Dr. Steven Schiff, FIC Director, presiding, the FIC Advisory Board met via videoconference on June 29, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT for the closed session, and 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the open session.
Present
- Dr. Steven Schiff, Chair, Director, Fogarty International Center
- Dr. Clement Adebamowo, Director, Cancer Epidemiology Division, Department of Epidemiology And Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Dr. Chris Beyrer, Director, Duke Global Health Institute, Gary Hock Distinguished Professor in Global Health, Professor of Medicine, Research Professor of Global Health, Duke University
- Dr. Wondwossen Gebreyes, Hazel C. Youngberg Distinguished Professor, Molecular Epidemiology, Executive Director, Global One Health Initiative, the Ohio State University
- Dr. Jennifer Kates, Senior Vice President, Director of Global Health & HIV Policy, KFF
- Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, Dean of the Graduate School of Public Health, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health, Jonas Salk Chair in Population Health, University of Pittsburgh
- Dr. Robert Murphy, Executive Director, Institute for Global Health, John Philip Phair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University
Ex Officio Members Present
- Dr. Jane Simoni, Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes
FIC Staff Present
- Kristen Weymouth, Executive Secretary; Office of the Director
- Steve Smith, Acting Deputy Director
- Dr. Carl Dieffenbach, Senior Advisor to the Director
- Dr. Laura Povlich, Program Director, Division of International Training and Research
- Dr. Bradley Newsome, Program Director, Division of International Training and Research
Director's Update and Discussion of FIC Activities
Dr. Steven Schiff introduced himself as the new Fogarty International Center director, outlining his background in pediatric neurosurgery, neural engineering, and international research, and described NIH's mandate to consolidate and coordinate global research efforts, including his new role as NIH liaison to CDC for the Ebola response.
- Professional Background Overview: Dr. Schiff detailed his experience as a pediatric neurosurgeon at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC, specializing in epilepsy and spasticity treatment, and his role in founding the Penn State Center for Neural Engineering, emphasizing his blend of science, engineering, and medicine.
- International Research Experience: Dr. Schiff described his work in Uganda, including collaboration with Ben Warf at CURE Children's Hospital, research into post-infectious hydrocephalus, and the identification of neonatal paenibacilliosis, highlighting the global burden of neonatal sepsis and its link to hydrocephalus.
- NIH and CDC Ebola Response Liaison Role: Dr. Schiff explained his appointment as NIH liaison to CDC for the Ebola response, emphasizing the importance of real-time detection and scientific support for CDC, and their ongoing negotiations with Ugandan government and CDC to expand outbreak response capabilities.
- NIH Mandate for International Research Coordination: Dr. Schiff outlined NIH leadership's directive to consolidate and coordinate international research across NIH, aiming to reboot and foster future global health initiatives, and seeking input from the Advisory Board for strategic direction.
- Genomic, Environmental, and Computational Insights in Global Health: Dr. Schiff discussed his research on genomic admixture, environmental factors, and computational modeling in predicting and understanding infectious diseases and congenital malformations, with collaborations in Uganda and Southeast Asia, and highlighted the impact of these findings on public health policy and disease management.
- Genomic Admixture and Disease Risk: Dr. Schiff described sequencing efforts of infants in Uganda, identifying distinct genomic groups and admixture patterns, and explained how these factors, along with poverty, elevation, and rainfall, influence disease risk and outcomes.
- Environmental Effects and Vegetation: Dr. Schiff highlighted the discovery of vegetation effects, particularly green vegetables as a source of folate, and the timing of rainfall and ground cover in relation to neural tube defects and infectious disease risk, noting ongoing publication efforts.
- Computational Modeling and Policy Impact: Dr. Schiff recounted the development of predictive computational models for infectious disease outbreaks, their successful application during COVID-19 in Uganda, and the influence on national policy, including President Museven's adoption of science-driven decision-making.
- Real-Time Analytics and Health Worker Training: Dr. Schiff described the implementation of real-time dashboards for village health workers, screening thousands of households for neonatal sepsis, and using analytics to identify hotspots and inform public health interventions.
- Fogarty International Center Program Updates and Strategic Initiatives: Dr. Schiff provided updates on Fogarty's training awards, upcoming program renewals, and strategic plans to expand research focus beyond brain disorders, including digital health and Al, rapid capacity building, replication grants, and collaborative partnerships with other countries and agencies.
- Training Awards and Program Renewals: Dr. Schiff announced the continuation and expansion of Fogarty's training awards, including infectious disease, emerging global leader program, and the Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research program, emphasizing the need for broader organ system research.
