Research News
MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFICE OF RESEARCH
January 2015
EVENTS 

Take Time

to Make Time:

Time Management

for Faculty Workshop

Thursday, January 22

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

 

 

Leadership Skills

for Working Effectively in Research Collaborations

Three-workshop series:

Friday, February 6, 

Friday, March 13 &

Thursday, April 30

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

 

30th Annual

U-M Center for Gastrointestinal Research Retreat

Saturday, February 7

8:00 AM

Kahn Auditorium &

BSRB First Floor Atrium

 

 

Six Smart Ways to Stay Current in Your Clinical Research Career

Monday, February 9

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Garden Level

Floor Auditorium,

Rachel Upjohn Bldg

 

 

Overview of the
New NIH Biosketch

Friday, February 27

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Taubman

Learning Center,

2802 Med Sci II Bldg

 

Please contact Merle Rosenzweig if you are interested in having this overview workshop presented at your next departmental faculty meeting.

 

 

2015 CBSSM Research Colloquium and Bishop Lecture in Bioethics

Tuesday, March 17

Founders Room,

Alumni Center

 

Abstract submissions due by Friday, February 6. Please contact Kerry Ryan with any questions. Additional details available here.

 

 

Leadership

Summit for Women: Leading the Future

of Academic Medicine

& Healthcare

Monday, March 30

7:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

 

 

U-M Nursing
2015 Dean's
Research Day

Monday, March 30

12:00 PM - 4:45 PM

Dining Hall,

NCRC Building 18

 

Reception to follow.

 

 

2015 Conference on Adolescent Health

Thursday, April 23 - Friday, April 24

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

 

 

Write Winning Grant Proposals from the Reviewer's Perspective

Monday, May 4

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

 

Wednesday, June 10

Two sessions:

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM or

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Pharmacology

Boot Camp

Monday, March 16

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

 

 

4th Annual BRCF Technology & Services Showcase

Thursday, June 11

11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Great Lakes Room

& Forum Hall,

Palmer Commons

 

 

Health System Headlines Research Seminars & Events 

FUNDING + AWARD OPPORTUNITIES 

Internal Submissions

 

Subsidy funds are available on a rolling basis from the Nathan Shock Center for the Biology of Aging for subsidized use of U-M Research Resource Cores for problems in aging research.

 

Details here. 


 

Pilot Programs

 

2015 U-M Geriatrics Center Pilot Grant Competition

Deadline:

Monday, February 2

 

Oscar Stern Award for Depression Research

Deadline:

Monday, February 2

 

George O'Brien Michigan Kidney Translational Core Center Pilot Program

Deadline:

Monday, February 16

 

MTRAC Kickstart Award

Deadline:

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis until available funding has been distributed. 

 

 

Other Opportunities 


2015 Department of Pediatrics Intramural Awards Program

Deadline:

Monday, February 2 

 

Frankel

Cardiovascular Center McKay Research Grants

Deadline:

Wednesday, February 4

 

UMHS - Peking University Health Science Center

Joint Institute for Translational & Clinical Research Awards

Deadline:

Thursday, February 5

 

 

Additional Resources

RESEARCH NEWS 

QUICKLINKS
Fact Sheets
& Hot Topics

Find UMHS facts and figures for your next proposal!

Research Project
Route Map


MBECT Resources 

 

UMMS Office

of Research

 

U-M Medical School 

 

IN THIS ISSUE 
 
Funding 
  • Policies
  • Training & Professional Development
  •  Announcements
  • Accolades & Milestones
  • FFMI
    Translate Your Idea Into Impact
    Enroll in FFMI's Early Tech Development Course
    Join Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) for a FREE four-week course designed to equip biomedical faculty and researchers at U-M with the knowledge and tools to navigate the initial processes of innovation and commercialization.

    The Early Tech Development Course will kick off on Friday, May 29 and run through Friday, June 26.

    As part of this course, participants will:
    • Master the entrepreneurial concepts of needs finding through a process called Customer Discovery
    • Develop a compelling business case for their technology
    • Determine their technology's commercial viability
    • Expand their network of key innovation partners across
      the U-M Innovation Ecosystem
    • Develop greater self-confidence and presentation skills
      in preparation for investors and partners
    Visit the Early Tech Development Course website for more information, including to register for the class series.

