AS I MENTIONED, NO INDIVIDUAL
SCORE ON THIS, THIS WILL BE A
BINARY CHOICE BY THE REVIEWERS,
EITHER APPROPRIATE OR THERE ARE
GAPS.
IF THERE ARE GAPS, THEN THEY
WILL WRITE COMMENTS ABOUT THE
GAPS THEY SEE IN THE EXPERTISE
AND RESOURCES.
BUT THEY WILL CONSIDER THIS INTO
THEIR OVERALL IMPACT SCORE.
SO NOW TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT
REVIEWERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO
LOOK AT IN THE PAST, THIS WILL
CHANGE.
SO CURRENTLY, THEY ARE ASKED TO
COMMENT ON AN APPLICATION FROM A
FOREIGN INSTITUTION, SELECT
AGENTS, RESOURCE SHARING PLANS,
ON THE AUTHENTICATION OF KEY
BIOLOGICALS AND CHEMICAL
RESOURCES, AND BUDGET AND PERIOD
OF SUPPORT.
IT'S NOT THAT THESE ITEMS ARE
NOT IMPORTANT.
BUT MANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO
BE MOVED TO THE NIH STAFF TO
LOOK AT INSTEAD OF THE
REVIEWERS.
SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER --
FOR APPLICATIONS COMING IN ON
JUNE 25 AND BEYOND IS THE
REVIEWERS WILL ONLY BE ASKED TO
LOOK AT AUTHENTICATION OF KEY
BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL
RESOURCES AND BUDGET AND PERIOD
OF SUPPORT.
OTHER ITEMS WILL BE EVALUATED
BUT BY STAFF.
THIS WILL HOPEFULLY RELIEVE SOME
OF THE BURDEN FROM REVIEWERS SO
THEY CAN SPEND TIME LOOKING AT
THE SCIENCE.
SO I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH KEY
TAKEAWAYS, THIS WILL IMPACT
ALMOST ALL RESEARCH GRANTS.
ALL OF THE NOTICES OF FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE
RE-RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS WITH THE NEW REVIEW
LANGUAGE.
THE BURDEN ON REVIEWERS WILL BE
REDUCED, WE'RE HOPING.
AND ALL REVIEWERS WILL BE
TRAINED IN THIS NEW FRAMEWORK
BEFORE THE JUNE 2025 MEETING.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT,
THAT IF YOU'RE WRITING AN
APPLICATION, YOU'RE WRITING
DOESN'T NEED TO CHANGE BECAUSE
REVIEWERS, IT'S JUST THE WAY THE
REVIEWERS WILL BE LOOKING AT
INFORMATION THERE AND EVALUATING
IT.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A HUGE
CHANGE IF YOU'RE WRITING AN
APPLICATION.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE SUMMARY
STATEMENTS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT
BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THE THREE
FACTORS THAT THEY WILL BE
LOOKING AT.
AND SO FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS,
STARTING FOR THE OCTOBER 25
COUNCIL MEETING YOU'LL SEE
DIFFERENT SUMMARY STATEMENTS.
I'M GOING TO HAND OFF TO KATHY
AND SHE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
FELLOWSHIPS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GREAT, THANKS, JANET.
I'M KATHY SHIM, SCIENTIFIC
REVIEW OFFICER AT NIDCD, PICKING
UP ON THE THREAD JANET LAID OUT,
TELL BUT UPCOMING CHANGES TO
FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS AND
REVIEW.
SO, WHY THESE CHANGES?
SO, THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND
CURRENT CONCERNS BY THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT FAIRNESS,
POTENTIAL FOR BIAS, LACK OF
OPENNESS, IN THE REVIEW OF
FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS.
SO IN RESPONSE TO THIS, BACK IN
THE FALL OF 2021, AN ADVISORY
COUNCIL WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED
IN THE CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC
REVIEW.
THIS CONSISTED OF NIH STAFF
MEMBERS, AS WELL AS DIVERSE
PANEL OF EXTRAMURAL SCIENTISTS
FROM MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
INSTITUTIONS.
THEY WERE CHARGED WITH
EVALUATING FELLOWSHIP REVIEW
PROCESS, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR IMPROVEMENT.
SO THE WORKING GROUP REQUESTED
DATA, AND FROM FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATIONS, FROM THE 2021
COUNCIL YEAR.
THESE DATA CONFIRMED THAT
APPLICATIONS ARE HIGHLY
CONCENTRATED FROM A VERY SMALL
NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS.
SO ABOUT 15 ELITE INSTITUTIONS
WERE SUBMITTING ABOUT 100
APPLICATIONS OR MORE PER
INSTITUTION IN THAT YEAR.
DATA ALSO SHOWED THAT
APPLICATIONS FROM THESE
INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS FROM
SENIOR MORE ESTABLISHED SPONSORS
DID BETTER IN REVIEW.
SO, THE WORKING GROUP CAME UP
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE AVERAGE --
WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, AND THE
CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN FINALIZED
AND WORKED THROUGH ARE AIMED TO
ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM
CANDIDATES FROM BROADER ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONAL AND RESEARCH
BACKGROUNDS AND ENCOURAGING
THESE CANDIDATES TO ALSO APPLY.
OKAY.
WHAT ARE THE SCOPE OF THE
CHANGES FOR FELLOWSHIPS?
THIS IS TWO-FOLD.
THE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS WILL
ALSO CHANGE.
SO THERE WILL BE NEW REVIEW
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FELLOWSHIPS.
AND THERE WILL BE CHANGES TO THE
REVIEW CRITERIA.
LIKE THE RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS
THAT JANET WAS TALKING ABOUT,
THIS WILL OCCUR FOR APPLICATIONS
SUBMITTED FOR DUE DATES ON OR
AFTER JANUARY 25, 2025.
SO FOR FELLOWSHIPS, THE FIRST
STANDARD DUE DATE AFTER JANUARY
25 IS GOING TO BE THE APRIL 8,
2025, DEADLINE FOR FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATIONS.
THOSE APPLICATIONS WILL BE
REVIEWED IN JUNE OR JULY OF
2025, AND WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE
ATTENTION OF COUNCIL IN
SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2025.
AND THERE'S A GUIDE NOTICE OVER
THERE, IF YOU WANT THE FULL TEXT
OF THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
SO, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED?
SO, FOR THE APPLICATION PART,
THE APPLICATIONS ARE INTENDED TO
BE SHORTER, SO INSTEAD OF TEN,
TEN ATTACHMENTS, TWELVE
ATTACHMENTS, WHICH IS THE
CURRENT, THERE WILL ONLY BE TEN,
AFTER JANUARY 25, 2025.
THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE MORE
STRUCTURED, AND BETTER ALIGNED
WITH REVISED REVIEW CRITERIA.
THERE'S -- THE APPLICATIONS WILL
HAVE LESS OF AN EMPHASIS ON THE
TRACK RECORD OF THE SPONSOR, AND
MORE EMPHASIS ON THE RESEARCH
TRAINING PLAN AND THE
PREPAREDNESS OF THE CANDIDATE.
THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE GOING TO
CLEARLY DEFINE WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH SECTION,
WHETHER IT'S THE CANDIDATE OR
ITS SPONSOR.
AND NEW FOR THESE APPLICATIONS
IS THAT GRADES WILL LONGER BE
ALLOWED IN THE CANDIDATE
BIOSKETCH.
FINALLY, THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR
REFERENCE LETTERS WILL ALSO BE
REVISED SO THAT REVIEWERS HAVE
INFORMATION PRESENTED TO THEM
THAT'S MORE EASY TO EXTRACT THE
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CANDIDATE.
SO WHAT ABOUT CHANGES TO REVIEW
CRITERIA?
SO, CURRENTLY THERE ARE FIVE
REVIEW CRITERIA.
APPLICANTS, SPONSOR
COLLABORATORS, RESEARCH TRAINING
PLANS, TRAINING POTENTIAL, AND
THEN INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT,
COMMITMENT TO TRAINING.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE
RESTRUCTURED, SO THERE ARE ONLY
THREE REVIEW CRITERIA.
THEY ARE CALLED CANDIDATE
PREPAREDNESS AND POTENTIAL.
RESEARCH TRAINING PLANS, AND
COMMITMENT TO CANDIDATES.
ALL THREE OF THESE REVIEW
CRITERIA WILL BE SCORED.
AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE NO
CHANGES TO THE ADDITIONAL REVIEW
CRITERIA WHICH ARE PROTECTIONS
FOR HUMAN SUBJECTS, VERTEBRATE
ANIMALS, NO CHANGES TO
ADDITIONAL REVIEW
CONSIDERATIONS.
JUST TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT
MORE INTO THESE CHANGED REVIEW
CRITERIA,s FOR CANDIDATE
PREPAREDNESS AND POTENTIAL
THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREATER
EMPHASIS ON A WIDER RANGE OF
INDICATORS OF SCIENTIFIC
POTENTIAL, AND PREPAREDNESS OF
THE CANDIDATE, TO BETTER
IDENTIFY PROMISING SCIENTISTS.
THE RESEARCH TRAINING PLAN IS
GOING TO BE REFRAMED SO THE
RESEARCH PROJECT IS EVALUATED IN
TERMS OF ITS VALUE AS A TRAINING
VEHICLE, AS PART OF OVERALL
TRAINING OF THE CANDIDATE.
AND THE COMMITMENT TO CANDIDATE
IS GOING TO DE-EMPHASIZE THE
TRACK RECORD AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, INSTITUTIONAL
ENVIRONMENT, TRACK RECORD OF THE
SPONSOR, AND INSTITUTIONAL
ENVIRONMENT, INSTEAD EMPHASIZE
WHETHER THE SPONSOR HAS A STRONG
INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN THAT
ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND
GOALS OF THE PARTICULAR
CANDIDATE IN THE PARTICULAR
RESEARCH TRAINING PLAN THAT'S
BEING PROPOSED.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, A
LOT OF IT IS COMING OUT, LIKE
RIGHT NOW.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE APPLICATION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS WILL
COME OUT LATER THIS FALL.
