SMD Update 2009: Looking back and looking forward.
Part 1 – Academic affairs and research

Dr. David Guzick, M.D., Ph.D.

January 16, 2009

As evidenced in several recent newsletters, 2008 was a year of substantial success in each of our missions. At this time of financial constraint and uncertainty, it is especially important to celebrate these achievements. It is also critical that, as students, residents, faculty and staff, we take satisfaction in the substance of our daily work with one another, accommodating as needed to the external realities.

In his remarks to the Faculty Senate on January 13 entitled "Our Progress is Continuing," President Seligman summarized the steps that were being taken to address the ongoing economic emergency in the context of positioning the University of Rochester for significant further progress [www.rochester.edu/president/memos/2009/progress.html/]. Working with medical center leadership, faculty and staff, our URMC CEO Brad Berk, MD, PhD, has identified URMC-wide initiatives to ensure fiscal fitness [https://intranet-secure.urmc.rochester.edu/News/URMCFinances/index.asp] as a foundation for implementation of the Strategic Plan, albeit at a slower pace. [(http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/strategic-plan-in-action/].

I have asked our Senior Associate Deans to summarize progress in the plans they identified for 2008 last year [http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/newsletter/article.cfm?id=14], and also take a look forward to 2009. Reflecting the volume of activity across all the mission areas, this newsletter will be in two parts: Academic affairs and research this week, and clinical affairs and education next week.

Academic Affairs—Richard Burton, M.D.

Richard Burton, M.D.

Looking back

Faculty and Departmental/Center actions: The size of our faculty continues to increase, to a total of 3,063 this year. Of these 1,444 are full-time faculty (a net increase of 21), and 1,277 are either part-time (i.e., less than 100% effort) or volunteer faculty. The remaining 342 include adjunct, visiting, and emeritus faculty. During the past year, there have been 261 new primary appointments, 7 faculty granted emeritus status, 42 new secondary appointments, and 216 faculty terminated, retired, or deceased.

Among junior faculty (Assistant Professor and below), there were 140 promoted, 882 reappointed, 190 extended or adjusted for appointment end dates, and 155 whose appointment status changed. There were also 222 actions in relation to senior faculty members. 104 faculty were recommended to the Dean after the Ad Hoc and Steering Committee processes for promotion to Associate Professor and higher, including 13 recommended for tenure; all were approved. These were then reported to MEDSAC before going to the University's Board of Trustees; all were approved. In addition, there were 93 reappointments at the level of Associate Professor and above, and 12 appointments and/or promotions not requiring Ad Hoc committees.

The SMD had 7 new Chair or Center Director appointments, 7 Chair or Center Director reappointments, 2 new Interim Chair/Director appointments, appointments of 3 Senior Associate Deans, and 12 named Professorship actions (8 reappointments, 2 new Dean's Professors, and 2 new named Professorships).

Twenty-one faculty successfully applied for Leave of Absence (Sabbatical), and all were approved by the Trustees of the University. This year, we instituted the formal requirement for post-sabbatical written reports from those granted Leaves of Absence. There was 100% compliance with this requirement, and these sabbatical reports have been most informative.

Departmental and Center Reviews: A standardized process with guidelines has been developed during the past few years for reviews of Chairs/Directors of Departments/Centers at the SMD. During the 2008 calendar year, the SMD successfully conducted 3 external reviews of Departments, 1 external review of a Center, and 2 internal reviews of Departments. These have been very beneficial to the Medical Center and to the involved Department/Center leadership and faculties, providing objective assessments of past/current successes and challenges, and guidance for future trajectories.

Search Committee activities: The search processes have been facilitated by utilization of the new Guidelines for the External Search Process, a document developed during the past two years, and revised this year by a committee of former search committee chairs.

Six national searches were successfully concluded for new leadership in three departments. Three new Chairs were appointed: Community and Preventive Medicine (Susan Fisher, PhD), Neurology (Steve Goldman, MD, PhD), and Emergency Medicine (Latha Stead, MD). Searches for three major divisions in Medicine were also successfully concluded: Endocrinology (Steve Hammes, MD), Cardiology (Charles Lowenstein, MD), and Hematology/Oncology (Jonathan Friedberg, MD). Two national searches for departmental chairs are ongoing, one for the Chair of Biostatistics and Computational Biology (Search Committee Chair: Robert Holloway, MD, MPH), and one for Chair of Microbiology and Immunology (Search Committee Chair: Robert Bambara, PhD).