    Questions?
    Contact Jon Servoss, FFMI Commercialization Education Coordinator, via email for more information.
    Coulter
    Have A Technical Innovation Idea
    That Could Improve Patient Care?
    U-M Coulter Program Announces 2015
    Call for Proposals

    The U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program is pleased to announce the 2015 Call for Proposals.

     

    The deadline for proposal submission

    is Monday, March 2.

     

    The U-M Coulter Program is funded through proceeds of an endowment from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and supports collaborative translational research projects that involve co-investigators from any engineering department and a clinical department. 

     

    The goal of this program is to support translational research project collaborations between engineers and clinicians in order to accelerate the development and commercialization of new medical devices, diagnostics, and other biomedical products that address unmet clinical needs and lead to improvements in health care.

     

    Projects are supported and mentored by a team of industry- experienced experts who proactively work to accelerate Coulter

    Program objectives of developing new product concepts to the point of partnering with industry or forming start-up companies with follow-on funding to commercialize new products envisioned from translational research efforts.

     

    Distinctive aspects of the Coulter Program include business assessment work that dovetails with technical milestones for each project.

     

    Specific benefits to each project include:

    • Business development support
    • Intellectual Property advice and legal support
    • Regulatory guidance
    • Follow-on funding guidance
    • Mentorship from Oversight Committee

    For more information, visit the Coulter Program website

     

    For direct questions, please contact Thomas Marten, Coulter Program Director, via email or phone at (734) 647-1680.

    AirWatch
    Action Required: Protect the Sensitive Data On Your Mobile Devices!
    Enroll in AirWatch by Monday, February 23

    AirWatch is the mobile device management (MDM) system provided by UMHS to ensure security for smartphones and tablets that connect to the UMHS environment. If you want to access your UMHS email, calendar, or contacts (Outlook Exchange) on your mobile device, you will need to enroll the device in AirWatch.

     

    AirWatch will be required for all mobile devices that connect to UMHS email starting Monday, February 23. However, members of the Medical School and UMHS communities are strongly encouraged to enroll within the next five days. This will give everyone plenty of time to seek help should any problems arise, and will also prevent overloading the AirWatch system.

     

    If you do not enroll in AirWatch, the only way you will be able to access your UMHS email services on mobile devices is through a web browser using Outlook Web Access.

     

    You may enroll in AirWatch after February 23, but please note that until you do, you will not receive any new email or Outlook updates. For additional information, see the AirWatch FAQs (requires Level-2 login).

     

    How to Enroll 

    Get started by following the DIY instructions here. If you need help enrolling, drop-in assistance is available at one of the Medical School Information Services (MSIS) "Help Me Now" locations. You can also contact MSIS via email or phone at

    (734) 763-7770.

    HBO
    Explore Clinical Data Access
    for Research
    Lunch and Learn with the Honest Broker Office

    Join the Honest Broker Office at our next session to explore Clinical Data Access for Research. You'll learn what self-serve tools and support services exist to accelerate your access to patient-level health data for research.

     

    The session will feature a collaborative presentation and discussion time to assist with the needs of the research teams.

     

    Lunch and Learn!

    with the Honest Broker Office

     

    Thursday, January 22

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    Danto Auditorium, Cardiovascular Center

     

    Panelists include:

    • Moira Dowling, M.P.H.,
      Associate Director, Honest Broker Office
    • Jo Lazarou, PharmD,
      Clinical Research Manager, MiChart
    • Erin Kaleba, M.P.H.,
      Director, DataDirect
    • Deb Gipson, M.D., M.S.,
      Director, Honest Broker Office and Professor of Pediatrics

    We're excited to share the tools and services we have available to help you quickly, easily, and securely access the information you need; so pack a lunch and come see how the Office of Research can accelerate your research!

    Nathan.Shock
    Funds Available to Study Aging Mutant and Genetically-Modified Mice

    The Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, which is part of the University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology, sponsors an Aging Rodent Core (ARC). The goal of the ARC, directed by Evan Keller, Ph.D., D.V.M., is to provide both scientific and financial assistance to U-M researchers who wish to develop and study aged mice whose genotypes make them particularly valuable for the study of problems in the cell and molecular biology of aging.