THERE'S A WEBSITE, IF YOU HAVE
STUDENTS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT
APPLYING FOR A FELLOWSHIP OR YOU
KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS GETTING
READY TO APPLY FOR A FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATION, KEEP ABREAST OF THE
LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS
WEBSITE.
THERE'S APPLICANT GUIDANCE
THERE, REVIEWERS GUIDANCE,
TRAINING, THERE'S BLOGS,
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, AND
CONTACTS IF ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
COME UP.
THERE'S A LINK ALSO ON THIS
WEBSITE TO REGISTER FOR A
WEBINAR.
WHICH WILL OCCUR NEXT WEEK,
SEPTEMBER 19, FROM 2 TO 3 P.M.
ON THE EAST COAST TIME.
THERE ARE EXPERTS INVOLVED IN
THIS WHOLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
FELLOWSHIP CHANGES PRESENTING,
WITH A LIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER,
SO PLEASE IF ANYONE IS
INTERESTED THERE'S A LINK THERE
TO REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR.
OKAY.
SO, TIMELINE FOR ALL OF THIS,
THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES
OCCURRING IN REVIEW.
OCTOBER 19, 2023, WAS WHEN THE
CHANGES TO THE SIMPLIFIED REVIEW
FRAMEWORK WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED.
THE CHANGES TO FELLOWSHIPS, THAT
WAS ANNOUNCED BACK IN APRIL OF
THIS YEAR.
AND SO AFTER JANUARY 25, 2025,
THE FIRST APPLICATIONS THAT WILL
BE SUBMITTED, YOU KNOW, IN
RESPONSE TO THESE CHANGES, THEY
WILL BE FEBRUARY/MARCH FOR
R01s, R21s, APRIL FOR
FELLOWSHIPS.
THEY WILL ALL BE REVIEWED IN THE
SUMMER, JUNE, JULY, 2025.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THEM AT
COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.
SO A YEAR FROM NOW.
SO, ALL OF US AT THE NIDCD HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT
TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY ARE NOT
SURPRISED BY THESE CHANGES.
SO, WE'VE BEEN MENTIONING THIS
AT OUR PRESENTATIONS AT VARIOUS
CONFERENCES, ASSOCIATION FOR
RESEARCH IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY IN
FEBRUARYE THE ASSOCIATION FOR
CHEMO RECEPTION SCIENCE SOCIETY
BACK IN APRIL, ASHA, STAFF IS
GOING TO BE GOING TO THIS
SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE,
MENTIONING IT THERE.
THERE'S MANY MORE EFFORTS, PLANS
TO TALK BIT AT VARIOUS
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES IN THE
COMING YEAR.
SIMPLIFIED FRAMEWORK WAS
MENTIONS, IT WAS MENTIONED IN
THE PRE-NIDCD FELLOWSHIP
PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR, DR.
JACQUELINE SHERMAN, AND ANOTHER
WEBINAR PLANNED TO REALLY GET
APPLICANTS READY AND AWARE OF
THE CHANGES PRIOR TO THAT APRIL
8 DEADLINE IN THE COMING YEAR.
FOR THE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER REVIEW
PANELS, WHICH ARE COMING UP, ALL
OF THE SROs AT THE NIDCD WILL
PRESENT SLIDES WITH LINKS SO
REVIEWERS ARE AWARE OF THE
UPCOMING CHANGES.
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS REVIEW
COMMITTEE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE
COMMUNITY WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED
BACK IN OCTOBER, 2023.
AND SO IN EARLY 2025 WHEN THE
PANELS ARE ASSEMBLED, THEY WILL
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THESE
CHANGES, THERE'S GOING TO BE
EXTENSIVE TRAINING OF ALL NIDCD
REVIEW PANELS DURING THAT TIME.
SO THAT IS ALL.
IF THERE ARE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM ALL OF YOU?
>> LARRY?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW.
SO IN THE PAST, FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATIONS WERE OFTEN DINGED,
BECAUSE THE P.I. MENTOR WAS NEW.
AND AS A RESULT, IN THE
REVISION, IT COMES BACK WITH A
SENIOR CO-MENTOR.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S HELPFUL,
SOMETIMES IT'S AN ARTIFICE TO
GET PAST THE REREVIEW.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT IS NO LONGER
A POINT OF CRITICISM AND IF
THAT'S TRUE HOW DOES THAT IMPACT
THE MODEL OF HAVING CO-MENTORS?
>> SO, WHAT I WOULD THINK, WE'LL
HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT
WITH THE REVIEW COMMITTEES,
RIGHT?
BUT WHAT I WOULD THINK IS THAT
EVEN THOUGH THE REPUTATION OF
THE MENTOR IS GOING TO BE
DE-EMPHASIZED THEY NEED TO HAVE
AN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PLAN,
RIGHT, FOR THAT APPLICANT.
AND SO IF THE MENTOR DOESN'T
HAVE A LOT OF SORT OF EXPERTISE
AND TRAINING, IT COULD ALSO COME
UP THAT MAYBE THAT TRAINING PLAN
ISN'T AS INDIVIDUALIZED AS IT
SHOULD BE BECAUSE THE MENTOR
DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO
DO THAT.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT
PLAYS OUT BUT IT MIGHT BE THAT
STILL HAVING THAT MORE SENIOR
PERSON TO SORT OF BE PART OF THE
COMMITTEE OR BE PART OF A
COMMITTEE THAT HELPS WITH THE
TRAINING OF THE APPLICANT, OR OF
THE CANDIDATE, WOULD STILL BE
USEFUL.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
YEAH, I KNOW.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT
PLAYS OUT.
I THINK THAT THE APPLICATIONS,
REVIEW CRITERIA ARE DESIGNED SO
THAT AN EARLY CAREER MENTOR
COULD SPONSOR AN APPLICANT.
AND SO AS THE SRO I DON'T THINK
IT WOULD BE A LEGITIMATE
CRITICISM, NECESSARILY, JUST
BASED UPON THE CAREER STATUS OF
THE SPONSOR.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME OTHER
REASON FOR -- YEAH.
>> YOU COULD IMAGINE THERE MIGHT
BE A MORE JUNIOR SPONSOR WHO HAS
HAD A LOT OF TRAINING
EXPERIENCE, RIGHT?
EITHER AS A POSTDOC THEY TRAINED
PEOPLE OR WHATEVER.
VERSUS ONE THAT DOESN'T.
SO I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE
MISUNDERSTOOD IT'S BECAUSE OF
THEIR CAREER STAGE OF THE
SPONSOR, WHERE REALLY IT IS
ABOUT DO THEY HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING.
>> I THINK LINDA HAD A COMMENT.
>> JUST A QUICK ONE.
THERE IS A DEADLINE FOR
FELLOWSHIPS IN DECEMBER.
SO, HOW IS THIS -- IF STUDENTS
SUBMIT OR TRAINEES SUBMIT FOR
THIS DECEMBER DEADLINE, WILL
THEY THEN HAVE TO REVISE
ACCORDING TO THE NEW GUIDELINES
TO RESUBMIT?
AND HOW IS THAT IMAGINED?
>> YEAH, SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE A
HARD DEED LINE -- DEADLINE, IF A
STUDENT SUBMITS AND HAS TO
RESTRUCTURE THEY WILL HAVE TO
RESTRUCTURE, IT WILL BE REVIEWED
WITH THE NEW CRITERIA.
>> ANDY WAS NEXT.
>> SO, MAYBE JUST A HIGHER LEVEL
COMMENT.
I THINK THIS EFFORT TO INCREASE
THE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
FELLOWSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND, YOU KNOW, CHANGING THE
REVIEW CRITERIA AND APPLICATION
PROCEDURE IS ALSO REALLY
IMPORTANT.
THINK SOMETHING WE'VE DISCUSSED
ON COUNCIL BEFORE AND ANOTHER
PART OF THE EQUATION IS REACHING
OUT TO INSTITUTIONS THAT DON'T
HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
SUBMITTING THESE FELLOWSHIPS ALL
THE WAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE
DEANS OF RESEARCH, DEANS OF THE
GRAD SCHOOL, HEADS OF
DEPARTMENTS, MENTORS, SORT OF
GIVING THEM THE TOOLS SO THAT
THEY CAN SUPPORT TRAINEES AT
THEIR INSTITUTIONS TO SUBMIT
THESE APPLICATIONS.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE
OVERINTERPRETTED BUT I THINK
SOMETIMES THERE'S TENDENCY TO
PUT THE BURDEN ON THE TRAINEE TO
PUT IN AN APPLICATION BUT IN
FACT THERE'S EVIDENCE SUGGESTING
FROM THESE ELITE INSTITUTIONS
HAVING AN INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS HOW
TO SUBMIT AN F31, THEY HAVE
CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, SUCCESSFUL
MODELS AND SO ON.
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER BARRIER
TO A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU
GUYS CONTROL.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN
SOLVE BUT JACQUELINE SHERMAN IS
CONTINUING TO SPEAK AT
CONFERENCES, THAT MIGHT BRING IN
INDIVIDUALS FROM PREDOMINANTLY
INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT THE
TOP ELITE ONES.
SO, YOU KNOW, NOW ARE THE DEANS
THERE?
PROBABLY NOT.
BUT THE P.I.s ARE.
SO HOPEFULLY THE WORD CAN GET
OUT.
I AGREE 100%, IT'S VERY EASY
IF -- MUCH EASIER HAVE YOU HAVE
AN OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS
TO HANDLE IT VERSUS AN
INSTITUTION WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO
IT YOURSELF.
I THINK DAN I SAW BACK THERE.
>> I GUESS I'LL JUST SAY A
PERSONAL THING, I THINK THE IDEA
OF THE REDUCING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON
REVIEWERS IS IMPORTANT.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR OTHERS
AROUND THE TABLE BUT
EVERYBODY'S -- MANY HAVE BEEN A
REVIEWER, AND THAT'S A
SUBSTANTIAL BURDEN.
THAT'S GREAT.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT
RELATES TO THAT, THAT I GUESS I
WANT TO BE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
WHICH IS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT A
GRANT AS A REVIEWER I'M LOOKING
AT BOTH SCIENTIFIC QUALITY AND
FEASIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE, BUT TO
PUT IT SIMPLY.
