National CTSA Consortium

Visit CTSACentral.org for information about the national CTSA program.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences funds the CTSA program.

News

The CTSI news page showcases news items associated with CTSI personnel, awardees, trainees and scholars. Please click the the links below to view the original articles and video footage. Click here to access the CTSI News Archive to view articles previous to June 2011.

May 25th, 2012

Featured Event: CTSI Town Hall Meeting – Thursday, May 31st, 3:00 to 4:30

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) will host its second Town Hall Meeting in the lobby of the Saunders Research Building on Thursday, May 31st, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Everyone is welcome – especially everyone from the research community at the University. We’ll start with a few brief presentations from new research groups that will soon move into the Saunders Building, information regarding new soon-to-be-available healthy food choices at the Saunders Building café, and some updates regarding the building. We’ll save plenty of time to answer your questions and for general discussion. Snacks will be served. Please join us and get to know your “research neighbors” and the CTSI a little better.

PCORI Funding Opps Released/Teams to be formed

PCORI, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, released its first funding opportunity announcements on Wednesday, May 23rd. The four announcements involve up to $96 million in funding and correspond to the first four areas of focus in PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda:

Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options- for projects that address critical decisions that patients, their caregivers and clinicians face with too little information
Improving Healthcare Systems - for projects that address critical decisions that face health care systems, the patients and caregivers who rely on them, and the clinicians who work within them
Communication and Dissemination - for projects that address critical elements in the communication and dissemination process among patients, their caregivers and clinicians
Addressing Disparities - for projects that will inform the choice of strategies to eliminate disparities

Three funding cycles are expected each year. Cycle 1 applications will be due July 31st.

The URMC’s Center for Research Implementation and Translation (CRIT) will form four focused working teams to assess these opportunities and to support development of competitive proposals. Please indicate your interest in participating in one of these four teams by e-mailing Dr. Harriet Kitzman (harriet_kitzman@urmc.rochester.edu) right away.

Created by the Affordable Care Act, PCORI “helps people make informed health care decisions – and improves health care delivery and outcomes – by producing and promoting high integrity, evidence-based information – that comes from research guided by patients, caregivers and the broader health care community.” For more information, please see PCORI’s press release or visit www.pcori.org.

NCATS Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules

NCATS has created a pilot program designed to develop partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and the biomedical research community. NCATS has issued an RFI (Request for Information) seeking input on this program. Scott Steele, Ph.D., will coordinate the University’s comments for submission. You're invited to submit comments by May 25th to scott.steele@rochester.edu. Read more here.

Registration is now open for the Annual Faculty Development Colloquium

The 2012 Colloquium will include two plenary lectures, poster presentations, as well as workshops covering a variety of topics. Plenary speakers are Steven L. Kanter, MD, the Editor-in-Chief of Academic Medicine, and Vice Dean of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Phyllis L. Carr, MD, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Click here for complete agenda, workshop, and registration information. Faculty, Residents, Fellows, Staff and Students are welcome to attend. Please contact Grace Fuller at 276-3782 or by email for more information.

Date: Wednesday, June 6th
Time: 7:30 am -4:00 pm
Location: Class of 62 Auditorium & Flaum Atrium

May 18th, 2012

Featured Event: Study Coordinators Organization for Research and Education ½ Day Workshop

Registration for the 4th Annual SCORE Half Day Workshop is open. This is a free half-day workshop for research professionals who actively coordinate research trials. Presentation topics include:

The Professionalization of Research Coordinators
Career Development Across the Continuum: A Panel Discussion
Best Practices: The Informed Consent Proces Starting from First Contact (Interactive Session)

Date: Tuesday, June 12th
Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (room 1w304)

For further details and to register on-line please click here by June 5th. There is no charge for this event (Saunders Research Building Parking costs $6).

Time-sensitive Request: Preparation for NEW Research Funding Opportunities

Created by the Affordable Care Act, “The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) helps people make informed health care decisions – and improves health care delivery and outcomes – by producing and promoting high integrity, evidence-based information – that comes from research guided by patients, caregivers and the broader health care community.”

In the past several months, PCORI has been laying the foundation to release its first Funding Opportunity Announcements for research activities, expected before the end of May, 2012. Submission of funding applications will be due in July. To prepare for this very tight timeline, we seek to form focused teams to work together to assess opportunities and to support development of competitive proposals. Initial solicitations will focus on four priority topics:

Comparative Clinical Effectiveness;
Improving Healthcare Systems;
Communication and Dissemination; and
Fairness/Addressing Disparities.

Please indicate your interest in contributing to institutional readiness to respond by emailing Dr. Harriet Kitzman by May 25th.

May 11th, 2012

Featured Event: Pharmacometrics Symposium: Modeling and Simulation in Drug Development

The URMC Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics (CHET) and the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are pleased to cosponsor the Pharmacometrics Symposium. The symposium will focus on Modeling and Simulation in Drug Development and speakers will include Richard Lalonde, PharmD, (Vice President at Pfizer Inc.), Don Mager, PhD (UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), Joga Gobburu, PhD (Former Director of Pharmacometrics, FDA), and Vlad Dragalin, PhD (Aptiv Solutions). The full agenda is available here. Direct additional questions to Charles Venuto.