     

    Studies of spontaneous or induced mutants, knock-outs, and transgenic animals are all eligible for consideration. Typical support levels are $6,000 - $10,000 annually for one to two years to assist with per diems, creating mice, and pathology. The ARC is likely to make two such awards.

     

    Applications are accepted at any time, but please check to ensure there is still availability. University Committee on Use and Care of Animals approval is required before any mice can be obtained or used in the proposal, but is not required prior to application.

     

    If you would like to be considered for ARC support or have additional questions, please email Dr. Evan Keller for a submission form.

     

    The Nathan Shock Center is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Aging and is directed by Richard Miller, M.D., Ph.D., at the U-M Institute of Gerontology.

    CURES
    Learn More About the Community-University Research Partnership Award at Upcoming Webinar
    Webinar to be held on Friday, January 30

    Are you involved in a community-university partnership that is collaborating to conduct health research?

     

    The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR)'s Pilot Grant Program offers the Community-University Research (CURES) Partnership Award to provide funding support for pilot or feasibility studies that address community-identified health priorities and translation of findings to interventions, strategies, and policies that improve health.

     

    The request for proposals for this grant opportunity will be released at the end of January, with proposals due in mid-March. 

     

    Academic and community partners who want to learn more about the CURES application and review processes are invited to participate in an informational webinar on Friday, January 30 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Please register for the webinar by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 29.

     

    If at any time you would like to discuss the appropriateness of your research for the CURES funding opportunity, or you need assistance identifying a university or community partner, please visit MICHR Community Engagement to schedule a free consultation.

     

    If you would like feedback on your hypothesis, specific aims, study design and/or biostatistical plan, please visit the MICHR Research Development Core to schedule a free consultation.

    MiChart
    Researchers: Save the Date
    for a MiChart Research Update 
    Tuesday, February 17 or Tuesday, February 24

    If you are a clinical researcher, please plan to attend a one-hour session for information on the 2014 upgrade to MiChart coming in April 2015.

     

    Informational sessions will be held:

      Tuesday, February 17
      9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    Danto Auditorium,
    Cardiovascular Center
      Tuesday, February 17
      2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Danto Auditorium,
    Cardiovascular Center

      Tuesday, February 24
      3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    Research Auditorium,
    NCRC Building 10

     

    You will learn about:
    • The new chart search feature 
    • Diagnosis calculator (ICD-10 requirement)
    • Available training
    • Current research support
    • How to request research support 

    If you are unable to attend one of these three sessions, the information will be available on the MiChart website after Tuesday, February 24.

    MICHR.Mentor
    Nominate Your Mentor for the 2015 MICHR Distinguished Mentor Award

    Is your mentor an outstanding advisor, advocate, sponsor, colleague, and collaborator?

     

    Do you know a University of Michigan faculty member who shares his or her knowledge and research experience with students and scholars, many from

    different disciplines, with no thought of reward or recognition?

     

    The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) would like to celebrate the contributions of such individuals with the 2015 MICHR Distinguished Mentor Award.

     

    Consider nominating your mentor for this award, which honors the efforts and accomplishments of faculty across the university who demonstrate consistent high quality research and career mentoring in areas of clinical and translational research.

     

    Eligibility:

    Nominees must be faculty members (tenured or non-tenured) from any discipline in any school, department, or program at the University of Michigan who have mentored in an area of clinical and translational research. Nominees are not required to have any previous affiliation with MICHR.

     

    The nomination deadline for the 2015 MICHR Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award is Monday, February 16.

     

    Find out more and learn how to submit a nomination here.

     

    Click here to read about the six recipients of the 2014 award and don't forget to watch our "MICHR Supports Mentoring" video.

    ARS
    Enliven Your Presentations with the New MSIS Audience Response System

    Medical School Information Services (MSIS) now offers a new Audience Response System (ARS), available for U-M researchers to request for their lectures or presentations.

     

    An ARS allows presenters to engage their audiences by setting up polls, which attendees respond to in real-time using clickers. 

    This user-friendly ARS uses TurningPoint software and replaces the aging Qwizdom system.

     

    TurningPoint is pre-loaded on computers located in Medical School lecture halls, or it can be used on other computers using the USB drives that MSIS provides with the clickers. The software runs on all UMHS imaged machines, including MCIT managed computers and MSIS MiHarbor devices.

