POST CONCURRENCE - PROPOSED NIH RESEARCH PROJECT

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000871 SIPDIS SIPDIS NIH PASS TO SHARI GRABILL HHS/NIH/FIC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO OSCI KSCA LE SUBJECT: POST CONCURRENCE - PROPOSED NIH RESEARCH PROJECT NO. AG01284613 REF: STATE 83530 ¶1. Embassy Beirut has no objections to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed award of research project AG01284613 entitled, "Michigan Center on the Demography of Aging," to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and the American University of Beirut. Embassy Beirut sees no adverse U.S. foreign policy concerns. This is based on the understanding that the activity as proposed will be conducted by culturally sensitive academic actors on the University's research staff. ¶2. Embassy notes that this is a pilot study that ultimately may lead to additional research in Lebanon. The NIH should be aware that this or any follow-on research design needs to take into consideration the special security restrictions related to living and working in Lebanon. Any design that involves official US government employees visiting or residing in Lebanon requires close coordination with the Embassy to assure that the timing and availability of housing and security-related support costs can be addressed and supported. Embassy Beirut is a high-threat post, and all USG staff working in Lebanon live on a fortified compound and cannot leave the compound without armed guards. All USG employees traveling to Lebanon on official business are required must obtain Post country clearance prior to their arrival. Finally, Post reminds NIH that the Department of State recently issued another travel warning advising Americans to defer all non-essential travel to Lebanon, which is available on the State Department's website www.state.gov FELTMAN