AND SEEING THE BUDGET AND
LOOKING AT THE BUDGET IS REALLY
A FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE FOR ME
WHEN TRYING TO ASSESS
FEASIBILITY.
I GUESS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHILE I CERTAINLY TRUST THE
STAFF TO GIVE SPECIFIC COMMENTS
ON THE BUDGET, THAT DEFINITELY
MAKES SENSE, SHOULDN'T BE A
REVIEWER TASK BUT REVIEWERS HAVE
THE BUDGETS.
>> OH, YES.
SO MAYBE I WASN'T CLEAR.
BUT THE REVIEWERS WILL STILL BE
TASKED TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND
DETERMINE WHETHER THE BUDGET IS
APPROPRIATE.
AS A STAFF MEMBER, IT'S BEEN A
LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN A
LAB.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT COSTS
ANYMORE, RIGHT?
YOU, AS A PEER REVIEWER, WOULD
KNOW BETTER AS TO WHETHER THOSE
COSTS ARE REASONABLE.
>> I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON
MAKING THIS STEP AND PROGRESSING
TOWARDS MAKING SOME CHANGES TO
THE SYSTEMS BEHIND THE REVIEW
PROCESS.
I KNOW I'VE SOUNDED LIKE A
BROKEN RECORD SINCE I GOT ON THE
COUNCIL ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK
AT THE SYSTEMS AS OPPOSED TO
JUST LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE SO I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND I
GUESS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS IS A FIRST STEP OR A
STEP, IT'S NOT EVEN A FIRST
STEP, BUT A STEP BECAUSE THERE'S
STILL -- THERE ARE STILL THINGS
THAT AT LEAST ON FIRST GLANCE
THAT I CAN SEE IN THE PROCESSES
THAT WILL STILL NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED.
THE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION AS
AN EXAMPLE.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH
ABOUT THE BIAS IN THOSE LETTERS.
AND HAVING A LETTER OF
RECOMMENDATION BY ITSELF IS
GOING TO INTRODUCE A ADDITIONAL
BIAS INTO THE PROCESS, SO THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS WILL NEED TO BE
INVESTIGATED AS PART OF THE
PROCESSES, AS THIS CONTINUES TO
MOVE FORWARD, SO I'M HOPEFUL
THAT THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING
PROCESS TO EVALUATE AS YOU
CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY TO IMPROVE
THIS PROCESS.
>> SO, I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE NIH AS A WHOLE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN ALL MY
YEARS THE NIH LOOKS AT THINGS
AND WAYS TO IMPROVE.
SOMETIMES THE GOVERNMENT, IT'S
LIKE PUSHING A BOULDER UP A
HILL, RIGHT?
IT TAKES TIME.
EVEN THIS PROCESS, IT STARTED IN
2019, AND IT'S IMPLEMENTED IN
2025 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET
THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR AND
MAKE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS.
I TOO HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST
STEP BUT I'M SURE I KNOW THAT
NIH COLLEAGUES WE'RE ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE THINGS
BETTER AND FAIRER AND TO
ALLEVIATE BIAS WHEN WE SEE BIAS
>> SORRY, THE LAST TIME REVIEW
CRITERIA AND FORMAT CHANGED, I
DON'T KNOW, SOME OF US OLD
ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT, IT TOOK
SEVERAL CYCLES OF REVIEW AND
RETRAINING REVIEWERS IS WHAT I'M
REMEMBERING.
SO, I THINK PART OF IT IS, IT'S
SO MUCH A PROCESS, YOU KNOW.
WE SORT OF ALL LEARNED TO SOME
EXTENT BY TRIAL AND ERROR, SO I
THINK THAT AS YOU ARE -- I'M
SURE THAT NIH SORT OF CENTRAL
EXPECTS FEEDBACK FROM PROGRAM
OFFICERS AND FROM THE SROs OF
THE TRAINING STUDY SECTIONS,
LIKE CDRC TO SAY HOW IS THIS
GOING AND WHERE ARE THINGS NOT
MEETING THE INTENT.
SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE
KIND OF IMPORTANT TO CONSOLIDATE
THAT FEEDBACK.
I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT
PERHAPS CAN BE DONE AT THE DCD
LEVEL IS JUST REALLY MORE
CONCRETE HELP.
I'M VERY MINDFUL OF DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ENCOURAGES/REQUIRES TRAINEES TO
PUT IN THESE APPLICATIONS AS
OPPOSED TO SMALLER INSTITUTIONS
THAT MAY IN FACT HAVE VERY GOOD
TRAINEES WHO WOULD HAVE TO SORT
OF START FROM SCRATCH.
I THINK THAT PERHAPS JUST
WORKSHOPS AT, SAY, HBCUs,
THINGS LIKE THAT, TO, SAY, A, WE
WANT APPLICATIONS FROM THESE
INSTITUTIONS, BUT, B, HERE IS
HOW YOU DO IT.
AND TO JUST REALLY PUSH INTO
THOSE SPACES WHERE YOU WANT TO
SPREAD THE WORD.
I THINK THE DCD STAFF ARE
EXCELLENT ALREADY.
YOU'RE REACHING -- I KNOW I'VE
SEEN DCD STAFF AT CONFERENCES I
GO TO BUT PERHAPS GOING DIRECTLY
TO INSTITUTIONS IS AN ADDITIONAL
STRATEGY.
I KNOW EVERYTHING COSTS MONEY.
AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOW
IT'S SHORT.
SO --
>> JUST GOING TO SAY JACQUELINE
WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN CLOSED
SESSION BUT SHE'S DOES A NUMBER
OF WEBINARS AND WE RECORD THEM.
THEY HAVEN'T UPDATED THEM NOW
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT COMING TO
CHANGE BUT SHE WILL DO WEBINARS,
PUT OUT THERE TO BE RECORDED, SO
ANYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THEM
AND WATCH THOSE AND CONTACT HER
FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
SHE WILL BRIEF YOU DURING CLOSED
SESSION TOMORROW WHEN SHE DOES
HER FELLOWSHIP REPORT.
>> PART OF THE PROBLEM, WE CAN
GIVE ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO
STRUCTURE AN APPLICATION BUT THE
ACTUAL SUBMISSION VARIES FROM
ONE INSTITUTION TO ANOTHER.
SOME PEOPLE CAN SEND IT TO AN
OFFICE AND IT HAPPENS, OTHERS
HAVE TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO DO THAT,
FROM ONE INSTITUTION TO ANOTHER,
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S ALWAYS THE
QUESTION OF FAIRNESS.
YOU GET TO THESE THREE
INSTITUTIONS BUT CAN'T GET TO
THOSE SEVEN, AND SO THAT'S WHY
THE WEBINARS ARE GOOD, THEY ARE
AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
>> LET'S HAVE THE LAST COMMENT
FROM KIA.
>> I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF
THE EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY RELATED
TO BIAS.
ESPECIALLY THINKING AS THE
EFFORTS BEING DONE HERE, NOT
NECESSARILY SEEN IN OTHER
AGENCIES.
SO I THINK THAT IS AWESOME.
BUT GETTING TO THE SYSTEM, I
ALSO LOVE THAT IT APPEARS
THERE'S A REQUIRED BIAS TRAINING
THAT REVIEWERS HAVE TO DO EVERY
THREE YEARS.
IT WOULD BE AWESOME, YOU MAY
HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, MAKING
SURE THAT THESE NEW POLICIES ARE
REFERENCED OR CONNECTED TO THE
TRAININGS THAT REVIEWERS ARE
HAVING TO DO.
AND CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT
UPDATING THOSE TRAININGS.
AND EMPOWERING REVIEWERS AROUND
THE TABLE, THE STAFF IN THE
ROOM, TO CALL STUFF OUT WHEN YOU
SEE IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE
THING TO PUT THINGS IN PLACE BUT
IF NO ONE CALLS IT OUT WHEN IT
HAPPENS, THE SYSTEM WILL BE
THERE BUT THE SYSTEM WON'T
CHANGE.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE
TRAINING, YEAH.
STUDY SECTION CHAIRS GET
SPECIFIC TRAINING, RIGHT, FOR
EXACTLY THAT, RUTH, RIGHT?
>> I AGREE.
I'M ECHOING WHAT NIRUPA WAS
SAYING, ONGOING DISCUSSION, NOT
ONE AND DONE BEFORE JUNE REVIEWS
BUT CONTINUE TO INCORPORATE THE
CHANGES LIKE GOING FORWARD.
>> I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT BIAS
CSRs TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO REPORT BIAS, AN APPLICANT CAN
REPORT THROUGH APPEAL, BUT
REVIEWERS THERE'S A CSR POINT OF
CONTACT TO REPORT BIAS OR TALK
TO THE SRO FOR YOUR REVIEW
MEETINGS YOU'RE IN SO THAN ON
NIH'S RADAR AND THEY ARE
ACTIVELY WORKING TO REDUCE BIAS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DR. JUDITH COOPER WILL GIVE THE
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I WANT TO SHARE BRIEFLY WITH YOU
THREE THINGS RELATED TO THE
DIVISION OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS.
FIRST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
WONDERFUL DSP STAFF.
TURN YOUR HEADS THAT WAY AND I
ASK MY STAFF TO STAND UP PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
I DIDN'T WARN THEM I WAS GOING
TO DO THAT.
SOME OF THEM -- OBVIOUSLY SOME
ARE HERE PHYSICALLY, OTHERS ARE
JOINING REMOTELY.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A CHANCE, EITHER
AT THIS MEETING OR IN MAY, WHEN
EVERYBODY WILL BE HERE, TO MEET
AND INTERACT WITH SOME OF OUR
POs, WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM,
SAME GOALS.
BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST
MEMBER LET ME ASK MARY AND SAMAN
TO STAND UP.
MARY IS OUR NEW DATA SCIENCE
PROGRAM OFFICER AND SAMA IS OUR
NEW MEDICAL CENTER.
THANK YOU BOTH.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NEXT I THINK, YEAH, I WANT TO
ALERT YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU TO
OUR NEWEST STAFF MEMBER, WHO
JOINED US IN JUNE, SO I HOPE
TROY, CAN YOU COME UP ON THE
SCREEN AND SHOW YOUR FACE?
