The National Institutes of Health has appointed seven new individuals, including American Kidney Fund CEO LaVarne Burton, to the NIH Council of Councils. The council was established to advise the NIH Director on policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, including making recommendations on research that represents important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination.

The council is composed of 27 members nominated by the NIH Institutes and Centers and from the Council of Public Representatives, an advisory committee to the NIH Office of the Director.

"The breadth of expertise brought by these individuals will enhance the council's ability to achieve its mission by offering a diversity of perspectives and talents. Collectively the council will inform our approach to selected trans-NIH research initiatives." said DPCPSI Director, James M. Anderson, M.D., PhD.

The following new members will serve terms on the council through Oct. 31, 2014:

• LaVarne Burton, MA, American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Md., nominated by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Francisco X. Castellanos, MD, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, nominated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse

• Jeffrey A. Kaufman, MBA, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation, Needham, Mass., nominated by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

• Grace LeMasters, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, nominated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

• K.C. Kent Lloyd, DVM, PhD, University of California, Davis, nominated by the National Center for Research Resources

• Joyce A. Mitchell, PhD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, nominated by the National Library of Medicine

• Robert F. Murphy, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, nominated by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences