EVENTS 
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Wednesday,
September 16
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Sheldon Auditorium,
Towsley Center
Cardiovascular Symposium 2015
Don't Skip a Beat:
Care Across the Cardiovascular Continuum
Thursday, September 17 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Kensington Court Hotel 610 Hilton Boulevard Ann Arbor, MI
Finding Funding
for Your Research
Friday, September 18 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Multi-Purpose Room,
4360 Taubman Health Sciences Library
Thursday, September 24 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM Junge Family
Champions Center at
Michigan Stadium
Friday, September 25 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Junge Family
Champions Center at
Michigan Stadium
Seating for this event is limited to faculty and staff. RSVP to reserve your spot today.
Monday, September 28 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM BSRB Seminar Rooms
Michigan Laboratory Safety Fair Wednesday,
September 30 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Palmer Commons
Tuesday, October 6 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM Rackham Auditorium
Friday, October 9 - Friday, November 6 (Four-week course) 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rooms G063 & G064, NCRC Building 10
Friday, October 9 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM BSRB Seminar Rooms
Friday, October 9 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Multi-Purpose Room,
4360 Taubman Health Sciences Library
Tuesday, October 13 12:00 PM - 2:00 PMBSRB Seminar Rooms
Monday, October 19 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM BSRB Seminar Rooms
Thursday, October 29 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM BSRB Seminar Rooms
Monday, November 9
Monday, November 16 - Tuesday, November 17 Towsley Center
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RESEARCH NEWS
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QUICKLINKS
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IN THIS ISSUE
Leadership
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Funding
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Policies
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Training & Professional Development
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Announcements
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Select Research Funding &
Award Opportunities
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Make an Impact with the
2016 R01 Boot Camp Program
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Applications due Friday, October 16
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Applications for both coaches and mentees are due Friday, October 16.
This is the third year of the successful mentoring program to support and increase the success rate of Medical School faculty members applying for their first NIH Research Project Grant (R01) or equivalent grants.
R01 Boot Camp is a 10-month program comprised of:
- Large group events and workshops (e.g., proposal writing seminar, mock review, budget tips) designed to provide mentees with the tools and knowledge needed
to write a successful R01 proposal - Self-directed interdisciplinary peer group activities
to share, develop, and review proposals - Faculty coaches with established track records
of external funding who provide mentorship to early career investigators - Individual counsel on mentee research plans
from Internal Subject Matter Experts - Final proposal review from an External Subject
Matter Expert
The program is currently seeking applications for both mentees (faculty who have not yet been PIs on R01 grants) and coaches (senior faculty who have a history of NIH funding and an interest in mentoring) for the 2016 Boot Camp Cohort.
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MCubed Health Brainstorming Event
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 MCubed promotes cross-campus collaboration, but it can be a challenge to develop just the right project concept and then connect with colleagues from other schools. - Big Data & Personalized Medicine
- Cancer, Stem Cells, and Tissue Engineering
- Neurodegenerative Diseases, Eldercare,
and Therapeutic Delivery - Obesity, Microbes, Inflammation, Vaccines,
and Food Addictions
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MCubed Health: Project Ideation
Wednesday, September 23
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Session
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Reception
BSRB Seminar Rooms
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Facilitated by research leaders in these fields, this informal session offers you the chance to brainstorm with colleagues from other health-related schools on campus and prepare your proposal for successful MCubed 2.0 funding! Facilitators: - David Sherman, Ph.D.,
College of Pharmacy, LSA, and Medical School - Charlotte Mistretta, Ph.D.,
School of Dentistry - Mary O'Riordan, Ph.D.,
Medical School
This event is co-sponsored by the U-M Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Dentistry, and the U-M College of Pharmacy. |
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Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Seeking Applications for Two Major Funding Awards
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Awards geared toward early career investigators
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The foundation offers awards to support postdoctoral fellows conducting basic research, early career clinical investigators conducting translational research, and young innovators with high-risk/high-reward ideas.
Applications are currently being sought for the following awards:
Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award
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Submission Deadline:
| Tuesday, December 1 by 4:00 PM ET*
*Please note: Completed applications must be in the Damon Runyon office by the designated time and date listed above, NOT simply postmarked. | |
Award Amount:
| $460,000 over four years | |
Eligibility:
| Click here for a detailed description
of eligibility requirements | |
More Information:
| Program Overview |
Damon Runyon Fellowship Award
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Submission Deadline:
| Tuesday, March 15 by 4:00 PM ET*
*Please note: Completed applications must be in the Damon Runyon office by the designated time and date listed above, NOT simply postmarked. | |
Award Amount:
| $248,000 over four years | |
Eligibility:
| Click here for a detailed description
of eligibility requirements
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More Information:
| Program Overview |
Please visit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation's website for more information about these awards, including application forms and guidelines for submission.
