Re: NIH Public Rep Council

[Phil Tompkins <philtomp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Charles T. Meyer, M.D. wrote:

> The real issue is how did it happen that PD research got so under
> funded and to make sure it doesn't happen again to us or another
> "disease group".  My worry is what power to change things will this
> group have. Will it be merely a group to be used to pacify the stir
> in congress about i.e. earmarking etc. or will it be listened to in
> some meaningful way.

I gather from the writeup of the NIH 9/23/98 meeting on
public participation
() that COPR
is supposed to provide input to the priority setting process. There
are indications some of the participants at that meeting were
interested in improving the process itself.

Also, I see references to existing channels of public input -- e.g.,
advisory boards, public liaison offices --  that we might use or use
better.

Phil Tompkins