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APA
Meets with New NIMH Director
On January 3, APA CEO Norman Anderson, PhD, began his
tenure at APA with a meeting with NIMH Director Tom Insel, MD, to discuss
how APA and NIMH can work together to increase support for behavioral
research and to fulfill NIMH’s mission to reduce the public health
burden of mental illnesses. Kurt Salzinger, PhD, Executive Director for
Science, Merry Bullock, PhD, Associate Executive Director for Science, and
science policy staff Karen Studwell, JD, also participated in the meeting.
Insel began his tenure at NIMH in November 2002, and has yet to propose
any major organizational changes to the institute, but indicated that he
will seek to increase the pool of behavioral neuroscientists in the
intramural program.
While FY03 funding remains uncertain and a proposed 2%
increase for NIH in FY04 funding will require Insel to make some tough
decisions about priorities, he is developing a research agenda and looking
forward to leading the institute. Like the new NIH Director, Elias
Zerhouni, MD, Insel is interested in improving NIMH’s ability to fund
translational research that can bridge the gap between research and
practice, thereby reducing the time for interventions to become adopted
into practice. Insel also would like to see NIMH reduce the stigma of
mental illness, as well as increase support for suicide research and
animal research. Insel stated that current advances in animal research are
providing answers to research questions for a range of conditions, from
PTSD to the emotional memory of learning. Finally, Insel reiterated his
interest in working with APA and its members during his tenure at NIMH.
Stimulating Discussions on Research and Development
with TSA
On January 15th, Geoff Mumford, PhD, Director of Science
Policy and Peter Hancock, PhD, Provost Distinguished Research Professor,
Department of Psychology, Institute for Simulation and Training,
University of Central Florida and Senior Scientist Susan Brandon, PhD, met
with Paul Polski, the Chief of Staff of the Transportation Security
Administration’s (TSA) Chief Technology Officer. The purpose of the
meeting was to reassert the need to add additional expertise to the
Transportation Security Administration’s Scientific Advisory Panel and
to discuss the role of psychological and behavioral science within TSA’s
R&D portfolio. Mumford arranged for Mr. Polski to meet with the
National Research Council’s Committee on Human Factors (Chaired by APA
member Raja Parasuraman) the following day to discuss opportunities for
the Committee to help shape the TSA’s research portfolio. The discussion
was fruitful and the Committee drafted a proposal, Integrating Human
Factors and Ergonomics into Homeland Security Initiatives, which is under
consideration by TSA.
Convention Trifecta -- New Institute Directors to
Present Jointly
On January 16th Science Policy staff invited the new
Directors of NIMH, NIAAA and NIDA to participate in a joint session at the
annual APA Convention in Toronto and we were delighted that Drs. Insel, Li
and Volkow all accepted. The session will provide an opportunity for the
new Directors to describe the role psychological and behavioral sciences
play within the programmatic mission of their Institutes. Those attending
the program will qualify for Continuing Education credit and we are hoping
to draw in both scientists interested in basic research as well as
practitioners interested in learning about science-practice translation
initiatives. The session is scheduled for Friday, August 8, from 10:00
a.m.-12:00 p.m.
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NIH
Director Meets with APA's Anderson and Science Directorate
Elias Zerhouni, M.D. has been director of the National
Institutes of Health for about six months, but already he’s met twice
with the APA leadership. The first meeting was with a coalition of
behavioral and social science organizations at the end of October, which
we reported to you in the November
SPIN. In January, he met for a wide-ranging discussion with APA’s
new CEO, Norman Anderson, Ph.D., and senior staff from the Science
Directorate and Public Policy Office.
Anderson embraced the opportunity to explain APA’s
programs and priorities to the director of NIH. He particularly emphasized
his goal to make psychology more useful in the ‘real world.’ Zerhouni
asked questions about the training, income and debt burden of scientific
and practicing psychologists, remarking that psychologists seem to
experience the same pressures as other NIH constituent scientists in
deciding whether to specialize in research or practice.