Date: Friday, June 1st
Time: 1:00-5:00 pm
Location: Ryan Case Method Room (1-9576)

Brenda Kavanaugh Awarded NCURA Distinguished Service Award

Brenda Kavanaugh, Assistant Director of the URMC Office of Research and Project Administration, was presented with the 2012 Distinguished Service Award on Tuesday, April 24th at the NCURA Region II Meeting in Gettysburg, PA. The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Distinguished Service Award is an annual award to recognize members of NCURA Region II who have made sustained and significant contributions to the Region. Congratulations Brenda!

New CLASP Elective: Managing Sponsored Awards: including Communication of Best Practices

Communication is essential between departmental, pre-award and post-award offices to ensure that award compliance is managed effectively and efficiently. This program will examine such areas as best practices for good communication between departmental, pre-award and post-award offices. Register here.

Date: Thursday July 12, 2012
Time: 2:00 – 4:00
Location: K-307 Auditorium, Medical Center, Room 3-6408

Symposium on Myeloid Neoplasms on June 9th

A Symposium on Myeloid Neoplasms will be held on Saturday, June 9th, at the Eastman School of Music in honor of Dr. John M. Bennett’s 80th year and his dedication to leukemia research and community volunteerism for the Arts. To register please contact Phoebe Downing by May 15th. Click here for more information.

May 4th, 2012

Featured Event: Study Coordinators Organization for Research & Education (SCORE) Meeting

The Study Coordinators Organization for Research & Education (SCORE) will hold it's monthly meeting on Thursday, May 10th. The first hour of the meeting will be dedicated to roundtable discussions focused on keeping current on policies & practices, and enrollment of adult decisionally incapacitated research subjects and permission of authorized representatives. The last half hour of the meeting will be reserved for a networking session.

Date: Thursday, May 10th
Time: 12:00-1:30 pm
Location: Saunders Research Building, Room 1.412

New CLASP Elective: “An Introduction to Technology Transfer.”

The Office of Research and Project Administration is offering a new CLASP elective: “An Introduction to Technology Transfer.” The program will be held Wednesday, May 23rd from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in K-207 Auditorium (2-6408). The course is designed for pre-award and departmental administrators. For more information, click here.

Research-related Laboratory Results – Subject Access through Patient Portal (MyChart)

All researchers are advised that beginning May 10, all URMC outpatients will have the ability to view portions of their medical record, including most lab results, pathology and radiology reports. Because of the potential impact on existing and future clinical research studies, we are providing background information on MyChart (the internet tool that patients will use to access their medical information) and to notify you of the protocols to follow to ensure that your research results are not impacted by patients now being able to conveniently see portions of their electronic chart. For more information, click here.

Susan Groth Selected as Fellow of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

The University of Rochester School of Nursing is pleased to announce that Susan W. Groth, Ph.D., R.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C., Assistant Professor of Nursing, was recently selected as a 2012 fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Dr. Groth is widely recognized for her work to improve women’s health, particularly in the area of pregnancy-related obesity. Dr. Groth was also a CTSI KL2 Scholar in 2008-09 when she worked on a research project concerning the clarification of the gene environment interaction of the GNB3 Gene. She will be inducted with 42 other nurse practitioner leaders from across the country at the AANP 27th national conference in Orlando, Fla., on June 22. Read more here.

Gilbert B. Forbes Visiting Scholar: Leonard Zon, MD

The Department of Pediatrics hosts its next Gilbert B. Forbes Visiting Scholar, Leonard Zon, MD, on Wednesday, May 23rd from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Class of ’62 Auditorium (G-9425). Dr. Zon will present “Pathways Regulating Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Migration.” Read more here.

Do You Love the Weekly Update? Do You Hate it? Either Way we Want Your Opinion!

The CTSI is looking for feedback on ways we can improve the Weekly Update Newsletter. Click here to take a very short survey and help us provide the most pertinent information to the URMC community.

April 27th, 2012

Featured Event: "Has the Time Come to Give Up Blinding in Clinical Trials?"

Nancy Geller, PhD, Director of the NHLBI Office for Biostatistics Research will present "Has the Time Come to Give Up Blinding in Clinical Trials?" on Thursday, May 3rd. Dr. Geller began her career in academe at the University of Rochester in 1970, followed by faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Geller’s dynamic leadership of NHLBI’s Biostatistics Office has expanded the expertise from clinical trials to include basic science and genetic studies.
Date: Thursday, May 3rd
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)

April 20th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: " Monitoring in the 21st century: What the Investigative Site needs to Know”

Lorraine D. Ellis, MS, MBA, President and CEO of Research Dynamics Consulting Group will present “Monitoring in the 21st century: What the Investigative Site needs to Know”. Research Dynamics is a boutique Clinical Research Organization (CRO) that provides high quality, flexible clinical research services, training, and consulting to the pharmaceutical, biotech, device industries as well as to investigators and academic medical centers. They use innovative technologies and experienced research professionals to ensure that patients benefit from novel therapies as soon as possible.