AND IS THAT GOING TO BE
POSSIBLE?
YOU I.T. PERSON?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
OKAY.
I'M SURE HE'S LISTENING BUT I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHOW HIM.
>> IF HE SPEAKS HE SHOULD COME
UP ON THE SCREEN.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I CAN SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, TROY.
I SEE YOU UP THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT THEN.
>> OKAY.
SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TROY.
WELL, OKAY, I MUST HAVE SAVED
THE WRONG VERSION OF MY TALK.
LET ME WING IT AND TROY CAN
CONNECT ME.
TROY SPENT HIS CAREER DEALING
WITH COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND
DISORDERS.
HE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN
AUDIOLOGY AND THEN CAME TO
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY WHERE HE
ENTERED THE LAB THERE, AND TROY,
I'LL LET YOU SAY SO I WON'T
FORGET YOUR AREAS OF FOCUS WHEN
YOU WERE AT VANDERBILT INCLUDED.
>> SURE.
YEAH, SO I'VE DONE PRIMARILY
CENTRAL AUDITORY ANATOMY AND
TRANSCRIPTOMICS, DURING MY TIME
THERE, FOCUSED ON THE CENTRAL
AUDITORY PATHWAYS AND HOW THEY
ARE ALTERED BY EXPOSURE TO
NOISE, BY DEVELOPMENT, BY AGING.
AND LATER WORKED FOR THE PAST
SEVEN YEARS FOCUSED ON THE
TEMPORAL BONE IN MACAQUE MONKEYS
AND EFFECT OF NOISE AND NOISE
EXPOSURE ON THAT STRUCTURE.
YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, TROY.
HE HAS JOINED US AS OF JUNE TO
OVERSEE OUR TEMPORAL BONE
REGISTRY AND NETWORK OF TEMPORAL
BONE RESEARCH.
WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE HIM.
AND BRINGING HIS EXPERTISE AND
HIS EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE US AS WE
GO INTO THESE NEW AREAS.
SO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
TROY TO NIDCD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY.
THERE WE GO.
NOPE.
OKAY.
NIDCD HAS A NUMBER OF APPROACHES
THAT WE USE TO GET OUR MESSAGE
OUT TO THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE MESSAGE?
WELL, WHO WE ARE, BUT IN
PARTICULAR WHAT AREAS OF
RESEARCH ARE A PRIORITY FOR US.
I THINK THE -- FIRST THING I'LL
MENTION IS EXCELLENT JOB THAT
OUR INFORMATION OFFICE, OHCPO,
DOES TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION
WITH THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
THIS INCLUDES OUR WEBSITE, WHICH
FEATURES OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE LISTED.
THE WEBSITE HAS A NUMBER OF
THINGS, INCLUDING A NEWSLETTER,
WHICH INVOLVES STATEMENT FROM
DR. TUCCI, AND HIGHLIGHTS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT NEWSLETTER IS SENT OUT NOT
ONLY TO OUR CURRENT
INVESTIGATORS AND MOST OF YOU
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT, BUT
ALSO TO A MUCH WIDER RESEARCH
COMMUNITY.
AND THEN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT,
IF I CAN, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
OKAY, THAT WAS SMOOTHER.
THANK YOU.
SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
DOES DSP DO TO GET THAT MESSAGE
OUT?
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT WORKSHOPS AND
WEBINARS, WE'RE NOW POSTING
WEBINARS SO IT IS AVAILABLE, THE
INFORMATION THERE IS AVAILABLE
TO A MUCH BROADER RESEARCH
COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW ABOUT FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE SOMETIMES CO-SPONSORS WITH
OTHER I.C.s, WE MAKE
PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCE, DO
WHAT WE CALL TARGETED MASS
E-MAILS WHERE PERHAPS AN
INITIATIVE IS OF PARTICULAR
INTEREST TO A SUBGROUP OF OUR
RESEARCHERS AND GET IN TOUCH
WITH THEM.
YOU, THE COUNCIL, GET TO HEAR
WHAT DSP IS DOING, CONCEPT
CLEARANCE, COUNCIL APPROVAL
WHICH YOU HEARD ABOUT TODAY FROM
KELLY.
OF COURSE AS A RESULT OF THE
CONCEPT APPROVAL THAT VERY OFTEN
LEADS TO A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THEN YOU GET TO REVIEW AS A
RESULT OF YOUR INITIAL APPROVAL
OF THE CONCEPT THE APPLICATIONS
THAT COME IN THAT ARE SUBMITTED
IN RESPONSE TO SOME ACTIVITY
STAFF AS LED.
YOU GET TO HEAR AS YOU DID FROM
KELLY EARLIER ABOUT WORKSHOPS,
AND WHAT NEXT STEPS WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT.
THERE'S ONE OTHER APPROACH THAT
YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.
IT'S TYPICALLY NOT MENTIONED AT
COUNCIL.
IT'S AN APPROACH THAT HIGHLIGHTS
A SPECIFIC AREA OF SCIENCE,
TYPICALLY IT'S REVIEWED BY THE
CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW.
TYPICALLY THERE ARE NO DOLLARS
SET ASIDE.
IT'S A VEHICLE THAT WE USE TO
SAY THIS TOPIC IS IMPORTANT,
RESEARCHERS, LOOK HERE.
AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
WHAT IS THIS?
IT'S CALLED A NOSI.
THESE ARE NOTICES OF SPECIAL
INTEREST.
I'M GOING TO OFFER JUST A FEW
EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN LED BY
DSP STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO
INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION AND
WANT TO KNOW WHICH PROGRAM
OFFICER LED THIS AND TO GET MORE
INFORMATION FROM THE CONTACT
E.O., CHECK OUT THE QR CODE.
OKAY.
SO THE FIRST TWO I WANT TO
MENTION ARE IMPACT OF POST-ACUTE
SEQUELAE, REGARDING LONG COVID.
IN RELATION TO OUR NIDCD MISSION
AREAS.
THEN THE NOSI ON TRAINING AND
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND
DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
SCIENCE, FOR RESEARCH IN
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS.
THIS NOSI ENCOURAGES TWO
DIFFERENT POPULATIONS, THOSE
WITH EXPERTISE IN COMMUNICATION
DISORDERS AND THOSE WITH
DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
EXPERTISE TO PURSUE TRAINING IN
THE OPPOSITE AREA.
NEXT.
WE'VE GOT DEVELOPMENT OF IMAGING
TECHNIQUES FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION
AND FUNCTIONAL SCANNING IN IN
VIVO HUMAN SENSORY AND
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.
THIS IS FOCUSING RESEARCHERS ON
THE NEED FOR -- THE NEED TO
DEVELOP IMAGING TECHNIQUES TO
IMPROVE CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS IN
RESEARCH ENDEAVORS.
PROMOTING LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATION IN MINIMALLY
VERBAL NON-SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS
WITH AUTISM ENCOURAGES
RESEARCHERS TO DEVELOP OR
LEVERAGE INTERVENTIONS FOR
AUTISTIC PEOPLE WHO DO NOT USE
SPOKEN LANGUAGE AS THEIR PRIMARY
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
ENCOURAGING WOMEN'S HEALTH
RESEARCH WITHIN THE NIDCD
MISSION AREAS, THIS IS THE NOSI
THAT WANTS TO FOCUS RESEARCHERS
IN OUR MISSION AREAS, ON TOPICS
THAT WILL IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND
QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN ACROSS
THE LIFESPAN.
FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE RESEARCH ON
THE NEURAL CIRCUITS UNDERLYING
SENSORY PROCESSING IS A NOSI
WHICH TARGETS TECHNOLOGIES AND
APPROACHES TO ADVANCE OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE NEURAL
CIRCUITS.
THEN WE HAVE TACKLING
ACQUISITION OF LANGUAGE IN KIDS,
A TALK INITIATIVE WHICH IS A
NOSI THAT'S ENCOURAGING RESEARCH
RELATED TO THE CONGRESSIONALLY
SUPPORTED ACTIVITY THAT FOCUSES
ON LATE-TACKING TACK -- TALKING
CHILDREN, HIGHLIGHTED IN
PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND SOMETIMES WE JOIN ANOTHER
INSTITUTE OR OFFICE, FOR
EXAMPLE, RESEARCH IN CAPACITY
BUILDING EFFORTS RELATED TO
BIOETHICAL ISSUES.
THIS IS A TRANS-NIH INITIATIVE
WHICH ENCOURAGES RESEARCH ON
BIOETHICAL ISSUES, AND CAPACITY
BUILDING, RELEVANT TO ALL OF OUR
MISSION AREAS.
THESE NOSIs THAT I'VE
MENTIONED SERVE AS EXAMPLES OF
ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE
FOSTER SUBMISSION OF RESEARCH
APPLICATIONS.
I SHOULD SAY THAT ALL OF THOSE
NOSIs ARE RELATED TO AREAS OF
PRIORITY, MENTIONED IN OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN.
PROGRAM OFFICERS IN DSP PLAY A
MAJOR ROLE IN REACHING OUT AND
ENCOURAGING AND INFORMING OUR
SCIENTISTS.
THE NEED FOR SUCH RESEARCH, THE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND INDEED
NIDCD'S INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN
THESE AREAS OF SCIENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JUDITH.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL?
ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD.
NOW WE GET TO MOVE ON AND HEAR
SOME PRESENTATIONS FROM THREE OF
OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE TALKED -- I GUESS IT WAS A
YEAR AGO THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH
EXPERTISE ON OUR COUNCIL AND WE
OFTEN DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH
COUNCIL MEMBER DOES.
SO, GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT YOUR SCIENCE FOR A
QUICK SYNOPSIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WE'VE REALLY ENJOYED SINCE WE
STARTED TO DO THIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
DR. TRUSSELL.
>> GREAT.
, YEAH THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
ARE YOU HEARING ME THROUGH THIS
MIC OKAY?
SO, YEAH, I'M LARRY TRUSSELL.
I'M AT THE OREGON HEARING
RESEARCH CENTER, AND I'D LIKE TO
SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT,
MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT THIS PLACE.
