News Capsules, 01/24/07
January 24, 2007
NEWS CAPSULES
is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Jennifer La Forgia, lafor016@umn.edu.
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We’re off and running with a remarkably active legislative session. By the end of this week, University leaders will have presented various portions of the biennial request before six committees in the House and Senate. That doesn’t include the requests made by various legislative members for expert testimony from our talented faculty. Our goals remain focused on securing the state support needed to drive a successful future—passage of the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority; full funding of the University’s biennial request; and continued funding for the U-Mayo Partnership. We’ll need your help in the coming months—so stay tuned.
– Frank B. Cerra
This week, the Governor released his budget recommendations, funding less than one-half of the University’s biennial request. In response, President Robert Bruininks questioned the lack of funding for core education and infrastructure needs, while praising the targeted funding for a number of critical research initiatives. "Our budget request is realistic and based on the goal of maintaining and improving the competitive position of both the university and the state," Bruininks said. Pawlenty's budget funds $90.4 million of the University's $182.3 biennial request. The Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority was not included in the governor's budget, although it fully funds a number of key research areas important to the state, including science, engineering, agriculture, the environment, renewable energy, health workforce and clinical sciences. For more about the U’s budget request and the Governor’s recommendations, go to http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/govrel/.
The U’s Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority received its first hearing Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the House Committee on Biosciences and Emerging Technologies. The bill, which would authorize state bonding for 600,000 square feet of new research space over the next 10 years, passed out of committee and is expected to be heard next in the House Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. For more about the bill: http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/govrel/.
The dedication for the Minnesota Partnership Research Facility will occur Friday, Jan. 26. The state-of-the-art, three-story facility atop the Stabile Building in Rochester was funded by the University of Minnesota and will support the ongoing genomic and biomedical research of the U-Mayo Partnership.
John Wagner (Medical School and Cancer Center) testified in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 19, before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.) about the importance of funding for stem cell research. The title of his testimony was “Can Congress help fulfill the promise of stem cell research?” To read the testimony, go to http://www.cancer.umn.edu/exfiles/news/SenateHearing2007.pdf
All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend the eighth annual State of the Academic Health Center address on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The AHC Faculty Assembly will precede the address by Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Frank B. Cerra speaking on “Learning from History: Discovering the Future.” The events will originate in the newly remodeled Mayo Auditorium with telecast to the Duluth campus (room 263 SMed), the St. Paul campus (room 280 VDL), and the Rochester campus (room ST108).
Wednesday, Jan. 31
2:00-2:45 p.m. - AHC Faculty Assembly
3:00-4:00 p.m. - State of the AHC Address by Frank B. Cerra
4:00-5:00 p.m. - Reception and tours of Mayo Auditorium (East Bank)
President Robert Bruininks will host the Legislative Briefing this evening (Wednesday, Jan. 24) to offer an inside look at the University’s 2007 legislative requests. Attendees will learn how best to advocate and network with others who share a passion for the U. The briefing will be in the McNamara Alumni Center’s Memorial Hall, 5:30–8 p.m. For those who have not registered for this event, but are interested in learning about advocating for the U, there are two upcoming Legislative Coffee Briefings on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses:
Minneapolis Campus
Jan. 30, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
President’s Room - Coffman Union
St. Paul Campus
Jan. 31, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Minnesota Commons , SPSC
Following a national search, the Central Minnesota Area Health Education Center in Fergus Falls, has hired Laurissa Stigen to serve as their executive director. The University and the Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Fergus Falls helped guide the search. “Laurissa will bring the energy and leadership necessary to promote the goals of AHEC and contribute to the health of all communities in the region,” said Barbara Brandt, Minnesota AHEC program director.
A University of Minnesota stem-cell research team led by Catherine Verfaillie (Stem Cell Institute), in collaboration with Stanford University, has persuaded skeptics by using adult stem cells to repopulate the blood systems of irradiated mice. When first published in 2001, the discovery of these cells called multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) engendered skepticism because they proved difficult to grow and reproduce. The finding that they can replace the immune system and bone marrow in mice moves medicine a step closer to increasing the supply of cells available for bone marrow transplant patients. This finding appears in the Jan. 22, 2007, issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
The Institute on the Environment, charged with coordinating the breadth and depth of the U’s environmental resources, has named its 15 founding members. Provost Thomas Sullivan characterized each new founder as an “outstanding environmental scientist.” Sagar Goyal (College of Veterinary Medicine) was one of those selected. To learn more about the founders go to: http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070112_3102&page=UMNN
Crookston has been named host community for the Northwest Minnesota Area Health Education Center (AHEC) network. AHEC is a federal-state cooperative agreement to educate health professions students in medically underserved areas of the state. As a host community, Crookston will head collaborations with other communities in the region to promote existing health programs and bring community and University interests together to address health-care workforce concerns.
