Director’s Messages
Assembling the Right Ingredients for Nutrition and Good Health
September 29, 2023
Traditionally, knowing how to procure and prepare safe, nutritious, and palatable food is learned at home. Unfortunately, this knowledge is becoming less and less passed down through the generations. Fast food, ready-made meals, and “takeout” have become so convenient—and families rely on them so much—that many children today, and even in previous generations, have grown up without learning how to cook. These factors are among the many fueling high rates of obesity and poor nutritional status in the United States, and associated chronic conditions linked to poor nutrition, like type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Read more
Latest Messages From the Director
Article Spotlights an Often-Neglected Part of the Body
September 27, 2023
I was so pleased to speak recently with The New York Times reporter, Danielle Friedman, for her recent story on fascia, “The Tissue That Connects Our Muscles May Be a Key to Better Health.” The role of fascia in how our bodies function and the impact on our health is a topic that hasn’t gotten enough attention, but that is beginning to change, and it’s encouraging to have a thoughtful discussion on this subject.As Ms. Friedman explained, fascia is “the tough, flexible tissue that surrounds and connects muscles, bones, and organs like cling wrap.” I’m proud of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s work to advance research on this significant yet understudied part of our bodies. Read more
Including Spirituality Into a Fuller Picture of Research on Whole Person Health
August 18, 2023
Does health have a spiritual dimension? Read more
Funding Opportunity for Research on Myofascial Pain Biomarkers
August 8, 2023
I’m writing today to flag an important funding opportunity related to research on myofascial tissues and their role in musculoskeletal pain. Read more
Past Messages From the Director
- Ushering in 2021
January 29, 2021 - Looking Back on 2020’s Challenges and Ahead to the Promise of a New Year
December 30, 2020 - In Studying Pain, Connections Matter
December 23, 2020 - For Answers on Health Disparities, We Must Look to What’s Around Us
November 24, 2020 - Gratitude for a Community’s Investment
November 12, 2020 - Interconnected Challenges Require Research That Recognizes the Whole Person
October 27, 2020 - Puzzle Pieces on Pain: Exploring Minor Cannabinoids and Terpenes
September 30, 2020 - Vital Input Drives Sound Strategies for Research
September 22, 2020 - Join Us at NIH HEAL Initiative Workshop on Myofascial Pain Research
August 27, 2020 - Continued Discovery in Pain Research: Closing the Gaps
August 10, 2020 - Unlocking the Body’s Inner Signaling Systems
July 28, 2020 - Virtual Discussions, Public Comments, and July 1 Town Hall Move NCCIH’s Strategic Planning Forward
June 23, 2020 - Considering Whole Person Health as We Develop NCCIH’s Next Strategic Plan
April 27, 2020 - Navigating Challenging Times With Scientifically Sound Resources
March 19, 2020 - In the New Year, Resolve To Go Beyond “Quick Fixes”
January 8, 2020 - Reflecting on My First Year, Inspired by NCCIH’s First 20
December 26, 2019