133rd Meeting Minutes

Minutes – September 5, 2019

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse convened its 133rd meeting at 9:00 a.m. on September 5, 2019 in Conference Rooms C & D, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland. The closed portion of the meeting held on September 5th was for reviewing applications for Federal grant assistance and was open only to Council members and Federal employees. The open portion, which was open to the public, began at 10:30 a.m. and was also video cast. The Council adjourned on September 5, 2019 at 4:02 p.m. 

Council Members Present
Linda Chang, M.D. 
H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D. 
Gail D’Onofio, M.D.
Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D. (call-in)
Carlos del Rio M.D.
Lakshmi Devi, Ph.D. (call-in)
Marie Gallo Dyak
Jay Giedd, M.D.
Daniel Goonan
Christian Heidbreder, Ph.D.
Kenneth Mackie, M.D.
Lisa Marsch, Ph.D.
Jessica Hulsey Nickel
Edward Nunes, M.D.
Robert Rancourt, J.D. 

Ad Hoc Council Members Present
Paul Kenny, Ph.D.
Sharon Walsh, Ph.D.
Devin Reaves, M.S.W. 

Council Chair
Nora Volkow, M.D.

Executive Secretary
Susan Weiss, Ph.D.

Federal Employees Present

Members of the Public Present
Colm Everard, Ph.D.—NIDA Contractor
Brian Fairman, Ph.D.—NIDA Contractor
Shannon Givens—NIDA Contractor
Joy Khelsa, Ph.D.—Self Employed
Lizette Nkongho, M.P.H.—NIDA Contractor
Hwa Sim, M.P.H.—NIDA Contractor
Roy Walker, M.B.A.—Synergy
Patrick Zickler—Self Employed 

Closed Portion of the Meeting – September 5, 2019

1. Call to Order

   This portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with sections 552b(c) (4) and 552b(c) (6), Title 5, U.S. Code and section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). 

   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the meeting to order and welcomed the Council and staff. She reminded those present that the Federal Advisory Committee Act applies to Council meetings and that this portion of the meeting was closed to the public. 

   Dr. Susan Weiss, Executive Secretary, summarized relevant NIH policies, provided detailed instructions on Council review procedures, and reminded those present about NIH confidentiality and conflict of interest policies. 

2. Application Reviews

   Drs. Elena Koustova, Kurt Rasmussen, Rita Valentino, Carlos Blanco, and Albert Avila, Directors of NIDA’s Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, and Office of Diversity and Health Disparities respectively, presented their Division’s/Office’s assigned and peer reviewed applications for consideration by the Council. For each application, Council provided unanimous en bloc concurrence with the initial scientific review. Nine Administrative Supplements, and 13 Special Council Review applications were presented to Council for review, and Council concurred with program assessments. The initial reviews of all Trans-NIH Initiatives, including NIH Common Fund, Blueprint and BRAIN applications as well as foreign applications and applications with a secondary assignment to NIDA also received Council concurrence. 

   Council and staff were recused from the Council meetings during discussion of, and voting on, individual applications from their own institutions or other applications for which there was a conflict of interest, real or apparent. Conflicts of interest statements were signed by each member of the Council. Members were not required to leave the room if an application in conflict with that member was acted upon en bloc. 

Open Portion of the Meeting

1. Call to Order

   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the open portion of the meeting to order and welcomed all attendees. She reminded all in attendance that the meeting was open to the public in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, was available via videocast, and indicated that time would be provided for public comment. She thanked the following graduating Council members for their service: Westley Clark, Karl Deisseroth, Marie Gallo Dyak, Jay Giedd, Lisa Marsch, Ed Nunes, and Robert Rancourt. Dr. Volkow also welcomed new Council Members Daniel Goonan, Jessica Hulsey Nickel, and Devin Reaves as well as two Ad Hoc Council Members, Sharon Walsh and Paul Kenny. 

   She then called attention to future Council meeting dates: January 30, 2020, May 12, 2020, May 13, 2020 (CRAN), and September 10, 2020. 

2. Consideration of the Minutes of Council

   The Minutes of the May 2019 NIDA Advisory Council were unanimously approved as written. 

3. NIDA Director’s Report (NIH Videocast @ 0:07:30) — Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, NIDA

   Dr. Volkow began with an overview of the NIDA budget including AIDS, Non-AIDS, and NIH HEAL InitiativeSM funds. She then discussed overall drug trends from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health including significant increases in marijuana use and decreases in psychotherapeutics, driven largely by a reduction in opioid prescriptions. She noted in teenagers, legal and illegal drug use has declined while marijuana use has remained steady, but the highest rate of marijuana use is seen in young adults. This age group is also experiencing increased rates of serious mental illness. Dr. Volkow discussed the interaction between drug use and serious mental illness and the need for more research in this area. She also highlighted the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and the open access databases that are ready for use. Dr. Volkow detailed a few NIDA specific initiatives that are part of the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM to expand access to treatment. The CTN Node Expansion will allow for large multi-site OUD studies and JCOIN studies will conduct research on increasing access to evidence-based treatment in the justice system. She also emphasized HEAL-funded prevention efforts for older adolescents and young adults. The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study will investigate brain development and how adverse or supportive environments and exposure to drugs in-utero influence development. Lastly, she highlighted an increase in injection drug use and its consequences. Dr. Volkow concluded by congratulating NIDA funded scientists who received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and mentioning upcoming NIDA sponsored events at the Society for Neuroscience. 