Good news for campus pedestrians! The foyer of the Mayo Auditorium is open again. The foyer, a favorite shortcut for those walking from the Phillips-Wangensteen Building, Weaver-Densford Hall, or Moos Tower to Church Street and Coffman Union, has been refurbished as part of the Mayo Auditorium renovation.
David Ingbar (Medical School), co-director of the Lung Science and Health Center and president-elect of the American Thoracic Society, spoke last week to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. as part of the new NHLBI campaign on COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
The editors of the journal Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation have named Kim Robien (School of Public Health) winner of the 2006 George Santos Award for the best clinical science article by a new investigator. Robien's article, "Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and Thymidylate Synthase Genotypes and Risk of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia," was published in the journal’s September 2006 issue.
School of Dentistry alum Chun-Pin Lin has been appointed Dean of the School of Dentistry for National Taiwan University. His daughter is a medical student at the U.
The Genetics Society of America has named Robert K. Herman (Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development) the recipient of the 2007 George W. Beadle Award for his outstanding contributions. Herman’s research helped illuminate the genetic basis of development and behavior using C. elegans as a model organism. He also developed genetic techniques that are now standard in the field.
The Maroon and Gold will Go RED for Women’s Heart Health on Feb. 2. Those interested in increasing awareness of women’s No. 1 killer are encouraged to wear red and gather at the U o f M Fieldhouse at 8 a.m. to help create the “world’s largest heart.” (Free breakfast offered.) Later in the day, the Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health will sponsor Anne Taylor (Medical School) speaking on “How to Mend a Broken Heart,” 12:10–1:15 p.m., in Moos 2-650. Taylor will address risk factors, prevention strategies, and other developments in cardiovascular research. (Lunch provided.)
The University will host its first quality fair to share innovative ideas from staff and faculty from around the state. The fair, sponsored by the Office of Service and Continuous Improvement, will be Thursday, Jan. 25, 8 a.m.–noon, in the McNamara Alumni Center. To learn more or to register, go to: http://www.umn.edu/osci/fair.html.
The U-wide Academy of Distinguished Teachers (ADT) wants to be a resource to fellow teachers. Teachers who have questions or just want to confer with another teacher can call or e-mail members willing to be contacted. See http://www.adt.umn.edu/rfaculty.html for a list. For more information, contact Karen Zentner Bacig, Office of the Senior VP for Academic Affairs and Provost, kbacig@umn.edu.
The Tech Talk program from the U’s Office of Information Technology’s Digital Media Center featured Jon Hallberg ( Medical School), Ross Janssen, and John Jensen in a program called “Technology and Medicine.” To view the show, go to: http://techtalk.umn.edu/episodes/season5/511.shtml
Ground-breaking stem cell conference will be held Feb. 26. This full-day conference sponsored by the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences will convene top researchers and experts to explore the issues raised by SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer), the options open to universities, and how policy should progress. To register for the conference, "Creating Stem Cells by Research Cloning: Scientific, Ethical, Legal and Policy Challenges," go to: http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/conferences/scnt.php or e-mail lawvalue@umn.edu.
The University’s Biomedical Engineering Institute (BMEI) announces the conference
“Hematopoietic Growth Factors: Use in Normal and Stem Cell Donors - Clinical and Ethical Issues,” March 15-16 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. Jeffrey McCullough (BMEI) and Jeffrey Kahn (Center for Bioethics) will be co-chairs of the conference. For program and registration information go to http://www.bmei.umn.edu/bmei/gfc_program_html.htm. Contact Tonya Femal with questions at bmei@umn.edu
The Lunch Series on the Societal Implications of the Life Sciences presents David Relman speaking on "Dual Use and National Security" Thursday, Jan. 25, 12:15–1:30 p.m., in the Coffman Memorial Union Theater. Relman is associate professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University. He will examine balancing national security policy with continuing innovation in the life sciences. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly encouraged by contacting lawvalue@umn.edu or 5-0055. Registration is required if you wish to receive continuing education credits (CLE, CME, CNE).