Questions about this award opportunity should be directed to: |
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Paresh Patel Announced as
New MiChart Research Director
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Paresh Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
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Paresh Patel, M.D., Ph.D., was recently announced as the new MiChart Research Director in the Medical School Office of Research.
This position was developed as part of an effort to leverage and maximize the potential of our electronic health record (MiChart) for research. In his new role as MiChart Research Director and a member of the MiChart Leadership team, Dr. Patel is responsible for evaluating and implementing new Epic research functionality, identifying and prioritizing researcher needs, partnering to integrate systems and workflows to improve the efficiency of conducting research, and overseeing the MiChart Research team.
Dr. Patel brings over 18 years of clinical, digital health, and research experience to this position. He is Director of Health Informatics in the U-M Department of Psychiatry, an active MiChart user in the ambulatory, inpatient and ED contexts, a member of the MiChart Ambulatory Leadership team, and an Epic certified physician builder.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Patel's background and research interests.
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Coming Soon:
A Week of FREE Events for Postdocs
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Celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week with the UMMS Office of Research
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 Join the Medical School Office of Research for the sixth annual celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week as we celebrate the hard work and dedication of the 700+ postdoctoral fellows supported by the U-M Medical School.
This year's celebration begins on Monday, September 21 and runs through Friday, September 25, and includes a series of FREE events hosted by the Medical School Office of Research and the Medical School Office of Postdoctoral Studies throughout the week. Registration for these events is required.
Tuesday, September 22
Swipe Right If You're Interested in Epigenomics:
Exploring New Epigenetic Technology
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
BSRB Seminar Rooms
Lunch Session
Wednesday, September 23
To Infinity and Beyond!
How Postdocs Can Get Involved in Biomedical Commercialization
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Kahn Auditorium, BSRB
Panel Session & Reception
Thursday, September 24
What's the Scoop? Strategies for Communicating
About Your Lab with Colleagues and the Public
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room G063, NCRC Building 10
Lunch Session
Thursday, September 24
Postdoc Appreciation Picnic
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Burns Park
Dinner & Games
Friday, September 25
Researchers in a Room Getting Coffee:
Have You Met with MICHR Yet?
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Boardroom 1, Palmer Commons
Coffee & Bagels
Contact Kierstin Fiscus in the Medical School Office of Postdoctoral Studies at kfiscus@umich.edu or (734) 647-7005. |
 MCubed, the University of Michigan's one-of-a-kind funding program designed to spark innovative research without traditional peer review, is launching its second cycle this month. The U-M Medical School is contributing $1M toward this round of the program, anticipating that 180 cubes including Medical School faculty will be formed. 2,500+ faculty with a 50% or greater appointment with the Medical School will receive a token that allows them to seek MCubed collaborators. MCubed 2.0 will now feature two different kinds of cubes -- the "classic cube" funded at $60K, and a "mini cube" at $15K. Teams will now be free to spend up to 50% of the funding on research-related costs beyond personnel. The program will be phasing in its features and functionalities, including:
RED PHASE: Currently, faculty can update their profiles, use keywords to search for collaborators, and learn about the new program requirements for MCubed 2.0. Faculty who participated in MCubed 1.0 (2012 - 2014 cycle) can also enter their cube's achievements.
YELLOW PHASE: Beginning in mid-September, faculty can create projects, comment on others' project ideas, and invite collaborators to join their projects. They can essentially "fill" their projects so that three tokens are committed. GREEN PHASE: In early October, the MCubed website will activate the "request a cube" button so that faculty project owners (the person who created the project and invited the other two collaborators to join) can officially seek a cube, either a $60K (classic cube) or $15K (mini cube). CLICK HERE to go to the MCubed 2.0 webpage to learn more. As MCubed token holders progress through the red phase, updating their profiles and beginning to seek collaborators, they'll see a new, improved website (http://mcubed.umich.edu) that helps faculty navigate the cubing process.
