NCCIH Research Blog

On Friday, May 14, 2021, the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health (NACCIH) will hold its third meeting for Fiscal Year 2021. If you are a National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) grantee, potential grant applicant, member of the public, or other stakeholder, we invite you to attend the Open Session online.

The livestream will take place from 11:40 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. ET on NIH VideoCast, where it will also be archived. Registration is not necessary. The agenda is posted on NCCIH's website. NACCIH Open Sessions offer news and updates on NCCIH’s activities, policies, and funding priorities, and often include a guest speaker.

The NACCIH is charged with advising, consulting with, and making recommendations to the Center director on matters relating to NCCIH’s research activities and functions. In closed sessions, it provides secondary review of grant applications in light of NCCIH research priorities and program balance.

On May 14, the Open Session will begin with the report of NCCIH Director Helene M. Langevin, M.D., on Center-related news, plans, and activities since the previous meeting on January 15, 2021. Several other presentations will follow:

• Mary Beth Kester, M.S., director of the NCCIH Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, will present the final version of the NCCIH strategic plan for 2021 to 2025 to be released on May 14. Ms. Kester has led development of the plan with input from Council, other stakeholders, and staff at various stages.
• Richard (Rick) Woychik, Ph.D., the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), will present his vision for research on environmental health sciences and share ideas on potential collaborations with NCCIH. Research sponsored by NIEHS uses state-of-the-art science and technology to investigate the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases, to help prevent disease and improve human health.
• Della White, Ph.D., program director in the NCCIH Division of Extramural Research, will discuss a research concept, “Optimized Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease Pain Management,” proposed for the Council’s clearance.

The Open Session usually closes with a public comment period. Because this meeting will be entirely virtual, public comments will be accepted in writing only, based on National Institutes of Health policy. We will accept public comments (up to 750 words) for 15 days after the meeting; please email them to khalsap@mail.nih.gov by May 29, 2021. They will be added to the official meeting minutes and posted on the NACCIH portal within 90 days of the meeting. We hope you’ll consider joining us for all or part of the Open Session. 

• View the May 14, 2021 Council agenda.
• Join the Open Session via NIH VideoCast.