The first meeting of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Xenotransplantation (SACX), will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 20-21, 2001 at the DoubleTree Rockville Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The meeting is open to the public; however, seating is limited and pre-registration is encouraged (see below).

The first SACX meeting will be primarily for orientation and organizational purposes. Presentations will address the history, science, and regulation of xenotransplantation, the recently issued PHS Guideline on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation, and clinical research in xenotransplantation. Discussion will also focus on the identification of the range of scientific, medical, public health, ethical, legal and socioeconomic issues associated with xenotransplantation. Specific periods of time will also be devoted to public comment; interested individuals should contact the SACX Executive Director (see below). The draft meeting agenda and Committee roster will be made available at http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/Sacx.htm closer to the time of the meeting.

For pre-registration, please contact Technical Resources International (Sharon Leeney) at 301-564-6400. Individuals who wish to provide public comments (oral or written) or who plan to attend the meeting and need special assistance or other reasonable accommodations, should notify the SACX Executive Director, Mary Groesch, by telephone at 301-496-0785 or email at groeschm@od.nih.gov.