Date: Tuesday, April 24th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
This session of the CTSI Seminar Series is co-sponsored by the Office for Human Subjects Protection. Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

New Training Opportunities Offered in Coordination with Miner Library

The Miner Library and the CTSI have teamed up to present three new training opportunities. For additional information about any of these training opportunities, please contact Mark Plessinger by email or at 275-6413.

OMIM: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Information about genes can provide powerful insights into pathways and human diseases. This workshop describes the use of the NCBI database Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. It contains links to literature references, sequence records, maps, and related databases. The class is free, but registration is required. Details: May 7 at 1:00 – 1:55 in the Nesbit Computer Classroom (G-7545)

Ingenuity Pathway Analysis Training
Ingenuity System’s Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) is a proprietary software package administered through the Miner Library. IPA enables researchers to identify biological mechanisms, pathways and functions most relevant to experimental datasets or genes of interest. The Miner Library and the CTSI will be conducting two shared IPA webinars in which a discussion session will follow and allow new users to ask questions and to form collaborations among fellow users. Registration is required. Two webinars are being offered:

Getting Started With IPA: April 23 at 1-2 PM in the Miner Library Classroom I
IPA Data Upload: April 24 at 1-2 PM in the Miner Library Classroom I

April 13th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: CTSI Trainee Presentations

Please join us for a special session of the CTSI seminar series which will showcase the work completed by medical student research students who participated in the CTSI Year-Out Program. CTSI trainees will give presentations about their research projects. The following trainees will be featured:

Adam Weis presenting "Corneal Wound Healing and Ocular Optics After Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)"
Brandon Stein presenting "Subconcussive Head Blows and Changes in Balance Testing Among College Athletes"
Angel Kirkham presenting "Hitting the Streets: A Study of a Community Mental Health Treatment Program in Belize"

Date: Tuesday, April 17th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage.

MedTech Institute: Bridging Regulatory Hurdles in the Growing Asia-Pacific Market

MedTech Institute is hosting a one-day workshop on Thursday, April 19th at the Bausch + Lomb Global Eye Health Center, focusing on regulatory compliance and strategies for bringing products to the Asia Pacific medical devices market. Registration is required. For more information, click here.

Additional RedCAP Training Sessions and Support Now Available

REDCap was designed to support clinical research and can be used to support operational processes and surveys. Since REDCap has been released, 107 projects were created and over 100 individuals are now active users. Several new training opportunities are available to current and potential REDCap users.

NEW REDCAP TRAINING DATES: Two additional training dates have been scheduled on April 18 and 26 from 10:00am-11:30am. To register for one of these training sessions please complete the registration form.

REDCAP DROP-IN SESSIONS: A weekly Q&A session where you can stop by and ask specific questions about REDCap. Drop-in sessions are scheduled on April 17th from 1-3pm in SRB 1.201(Topic: Open Q&A) and April 24th from 1-3pm in SRB 1.202 (Topic: Open Q&A).

April 6th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: CTSI Trainee Presentations

Ryan Koehler presenting " Design and Validation of the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET)"
Doran Mix presenting "Vascular Engineering: Application of Engineering First Principles to Advance Vascular Surgery"
Andrew Walters presenting "A Novel High-Throughput Screening for Cardioprotective Molecules in Cardiac I/R Injury"
Matthew Brown presenting "Fracture healing in a murine model of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus"

Date: Tuesday, April 10th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage.

Successfully Navigating the Peer Review Process

Please join us for a panel presentation and discussion targeted to early stage investigators who are interested in learning more about navigating the peer review process. Presentations will be given by Dr. Karen Mustian, Dr. Marc Lande, and Dr. Lisa Opanashuk. Space is limited! Please RSVP to Katie Libby.

Date: Monday, April 9th
Time: 3:30-5:00 pm
Location: Saunders Research Building, Room 1.412

OHSP and RSRB Researcher Assessment Survey

The University of Rochester Office for Human Subject Protection (OHSP) and Research Subjects Review Board (RSRB) Office has prepared a survey for the research community. Your feedback is important for us to determine how we can better improve our service. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey. Thank you for your time.

CTSI MD/PhD student in Translational Biomedical Science profiled for Student Life project

Aisha Siebert, a CTSI MD/PhD student working on her degree in Translational Biomedical Science, is one of three students profiled by the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Student Life Project. The project profiles the lives of current SMD medical students. Aisha is currently in her first year of full-time graduate studies and her focus is on placenta and placental vasculature. She is currently doing a rotation in the lab of Richard Miller, PhD. Click here to watch the video.

