In June 2011, Dr. Collins provided an update on the status of the proposed substance use, abuse, and addiction reorganization. Over the intervening months, the NIH has continued to undertake a detailed analysis of our current substance use, abuse, and addiction-related research portfolio. That analysis is still ongoing; however, we do not only want to look at what we have done, but also what we could do. A planning committee of scientific representatives from the potentially affected Institutes and Centers is currently developing a Scientific Strategic Plan for the proposed Institute. The planning committee’s goal is to identify new scientific opportunities and public health needs that are not sufficiently addressed by NIH at this time and subsequently assess the identified opportunities and needs, taking into consideration the current scientific strategic plans and missions of NIAAA, NIDA, and other potentially affected ICs. Together, the portfolio analysis and the Scientific Strategic Plan will allow the NIH, and the research community, to see fully the potential benefits that this reorganization could bring to substance use, abuse, and addiction research. > > > > Read More
