[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34948-34949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12228]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Institute on Aging; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging 
Initiative

    The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is announcing a meeting for 
the development of a neuroimaging initiative for Alzheimer's disease 
(AD) that will take place June 17-18, 2002 at the Hyatt Hotel, One 
Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD. The goal of this initiative is to 
foster a public-private collaboration for the development of 
longitudinal studies that will identify the neuroimaging modalities and 
techniques most appropriate for following elderly people as they 
develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. In addition to 
providing natural history information, neuroimaging markers may allow 
early identification of individuals who may benefit from emerging 
preventive and treatment medications, provide a way of monitoring 
treatment efficacy and mechanism, and serve as surrogate endpoints in 
clinical trials.
    Meeting participants will include representatives from academia, 
the Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical companies, imaging 
device companies, NIH staff, and advocacy groups. Presentations at the 
meeting will evaluate currently existing resources and knowledge 
regarding neuroimaging in MCI and AD by examining available clinical, 
neuropsychological, laboratory, and imaging data from prior natural 
history and epidemiology studies and clinical

[[Page 34949]]

trials. The participants will prioritize research opportunities and 
needs and recommend an initial plan to develop and utilize resources. 
They will identify longitudinal study design options, assess the 
strengths and weaknesses of various imaging modalities, and discuss 
which brain areas are critical to measure. This meeting will also 
discuss subject selection, multi-side data collection and analysis, 
surrogate marker criteria, and administrative and data-sharing issues.
    All interested parties are invited to attend this meeting. A block 
of hotel rooms is being held at the Bethesda Wyatt until May 21, 2002.
    For further information about the AD neuroimaging initiative 
contact: Dr. Neil Burkholtz at 301-496-9350, e-mail 
[email protected]> or Dr. Susan Molchan at 301-496-3909, e-
mail [email protected]>. Hotel and travel arrangements are being 
handled by Courtesy Associates (Ms. Vicki Hill, 703-960-3178; Ms. Susan 
Dolibois, 202-367-2352); e-mail [email protected]>).

    Dated: May 9, 2002.
Richard Hodes,
Director, NIA.
[FR Doc. 02-12228 Filed 5-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4141-01-P