BECON MEETING MINUTES

BECON MEETING – October 16, 2002

Public Minutes

The NIH’s Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) met from 3 to 5 PM on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 in Room 151 of Building 1 on the NIH Main Campus. The following text provides the minutes of this meeting.

Status of the NIBIB – Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, the first director of the NIBIB, addressed the BECON and reaffirmed NIBIB’s support for BECON activities. Dr. Pettigrew officially began as NIBIB director on September 23, and this was the first BECON meeting since his directorship began. He remarked that the BECON was a success story “shining example of where the NIH is going”.

BECON 2003 Symposium Status – The external advisory meeting for the BECON 2003 symposium is set for mid November.

BECON 2002 Symposium Recommendations – Immediately following the BECON 2002 symposium, the symposium co-chairs, plenary speakers, and breakout session chairs met to discuss results of the meeting. This session allowed the symposium leaders to offer comments on the proceedings and overall goals of the symposium. A summary of the recommendations that were obtained from this session was distributed to BECON members. These recommendations will become part of the symposium final report.

New BRP Program Announcement – The latest reissue of the BRP program announcement is currently in the final stages of review and should be ready for release into the NIH Guide very shortly.

BECON Nanotechnology PA – The nanotechnology PAR is currently in the final stages of review and should be ready for release into the NIH Guide very shortly. Applications received through this program will be reviewed by special study sections at CSR.

BECON R21 Bioengineering PA – The BECON R21 Bioengineering PA (EBRG) is currently in internal review.

BMIS Workshop – The Biomaterials and Medical Implant Science (BMIS) committee held a workshop entitled “Medical Implant Information, Performance and Policies” on September 19-20 at the University of Maryland – Shady Grove in Rockville, MD. The BMIS Committee is currently in the process of reviewing the recommendations that were offered by attendees. A final report will be prepared and posted on the Internet.

BRP Status and Grantee Meeting – There are currently 106 active BRP grants across all ICs with 45 new awards made in FY2002. An up-to-date listing of new BRP awards by fiscal year including the CRISP abstract is being added to the Funding Page of the BECON Web site. The 3^rd Annual BRP Grantee Meeting is being considered for March of 2003.

BECON Mission Statement – The BECON is preparing an updated mission statement which was circulated to all BECON members.

Next BECON Meeting – The November BECON meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, from 3 to 5 PM in Room 151 in Building l on the NIH Main Campus. A preliminary agenda will be available about a week before the meeting.