NICHD recently received a Computerworld Honors Program Laureate for its virtual meeting program to enable researchers and administrators to conduct meetings with distant colleagues through their desktop computers. Attending the award ceremony were (from l) James Hollohan, who provides contract support for the program, David Songco, chief information officer, and deputy director Dr. Yvonne Maddox.

NICHD recently received a Computerworld Honors Program Laureate Award for its program to enable the institute’s researchers and administrators to conduct meetings with distant colleagues through their desktop computers.

The award citation acknowledged the institute for “implementation of virtual collaboration to support research that will improve the health of children, adults and families worldwide.”

"With proper planning, research workgroups can use virtual collaboration to save time, improve efficiency and quality of work, reduce cost and expand outreach capabilities,” said David Songco, NICHD chief information officer, who accepted the medal on behalf of the institute.

NICHD’s Information Resource Management Branch began investigating the feasibility of virtual meeting technology after the institute’s deputy director, Dr. Yvonne Maddox, asked staff to find cost-effective ways to foster scientific collaborations.

Songco said the institute has used virtual meetings in a variety of its programs, including research protocol meetings, research network and committee meetings and training programs. NICHD researchers have also used virtual meetings to bring together scientists from numerous countries. A recent virtual meeting convened experts from Canada, England, Finland, Sweden, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and the United States. The meeting saved the travel costs of assembling participants from more than 30 countries.

The Computerworld Honors Program, governed by the Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation, honors individuals and organizations that use information technology to benefit society.