A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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April 19, 2004 - Extensive phone conversation with Josh Bolten (OMB Director), Jim Capretta and Tom Reilly (OMB) regarding the details of my proposal for the "virtual" center for HIV Vaccine as described above. I described in detail the entire proposal to Josh. Josh was very supportive. Issue was where to get the $15 million start-up costs for '05 and the $51 million yearly costs. Josh indicated that he would figure out where to get the money. More than likely that we (NIAID) would have to absorb a portion of it.
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April 20, 2004 - Had nice lunch with Jay Lefkowitz today at The Oval Room on Connecticut Avenue. Beautiful warm Spring day. Jay just wanted to catch up on things with me. We discussed the PEPFAR and the issues associated with it; and the new G-8 proposal that I was working on with Gary Edson. Kristen Silverberg, and now Josh Bolten. Also talked about war in Iraq and the POTUS. Jay also inquired about what I want to do differently if anything. I told him that I wanted to remain in public service and the Secretary of HHS is a job that I would not strive for or promote myself for, but would not refuse if asked. He is thoroughly enjoying his private sector life. After lunch, he invited a friend (Christine Carlisle Jones) to the table for coffee. She is the CEO of a company that is working on freeze preserving eggs from women who might be getting chemo, and he wanted her to meet me. Very attractive and intelligent woman in her 30s. It was great to spend time with Jay. He has become a good friend.
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April 21, 2004 - Busy day! Beautiful sunny day.Testified at my House Appropriations Subcommittee (Chaired by Ralph Regula) in the AM , then rushed to brief Senate and House Staff (at Dirksen 116) from the Homeland Security and Appropriations Subcommittees on progress of Project Bioshield and its possible use to procure drugs for pandemic influenza. Many people present such as Bettylou Taylor of Senate Majority Appropriations, Craig Stevens of House Majority Appropriations and a variety of staffers from Homeland Security Committees, the latter were as usual disdainful of DHS. Bad news relationships between DHS and their respective committees. Also present were Sally Stanfield of DHS (terrific person), Stewart Simonson, Michael (WH Legisl), Tom Reilly of OMB, Ken Bernard of WH Homeland Security Council After meeting, Ken and I rushed to OSTP on 1801 Pennsylvania Ave to meet with the Weapons of Mass Destruction Medical Countermeasures Subcommittee. I am on the Steering Committee of the National Science and Technology Committee (NSTC) Subcommittee on WMD Medical Countermeasures (Chaired by Bill Winkenwerder (DoD) and Phil Russell (HHS). I rarely go to these meetings, but Ken Bernard wanted me to be there for discussion of 1)Anthrax countermeasure development plan and 2) DoD development of butylcholinesterase (BC). BC is unbelievable. It is a naturally occurring plasma product that neutralizes the effects of VX and Sarin gas. It binds to the phosphogen cholinesterase inhibitors of the gas and protects animals from sarin and VX. It has no toxic side effects. Taly Bar-Shalom from OSTP presented the data. The DoD people wanted NIH to do Phase 1 clinical trials on the plasma derived product and to pay for the development of the recombinant product since they "had no money". The Phase 1 trial would cost from $1 to 10 million depending on the design. The development would cost a few million $. I got up and chastized the army Colonels (Joe Perla et al) and told Bill Winkenwerder that I was astounded that they had a countermeasure for a known threat (Tokyo subway) that is completely effective in animals (rats, hamsters) and totally safe, and yet they say that they do not have any money to develop it. Unbelievable! In some fairness to them, the DoD money for Medical issues is so compartmentalized, that it is difficult for them to move $ from one silo to another. They have no way near the flexibility that NIH has. In addition, Bill Winkenwerder, who is Asst Secretary of DoD for Health, really has no power or jurisdiction and cannot commit resources at a meeting like this. He is a very good guy and promised me that he would find the money. I offered to share with them the effort and cost of a phase 1 trial. In reality, if they drop the ball on the clinical trial and development of recombinant product, I will pick it up. On the way from the Rayburn to Dirksen building, I ran into Hillary Clinton on the street and she gave me a big hug and kiss and we chatted for a few minutes (with her Secret Service people looking puzzled) about AIDS, etc.
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April 23, 2004 - Went to dinner over Dan and Marina Ein's home on Kenmore Drive in NW Washington. Dinner was to bring together people in DC interested in bioterrorism and press folks who cover this. Present among others was Bob Malsam (Head of DC Hospitals) Dan Lucey (Medical Officer of DC DOH), Ceci Connelly (Washington Post), Mike Iskowitz (Newsweek), Jerry Hauer (Biodefense Center at GW) and several others. Among topics that came up was the buzz around town of the recent intelligence that another "big" terror attack will happen soon. The weather was clearing or rain after a major thunderstorm. I had wanted to go to the St. Albans vs Jefferson County (WV) High School baseball game, but it was cancelled because of rain.
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2004-04-28 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
April 28, 2004 - White House (West Wing) - Met in Kristen Silverberg's office to discuss the FDC issue (see above). Much discussion regarding our approach to FDCs in the PEPFAR program. At meeting were the usual group: Kristen, Mark Dybul, Joe O'Neill, Mark McClellan, some FDA economists, Emit (FDA), Carol Thompson. I spoke with Kristen by phone after the meeting about my chose vis-à-vis options.
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April 28-29, 2004 - Gary Edson called me and said that he had a "disturbing" conversation with Patty Stonsifer (Gates) in which she mentioned that the USG should promise NEW resources for the Enterprise proposal to the G-8. Gary asked (and I did) call Rick Klausner to get his take. He is comfortable with our proposal. Gary is concerned that Gates will be lukewarm about our proposal and we will have another example of the POTUS trying to do something good and then getting criticized for not doing enough.
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May 4, 2004 - White House (West Wing) - Me with Gary Edson and Patti Stonecifer regarding the HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the upcoming G-8 meeting in Sea Island, GA. We have come to an agreement that if the POTUS presenting the Enterprise proposal to the G-8, Gates will soundly applaud the effort and work with us to get it going. The USG will not promise an new money over and above the $500+ million that we already spend on HIV vaccine research (this is about 5/6 of the world's total of $640 million). However, we will challenge the other G-8 countries to endorse the Enterprise strategic plan and align current and future resources with the plan.
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May 12, 2004 - Big White House day! The President visited the NIH for a "No Child Left Behind - Read First" ceremony. It was held at NIH since the NICHD had some activities in this area. Ceremony held in Natcher Auditorium. I sat in second row and the POTUS recognized me from the stage and greeted me individually noting that I was in the audience. After his talk, he came down to "work the rails" and chatted with me for about a minute on International AIDS. He mentioned that he had just met with the Health Minister of Angola. He was as usual very complementary to me. In the afternoon had a meeting in the WH with Kristen Silverberg, Allan Gilbert, Randy Tobias, Joe O'Neill, Mark McClellan, Lester Crawford and many others about fixed dose combination ARVs (FDCs) and the PEPFAR. We have developed a plan and a roll-out strategy. After the meeting, went to Indian Treaty Room and had a going away reception for Richard Falkenrath of the Homeland Security Council (HSC). Had nice chats with John Gordon (chief of HSC), Tom Ridge, Josh Bolten, Carol Kuntz, Clay Johnson and many others.
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May 19, 2004 - Good day! Project BioShield legislation passed the Semate by a 99-0 vote. The White House asked me to attend a press conference with Sens. Frist, Gregg, and Kennedy as well as Secretary Thompson at the Capitol. We briefed the press and I answered several questions. TGT called me the "father" of the BioShield Bill.