News Capsules - 3/13/08

March 13, 2008

NEWS CAPSULES is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Jacob Portnoy at port0179@umn.edu.

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– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences

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HEADLINES —

Legislative Update
Last week the Minnesota Senate and later the Minnesota House voted for a nearly billion dollar bonding bill which also included the Minnesota Biomedical Research Program. While there are minor differences in the language in each bill, those differences will be worked out as early as this week in the conference committee. The final bonding bill will return to the full House and Senate for final passage and transmission to the Governor. The four buildings in the program would continue the AHC's focus on strengths in imaging, cancer research, cardiovascular research, and infectious disease and neurology, while promoting retention and recruitment of scientists and physicians. Last week, the Star Tribune editorialized in favor of the state making an investment in the University’s research infrastructure. The AHC's efforts are focused on ensuring that the Governor has every chance to support this proposal.

Twin Cities’ first lupus and Sjogren’s clinic opens
The clinic is directed by Barbara Segal, M.D., and Mehrnaz Hojjati, M.D., and staffed by University of Minnesota rheumatologists as well as sub specialists in nephrology, dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, social work, and pain management. For more information, go to:
http://www.umphysicians.umn.edu/clinics_objectname_lupus_clinic.html.

Researchers find benefits for teens who eat breakfast
School of Public Health Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers have found further evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence. For more information, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/teenbreakfast030308/home.html.

Researchers discover genetic cancer link between humans and dogs
Cancer researchers at the University of Minnesota and North Carolina State University have found that humans and dogs share the same genetic basis for certain types of cancer. Furthermore, the researchers say that because of the way the genomes have evolved, cancer may be inevitable for some humans and dogs. For more information, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/cancerlink022808/home.html.

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Judith Berman, Ph.D. (Medical School), was selected for a Distinguished McKnight Professorship. Berman is a leader in the study of yeasts, both the baker's yeast that produces bread and beer, and Candida albicans, which is the most prevalent pathogen in humans.

Stephen A. Katz, Ph.D. (Medical School), will receive the University of Minnesota 2007-08 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education.

Lorentz Wittmers, Jr., Ph.D., M.D. (Medical School – Duluth campus), has been named the permanent head of the Duluth Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Wittmers had been the department’s interim head.

Kirill Martemyanov, Ph.D. (Medical School), was named a McKnight Land-Grant Professor. The term begins July 1, 2008 and continues through June 30, 2010.

Andrea Danil (College of Pharmacy), has been chosen to receive the 2008 Bacaner Research Award in Pharmacology. Danil is working in the lab of Carol Lange, Ph.D.

David Polly, M.D. (Medical School), co-directed a 3-day seminar on the latest technology, techniques, and trends in spine surgery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Scott Harpin, M.S., M.P.H. (School of Nursing), Ph.D. student and member of the school's Center for Adolescent Nursing, has been selected as a 2008 recipient of the President's Student Leadership and Service Award.

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UPDATES —

Early planning underway for adult outpatient facility
University of Minnesota Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota Physicians, and Fairview Health Services representatives are discussing details for an outpatient facility for adult patients. Targeted to open in 2011, the facility’s proposed site is Fulton and Ontario streets in Minneapolis. The new facility would accommodate growing patient volumes and changes in how care is delivered. The project would need board approvals before construction could begin.

College of Veterinary Medicine dean search
Three final candidates are under consideration for dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Each candidate will be asked to return for a two-day visit that will include meetings with Faculty Council and Advisory Board members. The finalists are:

• Trevor Ames, D.V.M., M.S., current interim dean
• Howard Gelberg, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of pathology and former dean of the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Robert Washabau, V.M.D., Ph.D., chair, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

AAALAC site visit concluded
Six representatives from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) were on campus last month. At an exit briefing, the AAALAC group noted areas where the University still needs to improve the oversight and monitoring of animal use and of health and safety provisions. However, overall, the AAALAC was impressed with the program's status at the University. The reviewers commended what they saw as a strong and deep level of institutional commitment and support with a vision, a plan, and evidence of its implementation.

Medical Reserve Corp

• Recent deployment update
  The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) sent two members to assist in the response to the school bus accident in Cottonwood, MN. One member worked with metro and local behavioral health specialists at the Lakeview School. The other member worked with local behavioral health specialists to conduct a debriefing session with emergency response personnel.

• MRC 101: Introduction to the University of Minnesota’s MRC
  If you are a MRC member and want to learn how you can play a role during a community public health disaster or emergency, attend MRC 101. Topics covered include member liability, the communication process for notification or deployment, and other information important to members. Please RSVP to Kathy Berlin at berli034@umn.edu. Upcoming sessions include:
  • Tuesday - 3/26/08 - 12:15pm-1:00pm - Mayo 3-100
  • Thursday - 4/03/08 - 12:15pm - 1:00 pm - TBD
  • Tuesday - 4/15/08 - 12:15pm -1:00pm - TBD
  • Friday - 4/25/08 - 12:15pm-1:00pm - TBD

Minnesota's Future Doctors receives $1 million donation
Minnesota’s Future Doctors, a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic medical schools, has received an anonymous donation of $1 million. The goal of the program is to equip high-potential minority, rural, and economically under-resourced students with the skills necessary to become successful undergraduate students, in turn making them strong applicants for medical school.
For more information, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/futuredoctors022808/home.html.