HEARING CENTER WAS INITIATED
SOME YEARS BACK, WITH FUNDING
THAT WAS STARTED BY SENATOR MARK
HATFIELD TO DEVELOP A CENTER IN
OREGON TO STUDY HEARING
DISORDERS.
AND CURES FOR HEARING DISORDERS.
AND WE'RE NOW A GROUP OF SOME 11
FACULTY, ALMOST HALF OF WHICH
ARE THEMSELVES HEARING IMPAIRED.
AND I FIND IT REALLY AS THE
INCOMING DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER,
I FIND IT VERY INSPIRING THAT
PEOPLE WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS
ARE -- THERE'S SIMPLY NO BARRIER
TO THEM BEING THE SAME KIND OF
SCIENTIST AS PEOPLE WITH NORMAL
HEARING.
IF THERE IS SUCH A THING AS
NORMAL HEARING.
AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
VOLLUM INSTITUTE, WHICH IS A
CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
CENTER, ALSO PART OF OHSU, THAT
WAS INITIATED SOME YEARS BACK
WITH ENDOWMENT FROM HOWARD
VOLLUM, HELD OF ELECTRONICS
CORPORATION.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
IS INTRODUCE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MY LAB IS INTERESTED IN.
I'VE ADVANCED THE SLIDE BUT IT
DOESN'T ADVANCE ON THE SCREEN.
OH, MAYBE IT DIDN'T SWITCH?
>> IT SHOULD HAVE.
>> IT'S ADVANCING ON ZOOM BUT
NOT UP THERE.
>> OH, IS IT?
>> YEAH.
>> MAGIC.
>> THAT'S STRANGE.
SO IF YOU CAN SEE IT ON ZOOM --
>> WE CAN LOOK AT OUR SCREENS
FOR NOW.
>> OR YOUR NEIGHBOR'S SCREEN.
SO, WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN IS
A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
SO THEY HAVE TO DO WITH THE
INFORMATION PROCESSING, AUDITORY
PROCESSING IN THE AUDITORY
BRAINSTEM.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE CARTOON ON
THE RIGHT, THIS BEAUTIFUL
DRAWING THAT WAS MADE DECADES
AGO BY OSEN, IT SHOWS THE
COCHLEA, AND THE PATTERN OF
NERVE FIBERS PROJECTING OUT OF
THE COCHLEA ALONG THE 8th
AUDITORY NERVE INTO THE
BRAINSTEM WHERE THEY END,
TERMINATE, IN THIS REGION CALLED
THE COCHLEAR NUCLEUS.
COCHLEAR NUCLEAR COMPLEX.
EACH FIBER REPRESENTS
INFORMATION ABOUT HIGH OR LOW
SOUND FREQUENCIES, WILL MAKE
CONTACT WITH DIFFERENT NEURONAL
CELL TIMES.
WE'RE HAVE INTERESTED IN THE TF
SIGNALS FROM THE AUDITORY NERVE.
WASN'T THAT DISCOVERED A HUNDRED
YEARS AGO?
AND, YES, THERE WERE ADVANCES A
HUNDRED YEARS AGO, BUT WE'VE
ALSO LEARNED THAT THE
METHODOLOGIES USED OVER -- IN
DECADES PAST CONSTRAINED OUR
ABILITY TO IDENTIFY PARTICULAR
CELL TYPES, CELLS THAT WERE
LARGE AND LOUD, FOR EXAMPLE,
WERE MOST PROMINENTLY IDENTIFIED
THROUGH VARIOUS ANATOMICAL OR
PHYSIOLOGICAL MEANS.
BUT IN FACT WE'VE MISSED
PROBABLY MANY OF THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF NEURONS THAT ARE
ACTIVATED BY SOUND.
SO WE'RE INTERESTED IN USING
MORE MODERN METHODS TO
UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSITY OF CELL
TYPES.
WE'RE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE
MOLECULAR AND BIOPHYSICAL
FEATURES OF THOSE DIFFERENT
NEURONS.
NEURONS THAT PROCESS DIFFERENT
FEATURES OF SOUND HAVE VERY
DIFFERENT JOBS TO DO.
AND SO THEY HAVE MOLECULAR AND
PHYSIOLOGICAL SPECIALIZATIONS TO
DO THAT.
WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING AND UNPACKING WHAT
ARE THOSE SPECIALIZATIONS.
OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU.
SO, WHAT ARE THESE FINE LEVEL
FEATURES THAT SUBSERVE
PROCESSING OF ACOUSTIC SIGNALS?
AND FINALLY HOW DOES ALL THIS
CHANGE WITH HEARING LOSS,
WHETHER IT'S THROUGH GENETICS OR
INJURY, SUCH AS LOUD SOUND, HOW
DOES THIS AFFECT MOLECULAR AND
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES? FINALLY, I
WANT TO SHOW -- TELL YOU ABOUT
HOW WE GO ABOUT OUR STUDIES, AND
THE KINDS OF THINGS WE LEARN,
OUR EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL AS I
SHOWED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE
THERE IS THE LABORATORY MOUSE.
AND WE USE A VARIETY OF CELL AND
MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGICAL TOOLS.
FIRST WE USE PATCH CLAMP
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY TO LOOK AT
INDIVIDUAL CELLS COMMUNICATE
WITH EACH OTHER SYNAPTICALLY,
AND THIS IS A TECHNIQUE THAT YOU
MIGHT IMAGINE IS PRETTY SLOW,
WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT ONE OR TWO
CELLS AT A TIME, THE BRAIN IS
FILLED WITH BILLIONS OF CELLS.
SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG
PROCESS.
BUT ACTUALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT TWO
CELLS AS OPPOSED TO, SAY, ARRAY
OF HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF
CELLS WE CAN UNDERSTAND MUCH
BETTER THE VARIETY OF TYPES OF
SIGNALS ONE CELL CAN PASSAGE TO
ANOTHER.
BOTH IN TERMS OF POINT TO POINT
CONTACT AND NEUROMODULATORY
FEATURES.
WE ALSO USE MOUSE GENETIC
MODELS, MOUSE LINES THAT EXPRESS
CRE IN IDENTIFIED CELL TYPES TO
DRIVE EXPRESSION OF FLUOROPHORES
TO IDENTIFY BY EYE, GENETICALLY
ENCODED, AND ALSO OPTOGENETIC
PROBES TO ACTIVATE SPECIFIC
NEURAL PATHWAYS THAT WE WOULDN'T
OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE.
AND THAT WAY GET A NEW PICTURE
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT
AUDITORY SIGNALS EVOKE IN THE
BRAIN.
AND THEN FINALLY WE'RE USING
MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES, SPECIFIC
RNAseq TO GET A DIFFERENT
MOLECULAR PICTURES IN THE CELL
TIMES PARTICULARLY THE COCHLEAR
NUCLEUS WHERE THE CENTRAL
AUDITORY PROCESS BEGINS.
I'LL MENTION MY FUNDING COMES
FROM THE NIDCD AND THE NINDS,
WHICH I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, LARRY.
AND NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM DR.
GOTTFRIED.
>> MARIO, CAN YOU -- NEVER MIND,
YOU'RE UP NOW.
>> THANKS FOR TOLERATING THE
DELAY HERE.
I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT SOME OF
OUR FINDINGS.
EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE HUMAN SENSE OF
SMELL BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK.
OVER THE YEARS, MY FOCUS HAS
VERY MUCH KIND OF COTTONED ONTO
THE IDEA THAT ECOLOGY CAMPS,
WHAT I'M SHOWING YOU HERE IS THE
SIZE OF THE EYEBALL ONE WOULD
NEED IF YOU USED A COMPOUND EYE.
NOW, THIS DOESN'T WORK TOO WELL
FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER KINDS OF
CREATURES.
BUT THE POINT HERE IS THE
STIMULUS SHAPES THE SYSTEM, AND
IN MY WORLD WE ASK QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT IS THE NATURAL FORM
OF SENSORY STIMULI, ENCOUNTERED
IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HOW
BRAINS ADAPT TO EXTRACT
BEHAVIORALLY RELEVANT
INFORMATION FROM SENSORY
STIMULI.
HERE IS A BIG BLUE SEA OF
BEHAVIOR, AND EVERYTHING FROM
MATERNAL BONDING, HUNTING,
FEEDING, TERRITORIAL MARKING,
KINSHIP, IDENTIFICATION,
ESCAPING PREDATORS, MATING
CHOICE ALL HAVE AT ITS ROOT
ODOR, THE GREAT UNIFIER, AS I
WOULD PUT IT.
NOW, RESEARCH IN OUR LAB USES A
VERY MULTI-MODAL SET OF
TECHNIQUES INCLUDING FUNCTIONAL
MRI, INTRACRANIAL EEG
RECORDINGS, AND CELLULAR AND
MOLECULAR LEVEL UNDERSTANDING.
SO, I LIKE TO POINT OUT HERE
THAT E. COLI, WHICH IS A SINGLE
CELLULAR ORGANISM, DOES
SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE, WHICH IS
TO CONCENTRATE ALL OF ITS UNITS
AT ONE SIDE OF THE ORGANISM
GIVING IT A POLARITY SO THAT CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY PURPOSES
MRI -- PURPOSEFULLY, SO TO
SPEAK, THROUGH THE POND SCUM.
NOW, THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF
RELEVANCE HERE IN TERMS OF HUMAN
BEHAVIOR.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU A COUPLE
DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS.
SO OF COURSE THERE'S FOOD,
DANGER, AND SEX.
OKAY.
THERE WE GO.
WE GOT A COUPLE LAUGHS THERE.
SO THIS IS WHAT I'M SHOWING HERE
IS A CROSS-SECTION THROUGH
HEMIBRAIN, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE ARE THE MULTITUDE OF
ODOROUS MOLECULES THAT ARE
GETTING INTO THE UPPER AIRWAYS
OF THE NOSE, IN ORDER TO
TRANSMIT SIGNALS FURTHER
DOWNSTREAM.
SO IF WE ZOOM IN HERE, WHAT I'M
SHOWING YOU IS A VERY SIMPLE MAP
OR LAYOUT OF THE HUMAN OLFACTORY
SYSTEM.