    Two hundred clickers and five USB drives are available for you

    to reserve.

     

    You can request the ARS by entering a Schedulon request, sending an email to [email protected], or by calling the MSIS Service Desk at (734) 763-7770.

    MICHR.Basics
    Register Now for MICHR's
    Research Basics Workshop Series

    Offered by the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, the Research Basics for Study Coordinators series is designed for any research team member who has less than two years of research experience, or who is new to research at the University of Michigan.

     

    This three-part workshop series is designed to teach the basic concepts of clinical research through active participant engagement, and provides a great opportunity for skill-building and learning. Maximum benefit will be gained by attending all three sessions, but it is not required. 

     

     Topics include:   

    • Essential Documents and Good Clinical Practice
      Tuesday, March 10
    • Fundamentals of Data Management
      Tuesday, March 17
    • Conducting and Obtaining Valid Informed Consent
      Tuesday, March 24 

    Find out more information and register now.

    OSEH
    Changing the Culture of Laboratory Safety at Michigan
    A message from OSEH Executive Director
    Terry Alexander

    You've all heard the story of the young researcher working in a UCLA

    laboratory who received massive burns and died a few days following a tragic,

    preventable laboratory accident on December 29, 2008.

     

    Since that accident there have been others across the country -- fortunately none here at Michigan. Several independent groups, including the American Chemical Society and most recently the National Research Council, have issued reports on the poor culture of safety in research institutions. Here at home, the Office of University Audits completed an audit of laboratory safety practices in research units across campus and identified a number of improvements that can be made to enhance research safety.

     

    Over the coming months you will see initiatives rolling out from Occupational Safety & Environmental Health (OSEH) and the U-M Office of Research, with support of the Provost Office, that will enhance research safety practices that all of you use every day in your laboratories. The ultimate goal, as always, is to be a leader in safe research; safe research leads to high-quality research and that is what U-M is all about.

     

    The challenge I am laying out for each of you today is this:

    When you are planning a project ask questions about hazards, protective measures, and controls. Then make sure the proper set up, equipment, and training is in place before starting. It is the culture we need to reach to really achieve safe laboratory operations.

     

    Looking for more OSEH updates? 

    Click here to view OSEH's newsletter and to subscribe to their mailing list.

    BRCF
    BioTechniques Announces
    New Core Facility Attribution Policy
    In December, the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) sent out a notice to all members that BioTechniques: The International Journal of Life Science Methods has announced a new policy regarding attribution of core facilities in publications.

    BioTechniques is now asking that all submitted manuscripts please include acknowledgment of any use of core facilities. The journal will now ask authors during final acceptance if they worked with a core facility. This new policy was announced in the December 2014 issue of the publication. 

    A PDF download of the full text by Editor-in-Chief Nathan S. Blow, Ph.D., is available here.

    The ABRF stated: "The ABRF will continue to champion the adoption of similar policies by other scientific journals. Please note that the ABRF website provides Recommended Guidelines for Authorship of Manuscripts."
    UCUCA
    Working with Animals?
    Learn Why Expiration Dates Matter

    All medical materials (e.g., drugs, antibiotics, fluids, saline bags,

    disinfectant solutions, catheters, sutures, etc.) are labeled with an expiration date. This signifies that the manufacturer does not guarantee the efficacy, sterility, safety, or stability of the product beyond the date

    indicated.

     

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals all consistently state that expired materials cannot be used in laboratory animals. Some materials (e.g., sutures, fluids) can be used for non-recovery procedures; however they must be labeled as such and stored separately from non-expired medical materials.

     

    Expired anesthetics, analgesics, and euthanasia agents

    may never be used in laboratory animals.

     

    It is a good idea to regularly inspect your medical materials and discard any expired substances. During regular University Committee on Use and Care of Animals (UCUCA), USDA, and other regulatory inspections, the presence of improperly labeled expired substances can and will result in citations for the laboratory.

     

    By regularly clearing out expired materials, you can help ensure that your research and the welfare of your animals are of the highest quality!

     

    If you have any questions or concerns regarding drug storage or expiration dates, please do not hesitate to contact the UCUCA Office via email or phone at (734) 763-8028.

