Announcements  Director's Message from Helene Langevin, M.D. November 2, 2021 Misinformation and disinformation, especially about COVID-19 vaccines, have flourished during the pandemic, leading to an infodemic that has exacerbated the harms caused by the virus itself. In many cases, mis/disinformation related to COVID-19 pits natural health against the clear and proven benefits of COVID-19 vaccines. |
 Wen Chen, Ph.D. November 17, 2021 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative, has a new funding opportunityHEAL Initiative: Developing Quantitative Imaging and Other Relevant Biomarkers of Myofascial Tissues for Clinical Pain Management (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Required)(RFA-AT-22-003). This new initiative will support research on the development of biomarkers for myofascial pain and the assessment of those biomarkers in human study participants. The application deadline isFebruary 11, 2022. |
 Christine Moretto Wishnoff, M.P.H. November 16, 2021 The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) hasa helpful new resourceto guide you if you are planning to submit materials required for the start of clinical studies or if you are currently funded by NCCIH to conduct a clinical study. This resource, which was designed in accordance withNational Institutes of Health (NIH) initiatives to enhance stewardship of the clinical trials enterprise, is part of theNCCIH Clinical Research Toolbox, our web-based information repository for investigators and staff involved in NCCIH-funded clinical research. Register now to attend a webinar on December 7, 2021, to learn more about the oversight levels and resources available to help researchers. |
 Diet-induced changes in the structure of bacterial metabolites produced by the human gut symbiotic bacteriumBacteroides fragilisaffect host immune regulation, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston and Monash University in Clayton, Victoria, Australia. This study, which was partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, was recently published inNature. |
 The ion channel PIEZO1, which spans cell membranes and helps convert mechanical forces into electrochemical signals, regulates skin cells called keratinocytes during wound healing and may be a target for developing medicines that speed up the healing process, according to a new study published in the journaleLife. The study, partially funded by the NIH New Innovator Award and supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), was conducted by researchers at Scripps Research and the University of California, Irvine. |
Resources for Researchers Upcoming Events December 7, 2021, 2 p.m. ET; Virtual This webinar is intended to provide current and potential clinical researchers with a hands-on introduction to the NCCIH Clinical Research Oversight process. Participants will learn how NCCIH is implementing ongoing NIH harmonization efforts to enhance the accountability and transparency of NIH-funded clinical research.Meet senior NCCIH leaders and hear about new resources on how to navigate the NCCIH clinical research review process. Participants will also have an opportunity to interface with key staff in the Office of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and the Division of Extramural Research during the Q&A portion of the webinar. The webinar is intended for researchers currently funded by NCCIH or researchers considering applying for an NCCIH Funding Opportunity Announcement. Learn more and register (registration is required).  December 15, 2021 Rhonda V. Magee, J.D., professor of law, long-time mindfulness teacher, scholar of contemplative education, and practitioner of mindfulness, will deliver the 2021 Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary Therapies. Professor Magee will describe some of the research on how mindfulness has been shown to help us, for example, increase our emotional resilience; address fears, anxieties, and other emotions; choose how we will respond to injustice; and change unhelpful habits.She will also discussan exciting new area of study: focusing on external mindfulness and its effects as individuals interact with others, their environments, and the array of challenges facing us all. |
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