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Human Genome News, September 1990; 2(3)
Staff of the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) met on July 20 with members of the Association of Minority Health Professional Schools (AMHPS) and researchers supported by the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) to discuss how minority institutions can become involved in the Human Genome Project. The meeting, held in Nashville and hosted by Meharry Medical School, was sponsored by RCMI and NCHGR.
RCMI, comprising 17 institutions, is a grant program supported by the NIH National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). The primary goal of RCMI is to enable predominantly minority institutions offering doctoral degrees in health and science professions to compete more effectively for research grants in the biomedical and behavioral research mission of the Public Health Service. The FY 1990 operating budget for the RCMI program is $19 million: $17.5 million appropriated by Congress and $1.5 million provided through cofunding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The RCMI program is directed by Sidney A. McNairy, Jr. (NCRR).
The opening address of the 2-day meeting was given by David Satcher (Meharry Medical College). Robert A. Whitney (NCRR Director) gave an overview of NCRR programs, and Elke Jordan (NCHGR Deputy Director) reviewed and discussed the 5-year goals of the Human Genome Project. Seven scientific presentations by NCHGR and RCMI grantees followed.
Mark Guyer (NCHGR Assistant Director for Program Coordination) described NCHGR programs and resources, and RCMI representatives gave brief presentations about their respective university's interests and capabilities for taking part in the Human Genome Project. A panel discussion on obstacles and opportunities for participation by scientists in minority institutions was coordinated by Bettie Graham (Chief, Research Grants Branch, NCHGR). Panel members were Georgia Dunston (Howard University), Terrance Lyttle (University of Hawaii), George Hill (Meharry Medical College), Mary-Claire King (University of California, Berkeley), Stephen Warren (Emory University School of Medicine), Bruce Roe (University of Oklahoma), and Jordan.
A session primarily for RCMI and AMHPS participants included information sharing and demonstrations of software. RCMI representatives discussed development of a plan by which member institutions could share in the Human Genome Project.
Reported by Bettie J. Graham, Chief
Research Grants Branch
NIH NCHGR
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v2n3).
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.
Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.