There will also be general information sessions throughout September and early October:
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Friday,
September 18
| 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
| Palmer Commons,
Great Lakes Room North
| Wednesday, September 23
| 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
| Michigan League, Michigan Room
| Wednesday, September 23
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
| Michigan Union,
Pond Room
| Friday,
October 2
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
| Pierpont Commons, Boulevard Room
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Additionally, the Medical School and other collaborating schools are offering a session specific to biomedical innovation:
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MCubed Health: Project Ideation
Wednesday, September 23
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
BSRB Seminar Rooms
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Medical School faculty with specific questions should contact Jessica Durkin at jesskan@umich.edu. |
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Fast Forward Clinical Trials Update
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 As part of the Strategic Research Initiative, Fast Forward Clinical Trials (FFCT) is engaging the entire UMHS in creating the new knowledge needed to improve clinical care, value, and health outcomes by successfully executing a diverse portfolio of high-quality clinical trials. The magnitude of this change is significant, and having an experienced team who has worked with other top-tier institutions in their improvement efforts around clinical trials will assist UMHS in making timely progress. The on-site Huron project management team brings a wealth of practical knowledge in implementing best practices, while helping to avoid common pitfalls faced by others. The Huron team will be instrumental in helping us move from planning to action.
Pilot Transformation Processes Begin This Fall During September and October, Huron will be working with various faculty and staff to re-design the workflows of the Nodes and Central services in support of UMHS faculty and study teams. Furthermore, an integrated, enterprise-wide clinical trial management system that streamlines and standardizes the business processes related to clinical trials was one of the top priorities recommended by the Clinical Trials Task Force. Staff from Medical School Information Services, the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, and the Cancer Center spent several months in a discovery process that gathered feedback and data from faculty, study teams, and other stakeholders. After an RFP process, the Clinical Trials Subcommittee endorsed moving forward with Forte Research Systems with a phased approach. The first phase is a pilot with one or more of the Clinical Trial Nodes, and the next phase -- rolling implementation at an enterprise level -- will only proceed if the pilot is successful. Phase One will begin this fall. The Huron team has led implementations of clinical trial management systems, including Forte, at peer institutions and will be an invaluable partner during the pilot and enterprise implementation.  |
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MICHR Pilot Grant Applications
Due Friday, September 11 at 12:00 PM
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 The Michigan Institute for Clinical
& Health Research (MICHR's) Pilot Grant Program is taking applications for the latest round of funding. Applications are due by 12:00 PM on Friday, September 11. Full details are available here. Please spread the word to researchers who may be interested in applying for the funding. Community and academic investigators who want to learn more about MICHR's Community University Research Partnership (CURES) funding opportunity, which is supported by both the MICHR Pilot Grant and Communities Engagement Programs, are encouraged to view an informational webinar here. This funding opportunity is now open to communities and community-based organizations across the state of Michigan. Additional details about MICHR's Pilot Grant Program, including application and eligibility requirements, are available here. |
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New Training Opportunity for Research Administrators Announced
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Applications due Tuesday, September 15
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 Navigating the University of Michigan's research administration landscape can be challenging at any point in your career, but especially so if you're new to the University. If you're a new (less than 12 months of experience) research administrator to U-M and are looking to familiarize yourself with research-related policies and procedures, consider applying for the new Navigate: Fundamentals course.
The course consists of eight full-day, instructor-led sessions between October 2015 and March 2016 (four in the fall, four in the winter), and culminates with a capstone project. Interested parties should save these dates, as attendance at each session is mandatory.
Participants who attend all sessions and successfully complete the course requirements will receive a certification of completion.
How to Apply Supervisory approval and application acceptance is required for each of the participants. Application submission instructions and requirements for both supervisors and participants are available here. Be sure to apply soon; applications must be received by Tuesday, September 15 at 5:00 PM.
 This course is part of several new initiatives launched by the Offices of Research & Sponsored Projects and Finance - Sponsored Programs to provide a collection of training opportunities and professional development resources for research administrators.
Questions about the Navigate course and other training efforts offered by the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects should be directed to Amanda Coulter via email. |
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Abstracts and Art Sought for Eighth Annual Taubman Institute Symposium
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Submissions due Friday, September 25
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The posters will be displayed in the lobby of the A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building (AAT) during the symposium on Friday, October 16. Winning images in the art contest will be displayed and featured in the symposium program.
Cash prizes for the top three submissions in each category will be awarded at the close of the symposium, and contestants must be present to claim prizes.
Submissions for each category are due Friday, September 25 and should be submitted electronically to Dr. Stacey Jacoby. The Taubman Institute's Eighth Annual Symposium will take place on Friday, October 16 in the AAT Building. Posters will be on display beginning at 8:30 AM and speaking sessions will begin at 10:00 AM. Additional information, including submission requirements for posters and artwork, is available on the Symposium website.
