Dear Friends of NFCA, `

A draft of the trans-NIH long-range plan on digestive diseases has recently been placed on the National Commission on Digestive Diseases (the Commission) website for public review and comment. We encourage all friends of NFCA to review the sections of the research plan that are of interest and provide science-based comments to the Commission using the email address provided on the website.

The Commission was chartered in July 2005 by Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, Director, National Institutes of Health, and formed through public nominations. The Commission's mission was to conduct an overview of the state-of-the-science in the field and develop a digestive diseases research plan consistent with the research mission of NIH for submittal to the NIH Director and to Congress. The Commission's charter specifically calls for a science-based plan using the current NIH organizational structure, policies, and procedures. Thus, in preparing your comments, please note that the Commission's report will not include recommendations on the NIH peer review process, funding mechanisms, budgets, and other administrative issues.

The research plan is open for "public comment" for one month prior to its final approval by the Commission and publication in hard copy and on the website in 2008. This is your opportunity to have input into this important document that will help guide the direction of NIH-supported digestive disease research initiatives—and hopefully those of other research groups—for the next decade.

Best Regards,

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
www.CeliacCentral.org

Visit the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness at www.CeliacCentral.org

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
224 south maple street | ambler, pa 19002 | 215.325-1306 main | 215-283-0859 fax
info@... | www.CeliacCentral.org