U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
NIH Office of the Director (OD) <http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/>
Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) <http://prevention.nih.gov/omar/>
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
CONTACT:
Kelli Marciel, 301-496-4819, <e-mail:MarcielK@xxxxxxxxxx>
NEWS ADVISORY
NIH TO HOLD PRESS TELEBRIEFING ON FEBRUARY 4 FOLLOWING STATE-OF-THE-SCIENCE CONFERENCE ON COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
WHAT:
Although colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, screening for this disease is currently underutilized among eligible individuals. Despite evidence supporting the value of screening, in 2005 only 50% of U.S. adults aged 50 and older had been screened according to guidelines. Rates of screening for colorectal cancer are consistently lower than those for other common cancers, particularly breast and cervical cancer. A range of colorectal cancer screening tests are available in the United States, including fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy (internal examination of the lower part of the large intestine), and colonoscopy (internal examination of the entire large intestine).
An NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Enhancing Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening will be held February 2-4, 2010. After weighing the results of a systematic literature review, expert presentations, and audience input, an impartial, independent panel will prepare a statement of its collective assessment of the available evidence with regard to six predetermined conference questions. The panel's press telebriefing will highlight its findings and implications for the public.
WHO:
Members of the State-of-the-Science Conference panel, to be announced Tuesday, February 2.
WHEN:
Press telebriefing: Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm EST.
Reporters are welcome to attend the State-of-the-Science Conference in its entirety. Information is provided below; conference registration and further details are available at <http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/colorectalmedia.htm>. (Pre-registration is not required, but relevant material will be e-mailed to pre-registered media prior to the telebriefing.)
DIAL-IN NUMBER:
1-888-428-7458 (within the US) / 201-604-5177 (international)
Please call in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the telebriefing. Media will be asked for name and outlet. Interested parties who are not affiliated with a media outlet may listen in, but will not be permitted to ask questions during the call.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
The NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Enhancing Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:40 p.m.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Live and archived webcast: http://videocast.nih.gov
All sessions will be held at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Md. Visitors to campus should plan to take Metro, as parking is limited. For information about security procedures, please see <http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/index.htm>.
The conference is presented through the NIH Consensus Development Program. Information on the conference process and additional resources are available at <http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/colorectal.htm>.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at <http://www.nih.gov/icd/od>.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit <www.nih.gov>.
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<http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2010/od-26.htm>.
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