Progress with Development of New Option for Regulations of the Faculty: Working closely with the Senior Associate Dean for Basic Science Research (SADBSR) and selected senior Chairs, a temporary clarification of existing aspects of the Regulations of the Faculty was put in place to facilitate appointments, reappointments, and promotions for faculty with broad institutional roles in areas such as Core Facilities. This was done with the understanding that a task force would develop an additional Option for the Regulations of the Faculty of the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

From previous and current Steering Committees, senior faculty with varied and broad institutional perspectives worked closely with the SADBSR and the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (SADAA) to develop this additional Option, in many ways analogous to the current Teacher-Clinician-Scholar Option (TCS). This new Option is named the Teacher-Institutional Scholar Option (T-IS) and has been refined by the members of the current Steering Committee, with input from MEDSAC. We are now working through University administration for approval of the T-IS Option, which we believe will be extraordinarily helpful and relevant.

Faculty mentoring: The SADAA on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis has mentored Chairs, Center Directors, and senior faculty on a variety of issues. Three mentoring awards were presented at this year's Convocation for the SMD – one for mentoring junior faculty (Robert Holloway, MD, MPH, Professor of Neurology and of Community and Preventive Medicine), one for mentoring trainees in the basic sciences (Tatiana Pasternak, PhD, Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy and of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and in the Center for Visual Science), and one for mentoring residents in clinical departments (Steven Ching, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology). The selection process for the awardees uses a committee of recent recipients.

Efforts in the Education/Development of Faculty and in Diversity: With the leadership of Dr. Ward, very successful programs are being implemented to facilitate the education of our faculty as educators, and to broaden faculty horizons in their personal career development. These efforts have included frequent seminars, some with outside faculty selected nationally. In addition, a program for a Master's Degree in Medical Education is being coordinated with the Warner School.

Dr. Lewis is working closely with the Dean and with central administration to augment and facilitate the development of a more diverse community of faculty, students and residents. This year, 20% of entering medical students are from underrepresented minorities, a record for SMD. Twenty percent of entering students were born in a foreign country. Moreover, a recent survey of our faculty database has revealed that faculty of the SMD represent 69 countries of birth other than the US; of our full time faculty, 446 have a country of origin other than the USA. That said, only 3.4% of full-time faculty are from underrepresented minorities (1.4% Hispanic, 2% Black). Eighteen percent of faculty are Asian and 36% are women. Much work remains to improve the representation of women and minorities.

Conflict of Interest (COI): The SADAA chairs the Conflict of Interest Advisory Group (CIAG), composed of selected senior faculty, Director of ORPA, Director of Technology Transfer for URMC, Office of Human Subjects Protection, and legal counsel, and reports to the Dean. CIAG developed a faculty reporting form, now used across the entire University. Based on results of that information, CIAG works with the Director of ORPA and the faculty member to develop COI Management Plans as indicated. Several members of CIAG also sit on the University Committee on COI, chaired by the Provost, and have been involved in development of institutional policies on individual and institutional COI. A computer system facilitates the initial development of COI Management plans. Additional efforts and resources will facilitate tracking of ongoing compliance with those plans.

A new COI policy was developed this year to protect the educational and research integrity for our graduate students.

Dean's Committee for Administrative Practices (DCAP): The SADAA represents the SMD on the University Provost's DCAP. The group represents leadership from each of the University Schools, and is addressing issues such as the development of more standardized offer letters as appropriate for each of the Schools, consideration of edits to the Faculty Handbook, and discussions on matters of faculty retention and related issues.

Looking Forward

Academic Affairs will continue to discharge its core functions and innovate in 2009. Our plan is to:

Complete national searches for Chairs of the departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Biostatistics and Computational Biology
Develop and implement a new program/system for obtaining information from SMD faculty who choose to leave the University as to the reason(s) for departure and future career expectations
Update and expand the functions of the Faculty Roster Database
Continue the timely processing of items relative to faculty recruitment, appointments, reappointments, promotions, and decision for tenure. This includes expedited assignment of Ad Hoc Committees, prompt yet thorough completion of Ad Hoc reports, and presentations at that month's Steering Committee, with information to the next MEDSAC meeting, to be forwarded to the Provost directly thereafter
Complete the Revision of the Guidelines for Major Searches SMD
Successfully implement the T-IS Option
Finish Standardized Guidelines for faculty offer letters at SMD
Assist CIAG in development of a computer tracking system for COI management plans; this will involve the use of new/additional computer programs. For this, we anticipate looking at similar computer programs developed/utilized at other AHC vs. development of such internally
Provide oversight of CIAG in working collaboratively with the Provost's University COI Committee
Continue to play an active role on the Provost's DCAP, representing SMD
Work closely with Senior Leadership in the implementation of the compensation plan as it interfaces with the Regulations of the Faculty.
Continue the open door policy for the mentoring of chairs and senior faculty

Basic Research—Steve Dewhurst, Ph.D.

