NCCIH Requests Information on Determinants for Whole Person Health
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is soliciting public comment as it seeks to define a set of key determinants of health that address factors that can influence health either positively or negatively, and that encompass the full continuum of biological, behavioral, social, and environmental domains (such as age, genetic predisposition, sleep, environmental exposure, etc.).
NCCIH is limiting its request to no more than 20 determinants to ensure a list sufficiently comprehensive to capture the key elements of whole person health, yet succinct enough to be manageable in terms of any eventual development/deployment of a CDE-based measurement tool. This list could ultimately be used to identify a set of common data elements to be used in either research or patient care.
Responses to this Request for Information are due by June 17, 2022.
AACIPM responds to CDC Opioid Guideline
In response to CDC’s release of the draft CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids—United States, 2022, AACIPM has issued a public comment on behalf of 44 individual and organizational signatories representing a broad spectrum of health care providers, payors, academia, policy and healthcare experts, and people living with pain.
The letter expressed support for a number of changes found in the updated guideline, including the CDC’s emphasis on non-opioid, non-pharmacological, and integrative therapies—along with its acknowledgment that reimbursement and coverage issues are often a significant barrier to accessing this type of care. However, the letter also recommended changes to the guideline that would better educate pain providers about the many treatments and providers that should be considered when developing individualized treatment plans.
President Biden Outlines Government-Wide Response to Long COVID
In a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies, President Biden has ordered a largescale federal response to addressing the long-term effects of COVID-19. The memo directs the Secretary of HHS to coordinate the effort, working with public and private sector partners to mount a full and effective response.
By August 3rd, the Secretary shall publish a public report outlining services and mechanisms of support across agencies to assist the American public in the face of the far-reaching and long-term effects of COVID-19, which includes a variety of pain-related symptoms. The report must specifically address available Federal services to support individuals experiencing Long COVID, mental health and substance use issues spawned in the wake of the pandemic, and the long-term effects of COVID-19 on underserved communities and efforts to address disparities.
Federal Funding Available for Various Pain-related Projects
Funding opportunities related to pain management, integrative care, whole health, and other related topics continue to abound.
The NIH HEAL Initiative is currently aiming to fund:
- Coordinating Center for National Pain Scientists Career Development (Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity; Estimated Application Due Date is July 15th)
- Team Research for Initial Translational Efforts in Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development (LOI Due May 9th)
- Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (LOI Due May 2nd)
- Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (Application Due May 15th)
- Discovery of Biomarkers and Biomarker Signatures to Facilitate Clinical Trials for Pain Therapeutics (LOI Due May 24th)
- Discovery and Functional Evaluation of Human Pain-Associated Genes and Cells (LOI Due June 7th)
NIDA is currently aiming to fund:
- Public Health Research on Cannabis, including impact of polysubstance use on health outcomes, including interactions (substitution/complementation) of cannabis product use with alcohol, tobacco, and prescription and nonprescription opioids. (Begins accepting applications June 5, 2022)