UR Research Digital Respository

The River Campus Libraries provides the University community with UR Research, a University-based digital repository for the management, dissemination, and stewardship of digital materials. UR Research supports research in process, allows for collaboration, and provides individual “showcase” pages. Watch a short presentation about UR Research to learn more. Additional information is available here.

March 29th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: "Diversity in Human Subjects Research: Beyond the IRB"

Dr. Ann Dozier, Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine will present "Diversity in diversity recruitment Human Subjects Research: Beyond the IRB" on April 3rd. Through serving on the Community Engagement core of the CTSI, Dr. Dozier spearheads the initiative to improve recruitment and retention into clinical research focusing both on improving attitudes in the community about research participation and on improving recruitment and retention methods used by investigators.
Date: Tuesday, April 3rd
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Support Available For Those Conducting Community-Engaged Research

Are you conducting or planning to conduct community-engaged research that would benefit from support and validation from the URMC’s Community Advisory Council (CAC)? An increasing number of URMC investigators have sought assistance from the Center for Community Health to gain feedback and endorsement from the Council, which can benefit investigators during the grant application process and in all phases of a research project. Instructions and details about the process can be found on the Center’s website. Contact Gail Newton, Director of Community Health Partnerships at the Center for Community Health at 224-3057 or gail_newton@urmc.rochester.edu for more information.

Call for Posters: CTSA Clinical Research Management Workshop

The 5th Annual CTSA Clinical Research Management Workshop has been scheduled for June 3-5, 2012, at Yale University. The theme this year is “Learning by Doing: Applying Evidence-based Tools to Re-engineer Clinical Research Management.” Please review the call for poster abstracts, and meeting information. We seek ideas for this year’s Rochester poster submission, consistent with the goal of sharing our experience in improving a research-related process. If you are interested in developing a poster idea, please contact Eric Rubinstein by March 30th.

University of Rochester Technology Development Fund

The University of Rochester’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) is now accepting pre-proposal applications for its 5th round of award funding. The TDF promotes the transfer and translation of UR research into commercial applications through monetary awards ranging from $40,000 to $100,000. The application have been streamlined this year and Therapeutics/Vaccines proposals will be evaluated using an updated criteria. The deadline for pre-proposal submissions is April 1st. For more information contact Michael Rusnak at 784-2935 or click here.

March 22nd, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: African American Women's Perceptions of Therapy and Providers

Dr. Natalie Cort will present "African American Women's Perceptions of Therapy and Providers"on March 27th. Dr. Cort is a therapy Post-Doctoral Fellow of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Cort was also a 2009 CTSI pilot funding awardee and her research examined the feasibility and acceptability of group interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed women with histories of intimate partner violence, and the development of treatment guidelines for this population.

Date: Tuesday, March 27th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Funding Available for Infrastructure in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recently announced an initiative providing up to $1 million in funds, for up to 5 years, to develop and to provide Infrastructure in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR). This initiative seeks to develop professional capacity to conduct PCOR consistent with the methodologic framework established and funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Interested investigators are asked to submit an abstract with a preliminary proposal to Harriet Kitzman of the Center for Research Implementation and Translation (CRIT) at by March 26. More information here.

Limited Submission Award Opportunities

Valerie and Frank Furth Fund: The Valerie and Frank Furth Fund provides support to promising scientists in Arts, Sciences, & Engineering or the Medical Center. One award in the amount of $10,000 will be made for the recruitment of new faculty by helping to support post-doctoral students, or for the purchase of equipment identified as a specific need for a new, young faculty member. Nominations are due by March 26th. More information here.

March 16th, 2012

3rd Annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards & Grand Rounds

Dr. David Satcher, MD, PhD, 16th Surgeon General of the United States and Director of the Satcher Leadership Institute and satcher
Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, will give a special grand rounds presentation entitled "The World Health Organization Committee and Its Impact on An Approach for Health in America". Dr. Ann Dozier will also receive the 3rd Annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award for her exemplary work in reducing health inequities and addressing priority community health needs, particularly in the area of maternal and child health.

Date: Monday, March 19th
Time: 5:00-6:15 pm with reception to follow
Location: Class of 62 Auditorium

CTSI Seminar Series: Mentoring Diverse Students and Faculty

Eric Caine, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry will present "Mentoring Diverse Students and Faculty" on March 20th. Dr. Caine was the recipient of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Leadership in Training Chair of the Year Award and the URMC Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine Faculty Mentoring Award.

Date: Tuesday, March 20th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Spring Mentoring Workshop

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute and The Office of Faculty Development and Diversity co-sponsor an annual workshop on Mentoring. This year’s speakers are Denham Ward, chair emeritus of the Department of Anesthesiology, and Deborah Fowell, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Both are recipients of URMC Mentoring awards. The workshop will be on March 22nd, from 4:00-5:30pm with a reception to follow. For more information and to register, click here.

