The Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders focuses on building partnerships and enabling interdisciplinary large-scale research between the basic and applied sciences, which are necessary to understand the normal brain and nervous system, as well as, disorders in their structure and function. With funding from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Bruce M. Altevogt of the National Academy of Sciences directs the Forum, which brings together leaders from private sector sponsors of basic research, biomedical and clinical research, federal agencies sponsoring and regulating biomedical and clinical research, foundations, the academic community, and consumers. Quarterly the membership plans and organizes meetings to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. In addition, the Forum sponsors workshops for members and the public to discuss approaches to resolve key challenges identified by Forum members. For example, upcoming workshops are addressing topics such as training and education for the next generation of neuroscientists, neuroscience animal models, environmental and genetic factors that affect the brain, and improving quality of care for individuals with neurological disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. The IOM is focusing on data sharing collaboration and data mining. It is examining what is requried to merge industry and academic studies.
Through its meetings and workshops the Forum strives to enhance understanding of research and clinical issues associated with the nervous system among the scientific community and the general public, and provide a mechanism to foster partnerships among stakeholders. This project is being co-funded by the Behavioral & Cognitive Sciences Division of the Social, Behavioral, and Economics Directorate, the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET)Division of the Engineering Directorate, and the Information and Intelligent Systems Division of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Directorate.
During the period of September 1, 2013 through October 31, 2014 the Institute of Medicine convened the membership of the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorder 3 times. Each of these meetings brough together leaders from private sector sponsors of biomedical and clinical research, federal agencies sponsoring and regulating biomedical and clinical research, foundations, the academic community, and consumers. Topics discussed at the membership meetings include: financial incentives for investment in drug development for nervous system disorders Discuss engagement opportunities with IMEC Neuroelectronic Research Program Consider infrastructure and policy solutions that might improve the management and sharing of large basic research data sets The BRAIN Initiative being undertaken by the NSF, NIH, and DoD. In addition the Forum organized and hosted two workshops,Improving Access to Essential Medicines for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa and Accelerating Therapeutic Development for Nervous System Disoders towards First-in-Human Trials. Each of these led to a published summary. In addition the Forum began to organize a workshop Defining the Expertise Needed for the 21st Century Neuroscience Workforce. The Forum released 4 workshop summaries.The summaries can be downloaded for free via: http://iom.edu/Reports.aspx?Activity={6719B4CE-7D69-4431-A07D-98A98CFCDA28} Improving Access to Essential Medicines for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa - Workshop Summary Released: July 14, 2014 Recognizing the limitations of most SSA countries to effectively treat MNS disorders, the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders of the Institute of Medicine convened a workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2014. The workshop brought together key stakeholders to discuss opportunities for achieving long-term affordable access to medicines for MNS disorders and to consider frameworks and strategies that have been successful in other countries and for different diseases. In particular, the workshop was organized around a series of focused discussions on four challenge areas: insufficient demand, inappropriate selection, ineffective supply chains, and high pricing and poor financing. This document summarizes the workshop. Caffeine in Food and Dietary Supplements: Examining Safety - Workshop Summary Released: January 17, 2014 Caffeine is arguably the most ingested pharmacologically active substance in the world and has been a part of many cultures for centuries. But the caffeine-in food landscape is quickly changing. Along with energy drinks and supplements, the array of new caffeine-containing products is rapidly expanding. Historically, scientific research has shown that moderate consumption naturally-occurring caffeine in coffee and tea by healthy adults is not associated with adverse health effects. However, the inclusion of caffeine in products such as soft drinks and other beverages, foods, and supplements raises concerns about safety, whether new products target populations not normally associated with high caffeine consumption – like children and adolescents – and whether caffeine poses a greater health risk to those populations. The IOM held a workshop August 5-6, 2013, to review the available science on safe levels of caffeine consumption in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements and to identify data gaps. Improving and Accelerating Therapeutic Development for Nervous System Disorders - Workshop Summary Released: November 25, 2013 Although there is a high burden associated with nervous system disorders, development of new therapeutics remains stagnant. Over the last decade, fewer new drugs for nervous system disorders have garnered approval in comparison to other therapeutic areas. Current data suggest that drug development, from the start of a discovery program to regulatory approval, can take an average of 12 to 15 years. Building off of concepts discussed at a 2012 IOM workshop, the IOM Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders held a workshop to examine opportunities to accelerate early phases of drug development for nervous system drug discovery. Neurodegeneration: Exploring Commonalities Across Diseases - Workshop Summary Released: October 3, 2013 Neurodegenerative diseases – such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – are becoming increasingly more prevalent in the United States due to the aging population. Implications of these diseases are grave, both for individual and family quality of life and for healthcare costs. Recent findings have revealed potential commonalities and parallelisms in genetic and cellular mechanisms across neurodegenerative diseases. In 2012, the IOM hosted a workshop to explore commonalities across neurodegenerative diseases and to identify potential opportunities for collaboration across the respective research and development communities.