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Register Now for November 19 Research Mentoring Forum
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The forum will be preceded by a light breakfast and poster session highlighting the research of MICHR scholars. A second poster session featuring MICHR's community partners will immediately follow the forum. The forum will feature the 2015 MICHR Mentor Awards ceremony, presented by Dr. S. Jack Hu, Interim Vice President for Research, and Mentoring: A Dialogue with Leadership, with panelists: - Dean Laurie McCauley, School of Dentistry
- Dean James Dalton, School of Pharmacy
- Associate Dean Margaret R. Gyetko,
Faculty and Faculty Development, School of Medicine - Interim Associate Vice President and
Interim Associate Dean David J. Brown,
Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, School of Medicine
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IRBMED Launches Two New
Flexibility Initiatives
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To utilize federal regulations' existing flexibility regarding non-federally-funded, non-FDA-regulated research and the application of equivalent protections, IRBMED has launched two new initiatives: Exemption 7 and Two-Year Approval periods.
These initiatives will be applied at the discretion of IRBMED; study teams may NOT request that IRBMED grant either initiative to a research project.
IRBMED may now choose to grant Exemption category 7 to certain existing studies in which research activity is limited to analysis of a single dataset containing identifiable information; new applications are not eligible for Exemption 7 at this time. This exemption eliminates the need for researchers to submit annual scheduled continuing reviews (or SCRs) when the only study activity is data analysis.
Two-Year Approval Periods
As its second new flexibility initiative, IRBMED may now opt to issue two-year approval periods for qualifying studies. The longer approval period eliminates the need for researchers to submit annual scheduled continuing reviews. Click here for Statements of Practice addressing flexibility initiatives.
Questions about this or other policies pertaining to human subjects research should be directed to IRBMED via email or phone at (734) 763-4768.
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Simplified Process for Data Sharing Agreements Announced
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Review these steps for sharing UMHS patient data with external collaborators
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To assure privacy and security when sharing patient-level data or specimens with a collaborator external to the University of Michigan, a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) may be required.
When a UFA is submitted, the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects will evaluate and determine whether a review is required by the Honest Broker Office. If a DSA is required for your project, you will be provided the appropriate documentation and next steps to finalize your agreement. All reviews and activities will take place within the UFA system.
Visit the Honest Broker Office website for more information. |
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"Surely There's a Better Way of Doing This?"
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UMMS team seeking input from lab users to help increase operating efficiencies
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How often have you heard this remark from someone frustrated about some lab chore or service? Immediately followed by "...well, change is difficult around here!" or "...better the devil you know than the devil you don't!"
There is a group in the Medical School working to rethink how some lab services are provided, how value could be improved, and how time and money could be saved. That group needs some input into these ideas and that's why you might find yourself being asked some questions during the next few weeks.
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Need Help with Diet, Exercise, and/or Metabolic Measurements in
Human Subjects?
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| Research facility includes
a full metabolic kitchen |
Are you designing a research study involving dietary, physical activity/exercise, body composition, and/or metabolic measurements or interventions in human subjects?
- Consultation to investigators. If you are considering the inclusion of dietary, physical activity/exercise, body composition, metabolic measurements or interventions into a new or existing project, the HPC has the expertise to help you optimize the design of your study.
- Standardized and sophisticated assessment and physiological testing of human subjects. Purchasing equipment and hiring staff to implement nutritional, exercise, and metabolic assessments for a new study can be very costly, and logistically challenging. The HPC has the equipment and the expertise to implement a wide array of nutritional assessments and physiological/metabolic tests for your research studies.
- Services to assist researchers with conducting their nutritional and/or exercise interventions in human subjects. If you are developing projects involving dietary or physical activity/exercise interventions, HPC staff can help you design and implement your interventions.
For more information, including a complete list of services, please visit the MNORC website or contact Sarah Ball, Research Manager, directly at sjcball@umich.edu.
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Research Opportunities Needed for Bright & Enthusiastic Undergraduates
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 The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is still accepting project listings for the 2015 - 2016 academic year. UROP has admitted 1,300 first- and second-year and community college transfer students to the program for the coming year. Many of these students have an interest in the health and life sciences, including both clinical and laboratory-based research opportunities.
If you have an ongoing project or a new project you hope to get up and running that could engage a student, please complete the brief online application. UROP research sponsors can include postdoctoral fellows and research scientists. Students will contact you in September to set up an interview.
The students will work with you the entire academic year, and many UROP students stay on the same project throughout their academic careers at U-M.
UROP provides research skill-building workshops to students to enable them to bring skills to use. These range from Laboratory Math and Keeping a Lab Notebook to software platforms such as SPSS, STATA, and R programming, to name a few. You can also apply for small research expenses up to $1,000 per project. Please note: project listings will be accepted through September. If you have an idea for a project, need more information, or would like to talk to a current UROP research sponsor from your department, please contact Sandy Gregerman, UROP Director,
at sgreger@umich.edu or (734) 615-9000.