CTSA Intellectual Property Portal Partners with Flintbox to Promote Collaborations

Wellspring Worldwide Inc. and the CTSA Intellectual Property Portal , announce the launch of a formal partnership to promote collaboration among CTSA members, industry and other research institutions. The CTSA-IP portal is an NIH-funded initiative, that was designed by members of the University of Rochester CTSI, to enhance public-private partnerships across the CTSA consortium. Under the terms of the partnership, members of the CTSA-IP Initiative will be able to seamlessly post technologies, research projects, and collaboration opportunities to Flintbox. Read more here.

Limited Submission Award Opportunities

NINR Centers of Excellence for Symptom Science Research and Symptom Science: The National Institute of Nursing Research invites applications to establish Centers of Excellence for Symptom Science Research (P30) and Centers of Excellence for Symptom Science: Building Research Teams for the Future (P20). The deadline for internal submissions is March 22. Please read about the selection process here

March 9th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: Understanding Conflicts of Interest & Management Plans

The goal of conflict of interest management plans is to ensure that the personal interests of an individual do not unduly compliance influence their primary obligations to research, sponsors, the University, colleagues or students. Please join Gunta Liders, Director of the Office of Research Project Administration, Kelley O'Donoghue, MPH, CIP Executive Director of the Research Subjects Review Board and Robert G. Holloway, MD, MPH, Professor of Neurology and CTSI Clinical Research Ethics Consultant as they discuss conflicts of interest and the development of COI management plans.
Date: Tuesday, March 13th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
This session of the CTSI Seminar Series is co-sponsored by the Office for Human Subjects Protection. Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PCORI Open Comment Period: Share your Thoughts

The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) recently issued a first draft of its National Priorities and Research Agenda, which will be used to guide funding announcements for comparative clinical effectiveness research to ultimately help patients and caregivers make better-informed health decisions. PCORI has opened a public comment period to determine whether this document reflects the areas where additional evidence may be needed to support health care decision-making. Please participate by sending comments to Eric Rubinstein, Executive Director for Research Services, who will compile and complete the submission to PCORI. PCORI anticipates issuing it's first requests for research proposals in May 2012.

MedTech Institute-Advanced Topics in Good Clinical Practice

MedTech Institute is offering a one-day seminar entitled, “Advanced Topics in Good Clinical Practice 2012” on Tuesday, March 13 in Rochester, NY. Experts will provide a review of the latest FDA regulations and guidelines for applying Good Clinical Practice to the clinical research process. Participants must register by Friday, March 9. For more information and to register, click here.

Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program

The Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program is accepting applications for four-year postdoctoral awards to support the research and career development of physicians and dentists from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2012. For more information, click here.

2012 Summer Institutes Call for Abstracts

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2012 Summer Institutes on Evidence-Based Quality Improvement, which will be held July 17-21, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. There are three different opportunities to present projects: the Improvement Science Summit, the Educators’ EBP Workshop, and the Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practice. All abstracts are due March 12, 2012. Read more here

Limited Submission Award Opportunities

CMMI Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has recently announced an initiative providing up to $43.2 million in funds to test new payment and delivery models “that have the potential to improve perinatal outcomes for women enrolled in Medicaid who are at high-risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Preliminary proposal forms are due by Monday, March 12. More information here.

March 2nd, 2012

Special Public Health Grand Rounds Presentation: Beyond T3: Policy and Scientific Trends in Translational Medicine

Eduardo J. Simoes, MD, MSc, MPH, Chairman of the Health Management and Informatics Department, and Alumni simoes Distinguished Professor from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, will be the featured speaker at a special presentation of Public Health Grand Rounds today at 12:00. Dr. Simoes will give an overview of recent scientific and policy trends related to translational research in medicine, and the political forces that drive these changes. The presentation will conclude with a few “must have” approaches for academic research centers and an expectation of where trends might lead in the near future.
Date: Friday, March 2nd
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Light luncheon will be served

CTSI Seminar Series: "Tourette Syndrome: Diversity Issues"

Erika Augustine, MD, Senior Instructor in the Department of Neurology (Child Neurology) will present "Tourette Syndrome: Diversity Issues" on March 6th. Dr. Augustine's research involves studying the epidemiology of Tourette Syndrome and designing clinical trials for neurodegenerative and chronic neurological disorders of childhood and adolescence.
Date: Tuesday, March 6th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Saunders Research Building Receives LEED Gold Certification

The Saunders Research Building – home of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute – has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification in recognition of a design that promotes sustainability and the health of its occupants. This is the first building at the University of Rochester to receive a LEED certification. Read the full press release here.

Dr. Ann Dozier Awarded the 3rd Annual Satcher Community Health Improvement Award

The CTSI congratulates Dr. Ann Dozier for receiving the 3rd Annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award. Dr. Dozier was recognized for her exemplary work in reducing health inequities and addressing priority community health needs particularly in the area of maternal and child health. Dr. Dozier will be presented with the award on March 19th during a special grand rounds session featuring Dr. David Satcher.

Limited Submission Award Opportunities

The James S. McDonnell Foundation is accepting applications for Complex Systems Scholar Awards. The awards support scholarship and research directed toward the development of theoretical and mathematic tools that can be applied to the study of complex, adaptive, nonlinear systems. Approximately eight grants will be awarded, each totaling $450,000 over six years. Interested faculty must submit applications to Foundation Relations for review by March 5, 2012. More information here.
The James S. McDonnell Foundation is accepting applications for Brain Cancer Research Grants in the amount of $450,000. The foundation is interested in supporting novel research that will generate new knowledge leading to increased rates of survival and improved functional recovery for individuals with brain cancer. Interested faculty must submit applications to Foundation Relations for review by March 5, 2012. More information here

February 24th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: "Improving Access to Care in Vulnerable Populations"

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine will present "Improving Access to Care in access Vulnerable Populations" on Tuesday, February 28th. Dr. Fiscella's research interests focus on racial and socioeconomic disparities in health status, the effects of poverty on family function, and health services to underserved populations, particularly those at risk for cancer and heart disease.
Date: Tuesday, February 28th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

REDCap Now Available!

REDCap, the Research Electronic Data Capture system, is a secure, web-based application for building and managing online surveys and databases. REDCap is designed exclusively to support data capture for research studies. The CTSI provides researchers at the University of Rochester with access to REDCap. Get started by clicking here to access the REDCap development server. Training will be offered March 6th, 21st and 29th. Click here to register.

February 17th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: RSRB Update

Please join membersof the Research Subjects Review Board Staff as they present news and regulation changes during the "Research Subjects Review Board update (RSRB) Update".
Date: Tuesday, February 21st
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The URMC Center for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation Pilot Grants

The Center for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation announces the availability of pilot funding up to $75,000 in direct costs for one year. Meritorious projects may qualify for a second year of funding based upon progress, productivity, and interaction with existing Center programs. The deadline for initial submissions is 02/17/2012 . Click here to access the Center's website and more information.

February 10th, 2012

CTSI Seminar Series: Diversity in Science

Thomas Pearson, MD, MPH, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research and Director of the Clinical and tap Translational Science Institute will present "Diversity in Science", and will offer first-hand accounts of the impact that diversity has made on his own research projects and career.
Date: Tuesday, February 14th
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Helen Wood Hall Auditorium (1w-304)
Lunch will be provided. Please bring your own beverage. The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry designates this live educational activity for a maximum of one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

UR Receives MatchMaestro Award from ResearchMatch

The University of Rochester has become the first recipient of the new MatchMaestro Award from ResearchMatch, a national study recruitment registry. The award recognizes excellence in matching volunteers and researchers. Last quarter, the University of Rochester enrolled 162 ResearchMatch volunteers into research studies. Read the official announcement here.

National Meeting: Translational Science 2012

Translational Science 2012 will take place April 18 – 20 in Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to collaborate with biomedical researchers and discuss advancements and best practices in translational science. The meeting will host plenary speakers, including NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, educational sessions, poster presentations, advocacy training, and published research. The sponsors of the meeting will continue to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of investigators and educators in the field through six awards: Distinguished Investigator Awards (3 categories), ACRT Distinguished Educator Award, AFMR Outstanding Investigator Award, Team Science Award. The recipient of each award will be recognized during the meeting and be given ten minutes to make a presentation. Deadline for submissions is February 10, 2012. Read more here.

December 30th, 2011

Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
Applications are now being accepted for the New York Academy of Sciences’ Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. The program recognizes young faculty and postdoctoral scientists in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who have made novel accomplishments in the life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Each winner in the faculty category is endowed with $25,000 in unrestricted funds, and finalists receive $10,000 in unrestricted funds. Winners in the postdoctoral category are endowed with $15,000 in unrestricted funds, and finalists receive $5,000 in unrestricted funds. Each institution may nominate up to ten postdoctoral candidates. Nomination forms must be received by January 31, 2012. Read about the awards and the application process here.

December 27th, 2011

2012 Summer Institutes Call for Abstracts
Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2012 Summer Institutes on Evidence-Based Quality Improvement, which will be held July 17-21, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. There are three different opportunities to present projects: the Improvement Science Summit, the Educators’ EBP Workshop, and the Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practice. All abstracts are due March 12, 2012. Read more here.

November 22nd, 2011

NIH Early Independence Award
The NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research invites applications for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Program. The award supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby foregoing the traditional post-doctoral training period. This is a limited submission opportunity; i.e., the University is limited to two grant applications under this announcement. The internal application deadline is November 28, 2011. The Deans will choose a candidate by December 9, 2011. Please read about the internal selection process here. Read the complete program solicitation here.

November 3rd, 2011

Translational Science 2012 Call for Abstracts
Translational Science 2012 is now accepting abstracts that demonstrate collaboration across disciplines. Abstracts from a variety of categories will be accepted; however, submissions in methodology, best practices, and resources are of particular interest. Accepted abstracts will be published in Clinical and Translational Science (CTS), the official journal of the Society for Clinical and Translational Science. The deadline is December 16th. For more information, click here. The latest developments in biomedical research will be showcased at the Translational Science 2012 meeting in April. This is a unique opportunity to network with experts from across the spectrum of clinical and translational science. To register, click here.

October 20, 2011

Application information for NIH Loan Repayment Programs
The NIH is accepting applications for its extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) through November 15th. Opportunities are available in the following research areas: clinical, pediatric, health disparities, contraception and infertility, and clinical research for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. New LRP contracts are awarded for a two-year period and help repay up to $35,000 of qualified educational debt each year. An NIH grant or other NIH funding is not required to apply for or participate in the LRPs. Read about and apply for the LRP contracts here.

Keck research grant opportunity – Internal call for concepts
The Office of the Provost and the Senior Associate Deans for Research are seeking competitive research projects for submission to the W.M. Keck Foundation Science and Engineering Program or Medical Research Program. The maximum amount for research grants is $1 million. The Keck Foundation’s most recent grant to UR was a $1.5 million Medical Research grant in 2005 in the emerging field of astrocyte research. Concept papers for the current grant cycle should be written for a non-science professional audience, and are due by November 15th. Click the following links for details on funding preferences and application guidelines.

October 14, 2011

PCORI Pilot Project Internal Review Process Announced

The new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI’s) Pilot Project Grant Program has three goals:

assist PCORI with ongoing development and enhancement of national research priorities for patient-centered outcomes research;
support the collection of preliminary data that can be used to advance the field of patient-centered outcomes research; and
support the identification of methodologies that can be used to advance patient-centered outcomes research as well as identify gaps where methodological research needs further development.

To assist interested applicants in developing competitive proposals, the Medical Center has developed an internal review process coordinated by the Center for Research Implementation and Translation under Dr. Harriet Kitzman in the School of Nursing. The deadline for internal review is October 25, 2011. See Brad Berk’s announcement of the process by clicking here.

October 12, 2011

eRecord-Research Project Update #3: Faculty Advisory Committee formed
The eRecord-Research Project team has grown to about 70 members with the addition of a new Faculty Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Michael Keefer, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease. All faculty members are encouraged to join the committee, which will meet monthly through the end of the year. Read more about the team’s progress here.

Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award
The Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award provides grants to junior physician-scientists to facilitate their transition to independent clinical research careers. The foundation plans to award up to 12 grants in 2012 of $150,000 per year in direct costs and $12,000 per year in indirect costs over three years to junior faculty level physician-scientists conducting clinical research in any disease area. Awardees may concurrently hold an NIH career development award.
Each U.S. accredited, degree-granting research institution may nominate up to two candidates. The Medical School’s internal application deadline is October 21st. If approved for nomination, the Doris Duke Foundation’s application deadline is December 21st. Click here to learn more about the award and the application process.

October 6, 2011

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute announces Pilot Projects Grants Program
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has announced a $26 million Pilot Projects Grants Program that will support approximately 40 awards. As part of its commitment to including patient and stakeholder perspectives throughout the research process, PCORI encourages applications that include collaboration between experienced researchers and individuals or organizations that represent patients, caregivers and the broader health care community. Letters of intent for grants are due November 1st; applications are due December 1st. Read about the program here.

eRecord-Research Project – MyChart Demonstration
The eRecord-Research Project will be holding a MyChart Demonstration on Friday, October 14th from 2:00-3:00PM in the Helen Wood Hall Auditorium. Jill DelVecchio, Application Analyst, Ambulatory from eRecord will be demonstrating the ins and outs of MyChart for those unfamiliar with how it works. The presentation is open to the URMC community.

MyChart is a secure, online health management tool that connects Strong/Highland Clinic patients to portions of their personalized health information including:

Review past appointments
Request an appointment
View your health summary, current list of medications and test results as released by your provider
View your child's immunizations and allergies
Receive messages when a new result is released to MyChart

MyChart is owned and designed by Epic, the company that designed our current eRecord medical record system.

The presentation will explain the various tools used in MyChart and show how it is used by a patient and what they can see when they log on.

September 22, 2011

Registration open for FDA Clinical Investigator Training Course
The third annual FDA Clinical Investigator Training Course is now open for registration. The course will be held November 7th, 8th, and 9th at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland. Attendees will gain a greater appreciation of the scientific, ethical, and regulatory issues relating to clinical trial data that may be submitted to regulatory bodies. Participants will also hear from the FDA’s nationally renowned experts on issues critical to successful clinical research. There are 60 slots available to interested CTSA investigators. Read about and register for the course here.

September 2, 2011

CTSI KL2 Mentored Career Development Program Releases New RFA
The University of Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) announces the release of a new request for applications (RFA) for the CTSI KL2 Mentored Career Development program, a two-year program of support for clinicians and scientists interested in learning more about and gaining practical experience in clinical and translational research. Letters of intent are due by Thursday, October 6, 2011 and application packets are due on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Awards begin on July 1, 2012. A PDF of the RFA is available here, and the RFA is also available on the CTSI website here. Questions about the KL2 program or the RFA may be directed to Katie Libby via email katherine_libby@urmc.rochester.edu or via phone at (585) 275-0656.

CTSI Laboratory Support Program Releases 2011 RFA
The Laboratory Support Program of the University of Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) makes funding available (up to $20,000) to support laboratory costs for clinical and translational research projects. A new request for applications (RFA) is available on the CTSI website here, and a pdf version is available here. Applications are due on Friday, October 14, 2011. Awards begin on July 1, 2012, but certain “shovel-ready” projects may be able to start on January 1st, 2012.Questions about the Laboratory Support Program or the RFA may be directed to Mark Plessinger via email at mark_plessinger@urmc.rochester.edu or via phone at (585) 275-6413.

NIH Bench-to-Bedside Program Announces New Funding Cycle
The NIH Bench-to-Bedside Program is soliciting proposals for its next funding cycle. Investigators at CTSAs, AIAMC (Alliance for Independent Academic Medical Centers) sites, and the NIH will be able to initiate applications jointly for Bench-to-Bedside research projects. Up to $135,000 per year for two years is available to support these intramural/extramural partnerships in clinical research. As in prior years, intramural investigators in all Institutes/Centers are eligible to serve as project leaders on proposals. For 2012 awards, a letter of intent must be submitted by September 28. Read about the program here or contact BenchtoBedside@mail.nih.gov.

August 26, 2011

Faculty Needed: Electronic Medical Record Support for Research Use
Michael Keefer, MD, is organizing a Faculty Advisory Committee for the eRecord-Research Project to identify the needs of the full range of relevant research being conducted at UR and make sure those needs are met. Please contact Mary Little (mary_little@urmc.rochester.edu) to join the committee. Read Dr. Keefer’s letter about the new committee here.

Saunders Research Building Town Hall Meeting
You are invited to the first Saunders Research Building Town Hall Meeting on Friday, September 16th from 3:00-5:00PM in the Saunders Research Building Atrium. Thomas A. Pearson, MD MPH PhD, and others will present a building User’s Guide and plans to make the Saunders Research Building an ever better place to work and learn. A reception will follow. All faculty, staff and students are invited. Please plan to attend and get to know your colleagues a little better.

Application information for Beeson Career Development Award
Application information for the Beeson Career Development Award is now available. The program aims to sustain and promote the work of clinically-trained individuals pursing research careers in aging. Please note that there are two separate RFAs for the K08 and K23 career tracks. There has been a decline in the number of K08 applications in recent years, but the funders are committed to supporting all aging-related research, and qualified candidates conducting basic aging-related research are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is October 27. Read about the RFAs here.

August 22, 2011

eRecord-Research Project Update #2: Progress on Recommendations
The eRecord-Research Project is making rapid progress – zeroing in on issues that are important to researchers, presenting seminars to educate project team members, and working with Medical Center leadership to build support. Read more about the team’s progress here.

August 19, 2011

AFMSA solicits white papers for research
The Air Force Medical Support Agency (AFMSA) Modernization Directorate is soliciting white papers for research, due August 31st. This is a five-year, two-step, open-ended Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). One topic area that may be of particular interest is Functional Medicine Research; the modernization effort is interested in the science, methodologies, and comparative effectiveness research within the field of functional medicine, especially common, complex conditions, typically treated in the primary care setting. The estimated value of each award is $100K to $1M annually. Read more at FedBizOpps and Grants.gov.

August 11, 2011

Calling all inventors!
Pre-proposals for the UR Technology Development fund are due September 1st. The program promotes the transfer and translation of UR research into commercial applications through monetary awards of $40K to $100K. Any faculty member, post doctoral fellow, graduate student, or other employee of the University who has submitted an Invention Disclosure to the Office of Technology Transfer is eligible to apply. A Screening Committee will choose 1-2 projects that clearly outline the translation of scientific and engineering research into commercial opportunities. Awards will be announced in mid-December 2011. Read about the program here.

June 30, 2011

Building e-Infrastructure for Research
Are you looking for an opportunity to join over 50 of your colleagues to build an ever-better infrastructure for using electronic health information to support biomedical research? The eRecord-Research Project aims to do just that.

Dr. Gary Chadwick appointed to National Advisory Committee
Gary L. Chadwick, Pharm.D, M.P.H., Associate Provost and Director of the University’s Office for Human Subject Protection, has been named to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protection.

The CTSI Welcomes Judy Principe
The CTSI is pleased to announce the appointment of Judy Principe as Administrative Assistant for the CTSI. Ms. Principe comes to URMC with over 25 years of Executive Assistant experience, many of which were spent at Eastman Kodak. Please join us in welcoming Judy to the CTSI team!

NIH Funding Acknowledgement ** Important ** All publications resulting from the utilization of CTSI resources are required to credit the CTSI grant by including the NIH FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.