Dr. Zerhouni encouraged APA to step into the forefront of
efforts to improve U.S. health. He cited the growing rates of obesity in
the U.S. in all age ranges, and mentioned how a concerted effort by
psychologists to help people change behavior could be helpful. He also
spoke about the problem of medical errors, and mentioned that he feels
behavioral research is the key to minimizing errors by health care
providers. He said he is conscious of moving quickly in his job to areas
where NIH focus can bring results.
"It’s clear Dr. Zerhouni is a strong leader and
consummate manager," said Norman Anderson. "He is focused on
moving NIH forward in areas that depend on behavioral
research—elimination of minority health disparities, for example, and
healthy behavior change."
"Even given his focus on results, it was clear that
he is very supportive of basic research," said Merry Bullock, Ph.D.,
Associate Executive Director for Science. "He said we can’t have
one without the other."
"I was especially pleased that Dr. Zerhouni has such
a good working relationship with the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social
Sciences Research," said Kurt Salzinger, APA’s Executive Director
for Science. "He clearly relies on the Office for information and
support. It’s the role we hoped and expected the Office would play when
it was created."
Raynard Kington, M.D. Ph.D. who directs the NIH Office of
Behavioral and Social Sciences Research and was recently appointed Deputy
NIH Director, attended, as well as Ruth Kirschstein, who recently moved
from the position of Deputy NIH Director to Senior Adviser to the NIH
Director, attended the meeting for NIH. Pat Kobor, APA’s Sr. Science
Policy Analyst, represented the Public Policy Office.
Back to School at the FBI Academy
On January 21st, Senior Scientist, Susan Brandon, PhD,
Director of Science Policy, Geoff Mumford, PhD, and the Director of the
Crime Control and Prevention Research Division at the National Institute
of Justice (NIJ), Bryan Vila, PhD, met with several staff of the
Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy. Our goal was to discuss a
continuation of the "teach-ins" we initiated in November with
leaders in law enforcement and to talk about future collaborations.
Information on the November meeting is available here.
In addition to the BSU Chief, Steve Band, PhD, and
forensic psychologist, Tony Pinizzotto, PhD, we were joined by APA member
Ellen Scrivner, PhD, who is a detailee from the Department of Justice
working on the implementation of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force
program. As a former Marine, South Central LA police officer, head of
Micronesia's Bureau of Investigation, and an emergency preparedness
coordinator for the Department of Interior, Dr. Vila has a unique
perspective on law enforcement and first responder issues. He also has a
doctorate in human ecology and worked as an academic at UC Irvine and the
University of Wyoming before taking his present position at NIJ. Dr. Vila
is interested in a range of research issues related to operational
performance in the law enforcement environment and will be co-presenting
with us on March 4 to students enrolled in a course entitled,
"Violence Behavior: A Biopsychosocial Approach".
Dr. Band also informed us that FBI Director Mueller wants
every law enforcement agent in the country to gain some uniform
counter-terrorism training experience. Working through the Academy, they
will soon be initiating a Train-the-Trainers program out of BSU. It will
involve training several agents from each field office who will then
return to the field to train local law enforcement officials. We've asked
to review the training syllabus and also asked that the FBI incorporate a
system to collect questions that arise from local law enforcement during
training as an extension of what we're doing in the classroom setting.
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APA Invited to Discuss Scientific
Advisory Appointments with NAS
The Scientific Advisory Council appointment process
continues to generate interest and press here in Washington and elsewhere,
most recently from the Editor of Science (see Science 1/31/03). On January
22, APA CEO Norman Anderson, PhD, and Director of Science Policy, Geoff
Mumford, PhD, received invitations to discuss the appointment process and
related issues with the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public
Policy (COSEPUP), at the National Academy of Sciences at its next meeting
on February 19.
The invitation states: "As you may be aware, a number
of scientists have expressed concern about 'litmus tests' for the
appointment of scientific experts to HHS advisory committees and the
procedures and processes that are used as those committees provide advice.
The NAS Council has requested that COSEPUP prepare a report on this
general issue (not just for HHS but all such federal committees). At this
meeting, COSEPUP would like your thoughts as part of a discussion with
former White House Science advisors and disciplinary societies on the
utility of this task and the questions that would be addressed in such a
study."