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Facts & Fun at Researchpalooza 2015
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 Researchpalooza, hosted by the Medical School Office of Research (OoR) in conjunction with the UMHS Ice Cream Social, was bigger and better than ever this year! 3,500+ faculty and staff mixed and mingled on a beautiful, cool day with team members from 85 different offices and labs who serve biomedical research across campus.
Using the "Passport to Prizes," attendees were able to learn the latest facts and services about the various exhibiting groups, while having fun and getting the chance to win great prizes. Winners of this year's OoR prize drawings are listed below, along with the winners of prizes from other organizations.
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Winner
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Prize
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Awarded By
| | Mingrui An | La Paz
Margarita Basket | Bioinformatics Core | | Eric Brown | Cell phone charger | U-M Injury Center | | Pat Burns | Football
Fantasy Basket | Honest Broker Office | | Fang Deng | Movie Night Basket | Transgenic Animal
Model Core | | Amanda Dudley | iPad | UMMS
Office of Research | | Robert Dysko | Girls Night Out Basket | Epigenomics Core | | Ed Grimley | $2,000 toward professional travel | UMMS
Office of Research | | Jamie Guyot | Vinter's Path Basket | Microscopy & Image Analysis Lab | | Rui He | Coffee, Tea, and
Cocoa Basket | DNA Sequencing Core | | Betsy Huang | Cell phone charger | U-M Injury Center | | Michelle Kahlenberg | Gridiron Football Classic Basket | Flow Cytometry Core | | Jeongsoon Park | Hot Off the Grill Basket | Biomedical Research
Core Facilities | | Lisa Prosser | $50 Amazon.com
gift card | UMMS
Office of Research | | Jody Sharp | Connoisseur
Gift Basket | Metabolomics Core | | William Sturdavant | Hole in One Basket | Proteomics & Peptide Synthesis Core | | Terry VandenBosch | Oral B 5000
electric toothbrush | School of Dentistry
Clinical Research Core | | Jin Wan | 7th Inning Stretch Basket | Vector Core | | Jacob William | $50 Amazon.com
gift card | UMMS
Office of Research | | Erik Winnega | $100 Biomedical Research Store
gift card | Biomedical
Research Store | | Ozzie Zhang | $100 Biomedical Research Store
gift card | Biomedical
Research Store |
In addition to prize drawings for attendees, participating organizations were also competing for Spirit and Customer Service awards. Faculty and staff "secret shoppers" wandered the event, evaluating the tables and their staff.
Customer Service Award
"I could not have asked for a better introduction to the University," noted Bryant Sheppard, a new team member with the Grant Review & Analysis Office. "Not only did I have a great bonding experience with my team, but I was able to visit dozens of booths to get a better idea of all the goings-on across the biomedical research community."
Looking for more Researchpalooza 2015 fun? Click here to see photos from this year's event.
The entire OoR team loves research and all of the talented people who make it possible! Looking forward to 2016, if you know of a lab or organization on campus who you think would benefit from exhibiting at Researchpalooza, have them contact Ann Curtis at accurtis@umich.edu. |
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Sharpening Your Focus:
Tips on Grant Proposal Preparation
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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.)
The positive effects of peer mentoring are well documented, indicating mutually beneficial outcomes for both mentors and mentees. Senior faculty get fulfillment by sharing expertise, promoting scholarly values, and nurturing a new generation of researchers. Junior faculty benefit from emotional and psychological support, expanded knowledge, professional guidance, and, oftentimes, earlier successes.
Toward the goal of increasing NIH R01 success rates for early career faculty, the U-M Medical School has leveraged the benefits of peer mentoring through R01 Boot Camp, now entering its third year. Participants (mentees) are grouped into teams led by senior faculty coaches, as well as matched 1:1 with subject matter experts (SMEs). While developing R01 proposals over the 10-month course, mentees get much direction and several rounds of feedback via Chalk Talk presentations within departments; from team peers and coaches; from SMEs, and from external reviewers. Since "graduation," the 2013 pilot mentees have brought in $31M in new research funding from over 30 different sponsors. NIH awards include 14 R01s and six smaller R grants. The program also boasts a 42% R01 success rate (within 18 months) for faculty who submitted R01 applications.
is currently accepting applications for mentees and coaches for the 2016 program, due Friday, October 16.
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The program will begin on Monday, January 11 and run through October 2016. Visit the program website for more information. Additional mentorship options at the Medical School include:
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