JJAMD and The TMJ Association Participated
in NIH TMJDIWG Meeting at NIH Headquarters on
The TMJD Interagency Working Group [TMJDIWG] was formed as a result
of Congressional recognition that “…problems associated with TMJ involve many Institutes
and Centers” and requires “the.[NIH] Director to coordinate
cross-cutting research by the various Institutes and Centers.” Both JJAMD and TMJA are Patient Advocate members
of this Working Group.
The meeting included reports from:
• NIH PAIN CONSORTIUM.
Progress toward establishing a new inter-institute working group
on pain.
• NIH HEART, LUNG,
AND BLOOD INSTITUTE [NIHLB] ..
National Sleep Disorders Research Plan which includes a reference to TMJ and Allied
Disorders as a cause for sleep apnea.
• NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL DISORDERS [NIDCR]
• Reported
on the existing TMJ Implant Registry, as well as an update on the future International
TMJD Natural History Registry.
• Comments
on a future “TMJ Patient Stigmatization Conference”.
• Announcement
that a new educational TMJD booklet will soon be published by National Oral Health
Information Clearing House [NOHIC] updating the current TMD pamphlet.
• Comments on plans by NIDCR to promote TMJ/TMJD
Awareness by the media to announce the new booklet and other awareness activities.
• Members
were urged by Dr. Lawrence Tabak, NIDCR Director, to redouble
efforts to bring more researchers into the interagency efforts and attract other
Institutes whose work overlaps with current member Institutes.
• PLEASE NOTE: Further information on this important meeting will
be forthcoming on this website.