eRoundup for 10/01/10

Mentoring – Who Gets the Credit?

The Emory Center for AIDS Research puts Atlanta in the international spotlight this week as it serves as local host for AIDS Vaccine 2010, the world’s only scientific meeting on HIV vaccine research.  Nearly 1,100 researchers, funders, policy makers and advocates from around the world will focus on advances in the search for a safe and effective HIV vaccine.  ACTSI personalities involved in the conference include Eric Hunter, PhD, co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, and Carlos del Rio, MD, Hubert chair in Rollins’ Department of Global Health and CFAR co-director. Read more...

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded five-year, multi-institution grants in continued support of its Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer program. The Alliance is engaged in efforts to leverage the specific advantages of nanotechnology to improve the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer.  Emory has received three awards for the second phase of this program.  Of these awards, ACTSI investigator, Dong Shin, MD, is the PI for a Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnership. Read more…

A new way of replacing diseased aortic heart valves in patients too frail or sick to withstand the traditional open-heart surgical approach proves promising in a study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).  Since October 2007, Emory University Hospital has been one of approximately 20 hospitals nationwide, and the only site in Georgia, studying the groundbreaking non-surgical treatment option for patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis.  Peter Block, MD, professor of medicine at Emory School of Medicine and PI of the study is also an ACTSI investigator. Read more...

Sandra Dunbar has been named associate dean for academic advancement at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. In the new position, she is charged with creating an infrastructure to support the development of academic leaders within the school of nursing.  Dr. Dunbar, DSN, RN, FAAN, FAHA, is also an ACTSI investigator. Read more...

Douglas Eaton

The Coulter Program and the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) announce a Call for Proposals to provide support for novel medical device, diagnostic, or imaging technologies that substantially enhance the diagnosis or treatment of human disease. This is a multiple-PI grant. One PI must be a primary faculty member from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at GA Tech and Emory. The other PI must be permanent faculty in the professorial ranks (assistant, associate, or full) and a clinical researcher with patient contact from Emory SOM or Morehouse School of Medicine. Grants are expected to range from $100,000–$150,000 for a one-year period. Full proposals are due on October 25. Read more…

Emory /GA Tech was recently awarded a Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology (PEN) by the NIH/NHLBI, and established the Center for Translational Cardiovascular Nanomedicine (CTCN). To help achieve the goals of the CTCN, explore new ideas in cardiovascular nanomedicine, and facilitate the development of new collaborations between GA Tech and Emory in cardiology and molecular imaging, a seed grant program associated with the CTCN has been established. All faculty members at GA Tech and Emory are welcome to submit proposals. Send questions to amy.tang@bme.gatech.edu. Read more...

The Emory Center for Injury Prevention (ECIC) has created a multi-disciplinary Faculty Seed Grant Program to facilitate and promote innovative, preliminary, and interdisciplinary research activities to yield future high-impact injury prevention research. The four categories of grants are designed to provide incentives and support for researchers to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams and community members on projects that can lead to larger grant proposals related to violence and unintentional injury prevention or that support the preparation of a larger grant proposal. Electronic proposals are due by November 15, 2010 to Shakiyla Smith (LRSMIT3@emory.edu). Read more…

Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center (Emory PERRC) announces pilot research grants focusing on public health systems research on preparedness and emergency response capabilities.  One to two innovative pilot project grants will be awarded in 2010, each funded at a minimum of $10,000 and maximum of $20,000 per year. Winning pilot projects will be funded with the goal of completion within one year with the opportunity for renewal for a second year.  Applications are due November 15, 2010. Read more…

The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation is now accepting applications from medical students, physician residents, and fellows for the Seed Grant Research Program. Grants of up to $2,500 will help junior investigators conduct basic science or clinical research projects in the following four categories: Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Diseases, HIV/AIDS, Leukemia, and Neoplastic Diseases. Read more…

The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) is pleased to announce that applications are currently being accepted for Research and Mentorship Program (RAMP) grants. RAMP Scholar grants support African American and Hispanic medical students considering careers in HIV vaccine research.  Research support will be made available for selected scholars proposing  projects aligned with the HVTN scientific agenda and conducted with HVTN investigators. Support for the mentor of successful applicants will also be provided.  Proposals are due January 10th, 2011. Read more…

The Center for Ethics will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall, and as part of the celebration, they will be holding their 20th Anniversary Conference, entitled "Crossing the Line: The Ethics of Intervention."  The event will be held at the Emory Law School Auditorium, 3rd Floor on Thursday, October 7th.  For more details, click here.