The meeting will include former White House Science
Advisors Neal Lane, PhD, and D. Allan Bromley, PhD, and high-level
representatives of three other scientific organizations: the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Federation of
American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), and the American
Public Health Association (APHA). It's likely COSEPUP will use this input
to frame a study that will identify the principles that should be used to
guide such appointments.
We expect that this activity will complement an on-going
Government Accounting Office (GAO) investigation on this issue. That
investigation has been assigned to Ross Campbell, a Senior Analyst with
the Natural Resources and Environment Team at GAO. According to Ross, GAO
will be in the "design phase" for another month or so learning
more about the issue and determining the scope and methodology they will
use. They've defined 3 researchable questions that will guide the
investigation:
- What is the role of advisory councils government-wide in helping
shape policies and regulations?
- What policies and procedures are in place to ensure that advisory
councils provide balanced advice?
- Are there any improvements to be made in those policies and
procedures?
If you or your colleagues have information that you think
would aid this investigation please contact Ross
Campbell via email.
Behind Every Good Workforce is a Psychologist
Everyone is probably aware that the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) has been responsible for federalizing the
airport screener workforce, but it's unlikely many know that APA member
Elizabeth Kolmstetter, PhD, was in charge of the effort. On January 29th,
Dianne Maranto, APA’s Director for Psychology in the Workplace, and
Geoff Mumford, PhD, Director of Science Policy, met with Dr. Kolmstetter,
an I/O psychologist who is now the Director of Standards, Testing &
Accreditation for TSA. For the past year she has been responsible for
establishing the selection, training and certification of airport security
screeners and will be developing such systems in the future for air
marshals, Federal Flight Deck Officers (armed pilots), and for security
personnel in relation to other modes of transportation.
Dr. Kolmstetter’s office is within Training and Quality
Performance but they apparently have a close working relationship with the
human factors research group at what used to be the Howard Hughes
Technical Center in NJ, (now in effect the intramural research laboratory
for TSA). Its not clear at this point exactly how TSA will meld the
research and development needs within Training and Quality Performance
with the programs directed by the Office of Science and Technology.
However, as noted in the January 15th, item above, APA and various human
factors groups will be working to facilitate those connections because
research is critical to the development of screening tests and integral to
the job design and development of selection and training programs for the
baggage screeners. While there are no immediate plans to establish a
scientific advisory group to provide oversight for the Training &
Performance area, there may be a future need to establish one in the area
of certification. The current TSA organizational chart is available here.
[PDF format]
APA Reaches out to Members for Study Section Training
at NIH
The Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at
NIH developed a model training program at the request of APA and other
behavioral and social science organizations. The program is designed to
help scientists develop a culture of service and interdisciplinary
cooperation desirable in service on study sections. Pat Kobor, Senior
Science Policy Analyst, worked with the Board of Scientific Affairs and
several APA Divisions during the early part of February to develop a slate
of nominees for this important training program. This effort complements a
broader effort Pat has taken to solicit nominations for study section
service at the Center for Scientific Review within NIH. The NIH Center for
Scientific Review is eager to receive nominees for study section service
who have prior funding from the NIH or National Science Foundation. For
more information, see
the announcement that went to division executive committees.
Susan Brandon Moves to NIMH
At the end of January, Senior Scientist, Susan Brandon
left APA for greener pastures and a permanent position as Chief of the
Emotional Processes Program in the Division of Neuroscience and Basic
Behavioral Science within the Behavioral Science Research Branch at the
National Institute on Mental Health. Susan spearheaded much of our early
outreach efforts on the counter-terrorism front. Shortly after 9/11, when
we appealed to Division leaders to help us think about how psychological
science could help counter terrorism, she took the lead on organizing the
flood of response we received to compile a set of useful references.
