[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 5555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2390]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
Announcement of Strategic Planning Stakeholder Forums

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
(NCCAM) is developing its 5-year strategic plan (2005-2009), and 
invites the public to provide input regarding NCCAM research, training, 
outreach, and integration. Two strategic planning stakeholder forums 
will be held (March 22, 2004 in Bethesda, Maryland and April 19, 2004 
in Seattle, Washington). In addition, the public is invited to provide 
comments via the NCCAM Web site.

Background

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
(NCCAM) was established in 1999 with the mission of exploring 
complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of 
rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating 
authoritative information to the public and professionals.
    To date, NCCAM's efforts to rigorously study CAM, to train CAM 
researchers, to conduct outreach, and to facilitate integration have 
been guided by NCCAM's current strategic plan, ``Expanding Horizons of 
Healthcare: Five Year Strategic Plan 2001-2005'' located on the NCCAM 
Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/fiveyear/index.htm. Since 
its inception, NCCAM has funded over 300 projects and has over 700 
grantee publications.
    NCCAM's new strategic plan will also stipulate strategic goals, and 
will outline a research agenda that prioritizes among and between CAM 
domains, scientific area, and health conditions, based on identified 
needs and opportunities.

Request for Comments

    The public is invited to provide input into the development of 
NCCAM's strategic plan for 2005-2009.
    NCCAM will host two Strategic Planning Stakeholder Forums. These 
events will give NCCAM stakeholders an opportunity to voice their 
opinions regarding future directions for research, training, outreach, 
and integration in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The 
forums will be held:

March 22, 2004, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Natcher Conference Center, National 
Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
April 19, 2004, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., The Westin Seattle, 1900 Fifth 
Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101.

    Forum attendees are welcome to address a listening panel composed 
of NCCAM senior staff and National Advisory Council members. Remarks 
should be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Those wishing to address 
the panel should register to attend at least 5 days prior to their 
selected forum. NCCAM will schedule speakers until the time allotted is 
filled. To register, please visit http://nccam.nih.gov. Alternatively, 
the public is invited to submit written testimony via this Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information, visit the 
NCCAM Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov, call 1-888-644-6226, or e-mail 
[email protected].

Comments Due Date

    Comments regarding the development of NCCAM's strategic plan are 
best assured of having their full effect if received by April 20, 2004.

    Dated: January 29, 2004.
Christy Thomsen,
Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Center 
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of 
Health.
[FR Doc. 04-2390 Filed 2-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P