- Digital Health and Al Integration: Dr. Schiff stressed the necessity of embracing Al and digital health in modeling, prediction, and diagnostics, and outlined plans to formalize data and code centralization for future research accessibility.
- Rapid Capacity Building and Replication Grants: Dr. Schiff proposed rapid capacity building programs for emergency outbreaks and advocated for replication grants and journals to ensure reproducibility and supplement grant awards for independent validation.
- Collaborative Partnerships and International Expansion: Dr. Schiff discussed ongoing efforts to recruit additional countries for collaborative grants, engage with the Department of State and CDC, and expand partnerships through interagency agreements and multinational research projects.
- Advisory Board and Stakeholder Engagement: Dr. Schiff and Advisory Board members engaged in discussions about program priorities including bioethics, One Health, capacity building, and the impact of Fogarty training on both U.S. and international researchers, with updates on new Advisory Board members.
- One Health and Multinational Collaboration: Dr. Maureen Litchveld and Dr. Wondwossen Gebreyes raised questions about the ecology and infectious disease program, One Health initiatives, and the importance of environmental and veterinary collaborations, with Dr. Schiff affirming the need for One Health prominence and multinational partnerships.
- Bioethics Program Reconstitution: Dr. Clement Adebamowo inquired about the bioethics program, and Dr. Schiff confirmed plans to reconstitute it, emphasizing ethical foundations, trust, and careful program development with input from program staff.
- Capacity Building and America First Policy: Dr. Lichtveld and Dr. Gebreyes discussed rapid capacity building, outbreak response, and the America First global health policy, with Dr. Schiff explaining the distinction between implementation and research, ongoing discussions with State Department, and the mutual benefits of international research for U.S. health.
- New Advisory Board Members: Dr. Schiff updated the group on HHS approval of a new slate of Advisory Board members, highlighting the process for onboarding new members.
Program Concepts, Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) Program Renewal
Dr. Christine Jessup presented the renewal concept for the IRSDA program, detailing its focus on early career US researchers in global health, program metrics, requirements, and in-country time, with questions from the Board about eligibility, competitiveness, and mentorship.
- Program Overview and Metrics: Dr. Jessup described the IRSDA program's goal to build global health research capacity, its support for 118 awardees since 1999, and its impact on publications, independent funding, and sustained global health research careers.
- Eligibility and Mentorship Requirements: Dr. Jessup explained the program's requirements for protected time, dual mentorship from U.S. and LMIC mentors, and field experience, noting that candidates must not have achieved research independence and that mentor NIH funding is beneficial but not required.
- In-Country Time Adjustments: Dr. Jessup responded to a question about in-country time, clarifying that the 50% requirement can be staggered over five years and is cumulative, allowing flexibility for awardees with family or other commitments.
- Application Trends and Competitiveness: Dr. Jessup noted a recent drop in applications, attributed to other NIH institutes offering similar career development awards, and discussed efforts to ensure the program remains fully subscribed.
Digital Health Technology and Reciprocal Innovation to Improve Clinical and Public Health Outcomes
Dr. Brad Newsome presented the proposed expansion of Fogarty's Mobile Health program into a broader digital health program, emphasizing reciprocal innovation, implementation science, and partnerships with NIH institutes, with questions from the Board about funding levels and center grants.
- Program Expansion and Scope: Dr. Newsome explained the shift from mobile health to a comprehensive digital health ecosystem, including Al, digital diagnostics, telehealth, wearables, and health information systems, while maintaining rigorous research and measurable health impact.
- Reciprocal Innovation and Shared Learning: Dr. Newsome emphasized reciprocal innovation as a required feature, highlighting bidirectional exchange of ideas and technologies between LMICs and underserved US communities, and the importance of practical, scalable solutions.
- Implementation Science and Evidence Generation: Dr. Newsome discussed the focus on implementation science to ensure technologies are adopted, integrated, and sustained in real-world health systems, aligning with NIH priorities for translating discoveries into practice.
- Program Metrics and Achievements: Dr. Newsome reviewed the program's accomplishments, including 147 awards across 39 countries, over 300 publications, patents, clinical trials, and strengthened research capacity and partnerships.
- Funding Levels and Partnerships: Dr. Newsome responded to questions, confirming ongoing partnerships with over 12 NIH institutes, support for a range of funding mechanisms from exploratory to milestone-driven research, and limitations in supporting center-level grants due to Fogarty's size.
Closing Remarks
Dr. Schiff thanked the Board members for their engagement in the meeting, and the Fogarty staff for all of their hard work in fulfilling Fogarty's mission. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:29 p.m.