News Capsules 03/04/09
March 4, 2009
NEWS CAPSULES is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Nick Hanson at hans2853@umn.edu.
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Numbers are the primary issue on my mind this week, as we work our way through budget compact meetings within the Academic Health Center, and engage in discussions University-wide of the full range of options for managing our future. We heard a big number from the Governor’s office this week, when Minnesota announced a $6.3 billion shortfall for the upcoming biennium offset in part by the federal stimulus package. And we’re closely monitoring the impact of the federal stimulus package for University research programs, planned facilities, education programs, and health care access investments. And, I remain ever focused on the 6,200 students in all our health sciences schools and colleges, as well as the nearly 7,500 faculty and staff who work here.
Yes, this is a stressful period of focusing closely on the impact of all these numbers on the future we need to create. The way we’re structured within our schools and programs served us well in past decades – and it’s clear we need to re-examine those structures to ensure a more stable and successful future. This pie chart provides one way to assess the questions we need to answer within the AHC’s $1.2 billion budget.
What can we do to increase the revenue generated through our clinics and the care we provide? How can we maintain the continued increase in sponsored funding for our highly productive faculty through the interdisciplinary model championed by many funding agencies? How can we increase the impact of philanthropy for our programs and schools? And how can we creatively manage the generated income outside of our clinics to support our core mission more effectively?
The AHC needs the creativity of all our faculty and staff as we wrestle with the numbers that will ensure we continue to prepare the next generation of health professionals, while discovering and delivering important treatments and cures through our research, and improving the health of families and communities.
– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences
Researchers identify compound that could prevent HIV transmission
Medical School researchers have identified a compound that when vaginally applied prevents the transmission of the primate version of HIV. The gel-based solution, called glycerol monolaurate – or GML for short – is a naturally occurring, FDA-approved compound that is already widely used as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent in food and cosmetics. Researchers believe GML has potential to be an effective way to prevent vaginal transmission of HIV in humans, which is how a majority of new cases are acquired around the globe.
Type 2 diabetes resolved after weight loss surgery in more than 78 percent of patients
A meta-analysis by University of Minnesota researcher Henry Buchwald, M.D., Ph.D., and associates has proven that the majority of patients with type 2 diabetes can be completely relieved of their symptoms following bariatric surgery. Buchwald analyzed 621 clinical studies involving 135,246 patients and showed that diabetes was resolved in 78.1 percent of diabetic patients. Read more.
U of M top workplace for postdoctoral scholars
An annual survey conducted by The Scientist, an international magazine of the life sciences, named the University of Minnesota among the top 10 workplaces for postdoctoral scholars. The U of M was the only public institution to make the top 10 list. Read more.
Collaborative cancer program announced
The College of Veterinary Medicine, in conjunction with the Masonic Cancer Center, recently announced the establishment of the Animal Cancer Care and Research (ACCR) program. “ACCR researchers are currently working to define breed- and disease-specific ‘Achilles’ heels’ in dogs. These findings could then be translated into more effective and less toxic cancer treatments. The implications could reach far beyond dogs and veterinary medicine,” said Jaime Modiano, V.M.D., Ph.D., director of the ACCR program. For more information, visit the Web site.
Robert Washabau (College of Veterinary Medicine) will be the 2009 recipient of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) WALTHAM International Award for Scientific Achievement. This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a veterinarian who has had a significant impact on the advancement of knowledge concerning the cause, detection, cure, and control of disorders of companion animals.
Mary Jo Kreitzer (Center for Sprirituality & Healing and School of Nursing) testified before the U.S Senate Health Committee in Washington, D.C., on “Integrative Care: A Pathway to Healthcare Reform.” Watch the testimony. (Kreitzer begins speaking approximately 53 minutes into the hearing.)
Ralph Farnsworth (College of Veterinary Medicine, retired) received the 2009 Outstanding Faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine Award at the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association convention February 7. The award is given to a faculty member who provides outstanding service to Minnesota veterinarians, gives his or her time and talent to the veterinary profession, makes a difference to the profession, and is a dedicated contributor to organized veterinary medicine.
Diane Kadidlo and David McKenna, M.D., have been appointed the director and scientific director, respectively, of the Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics (MCT) Facility. The facility, located on the St. Paul campus, is a free-standing, state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practices/Good Tissue Practices (GMP/GTP)-compliant manufacturing facility for the development of Phase I-II cell and tissue-based products, therapeutic proteins, and pharmaceuticals.
Kim Horne (College of Veterinary Medicine) received the Veterinary Technician of the Year award from the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians. Horne is supervisor, small animal specialties, and staff development coordinator in the Veterinary Medical Center.
Cindee Quake-Rapp, Ph.D., has been named the director of the Center for Allied Health Programs. The center was created in 2006 to respond to allied health professional workforce shortages.
Brian Zamboni, Ph.D., (Medical School) received one of three awards for outstanding faculty members from St. Mary’s University. Zamboni is a full-time faculty member in the Program in Human Sexuality in the Medical School, and also teaches at St. Mary’s.