    COI
    Conflict of Interest vs. Outside Interest -- What's the Difference?

    You've probably heard the acronym "COI" (Conflict of Interest), but have you heard the term, "Outside Interest?" An "Outside Interest" is a non-University interest, activity, or relationship (paid or unpaid) that is related to a faculty or staff member's institutional responsibilities.

     

    For example, Dr. Einstein, a UMHS faculty member who specializes in oncology, gets paid to do outside consulting work for CancerCure, a biomedical company that is developing a chemotherapy drug. This consulting work, or Outside Interest, relates to Dr. Einstein's University responsibilities because it relies upon the same expertise used to carry out his duties at the University.  

     

    Are Outside Interests Bad?

    Of course not! The University allows and encourages outside activities and relationships that enhance its mission. The faculty and staff at UMHS have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the community and companies engaged in biomedical or scientific development. 

     

    Are all Outside Interests COIs?

    Of course not! In the example above, if Dr. Einstein is NOT conducting research that involves CancerCure or its products, or making decisions about University business related to CancerCure, there is no conflict of interest.

     

    If you have questions about Outside Interests or COIs and research, reach out to the U-M Medical School Office of Regulatory Affairs via email - they can help!

    HPC
    High-Performance Computing Services for Researchers

    The Medical School Information Services (MSIS) Research Program provides a portfolio of services, including access to high-performance computing, in support of UMHS research programs. 

     

    Flux is a Linux-based High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster available to all users within the University community. This rate-based service is provided in concert with the Advanced Research Computing Group, with the MSIS Research Program providing direct support for researchers who use the Flux cluster. Currently, there are over 12,000 cores of standard memory Flux, 360 cores of high memory Flux, and 80 cores of GPU Flux.

     

    In December, a new "Flux on Demand" service became available, which allows users to run jobs as needed without committing to a month-long allocation. A wide range of compilers, commercial, and open-source software is available for all Flux users. For more information, refer to the Flux HPC cluster website.

     

    Another HPC option is Axiom, a federated cluster provided by MSIS for researchers who cannot use Flux because of the nature of their computing, or if the research contains protected or restricted data. To join the Axiom Cluster, researchers provide hardware they have purchased and become part of this "community."

     

    For more information about HPC or other computational research services that MSIS provides, please contact them via email or phone at (734) 763-7770.

    SharpFocus
    Anticipating the New NIH Biosketch
    Sharpening Your Focus:
    Tips on Grant Proposal Preparation
    By Jill Jividen, Ph.D., Senior Manager for Research Development Support,
    U-M Medical School Office of Research

     

    (One in a series of tips published in UMMS Research News about writing proposals.) 

     

    Starting Monday, May 25, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require a new Biosketch format that uses short narratives to highlight what researchers have specifically accomplished in their fields.

     

    Sally Rockey, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, notes in her blog that the new qualitative format provides researchers -- especially early investigators -- "a platform for describing and framing the significance of their contributions" that will allow reviewers to better understand bodies of work.

     

    What's New?

    Under the section "Contributions to Science," investigators may describe up to five ways their work has influenced and advanced their fields. Each narrative may be annotated by up to four publications. Investigators should detail their most significant contributions and respective impacts, as well as what role they played in the research. The format also allows links to online bibliographies, and a new five-page limit.

     

    What Now?

    Reviewers will use "Contributions" to identify candidates with the strongest potential for success. This is a vital opportunity to showcase the highpoints of scientific r�sum�s and emphasize capabilities.

     

    Start crafting yours today:

    • Take inventory of your publications/projects.
      Group and rank them by significance.
    • Consider constructing titles for each entry that summarize/highlight importance and leave good
      first impressions.
    • If applicable, note in narratives how many citations publications have received to show who has been
      building on your work.
    • Have colleagues (mentors, staff) review/edit the section before your next proposal submission! 
    Learn More
    Register for the Overview of the New NIH Biosketch workshop offered by the Taubman Health Sciences Library on Friday, February 27.*

    *Note: If you are unable to attend this session and are interested in having this information presented at your next departmental faculty meeting, please contact Merle Rosenzweig.

    Review the SF424 Application Format Pages to learn more. 

    Office of Research
    Our mission in the Office of Research is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the U-M Medical School community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.