The Clinical Research Conference will feature Lisa Chow ( Medical School) speaking on “Fat and the Muscle—A Possible Reason for Insulin Resistance in Humans,” on Monday, Feb. 5, from 8 to 9 a.m. in 2-101 Nils Hasselmo Hall.
The Distinguished Visiting Scholars Series will host Jeremy Grimshaw, MBChB, Ph.D., FRCGP, speaking on “Towards Evidence-Based Implementation” on Thursday, Jan. 25, 12:05–1:05 p.m., in 2-620 Moos Tower. Grimshaw is director of the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, director of the Centre for Best Practices, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa and director of the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre.
Won Choi, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center, will present a lecture “Developing a Smoking Cessation Program for Native Americans,” 12:15–1:15 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 31, in 2-520 Moos. Choi is a candidate for a faculty position at the Medical School.
The AHC is seeking applications for seed grants to fund faculty interested in pursuing a new research initiative. Fourteen projects will be funded through a competitive peer review process with a maximum award of $25,000. The deadline for applications is April 6. For more information on the application process, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/funding/seedgrants/home.html
Register now for the first-ever Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol. Show your support for comprehensive smoke free workplaces to legislators and staffers in St. Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 7:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. To learn more and to register, visit: http://www.smokefreeminnesota.com.
2007 Summer Public Health Institute (May 21–June 8). Visit cpheo.sph.umn.edu/institute for the complete three-week schedule including new course offerings in a workshop format. The print catalog will be available in late January. If you are not on the mailing list, please call 612-626-4515 or email cpheo@umn.edu to request a copy.
Appointments are now being accepted for patients who wish to be helped for free by U pharmacy students (in the Twin Cities and Duluth) learning (with a faculty member) how to deliver medication therapy management services—a new health benefit covered by some insurers and government programs. All U employees, relatives, and friends are encouraged to help prepare pharmacy students for this new professional responsibility. For more information or an appointment, call 612-625-7929.
Minnesota Medical Foundation is seeking nominations of faculty and students deserving of an array of honors and awards. Most deadlines are Feb.1. The list of awards is long. Go to http://www.mmf.umn.edu/services/story.cfm?id=116 to access the details. For more information, contact Patricia Tuomi, tuomi001@umn.edu or call 612-626-3807.
The deadlines for submitting proposals to the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences for projects addressing the broad societal implications of problems in health, environment, or the life sciences are approaching . Four types of awards are available: 1) For graduate/professional students; 2) for departments, programs, or centers; 3) for individual faculty; and 4) for Consortium/JDP members. Proposals are due in February. Go to www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/rfps/ for further information, deadlines, and application instructions. For questions, call 612.626.5624 or email boyle032@umn.edu.
The U’s Academic and Corporate Relations Center will sponsor the Life Science Business Workshop Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center . The workshop will feature sessions on such topics as Alzheimer’s imaging, neurocell transplants for Parkinson’s, and tissue engineering. To register, e-mail Devan at futte002@umn.edu or call 612-626-3438.
The Office of the Vice President for Research and the University Enterprise Laboratories, Inc. (UEL) will host an open house Tuesday, Jan. 30, 3–7 p.m., to celebrate the newly created Academic and Corporate Relations Center and the Office for Technology Commercialization. It will be at UEL headquarters, 1000 Westgate Dr. in St. Paul.
The Deinard Memorial Lecture Series on Law & Medicine will present Stephen J. Morse , J.D., Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania speaking on “New Neuroscience, Old Legal Problems: The Case of Juvenile Responsibility,” 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., in the Coffman Memorial Union Theater. It is free and open to the public. To learn more, go to http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/news_and_events/.
The Office of Regulatory Affairs will sponsor Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), a one-day training course , Feb. 28, at the Continuing Education Conference Center in St. Paul. The course covers federal regulations for GLP (in 21 CFR Part 58) and is $250 for anyone with U affiliation. To register, go to https://onestop2.umn.edu/training/category.jsp?category=CONTSUBST . For more information, contact Dawn Walden, walde010@umn.edu.
The U's chapter of Sigma Xi, the global honor society for science and engineering students, is sponsoring a poster competition on communicating science . Abstracts are due Jan. 31. The competition takes place March 6 in Coffman Union’s Great Hall. Posters will be judged for excellence in communicating science to an educated, non-specialist audience. Graduates and undergraduates may enter by submitting title, authors, and a short abstract (less than 200 words) to Michael Russelle at russelle@umn.edu.
AHC News Capsules is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Jennifer La Forgia at lafor016@umn.edu.
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