Beware of phishing scams in fraudulent job postings
Two cases of fraud were identified by School of Public Health? students last week. In one instance, an e-mail was circulated from an organization posing as the World Health Organization (WHO). The e-mail invited students to submit personal information to the e-mail address "hr@hrp-who.site.tc" in an attempt to commit identify theft. In the second case, a student received a phone call from someone claiming to represent a company that further research showed did not exist. For more information, go to: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2006/s01/en/index.html.

New genotyping tool available for researchers
GingerSNP helps researchers identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of particular biological relevance from genotyping arrays. An adjunct to statistical analysis and data mining in genotyping studies, GingerSNP is used to select SNP subsets based on their connections to gene, function, and pathway. The tool’s developers would appreciate feedback on usability during the current beta period. To use the tool, go to: http://gingersnp.bioinformatics.umn.edu.

OPPORTUNITIES —

Scientific Writing Development Series
This four-week workshop series is targeted to clinical and translational researchers in the earlier stages of their careers. Topics include manuscript writing principles, abstract and introduction, methods and results, and discussion and title. AHC faculty and research staff are encouraged to attend as many of the sessions as they choose. The series is led by Anne Marie Weber-Main, Ph.D. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/writing/scientificwriting/.

Q&A with the Senior V.P.
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Frank B. Cerra, M.D., will engage in a dialogue with each of the AHC schools and colleges this spring. All faculty and staff of each college are invited to join the conversation during their allotted time. If you have any questions, please call Jen at 612-625-4110.

• March 31, noon-2 p.m. - College of Veterinary Medicine - 125 AnSci/VM
• April 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m. - College of Pharmacy - 7-135 WDH
• April 9, 7:30-9:30 a.m. - School of Nursing - 4-180 WDH
• April 16, 7:30-9:30 a.m. - School of Dentistry - 2-650 Moos
• April 17, 7:30-9:30 a.m. - Medical School - Mayo Auditorium
• April 18, 8:30-10:30 a.m. - School of Public Health - Mayo Auditorium

2008 AHC Faculty Seed Grant Program
Apply now for one of 15 seed grants to fund faculty research. Up to 15 awards will be funded with a maximum of $25,000 per project. These grants are designed to support new areas of research and to help develop innovative projects that will allow faculty to expand their research. Proposals from all areas of research within the AHC are welcome. The deadline for applications is April 4. For more information, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/funding/seedgrants/home.html.

Get involved in medical device developement
The Medical Devices Design Fellows Program, sponsored by the Medical Devices Center of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine at 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. Review of applications will begin immediately; application deadline is April 30. For more information, go to: http://www.me.umn.edu.

"The Aging Game" - Mini Medical School - Spring 2008
Topics for this five-week series include: what happens as we age; your aging skin; oral health; sexuality and aging; heart health; and what you should know about prescription drugs and medications. Mini Medical School is held 6-8:30 p.m., on five consecutive Mondays, March 24-April 21, at the Coffman Union Theatre. For more information, go to: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/outreach/minimed.

“Motherland Afghanistan” screening and panel discussion
The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health, with the Minnesota International Center, and Americans for United Nations Fund for Population Activities, will be screening the documentary film Motherland Afghanistan at 7 p.m., April 4, at the Weisman Art Museum. The film reveals the devastating stories behind a reproductive health crisis essentially neglected by the Western media. Registration is required. For more information, go to: http://www.womenshealth.umn.edu/wmhlth/Events.html.

A. Marilyn Sime Faculty Research Fellowship Program
The Center for Spirituality & Healing is pleased to announce the 2008-2010 A. Marilyn Sime Faculty Research Fellowship Program. The intent of the program is to identify faculty who have high potential for a research career in areas including complementary therapies and healing practices, spirituality, and cross-culture healing practices. Under the fellowship program, faculty receive up to .50 funding for a period of up to two years. The application deadline is March 31. For more details, please contact Linda Chmielewski at 612-626-5307 or chmie001@umn.edu.

CALENDAR —

Mar. 18
1:00 - 2:30p p.m.
Bio-Medical Library Classes
Writing in the Health Sciences: Health Statistics & Data Sources
Presenter: Katherine Chew
Location: Diehl Hall - AHC Learning Commons (5th Floor)

Mar. 19
6 – 8 p.m.
Tropical & Travel Medicine Seminar Series
Elevation of Liver Disease in the Tropics
Presenter: Dr. Ann Settgast (Chair)
Location: Off Campus - Shriner's Hospital - 2025 East River Road

Mar. 24
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Measuring Childhood Obesity: Public Health Surveillance OR School-based
Screening and Parent Notification?
Location: Coffman Memorial Union - Mississippi Room

Mar. 27
Noon - 1 p.m.
Powell Center Noontime Lecture Series - Winter Schedule
The Cost of Sexual Violence in Minnesota
Presenter: Laura Hutton, M.A., MN Dept of Health; Donna Dunn, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Location: Moos Health Sciences Tower - 2-520

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.

TIME CAPSULE —

Happy Anniversary!
This week marks the 22nd anniversary of the grand opening of the University of Minnesota Hospital. When the 566,000 square feet facility opened in 1986 it centralized much of the patient care into one building and allowed the University to drop the "s" off its previous title of University Hospitals. Learn more about the grand opening.

What did this place used to be?
After the previous edition of Time Capsule, we expected a flood of people clamoring to play “What did this place used to be.” The response was more of a trickle. We know the AHC is full of interesting nooks and crannies that used to be something else. Get involved! Take a picture of your space and send it to port0179@umn.edu.

AHC News Capsules is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Jacob Portnoy at port0179@umn.edu.