September 8, 2009
October 29-30 has been set as the date for a meeting of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee in Washington, DC. (See Sep 4 Federal Register notice, appended below.) Though CFSAC meeting agendas have typically been published at the last minute, CFSAC members indicate that the CDC plans to present its 5-year strategic CFS research plan at the meeting.
So although specifics of the agenda and 5-year plan are lacking at this writing, the longer-than-usual advance knowledge of the meeting date may help CFSAC members, researchers, clinicians, patients and advocates to plan their attendance and prepare comments. The federal CFSAC reports to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Health through Dr. Wanda K Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women’s Health).
The most recent posting at the CDC’s CFS site at this time is a notice dated Sep 1 stating that the CDC had received 1,000-some e-mails regarding the plan and was categorizing comments. See “Input on CDC CFS Strategic Research Plan.”
Also recently, a team led by CFSAC member Dr. Leonard Jason published a paper that is relevant to the design of CFS research going forward (“Evaluating the Centers for Disease Control’s empirical chronic fatigue syndrome case definition”). To learn more, see CFIDS Association Scientific Director Dr. Suzanne Vernon's comments on the issues these findings raise (“Defining CFS: The Debate Goes On.”)
Later, on Sep 11, the CFIDS Association issued a comment noting that the CDC has stated its intention to complete the planning process by Sep 30; and that the CFIDS Association will "continue to provide additional input and recommendations to CDC at multiple levels as this process proceeds."
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CFSAC meeting notice from the Federal Register, filed Sep 3, posted Sep 4
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Meeting of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009, and Friday, October 30, 2009. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.
ADDRESSES: Department of Health and Human Services; Room 800, Hubert H. Humphrey Building; 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wanda K. Jones, Dr.P.H.; Executive Secretary, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, Department of Health and Human Services; 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Hubert Humphrey Building, Room 712E; Washington, DC 20201; (202) 690-7650.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CFSAC was established on September 5, 2002. The Committee was established to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Health, on a broad range of topics including:
(1) The current state of the knowledge and research about the epidemiology and risk factors relating to chronic fatigue syndrome, and identifying potential opportunities in these areas;
(2) current and proposed diagnosis and treatment methods for chronic fatigue syndrome; and
(3) development and implementation of programs to inform the public, health care professionals, and the biomedical, academic, and research communities about advances in chronic fatigue syndrome.
The agenda for this meeting is being developed. The agenda will be posted on the CFSAC Web site, http://www.hhs.gov/advcomcfs, when it is finalized. In addition, the meeting will be WebCast.
Details will be posted to the CFSAC Web site as they become available.
Public attendance at the meeting is limited to space available.
Individuals must provide a photo ID for entry into the building where the meeting is scheduled to be held.
Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should notify the designated contact person.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments at the meeting.
Individuals who wish to address the Committee during the public comment session must pre-register by October 14, 2009.
Any individual who wishes to participate in the public comment session should call the telephone number listed in the contact information or send an e-mail to register. Public comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker.
Members of the public who wish to have printed material distributed to CFSAC members for discussion should submit, at a minimum, one copy of the material to the Executive Secretary, CFSAC, prior to close of business on October 15, 2009. Submissions are limited to five typewritten pages.
Contact information for the Executive Secretary is listed above.
Dated: August 20, 2009.
Wanda K. Jones, Executive Secretary, CFSAC.
[FR Doc. E9-21334 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
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