Drawing from that information, she compiled a series of vignettes related
to counter-terrorism, constructed as research-based answers to provocative
questions. The vignettes were circulated far and wide in an attempt to
stimulate greater appreciation of the role of behavioral sciences, and did
so. Susan organized a very successful counter-terrorism conference at the
FBI Academy (in collaboration with our colleagues at UPenn and the Solomon
Asch Center for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict) and served as lead
author on the final report. She further championed our outreach to other
government units/agencies including the CIA, Office of Homeland Security,
and National Security Council among others. She did not, however, forget
her roots and rallied several senior academic researchers in an important
initiative to resucitate basic animal learning research at NSF. A proposal
for a follow-on workshop is currently under review at NSF. In sum, Susan
served as a a tremendously productive part of our Science/Science Policy
team, has been a true colleague in every sense of the word, and her daily
presence will be sorely missed. However, we look forward to continued
collaboration with her on many fronts and wish her the very best in her
new position at NIMH.
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APA Testifies at Institute of Medicine Meeting on NIH
Center Grants
APA was the only behavioral science organization scheduled
to testify at a February 7, 2003 meeting of the Institute of Medicine’s
Board of Health Sciences Policy subcommittee examining NIH center grants.
The purpose of the meeting was to examine the value of center grants in
comparison with other grant mechanisms, especially the
investigator-initiated (R01) grant. Merry Bullock, PhD, Associate
Executive Director for Science, gave the testimony on behalf of APA. The
APA statement was written with input from the Board of Scientific Affairs,
Committee on Scientific Awards, and the executive committees of several
divisions. Dr. Bullock’s testimony can be found here.
In response to the APA request for comments, scientists
expressed widely disparate views about the value of center grants. Some
commented that center grants waste scarce resources by protecting mediocre
science under the umbrella of the best science in a center. Others pointed
out that the administrative core funding in centers provides an important
environment for multidisciplinary research efforts, which are particularly
needed in investigations of complex phenomena such as gene-environment
interactions or health-related behavior change.
"The hallmark of NIH-funded research is excellence,
and …NIH needs multiple ways to foster excellence. Sometimes science is
best served when its caretakers merely recognize excellence in a grant
proposal and let it flourish unencumbered. Sometimes a measure of
coordination, whether directed by NIH, scientists in the field, or even
Congress, sparks new conversations and connections between scientists and
adds value and company to a lone good idea," Bullock said.
APA’s statement contained several recommendations for
strengthening the center grant mechanism. First, NIH needs to collect more
data about centers. It was not possible to find data to show how many
people had been trained through center grants vs. other grant mechanisms,
for example. Second, leadership is a critical component in the success or
failure of a center, and NIH needs additional ways to build leadership
skills in its grantees and to review for leadership skills in the peer
review process. Third, NIH needs greater flexibility to manage center
grants, including funds to conduct site visits. Site visits were more
common ten years ago than today. APA also recommended that NIH explore the
concept of a new grant type, the R01-Plus, that would help bridge the
large gap between investigator-initiated grants and center grants by
providing some administrative or core support funding to an R01 grant.
APA member Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, Dean of the
School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh and herself a center
director, testified on behalf of the National Institute of Nursing
Research (NINR). Dr. Dunbar-Jacob is a member of the NINR Advisory
Council. She pointed out ways that NINR has used relatively small center
grants to help train nurse researchers to work in multidisciplinary
environments.
Among the APA scientists who contributed their thoughts
and expertise to this issue were Ken Sher, PhD, of the University of
Missouri-Columbia; Linda Bartoshuk, PhD, of Yale University; David Barlow,
PhD, of Boston University; Karen Matthews, PhD, of the University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine; David Abrams, PhD, of Brown University;
Nora Newcombe, PhD, of Temple University; Denise Park, PhD, of the
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Neil Schneiderman, PhD, of the
University of Miami School of Medicine; Ed Wasserman, PhD, of the
University of Iowa; Michael Scheier of Carnegie Mellon University; and
Norman Anderson, PhD, Kurt Salzinger, PhD , Merry Bullock, PhD and Geoff
Mumford, PhD, of the APA staff.
The Institute of Medicine subcommittee on centers will
issue its report in 2004. More information is available here.
Any questions?
If you have any questions regarding SPIN or specific
science policy issues, please feel free to contact any of APA’s Science
PPO staff.
Geoff
Mumford, Ph.D., Director of Science Policy
Pat
Kobor, Senior Science Policy Analyst
Heather
O'Beirne Kelly, Ph.D., Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer
Karen
Studwell, J.D., Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer
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