   Council thanked Dr. Volkow for her presentation and a discussion followed (NIH Videocast @ 1:10:40).

4. NIDA AIDS Strategic Plan (NIH Videocast @ 2:00:16) — Redonna Chandler, Ph.D., Director, AIDS Research Program (ARP), NIDA 

   Dr. Redonna Chandler discussed high priority areas at the intersection of drug use and HIV for the new NIDA Strategic Plan. A series of scientific meetings, a request for information, and discussions with partners on NIH priorities for HIV and HIV-related research were used to develop the focus of the AIDS Research Program. Dr. Chandler discussed trends in injection drug use and its implications for infectious disease. She then detailed important findings related to treating OUD and its effects on HIV outcomes, HIV prevention, provider stigma, and research on a cure for HIV. Dr. Chandler then described each priority area which includes 1) preventing new infections and transmission of HIV 2) increasing basic understanding of etiology, pathogenesis, spread, and persistence of HIV among people who use drugs 3) addressing comorbidities and improving health outcomes and 4) accelerating scientific discoveries in HIV and substance use research. 

   Following the presentation, a discussion with Council occurred (NIH Videocast @ 2:21:17). 

5. Concept Clearances (NIH Videocast @ 2:25:30)

   Vasundhara Varthakavi, DVM, Ph.D. Associate Director, AIDS Research Program (ARP) presented: Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS 

   Minnjuan Flournoy Floyd, Ph.D. Health Scientist Administrator, Services Research Branch, Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research (DESPR) presented: Implementing the HIV Service Cascade for Justice-Involved Populations and Ending the Epidemic: New Models of Integrated HIV/AIDS, Addiction, and Primary Care Service 

   Amy Goldstein, Ph.D. Branch Chief, Prevention Research Branch, DESPR presented: Reducing Stigma Related to Drug Use in Human Service Settings 

   Jennifer Wenzel, Ph.D. Program Officer, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB) presented: Investigating the roles of biomolecular condensates (BMCs) in substance use disorders and/or HIV infection, latency, or pathogenesis 

   Woody Lin, Ph.D. Health Scientist Administrator, Integrative Neuroscience Branch, DNB presented: Using imaging approaches to characterize HIV reservoirs in lymphoid tissues & CNS in the context of injection drug use 

   Da-Yu Wu, Ph.D. Health Scientists Administrator, Genetics, Epigenetics, and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, DNB presented: HIV Pathology and Latency Studies Using Live Functional Behaving Human Cell Chimera Animal Brains 

   Roger Little, Ph.D. Deputy Director, DNB presented: Using Cutting Edge Tools to Study Mechanisms of Opioid Action in Rodent Brain Circuits and Cells 

   Iván Montoya, M.P.H., M.D. Deputy Director, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences (DTMC) presented: Development of Medications to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorders and Overdose  

6. NCCIH Director’s Address (NIH Videocast @ 3:35:00) Helene Langevin, M.D., Director, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) 

   Dr. Langevin discussed current NCCIH priorities and how complementary approaches include nutritional, physical, and psychological approaches and integrative approaches include the physiology and pathophysiology that informs the health of the whole person. She highlighted research on gradual rehabilitation of muscles through movement and massage and the connection between the musculoskeletal system and the immune system. She then noted the siloed nature of research and the need for more cross talk between disciplines such as physical therapy, neuroscience, orthopedics, and rheumatology. NCCIH prioritizes health restoration; not only is disease control and prevention important, but also research on restoring health after illness/disease is needed. Dr. Langevin then discussed NCCIH activities as part of the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM including Behavioral Research to Improve Adherence to Medication-based Treatment for OUD (BRIM) and Pragmatic and Implementation Studies for Management of Pain to Reduce Opioid Prescribing (PRISM). She then highlighted a published study on mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancements to reduce craving in OUD and chronic pain. In addition, she mentioned collaborations with other federal partners including the DOD and VA to conduct large-scale clinical research in military and veteran populations. Dr. Langevin concluded with a discussion of additional areas of collaboration with NIDA outside of the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM . 

   Dr. Volkow and Council members thanked Dr. Langevin for her presentation and a discussion followed (NIH Videocast @ 4:09:40). 

7. Public Comments (NIH Videocast @ 4:25:30) 
   There were no public comments. 

8. Adjourn (NIH Videocast@ 4:26:00) 
   The 133rd meeting of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse was adjourned at 4:02 p.m. 

Certification

I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

Note: Informational materials provided to the public at the open session of the meeting may be obtained from the Executive Secretary.