NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) https://ncats.nih.gov is creating data platforms needed to guide the response to COVID-19. During public health emergencies like COVID-19, it is important to utilize science and then turn this knowledge into new therapies. …Continue reading
Research to Help COVID Patients
To find new ways to control COVID deaths, the Department of Defense https://dod.defense.gov is establishing genetic sequencing for COVID-19. This is important since researching genetic sequence data plays a vital role in dealing with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). DOD has established a collaborative to work on SARS CoV-2 sequencing efforts. …Continue reading
Senators Introduce Telehealth Bill
Senators Bill Cassidy, MD. (R-LA) https://www.cassidy.senate.gov, Tina Smith (D-MN) https://www.smith.senate.gov, Dan Sullivan (R-AK) https://www.sullivan.senate.gov, and Doug Jones (D-AL) https://www.jones.senate.gov have introduced the Enhancing Preparedness Through Telehealth Act (S-4059) directing HHS to inventory telehealth programs across the country to learn how telehealth can be used more effectively in future health emergencies. …Continue reading
Telemedicine to Expand OUD Treatment
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) https://www.uab.edu received a grant for $500,000 from the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) https://mh.alabama.gov, to expand Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment services. …Continue reading
CDC’s Award for COVID Testing
CDC https://www.cdc.gov awarded $67 million “Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity” (ELC) https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dpei/epidemiology-laboratory-capacity.html grants to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services https://dhss.deleaware.gov/dhss/dph/index.html Division of Public Health (DPH), to implement expanded testing capacity for COVID-19 and support the establishment of a modernized public health epidemiologic surveillance system. …Continue reading
Capitol Hill Hearing on Telehealth
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pension https://www.help.senate.gov held a hearing on June 17, 2020 to hear from a panel of telehealth experts that provided testimony on the key role telehealth has played in fighting the spread of COVID-19 and what the telehealth industry needs to do to maintain momentum from a regulatory perspective to move forward. …Continue reading
Plan to Advance Mental Health
In May 2020, NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) https://www.nimh.nih.gov released their Strategic Plan for Research. NIMH is the leading federal agency charged with setting and supporting the national agenda for mental health research. …Continue reading