The nursing staff of the ACTSI’s Clinical Interaction Network (CIN) Clinical Research Center will be hosting another outstanding three-day research residency program. It is designed to provide novice and experienced nurses with knowledge and skills that will aid their navigation through the clinical research process. The areas of focus are research design and methodology, ethics, research subject’s rights and safety, critical thinking, clinical practice, evaluation of clinical data, and application of patho-physiological and psychosocial concepts within the multidisciplinary team. Contact Carmen Blount, 404-686-5877 with questions. Read more…

The Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation is co-hosting its 20th Annual Symposium and Workshop with GA Tech's Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience. The event creates a unique blend of industry, academic, regulatory, and clinical attendees. BioInterface will be held at the Loews Atlanta Hotel and the Marcus Nanotechnology Building on the GA Tech campus. For more details click here.

The Translational Technologies & Resources (TTR) and the Clinical Interaction Network (CIN) programs of the ACTSI, along with the Renal Division in the Emory Department of Medicine, are sponsoring a symposium on "New Approaches to IgA Nephropathy".  The symposium will be held on Tuesday, October 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Emory School of Medicine.  Click here to register.  Read more…

The Georgia Life Sciences Summit, Innovation for a Healthier World...Meeting the Challenge, will be held October 28, at the AmericasMart Atlanta. The summit is considered the preeminent gathering of scientists and industry decision makers for Georgia's life sciences community, and an ideal medium to foster relationships for future scientific and business growth and opportunity. The Executive Committee invites the submission of abstracts from Georgia-based scientists, representatives from Georgia-based academia, research institutes and biotech entrepreneurs, and especially encourages students and post-doctoral fellows to participate in this year’s poster session. Read more…

Emory's Winship Cancer Institute is hosting a Scientific Research & Academic Development Symposium on November 4-5, in Winship's fifth floor auditorium. Click here to register. Read more…

Emory’s Office for Clinical Research presents Research Matters on Thursday, November 18, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Emory’s EUH Auditorium, Second Floor. This event offers CME hours. Click here to register.

Commercializing Medical Devices will take place at GA Tech on December 1. Experts will present to French and American companies the necessary requirements in order to commercialize medical devices in both France and the U.S. The first session will be dedicated to the clinical trial process in both France and the U.S. Read more…

The ACTSI is pleased to announce a new resource for investigators called Studio Consultations to aid in the successful design and implementation of clinical and translational science research proposals. The Studio Consultation concept involves a clinical investigator presenting their proposals to representatives of ACTSI’s Biostatistics, Epidemiology, & Research Design (BERD) program, Biomedical Informatics Program (BIP), and Clinical Interaction Network (CIN) who in turn will give the investigator their expert feedback. Read more…

The CTSA Pharmaceutical Assets Portal invites you to join in the effort to find new uses for discontinued drugs. The Portal project is jointly supported by the Pfizer Corporation and NCRR with the ultimate goal of leveraging existing compounds to advance mechanistic understanding of human disease, resulting in novel treatments for patients.  Membership in the Portal is free for CTSA researchers.  For more information, please contact Kate Marusina at kate.marusina@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu. Read more…

The ACTSI and the Emory Research and Health Sciences IT division are proud to announce the recent release of the electronic Biomedical Interactive Resource Tool (eBIRT), a new web-based application used for research resource discovery. For researchers, eBIRT serves as a “one-stop virtual shop” for research resources, such as laboratory services, equipment, software, consultation services, training opportunities, and more.  To search for resources in eBIRT, go to http://ebirt.emory.edu. Read more…