IT BEGINS -- OOPS, SORRY.
IT BEGINS AT THE OLFACTORY BULB,
AND FROM THERE, THERE ARE
PROJECTIONS GOING OUT TO MANY
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN
OLFACTORY SYSTEM, INCLUDING
ORBIT CAL, AMYGDALA, BOUND WITH
IDENTITY, EMOTION, MEMORY,
HOLISTIC BEHAVIORS.
HERE IS A QUICK TEST I'D LIKE TO
ASK OF YOU HERE.
SO HERE IS A LARGE LIST OF
DIFFERENT ODOROUS MOLECULES.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO GET WHAT
THIS MOLECULE SMELLS LIKE?
ANYONE?
NO?
ALL RIGHT.
>> COFFEE.
>> COFFEE, THAT'S REALLY GREAT
CLOSE ANSWER.
SO HERE WE HAVE CHOCOLATE.
AND WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT
CHOCOLATE IS IT'S MADE UP OF
PROBABLY FIVE TO SIX HUNDRED
UNIQUE ODOROUS COMPONENTS.
AND WHILE ANY SINGLE COMPONENT
MIGHT HAVE LET'S SAY AN OFF NOTE
WHEN BOUND TOGETHER IT ALL MAKES
PERFECT SENSE.
SO THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE,
THE CHOCOLATE SMELL, ONCE AGAIN
KUDOS TO YOU.
NOW, ONE OTHER INTERESTING THING
ABOUT THE SYSTEM HERE, SOME OF
THESE MONO MOLECULAR ODORS SMELL
VERY NICE, BENZALDEHYDE SMELLS
LIKE YOU COULD SAY, I DON'T
KNOW, THIS SMELLS NUTTY,
FURFURYL SMELLS LIKE TOASTED
BREAD.
CIRCLED IN RED ARE PYRIDINE,
WHICH SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN FISH,
AND AS WELL AS THERE'S A
SULPHURY ONE THAT SMELLS ALSO
VERY QUITE STINKY.
BUT WHEN BOUND TOGETHER IT KIND
OF MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
NOW, I'M GOING TO PIVOT TO THE
LAST SECTION OF MY TALK, GIVEN
THE TIME CONSTRAINTS.
WE USE ODORS TO NAVIGATE.
THIS IS VERY COMMONLY
APPRECIATED IN THE RODENT WORLD,
BUT THERE'S MUCH LESS UNDERSTOOD
ABOUT THIS IN THE HUMAN SPACE,
SO TO SPEAK.
HERE WE HAVE FOR EXAMPLE A MAP
OF KRYPTON, WHICH HAS VERY
TELL-TALE SIGNATURES BUT IMAGINE
A WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING HAS
BEEN STRIPPED OLFACTORY-WISE.
CAN WE DESIGN A STIMULUS
LANDSCAPE IN THE LAB BASED ON
ODOR CUES?
DOGS CAN DO IT.
CAN WE?
SO, WHAT I'LL BE SHOWING YOU
HERE IS KIND OF PHYSICAL
NAVIGATION OF AN ODOROUS
LANDSCAPE.
WE SET UP THIS EXPERIMENT AS
FOLLOWS.
THE TASK HERE WAS FOR THE HUMAN
SUBJECTS TO FIND A PARTICULAR
SMELL, MAYBE IT WAS BANANA,
MAYBE IT WAS ROSE, ON A
DIFFERENT TRIALS IT WOULD CYCLE
THROUGH DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ODORS.
SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS
TO PLAY HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THE
SUBJECT WOULD BE SEEING.
SO, THEY ARE CRUISING AROUND
THIS TWO DIMENSIONAL
ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND A
PARTICULAR ODOROUS CLOUD, LET'S
SAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CINNAMON
OR VANILLA.
AS THEY CONTINUE DOING THIS
PATH, YOU EVENTUALLY LEARN HOW
TO BRING ALL OF THOSE MOLECULES
TOGETHER TO HELP GUIDE BEHAVIOR.
SO, VERY REMARKABLY AT THE
BEHAVIORAL LEVEL, WE SEE THAT AS
THE SUBJECTS ARE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE IN THE
SPACE, BECAUSE ALL THEY HAVE TO
RELY ON IS THE SENSE OF SMELL,
IT TAKES THEM A WHILE TO KIND OF
BUILD UP THE STRUCTURE, BUT FROM
THE FIRST TO SECOND SESSION THEY
BECOME MUCH MORE ABLE TO DO THIS
TASK QUICKLY AND GRACEFULLY.
AND HERE'S SOME DATA HERE WE
HAVE ACROSS 28 PARTICIPANTS,
WHERE FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT
THE SUBJECTS ARE REALLY LEARNING
BETTER HOW TO NAVIGATE IN THIS
SPACE.
SO, JUST TO WRAP UP WITH SOME
TAKEHOME MESSAGES, OLFACTORY
SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY A
PREDICTIVE SENSE, ALSO A
DISTANCE SENSE, BRINGING UNIQUE
FUNCTIONALITY TO SENSORY
PERCEPTION, AFFECT, AND
BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING HUMAN
OLFACTORY NAVIGATION.
PIRIFORM CORTEX IS A LINCHPIN OF
THE SYSTEM, ENCODING ODOR
OBJECTS AND CATEGORIES IN THE
FORM OF DISTRIBUTED fMRI
PATTERNS AND IN COMBINATION WITH
ORBITAL FRONTAL CORTEX CAN
IMMEDIATE MEDIATE.
>> AND DR. SVIRSKY?
>> I'M A BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
WORKING IN SPEECH AND HEARING.
SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO SINCE I
WAS A CHILD.
THAT'S WHY I IMMIGRATED TO GET
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MY FOCUS IS COCHLEAR IMPLANTS,
THIS IS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL
EXAMPLE OF NEURAL PROSTHESIS,
WHERE A HUMAN SENSE IS REPLACED
BY ELECTRONIC MEANS.
WHAT THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT DOES
IS TRY TO EMULATE WHAT HAPPENS
IN A NORMALCIES ITEM, IN
PARTICULAR ONE IMPORTANT THING
IS FREQUENCY ANALYSIS USING A
BANK OF FILTERS, OUTPUT
MODULATES A TRAIN OF ELECTRICAL
PULSES WITH EACH TRAIN SENSES A
DIFFERENT ELECTRODE IN THE YEA,
LOWER FREQUENCY ASSOCIATED WITH
ELECTRODES THAT ARE CLOSER TO
THE APEX OF THE COCHLEA, IN
HIGHER FREQUENCIES CLOSER TO THE
BASE.
THIS TRIES TO, AGAIN, SIMULATE
WHAT HAPPENS IN A NORMAL HEARING
SYSTEM.
THE STIMULATION PATTERNS ARE
REMARKABLY SIMILAR, AT THE TOP
WE'RE SEEING WHAT'S CALLED
SPECTRO GRAM, Y-AXIS IS
FREQUENCY, X-AXIS IS TIME.
COLOR ENCODES INTENSITY.
THAT'S IN RESPONSE TO THE WORD
"CHOIS," I'M SURE CAROLYN WILSON
CAN RECOGNIZE.
WE SEE AT THE BOTTOM
ELECTRODOGRAM.
Y-AXIS SHOWS ELECTRODES
STIMULATED INSIDE THE COCHLEA.
SO THE PATTERNS ARE SIMILAR,
THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT WOULD
FACILITATE SPEECH PERCEPTION.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A CATCH.
FREQUENCY MISMATCH.
THEY DON'T REACH TO THE COCHLEAR
APEX.
THE TYPICAL ELECTRODES
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWEST
FREQUENCIES RELEVANT FOR SPEECH
WHEN TURNED ON STIMULATE NEURONS
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THE PERSON HAS NORMAL HEARING
BEFORE, THIS WOULD BE A POST
LINGUALLY DEAF PERSON.
THEN THE NERVES STIMULATED ARE
HIGHER FREQUENCY THAN THE
INPUTS.
THAT CAN SOUND VERY FUNKY, I'LL
GIVE EXAMPLES IN A LITTLE BIT.
TWO IMPORTANT CONCEPTS,
ANATOMICAL FREQUENCY MISMATCH IS
THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN
ANATOMICAL NORMAL PHYSIOLOGIC
FREQUENCY FUNCTION IN THE
COCHLEA AND THE OTHER FREQUENCY
PLACED FUNCTION THAT'S IMPOSED
BY THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT.
THAT LEADS TO PERCEPTUAL
FREQUENCY MISMATCH, DISCREPANCY
BETWEEN PITCH PERCEPTION
ELICITED BY SAME SOUND IN A
NORMAL OR OR IN RESPONSE TO
STIMULATION.
SOME QUESTIONS, HOW FLEXIBLE IS
THE HUMAN AUDITORY BRAIN?
ARE WE PLASTIC ENOUGH TO ADAPT?
AND WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
TO STUDY IN A PLATFORM KNOWN AS
SINGLE SIDED DEAF PATIENTS,
COCHLEAR IMPLANT IN ONE EAR,
NORMAL OR NEAR NORMAL HEARING IN
THE OTHER ONE.
THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
STUDY A BIGGER QUESTION, JUST
HOW FLEXIBLE IS THE HUMAN BRAIN
WHEN FACED WITH LONG-TERM
MODIFICATION OF A PERIPHERAL
SENSORY MAP.
SO WE STUDY THAT WITH A PROTOCOL
LIKE THIS.
TO THE RIGHT YOU SEE WHAT A
PATIENT SEES, WE PRESENT A
SENTENCE, MEND THE COATS BEFORE
YOU GO OUT.
THE SAME SENTENCE IS PROCESSED
THROUGH AN ACOUSTIC MODEL.
THE PATIENT CAN ADJUST THIS
ACOUSTIC MODEL.
WE HAVE A COUPLE DIALS.
IT SOUNDS AS SIMILAR AS POSSIBLE
TO COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.
IF THEY -- DEPENDING WHERE THEY
CLICK ON THE GRID THEY HEAR A
DIFFERENT SOUND.
I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU SOME
SOUNDS.
>> THE PLAYER LOST HIS SHOE.