State of the University address is Thursday
University President Robert Bruininks will deliver his annual State of the University address at 3 p.m., Thursday, March 5, in the Coffman Union Theater. A question and answer period will follow the speech. A reception will follow in the lobby. To request disability accommodations, call University Relations at 4-6868. Access the live video link
Learn about available research funding from the stimulus bill
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is creating a new Web site and several listservs for University researchers interested in new funding opportunities within the fiscal stimulus bill. The infusion of these new, presumably one-time funds, will be tracked closely by the OVPR. More information on stimulus funding.
Match Day for medical students: March 19
Fourth-year Medical School students will gather in McNamara Alumni Center on Thursday, March 19 to learn which residency programs they will enter. The program begins at 10:30 a.m., and envelopes will be distributed at 11 a.m.
College of Veterinary Medicine hosts research day
The College will hold its annual Points of Pride Reseach Day on March 25, 2009. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a poster competition and culminates with seminars by the recipients of the Distinguished Research Alumnus Award and Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence. A reception will follow, during which guests can view posters describing current research initiatives and interact with student, staff, and faculty. For more information and a detailed schedule visit the Web site.
Free 5K run/walk added to Design of Medical Devices Conference schedule
In support of health and wellness, the Design of Medical Devices Conference and the Medical Device Center Fellows Program are holding a free 5K fun run/walk at 6:30 p.m., April 13, on the mall of the University of Minnesota campus. Register for the walk/run. For more details or to register for the conference, held from April 14–16 at the Radisson University Hotel, visit the Web site.
Consortium announces funding opportunities
The Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences is accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) for interdisciplinary research, projects, or curricular innovation concerning the broad societal implications of problems in health, environment, or the life sciences. RFPs may be found here, and the application deadline is Monday, March 9. For questions, contact Audrey Boyle at Boyle032@umn.edu or 6-5624.
"Meeting the Standards of Scientific Inquiry in Community-Engaged Research"
The Office for Public Engagement’s symposium will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, March 10, in the A.I. Johnson Great Room, McNamara Alumni Center.This free symposium will engage representatives from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health in discussions about the role of community engagement in the development and implementation of scientific investigations. To register, e-mail: public@umn.edu.
Hartford Center hosts talk on pain management in older adults
Visiting scholar Kella Herr, professor and chair of adult and gerontology at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, will give three public lectures on evidence-based guidelines in pain management in older adults and in end-of-life curriculum. Three public lectures, including an evening community presentation co-hosted with the U’s Center on Aging, will take place April 14 and 15, noon–1 p.m., Mayo Memorial Auditorium; and April 15, 5–6 p.m., 2-201 Hasselmo Hall. For more information, visit the Hartford Center’s Web site.
Medical students hold free health fair at Mall of America
The University of Minnesota Medical School chapter of the Student National Medical Association will be conducting a free, public health fair from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, at the Mall of America, first floor rotunda. University and community physicians will provide screening, education, and consultation on health topics including hypertension, cholesterol, smoking cessation and glaucoma. More details can be found here.
Medical Devices Center accepting applications for Fellows Program
The University of Minnesota is recruiting a four person cross-disciplinary team consisting of postgraduate engineers, seasoned medical device professionals, bioscientists and physicians to collaborate in medical device product and development for 2009-2010. The Medical Devices Center Fellows Program is sponsored by the Medical Devices Center, part of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine. For more information and to apply, visit the center’s Web site.
2009 planning grants in health disparities announced
The Medical School’s Program in Health Disparities Research is accepting proposals for projects focusing on eliminating health disparities that also encourage community-initiated research and foster sustainable long-term collaborative research between community-based organizations and academic researchers. Letters of intent are due March 31. For more information, visit the program’s Web site.
Students invited to learn about international health care
“An International Affair: A Look at Healthcare Abroad” will be held 7–9 p.m., Saturday, March 7, at Weisman Art Museum. Guests at this free event, hosted by the U of M chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, will experience a gallery walk that will give a glimpse of the state of international health care and hear from guest speakers with international health experience. Representatives from the Learning Abroad Center will also be available to help students find opportunities abroad. Refreshments will be served.
Fifth annual women’s leadership conference: “Leveraging the Power of You”
The Carlson School of Management will host a women’s leadership conference from 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., April 10, in Coffman Union. Keynote speakers include Gail Evans, author of Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman, and Verna Cornelia Price, president and principal consultant, J. Cameron & Associates and JCAMA Publishers. General admission is $150 with a U student rate of $50. To register, visit Carlson or call Emily Nelson at 612-626-9334.
March 5
4:00 p.m. –6 p.m. Whole Systems Healing
Social and Environmental Dimensions of Healing featuring Van Jones Van Jones
Location: Ted Mann Concert Hall
March 6
8:30 a.m. –5:30 p.m. Consortium on Law & Values 10th Anniversary Conference
What's Next in Law, Health & the Life Sciences? Debating Openness, Access & Accountability
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Center - Cowles Auditorium
March 12
8 a.m. –5 p.m.
8-Hour Emergency Response Refresher
Location: University Office Plaza
More events like these can be found on the AHC calendar, http://www.ahc.umn.edu/calendar. You can submit an item to the AHC calendar by going to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/submitevent.
Respectfully Submitted: The Board of Governors
For 20 years the Board of Governors served as the fiscal agent for UMHC. Now more than 17,500 pages of minutes and reports related to their work are available online. Learn more about the preservation of the archival records and their availability through the digital archives.
AHC News Capsules is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Nick Hanson at hans2853@umn.edu.
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