Friday, August 1, 2003

Briefing at the White House. Two parts to the briefing. Jorge Tavel and Heather Wingard of CIA briefed on threat assessments and I briefed on Countermeasure Development. Present at briefing were: Carol Kuntz, Stewart Simonson, Andrew Hallman (CIA), Heather Wingard (CIA), Dr. McCreary (DHS), Bill Parrish (DHS), Parney Albright (DHS), Sally Stanfield (DHS), Ken Bernard (OHS), Jorge Tavel (OVP), Richard Falkenrath (for while, OHS), Julie Gerberding (CDC) Carol was very pleased with my presentation as I touched on all of the points that we had previously discussed with the Vice President such as genetically modified organisms, botulism, etc. August 1 – 21, 2003 – Summertime lull. Usual issues. Zerhouni pushing his “Roadmap” agenda . Few people can figure out what it really is and how it will be implemented. IOM report on the “Structure of NIH” came out. As usual, they commented on things that they were not asked to comment on. They pushed having greater resources in the Office of the NIH Director and having more “high risk” research to be managed out of the OD as well as trans-NIH research planned out of the OD. Seems like Zerhouni wrote the report. Also, and amazingly, they recommend 5 year term limits for IC Directors with the possibility of only 1 five year renewal. of having the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) serve as a mechanism to provide a “culture of responsibility” among scientists similar to what was done in the mid-1970s. At the briefing was the usual people – Gen Gordon, Ken Bernard, Richard Falkenrath, Carol Kuntz, several DoE people, WH communications people, etc. Decision was to put together a briefing for the Secretaries. Sept. 18 –19, 2003 – Went to NYC to give Plenary Lecture at the AIDS Vaccine 2003 meeting. While I was there, Hurricane Isabel hit Washington, D.C. and there was widespread devastation with major power outages (3 million people in DC, VA, and MD without power). Power not expected to be restored for at least 1 week.