>> THAT'S QUITE INTELLIGIBLE,
THE FIRST ONE NOT AT ALL.
SO WHAT THE PATIENT IS CHOOSING
HERE IS THE RANGE OF FREQUENCIES
OF THE OUTPUTS.
IF THEY MOVE LEFT TO RIGHT, WHAT
HAPPENS IS THAT THEY CHANGE THE
UPPER EDGE OF THE BANK OF NOISE
BANDS.
IF THEY MOVE UP AND DOWN THEY
CHANGE LOW FREQUENCY EDGE.
WHAT HAVE PATIENTS SELECTED IN
REAL EXPERIMENTS?
THIS IS A SUBSET OF DATA.
IN YELLOW WHAT WE'RE SHOWING IS
THE ANALYSIS FILTERS FOR USERS
OF THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT.
180 HERTZ TO 8,000 HERTZ.
AND THE GRAY BARS ARE WHAT
PATIENTS SELECTED.
AS YOU CAN SEE MANY SELECTED
SOMETHING THAT WAS QUITE CLOSE
TO THE ANALYSIS FELTERS, THESE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ADAPT COMPLETELY
TO ANY FREQUENCY MISMATCH THERE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
YOU CAN SEE THE LOW FREQUENCY
EDGE ON AVERAGE IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE LOW FREQUENCY EDGE,
THAT LEADS TO DIFFERENT AMOUNTS
OF MISMATCH AND GIVES US A WAY
TO QUANTIFY IT.
SO, THIS PERSON RIGHT THERE AT
THE END, HE SELECTED NOISE BANDS
HIGHER THAN INPUT, DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LOW FREQUENCY AND THE
FILTERS IS THAT 1600 HERTZ.
LET ME PLAY HOW THAT SOUNDS AND
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND THIS.
YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT, RIGHT?
SO WITH AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
FREQUENCY MISMATCH IT'S LIKE
THIS.
TRY TO STAY FOCUSED.
IT'S REALLY CRAPPY, BUT SOME
UNDERSTOOD IT.
THIS IS WITHOUT FREQUENCY
MISMATCH.
>> TRY TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE
TASK AT HAND.
>> SO, IT'S NOT ABOUT QUALITY
ONLY.
WHAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE IS THAT
SPEECH PERCEPTION FOR THREE
GROUPS OF PATIENTS, THOSE WITH
HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW LEVELS OF
FREQUENCY MISMATCH HAVE VERY
DIFFERENT SPEECH PERCEPTION
SCORES, THERE'S A LOT OF
VARIABILITY BECAUSE MANY OTHER
THINGS INFLUENCE SPEECH
PERCEPTION, BUT THE MEDIAN IS
80%, 50%, IT'S A BIG DEAL.
LET'S SKIP OVER THE RAW DA TA IN
INTEREST OF TIME.
FREQUENCY MISMATCH IN SIX GROUPS
OF PATIENTS, EACH ONE WITH
DIFFERENT COLOR OF THE RAINBOW,
AS A FUNCTION OF TIME.
THE X-AXIS IS TIME.
LOGARITHMIC SCALE, THE COLORS
ENCODE HOW DEEP INTO THE COCHLEA
THE ELECTRODE GOES.
WE SEE THAT FOR THE DEEPER
INSERTIONS THERE'S MUCH LESS
FREQUENCY MISMATCH AS YOU WOULD
EXPECT.
AND NOT MUCH CHANGE OVER TIME
BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY THAT
NECESSARY ON AVERAGE.
INTERMEDIATE GROUP WITH 400 TO
450-DEGREE INSERTIONS WE START
WITH A LOT OF FREQUENCY
MISMATCH, THAT GOES DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ALL THE
GROUPS.
BOTTOM LINE OF ALL THIS PICTURE,
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TIME TO
SHOW RAW DATA, THAT FREQUENCY
MISMATCH PERCEPTUAL FREQUENCY
MISMATCH GETS LETTER -- BETTER
OVER TIME BUT NOT TRUE ALL
PATIENTS GET OVER IT COMPLETELY.
ONE BIG ELEMENT IS TRYING TO
TRANSLATE THAT RESULT TO ACTUAL
CLINICAL PRACTICE.
IF THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT
FREQUENCY PLACE MAP IS OFF THERE
ARE THREE THINGS WE CAN DO.
WE CAN FIX THE FREQUENCY, FIX
THE PLACE, HACK THE BRAIN.
I'LL SHOW BRIEF EXAMPLES OF EACH
ONE OF THESE.
SO, FIX THE FREQUENCY, WE
DEVELOPED AN iPHONE APP TO
ALLOW PATIENTS TO INDIVIDUALLY
SELECT THEIR PREFERRED FREQUENCY
MAP TO OPTIMIZE INTELIGIBILITY.
THIS IS THE GUI OF THE APP.
>> THIS IS THE SCREEN TO SELECT
FREQUENCY ALLOCATION TABLES.
EACH SQUARE REPRESENTS A
DIFFERENT FAD.
THIS IS THE SCREEN OUR -- SO I'M
USING THIS, AND I'M FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS HEARING
MY VOICE IN THE PROCESSOR SOUND
THE SAME AS IT DOES IN MY
NATURAL EAR.
FOR FIVE YEARS I HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO DO THAT.
TODAY IS THE VERY FIRST DAY
WHERE I CAN HEAR MY VOICE AND
YOUR VOICE AND THE PHONE VOICE
THE WAY THEY SOUND IN MY
iPHONE EAR.
IT'S KIND OF BLOWING MY MIND, TO
BE HONEST.
>> THAT'S THE SCREEN USED TO
SELECT FREQUENCY ALLOCATION
TABLES, FATS.
>> IT TAKES A MINUTE.
NOW, YOU'RE HEARING THE ACTUAL
ACOUSTIC OUTPUT OF THE APP.
REMARKABLY, COCHLEAR IMPLANT
USERS CAN BARELY TELL THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS
PROCESSED SIGNAL.
>> OKAY.
I'LL PLAY THE NEXT ONE.
>> SO, I'M USING THIS, AND FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS I'M
HEARING MY VOICE IN THE
PROCESSOR, SOUND THE SAME AS IT
DOES IN MY NATURAL EAR.
FOR FIVE YEARS, I HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE --
>> AND AFTER THAT HE SAID HIS
MIND IS BLOWN, SO IS OURS.
THIS IS A PATIENT WITH
SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS, THAT'S
WHY HE TALKS WHAT HE CAN HEAR
WITH THE NORMAL EAR.
SPEECH PERCEPTION IS BETTER WITH
THE FAT HE SELECTED, WE MEASURED
THIS DOUBLE BLIND.
SO YOU CAN FIX THE FREQUENCY
TABLE, OR YOU CAN FIX THE PLACE.
IN ANOTHER STUDY LED BY MY
COLLEAGUES WE PLACE AN
ADDITIONAL ELECTRODE IN THE APEX
OF THE COCHLEA, LOWER FREQUENCY
PERSONS, DOING THAT WITH AN
IMPLANT WOULD TAKE TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
INSTEAD WE DID AN INTERESTING
HACK TO REPURPOSE REDUNDANT
ELECTRODE THAT YOU SEE OVER
THERE, AND PLACE IT SURGICALLY
IN THE APEX, WE'VE SHOWN
FEASIBILITY, THIS WORKS AND
LEADS TO LOWER FREQUENCY
PERSONS.
WE'RE SEEING WHETHER THAT CAN
IMPROVE, LEAD TO IMPROVED SPEECH
PERCEPTION AS WELL.
LASTLY, IN AN EXPERIMENT
COLLABORATION, THE ANIMAL LAB,
WE HAVE RATS THAT HAVE BEEN
DEAFENED AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTED,
AND WE STIMULATED LOCUS
COERULEUS TO FACILITATE
BEHAVIOR, THEIR BEHAVIOR IN AN
EXPERIMENT.
THE EXPERIMENT, WHAT THE RATS
HAVE TO DO, IDENTIFY ONE
ELECTRODE IN THE COCHLEA, AND
DISTINGUISH IT FROM ALL THE
OTHERS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU, LET'S
SKIP OVER THE RAW DATA.
THIS SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT
TOOK RATS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL
GROUP IN BLUE, IN CONTROL GROUP
IN BLACK, TO REACH CRITERION
PERFORMANCE, B PRIME OF ONE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT IN THE
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP THESE RATS
WERE EXPOSED TO PAIRED
STIMULATION, WE STIMULATED
TARGET ELECTRODES TOGETHER WITH
STIMULATION OF LOCUS COERULEUS,
FOR A FEW MINUTES, EVERY DAY.
AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO
SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATE
LEARNING PROCESS.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE WAS
A LOT OF VARIABILITY IN THE
CONTROL GROUP, BUT WITH SOME
UNTREATED RATS DOING AS WELL AS
THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP BUT
OTHERS TOOK TWICE AS LONG OR
FIVE OR SEVEN TIMES AS LONG TO
REACH CRITERION.
NOW, I TALKED ABOUT TRANSLATION
AND YOU MIGHT SAY THAT THIS IS
NOT AN APPROACH THAT CAN BE USED
IN HUMANS.
BECAUSE WE USE OPT GENETICS TO
STIMULATE LOCUS COERULEUS, WE
CANNOT PUT A FIBEROPTIC THERE
BUT WE'RE EXPLORING POSSIBILITY
OF STIMULATING LOCUS COERULEUS
INDIRECTLY TO ACHIEVE
NEUROMODULATION BY STIMULATING
VAGUS NERVE, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE
THAT THERE'S A BRANCH OF THE
AFFIRMED VAGUS NERVE NEAR THE
EAR, SO OUR PLAN IS TO, AGAIN,
REPURPOSE THESE EXTRA GROUND
ELECTRODES TO ACHIEVE THAT
STIMULATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH
COCHLEAR IMPLANT STIMULATION.
AND MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS YOU'LL
HEAR THAT SOME COOL THINGS
HAPPEN WHEN WE DO THAT, MAYBE A
TOTAL FAILURE, WE STILL DON'T
KNOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MARIO.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THOSE
INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS.
AND SO NOW WE'RE AT THE END OF
OUR PROGRAM.
AND WE WILL HAVE OUR DEPARTING
COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US FOR THE
CLOSED SESSION TOMORROW, BUT
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
PUBLICLY THANK YOU ALL SO VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL ALMOST AS
LONG AS I'VE BEEN AT NIDCD SO
YOU'RE MY INAUGURAL GROUP OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL
OF APPRECIATION THAT WE SAY
GOOD-BYE TO ALL OF YOU.
SO I WILL GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS IF
YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, VERY
BRIEF, AND AS YOU'RE DOING THAT
I WILL BRING AROUND TWO
CERTIFICATES, ONE SIGNED BY ME
AND BECKY, THE OTHER SIGNED BY
DR. LARRY TABAK, THE PRINCIPAL
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NIH.
SO, FIRST NIRUPA.
>> HELLO, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT IT'S JUST BEEN A REAL
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THIS
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
SO, IN PARTICULAR, IN ADDITION
TO THESE THREE TIMES A YEAR
MEETINGS, WHERE WE GO THROUGH A
LOT OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTE
BUSINESS, I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT'S BEEN SO VERY
REWARDING TO ME IS
OPPORTUNITIESES TO WORK ON A
COUPLE MORE LIMITED TASK FORCES,
SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING
WITH LISA AS WELL AS CAROL ON A
TASK FORCE FOR ENHANCING
DIVERSITY ACROSS THE WORKFORCE,
AND WE'VE BEEN GRATIFIED THAT
SOME OF OUR SUGGESTIONS HAVE
SORT OF SEEN MUTATED LIFE OF DAY
WITHIN THE INSTITUTE
INITIATIVES.
AND THEN ALSO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH
TO BE ON -- COUNCIL LIAISON ONA
STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVE,
REALLY EXCITING.
SO I THINK IT'S SUPER VALUABLE
FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I HOPE
IT'S USEFUL FOR THE INSTITUTE TO
HAVE THOSE OF US OUT IN THE
FIELD SORT OF HELP YOU KIND OF
DESIGN YOUR DIFFERENT
INITIATIVES AS YOU GO FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF
THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BE OF
HELP IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, NIRUPA.
NEXT DR. CAROL ESPY-WILSON.
>> I'VE REALLY ENJOYED
TREMENDOUSLY SERVING ON THE
COUNCIL.
I LEARNED THIS PAST YEAR, I
THINK THIS IS TRUE, THAT YOU'RE
THE REASON WHY WE DO THE HPP
NOMINATIONS, AND DISCUSS THE
STAFF, THE ONES DONE BY THE
STAFF.
I REALLY THINK THAT THAT IS --
THAT HAS MADE THIS EXTRA
REWARDING BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING
AT THESE EARLY-STAGE
INVESTIGATORS, AND GIVING THEM A
CHANCE HOPEFULLY TO BE FUNDED
EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE
THE RIGHT PERCENTILE SCORE.
SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, DR.
TUCCI.
ALSO, I WANT TO SAY IT'S CLEAR
THESE MEETINGS ARE VERY WELL
PLANNED, THERE'S OFTEN A THEME
THAT'S VERY OBVIOUS.
AND THERE ARE ALL THESE
TREMENDOUS TALKS THAT ARE GIVEN
BY P.I.s, EXTRAMURAL
RESEARCHERS, THAT WE LEARN SO
MUCH FROM.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THE NEW
PEOPLE COMING ON BOARD YOU'RE
GOING TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM
BEING ON COUNCIL ABOUT SO MANY
AREAS.
I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
THEN AS NIRUPA SAID WE WERE ON
THIS WORK GROUP ON DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSIVENESS THAT YOU
INITIATED, AND IT FEELS GOOD TO
KNOW THAT THESE ISSUES ARE
IMPORTANT TO NIDCD, AND THAT
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE
MADE WE CAN SEE THEM COMING TO
FRUITION SINCE THE TIME THAT WE
SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE, AND
THAT WAS EVIDENCED TODAY AS
WELL.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAD IMPACT.
REALLY, I'VE ENJOYED IT
TREMENDOUSLY, AND I HOPE YOU
CONTINUE TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT DR. LISA GOFFMAN.
>> OKAY.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT
AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IT'S BEEN
TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, SOME HAVE BEEN
EXPRESSED ALREADY.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH, AND SO
ENJOYED INTERACTION WITH THE
SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE RESEARCH
DOMAINS COVERED BY OUR
INSTITUTE.
TASTE AND SMELL, HEARING, MY
HOMES OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO INTERACT
AND LEARN ABOUT THESE NEW
INITIATIVES AND THESE AREAS,
STANDOUT STILL THE TALK ON TASTE
AND SMELL AFTER COVID, FOR
EXAMPLE, MANY HIGHLIGHTS AS I
THINK OVER MY TIME HERE.
INTERACTING WITH NON-SCIENTIFIC
PARTNERS HAS ALSO BEEN A GIFT
AND HAS BROUGHT SUCH A RICH AND
IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE TO THE
WORK OF NIDCD.
I'VE ENJOYED CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE INCREDIBLE NON-SCIENTIST,
I'LL LOOK ACROSS THE ROW HERE,
WHO I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM
AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE INTEGRATING
THEIR VIEWS INTO OUR ENDEAVORS
IN THIS DISCIPLINE.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT'S BEEN
WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH ALL OF
THOSE WHO RUN OUR INSTITUTE FROM
THE INSIDE, MANY STAND OUT, DEB,
JUDITH, BECKY, HOLLY,
JACQUELINE, KELLY, I HAVE A
LONGER LIST BUT IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME ALL OF THE PROGRAM
OFFICERS, SROs, AND STAFF
WHOSE COMMITMENT MAKES OUR
INSTITUTE RUN.
A SHOUT OUT TO SHU SING WHO WE
GOT TO REMEMBER AT COUNCIL, ONE
OF MY EARLIEST SROs, AND HE
PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN
MENTORING ME, KINDNESS,
COMMITMENT, EARLY STAGE.
SO MY EXPERIENCE ON COUNCIL HAS
SOLIDIFIED BY LONGSTANDING
KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE
EXPERTISE, I I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
EXPERTISE THAT'S ESSENTIAL
ENGAGED IN A PASSIONATE
INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE READY TO
ENHANCE OUR SCIENTIFIC GROWTH,
EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES AS WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
FINALLY, IT'S BEEN A GIFT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE SPECIAL
INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN
TALKED ABOUT.
THE TALK INITIATIVE, INTERFACES
WITH NIDCD, MENTORING AND
TRAINING, TO ME WORKING WITH
CAROL, NIRUPA AND OTHERS.
THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
I'M GOING TO MISS ALL OF YOU.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THESE
FIVE-PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO ENGAGE WITH THIS GROUP.
>> THANK YOU, LISA.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS ALL OF YOU
TOO.
SO ARGYE IS NOT WITH US IN THE
ROOM BUT WE WILL MAIL YOU YOUR
CERTIFICATES AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON
COUNCIL.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
IT'S REALLY BEEN AN HONOR TO
PARTICIPATE AND TO GET TO KNOW
ALL OF YOU.
I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.
A LOT ABOUT HEARING, AND
BALANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE
SCIENCE, ALL ASPECT OF THE NIDCD
MISSION.
AND I'VE ENJOYED ALL OF MY
INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OF YOU,
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OF YOU.
I JUST DON'T HAVE MORE TO SAY,
IT'S WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
SAID.
I THINK THIS IS A FABULOUS
INSTITUTE.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE
FUNDING I'VE HAD OVER MY ENTIRE
CAREER FROM NIDCD AND I THINK
IT'S CLEAR THAT SO MUCH THOUGHT
GOES INTO TRYING TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS ABOUT WHO SHOULD --
WHAT RESEARCH SHOULD BE FUNDED,
MAKING IT FAIR AND EQUITABLE,
AND STILL HAVE THE MOST RIGOROUS
RESEARCH IN THE FIELD.
AND THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE JUST OVER THE TIME
THAT I'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER
ARE REALLY AMAZING, SOME OF THAT
TODAY.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, ARGYE.
AND LAST WE HAVE MS. LYNN
MURPHY-BREEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THIS
COMMITTEE, FOR ALWAYS BEING SO
KIND TO ME, AS A PUBLIC MEMBER
WHO PROBABLY ASKED YOU WAY TOO
MANY QUESTIONS, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND SCIENCE THAT I WOULD
NEVER STUDY, AS YOU COULD
PROBABLY TELL.
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BECKY, DR.
TUCCI, DR. COOPER, APOLOGY FOR
ALWAYS HAVING TO RESET MY
PASSWORDS.
AND I REALLY WANTED TO JUST SAY
THAT RECENTLY I ATTENDED A
CONFERENCE, FOR USHER SYNDROME,
THERE WAS A LOT OF GENERATIONS
OF PEOPLE THERE.
WHAT IMPACTED ME WAS THINKING
ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE AND HOW
IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT NDCD,
YOU COULD SEE ALL THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE HAS CHANGED FOR
GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
USHER'S.
OLDER GENERATIONS DID NOT HAVE
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS SPEECH
LANGUAGE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH
THEM, PROSTHETICS TO GIVE THEM
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR, BALANCE
ADVANCEMENTS, THINGS THEY COULD
WORK, IN THE NEW GENERATION OF
CHILDREN GROWING UP, YOUNG
ADULTS WITH USHER'S, SO MANY
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORLD
OUTSIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE SAY IT'S A
COMMUNICATION BUT IT ALSO
CREATES ISOLATION SOMETIMES TO
BE CUT OFF WITHOUT YOUR SCIENCE.
THANK YOU.
YOUR WORK REALLY DOES MEAN
SOMETHING, AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN
THE WORLD.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS INSPIRATIONAL.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
YOUR ATTENTION OVER THIS REALLY
STIMULATING BUT LONG DAY.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AS
MANY OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO
COME TO THE RECEPTION AT HELLO
BETTY, IS THAT THE NAME?
AT THE CANOPY ON THE SECOND
FLOOR AT 5:30.
AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW
MORNING AS WELL.
THANKS A LOT.
[END OF PROGRAM]