McClain named to national NIH council

		Craig J. McClain, M.D., is an internationally distinguished clinician-scientist in the fields of gastroenterology, alcoholic liver disease, nutrition and infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS.

Craig J. McClain, M.D., professor of medicine and Chief of Research Affairs for University of Louisville Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, is among four new members appointed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

The council advises the Secretary, the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the director of NIAAA on program and policy matters, offers recommendations on research conducted at NIAAA, and reviews applications for grants and cooperative agreements.

"We are proud that Dr. McClain has been chosen to this important post," Dr. Jesse Roman, Chairman of the U of L Department of Medicine said. "He is a physician-scientist, an excellent clinician, an educator and a scholar who has done much to further our understanding of the impact of alcohol abuse in our society."

The 15-member council includes representatives from health and science fields relevant to NIAAA activities, as well as leaders from among the general public in fields including health policy, law, economics and management.

"We are delighted to welcome this distinguished group of leaders to our advisory council," NIAAA Acting Director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., said "NIAAA will benefit greatly from their insight and experience."

Along with serving as professor of medicine at U of L’s School of Medicine, McClain is associate vice president for translational research and Distinguished University Scholar.

He also serves as chief of gastroenterology at the Robley Rex Veterans Administration Medical Center in Louisville.

McClain is an internationally distinguished clinician-scientist in the fields of gastroenterology, alcoholic liver disease, nutrition and infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS. Since 1977, he has earned funding from the Veterans Administration and multiple institutes of the NIH including NIAAA, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Strokes.

McClain has published 300 peer-reviewed articles and 100 manuscripts in books and proceedings. He has been a member of editorial boards, NIH peer review committees and was a member of the Center for Scientific Review/NIH Advisory Council.

He is a past winner of the NIAAA Method to Extend Research in Time Award, presented to investigators who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity during their previous research endeavors and who are likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner in the future.

Also appointed to the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are the Honorable Linda Chezem, J.D., Purdue University; Fulton Crews, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Mimi Fleury, a parent who is founder and president of the Community of Concern, North Bethesda, Md.