Steve Dewhurst, Ph.D.

Looking Back

Work environment: UR was once again rated as a great place to work, according to The Scientist magazine, which ranked UR among the top 10 non-profit institutions in the nation for scientists in the life sciences. NIH grant support (grants plus contracts) fell very slightly during the federal fiscal year that ended on October 31, 2008 (i.e., FY08), from about $159 million in FY07 to about $158 million in FY08. Just counting research grants alone, NIH funding fell slightly from $151,866,313 in FY07 to $148,496,638 in FY08; our ranking in NIH grants among U.S. medical schools moved to #26 in FY08, from #25 in FY07. Importantly, new R01 funding remain stable (37 new R01s in both FY08 and FY07). Also, not included in our FY08 numbers are several large NIH R01 grant awards to new strategic plan recruits who joined SMD in 2008.

Stem cell research funding: Another positive note was the December announcement from the Empire State Stem Cell Board, which approved grants to SMD totaling $6.8M of a total of roughly $70M in iPS and Generic R01/IDEA grants that were awarded. Although these awards are not yet official, this projected increase in funding from New York State more than makes up for the modest decrement in NIH funding to SMD.

NIH R01 grants: Despite historically low paylines at NIH institutes, our faculty continue to be successful in obtaining R01 and R21 grants. We appear well positioned to adapt to the elimination of –A2 grant submissions. The proportion of NIH R01 grant awards to SMD faculty that were funded as –01 or –A1 submissions rose considerably in FY08 (accounting for 70% of all new R01 awards), as compared to FY07 (when -01 and –A1 submissions accounted for only 55% of all new R01 awards):

NIH R01 Submission Type	FY07	FY08
-01	22%	15%
-01A1	33%	55%
-01A2	43%	30%

Center grants and contracts: An $11.5 million National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant to support the expansion of lymphoma research and clinical trials at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center was awarded to Dr. Richard Fisher and an interdisciplinary team of more than 20 clinicians and scientists. This Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant fuels translational research designed to quickly advance findings from the laboratory to the clinic; the UR award includes collaborations with Arizona Cancer Center and the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, and is one of only 5 lymphoma SPOREs in the nation.

Dr. Yuhchyau Chen in Radiation Oncology received a $3.18 million first-year contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), with an option to increase to $10.4 million over the next three years, to investigate a "post-radiation pill" aimed at replenishing blood platelets in the event of an accident or act of terrorism with nuclear or radiological devices.

The Rochester Human Immunology Center (RHIC) was awarded a $4 million renewal of its grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Disease (NIAID), which enables it to continue leading the field of immunology. The RHIC is directed by Dr. Tim Mosmann and co-directed by Dr. Sally Quataert. Since its founding four years ago, the RHIC helped more than 39 UR investigators and teams standardize their testing, lending expertise that helped lead to the receipt of 22 major grants.

And late-breaking news! We just learned that the competitive renewal for the Rochester Autoimmunity Center of Excellence (ACE), directed by Ignacio Sanz, MD, received the top score of more than 50 applications and will be funded. This Center, which will now be supported by NIH for an additional $4 million over the next 5 years, carries out basic and translational research in a variety of autoimmune diseases including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA. The ACE will solicit concept proposals from any UR investigator with the interest and ability to conduct studies in human autoimmune diseases. Another important component of the ACE mission is to participate in innovative multi-center studies initiated by one of the 7 other ACE centers nationally. Through this mechanism, the ACE helps bring new treatments for local patients with autoimmune diseases that might not be otherwise available to them.

Core Services: We have continued to place a strong emphasis on core services, under the leadership of Dr. Sally Quataert. SMD has increased operational support for the scientific cores by 43% from FY06 to FY09, including a 12% increase from FY08 to FY09. The cores also received $4.34M for acquisition of new state of the art instrumentation in FY08. An Olympus FV-1000 Confocal Microscope was added to the Confocal and Conventional Microscopy Core, and a Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer (FTMS) and a Triple Quad Mass Spectrometer were purchased for the Proteomics Core. Two cores were also added: a Multiphoton Imaging Core to support in vivo imaging (Director: Dr. Karl Kasischke), and new High-Throughput Screening Core (Directors: Drs. Alan Smrcka and Ben Miller). A Gammacell 40 Exactor Low Dose-rate Research Irradiator was purchased and installed for animal work within the vivarium. In addition, the CTSI provided support to multiple cores, including an 18-color BD LSRII flow cytometer. Additional enhancements were achieved through the diligence of core directors who successfully competed for extramural funding for new equipment – including a new analytical electron microscope (EM Core). The Flow Cytometry core also added an 11-color LSR-II and 8-color FACSCanto via a creative 5-year reagent rental agreement with BD-Biosciences.

Interim funding: In 2008, the interim funding program received 9 requests for support, of which 4 were funded at levels ranging from $35,000 to $100,000. Of these awards, one has already led to competitive renewal of NIH R01 funding; in addition, awards made in 2007 continue to bear fruit, most recently in the form of a first NIH R01 to Dr. Damien Krysan. The total number of applications for funding declined significantly from 2007 (when 21 requests for support were received).

Develop international linkages: We are working to establish strong research and educational linkages with top universities in both China and India. To foster international graduate student training in biomedical sciences, we hosted a high level delegation from Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZUSM), and signed exchange and cooperation agreements with both ZUSM and Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM).

High performance computing: Collaborative efforts with the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering have resulted in the establishment of the Center for Research Computing (CRC). In 2008, the initial computing hardware was purchased (known as the "BlueHive" cluster). Plans for the coming year include a major expansion of high performance computational resources, through a new corporate partnership. In addition, several SMD faculty are developing research collaborations with scientists at IBM in the areas of influenza modeling and risk assessment models for cardiac disease.

Support collaborative scientific partnerships: We continue to work to help faculty compete for large, collaborative projects and to develop new strategic partnerships between the URMC and corporate partners. Dr. Scott Steele, former Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Policy, was recruited as Acting Director of the Office of Corporate Alliances (OCA) to facilitate new research partnerships. In addition, Dr. Joan Adamo (formerly with the Office of Vaccine Research and Review at the FDA), was recruited into the Office of Regulatory Support of the CTSI. One of Dr. Adamo's roles will be to provide support for the establishment and operation of GLP-compliant laboratories at the URSMD. Her appointment is timely, since she will be able to provide essential GLP support for a new $10.4 million, three-year BARDA contract to SMD that seeks to develop a new medical countermeasure for radiation exposure.

Promote technology development: In 2008, the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) reported a record year in royalty revenue of almost $70 million dollars. With both the River Campus and Medical Center now fully staffed, and with over 10 licensing professionals, OTT is expected to continue its aggressive licensing strategy through 2009 and beyond. In the near term, OTT projects another winner with gabapentin and it's formulation to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. Depomed, Inc. entered Phase III clinical trials in October with this University licensed technology.

Looking Forward

Core Services: Efforts for 2009 include a major upgrade to our 3T research scanner (RCBI), an application to NSF for a horizontal small animal MRI scanner, a comprehensive overhaul and improvement of vivarium services for mouse users, and a significant enhancement of the Proteomics Core.
Continue strong support for the interim funding program: We plan to review and revise the program to better meet faculty needs in a changing NIH funding climate, and with the impending elimination of –A2 grant resubmissions. Faculty input and suggestions are encouraged.
International linkages: We will initiate new educational partnerships with ZUSM and SJTUSM in 2009 and 2010, under the direction of Dean Edith Lord.
Collaborative scientific partnerships: We will focus on developing new research-based partnerships with the private sector, and on enhancing our competitiveness for funding from DoD/DARPA.
Technology development: OTT will continue to dedicate its time and efforts internally to keep new inventions flowing, feeding the commercialization pipeline. This will be easier and more efficient with the integration of both offices as exemplified by their new web site launched in August 2008. We plan to (i) create a new technology development fund, (ii) improve patenting and its processes, and (iii) increase efforts towards national recognition for UR technology development.

Clinical Research—Thomas A. Pearson, MD, PhD

Thomas A. Pearson, M.D.

Looking Back

For the first half of 2008, Randy Rosier, MD, PhD ably served as interim Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research, overseeing the key functions and committees of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program. Thomas Pearson, MD, PhD returned in July, reinvigorated by a year's sabbatical leave as Visiting Scientist at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH). As one of the inaugural sites, the Rochester CTSA is prominent in committees and working groups of the National CTSA Program, now involving 38 awardees. The Rochester CTSA administration continues to develop, with the addition of an Office of Regulatory Support to assist investigators with the compliance of the many forms and requirements to perform clinical research. The Office, directed by Eric Rubenstein, JD, MPH, has been expanded recently with the recruitment of Joan Adamo, PhD from the Food and Drug Administration. Joan will assist investigators with Investigational New Drug applications and other requirements for development of drugs and devices.

Clinical research facilities' improvements have been very important developments for 2008. The General Clinical Research Clinic moved to new, upgraded facilities on Crittenden Blvd (site of the former University Health Clinic) in the late summer. A major development has been progress toward the funding, design, and construction of the new Clinical and Translational Science Building (CTSB). Proposals for major support from New York State for this unique facility have survived the economic difficulties so far, culminating in Ground-Breaking Ceremonies with numerous officials from New York State government on October 27, 2008. In the meantime, architectural plans have put form to a wonderful new home for clinical research at URMC. Construction will commence in 2009 and will require approximately two years for completion.

The CTSA Key Functions have continued their hard work, with now four different kinds of pilot studies, seven research consultation services, and other resources to assist investigators achieve their research goals. Though very early in the process, we are receiving word of these efforts helping investigators to be competitive for national funding in these difficult financial times. The Community Engagement Key Function has completed its pilot phase, supported by one of 4 national awards from the National CTSA Program, to develop a Rochester Practice-based Research Network. A Laboratory Support Center, directed by Mark Plessinger, PhD, has been established to make research technologies more accessible to more URMC investigators. The Education Training and Career Development Key Function initiated its new PhD Program in Translational Biomedical Science, under the leadership of Nina Schor, MD, PhD, with the matriculation of its first student. The two new Masters Programs in Translational Research and in Clinical Investigation have growing numbers of students enrolled. The Academic Research Track, directed by Robert Gross, MD, PhD, also continues to grow with increasing numbers of medical students electing to take a year out to pursue a research project with CTSA support. A supplemental grant to the Rochester CTSA has been received to develop the National CTSA Educational Resource Center at URMC, consisting of a virtual network of educational modules from the 38 CTSA institutions and the NIH. The Upstate New York Translational Research Network, supported by the Rochester CTSA, has expanded now to 13 institutions, supporting pilot studies, training opportunities, and other collaborative activities amongst biomedical research institutions across Upstate New York.

Looking Forward

As a mid-cycle review for the CTSA Program (now 2.5 years old), all progress reports were reviewed and key function leaders interviewed, yielding a White Paper on the Clinical and Translational Research Program as a comprehensive plan for 2009 and beyond. The White Paper aims to do three things: 1) Explore how the CTSA can be leveraged to support the URMC Strategic Plan; 2) Prepare for the renewal of the CTSA renewal in 2010; and 3) Plan for a scheduled reduction in funding from the CTSA grant after renewal in 2011. Part of the White Paper examines the reorganization of the Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), as we prepare to occupy the new CTSB in 2010. The Rochester CTSI will consist of Clinical and Translational Science Offices providing resources and expertise to investigators, Clinical Research Cores which organize facilities and resources supported by investigators' research funds for their research, and Education, Training and Career Development programs.

Efforts in 2009 will emphasize one of our greatest strengths—our ability to collaborate in meaningful ways. We will expand interactions with other parts of the University, with our Upstate New York partners, and with the National CTSA network. CTSA activities will be examined to identify ways to support the URMC Strategic Plan and its Innovative Science Programs and its Integrated Disease Programs. We plan to follow-up on our pilot studies and training programs to determine how to enhance their successes in acquiring external research and training support. The consultation services for research expertise will be expanded to make them more equitably available to URMC investigators. An Investigator Support Program will be developed to assist investigators in preparing the documents needed to initiate clinical research, following a comprehensive examination of the barriers and opportunities to streamlining the project approval process while assuring research quality and integrity. In clinical research education and training, certificate programs will be proposed, either formally as an additional component of a graduate degree, or as a credential for clinicians who wish to have local leadership roles in clinical research studies.

By the end of 2009, we expect our CTSA Program to be at "steady state" with successful development of initially proposed programs, annual adjustments and innovations, and evaluation data available to assess the productivity of the various components of the CTSI and to suggest strategies for continuous improvement of our programs.

Whew! Lots going on, and lots of work ahead. On to clinical affairs and education next week.

Wishing you a wonderful 2009,

Meliora,

David S. Guzick, MD, PhD
Dean, School of Medicine and Dentistry
University of Rochester