News Capsules 04/13/05
April 13, 2005
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Gov. Tim Pawlenty visited the University’s Health Careers Center April 12 to participate in a ceremonial re-signing of the state’s capital improvements bonding bill. Last week the Legislature approved the $945 million bill, which provides state funds for public roads and building projects--including $112 million for the University. Of that, $11.6 million will support AHC educational facilities on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses and $10.1 million is for the Life Sciences building in Duluth, which will be shared by pharmacy and biological sciences programs.
AHC NEWS
Diane Treat-Jacobson, School of Nursing, has been named an AHC Clinical Research Scholar. She fills the spot that was occupied by Michael Kotlyar, College of Pharmacy, who recently won a K 23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. For more information about the AHC scholars program, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/clinical/scholarapp/scholars.
Frank A. Lederle will speak on clinical research and the Academic Health Center Wednesday, April 20, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., in 2-530 Moos Tower. Lederle, Medical School, medicine, is a candidate for AHC Executive Director for Clinical Research. He also is director of the Minneapolis Center for Epidemiological and Clinical Research at the V.A. Medical Center. All AHC faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.
OTHER NEWS
Children ages 7 to 17 with amblyopia (lazy eye) may benefit from treatments more commonly used for younger children. The finding came from a national clinical trial that included research by the Medical School’s Gail Summers, ophthalmology and pediatrics, and Stephen Christiansen, ophthalmology. The study was the first large sample to show effective treatment for this eye condition. For more, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/lazyeye041105.
The Security Rule, an important part of HIPAA, goes into effect April 20. The rule’s intention is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information, which the University creates, accesses, transmits, or receives in both research and patient care settings. It sets forth specific requirements for the adoption of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for the protection of electronic protected health information. Changes to existing University policies and procedures have been made to incorporate the new requirements. Of particular significance is the policy located at http://www1.umn.edu/oit/security/privatedata.html. For more information, call 612-624-7447 or write mailto:privacy@umn.edu.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The BioMedical Genomics Center (BMGC) announces the availability of seed funds to assist investigators interested in developing research programs involving proteomics-related technologies. The BMGC will support eight to 20 projects with funding of $10,000 to $25,000 each for proteomics-related studies. Proposals must be received by May 23 and applicants will be notified by June 13. The earliest possible start date is July 1. For more information, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/campusnews/seedgrant After April 18, go to http://www.bmgc.umn.edu
PEOPLE
The following AHC students recently received the University of Minnesota President’s Leadership and Service Award: Michael Borch, Medical School, Brian Fuller, School of Dentistry, Valerie Mendralla, School of Public Health, Sarah Nakib, Medical School, Will Nicholson, Medical School, Travis Olives, School of Public Health, Cuong Pham, Medical School, Stephanie Stanton, Medical School, and Daniel Winterer, School of Nursing.
College of Pharmacy faculty and staff won several awards at the American Pharmacists Association’s annual meeting:
--The Minnesota Pharmacy Student Association was recognized for the best Operation Immunization project in Region V and received a $2,000 grant for its Stroke Risk Assessment project focused on underserved neighborhoods.
--Monica Miller was one of four students to receive a national Student Leadership Award, sponsored by Proctor and Gamble.
--Jim Cloyd received the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists Research Achievement Award.
--Audrey Imberg, a first-year student in Duluth, was a top-10 finalist for the Patient Counseling Contest.
-- Jon Schommer was inducted as president of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
--Brian Isetts received the Jake Miller award from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation.
Melissa Avery, School of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy’s Mike Brown, Jeannine Conway, and Todd Sorensen received University Technology Enhanced Learning grants recently. Avery’s award of $9,596 is for her project, "Faculty-Friendly Tools to Develop Interactive Online Courses.” The pharmacy award is for the project, "Improving Teaching and Learning of Parenteral Product Preparation Skills though the Development and Implementation of Online Instructor Training and Student Evaluation Systems.”
Bill Douglas, School of Dentistry, will receive the Hollenback Memorial Prize from the Academy of Operative Dentistry in recognition of his substantial contributions to the advancement of restorative dentistry. Douglas will accept the award at the annual meeting of the Academy of Operative Dentistry in Chicago on Feb. 23, 2006.
Dan Kovich, College of Veterinary Medicine, is one of two veterinary students selected nationally to participate in the U.S. Public Health Service’s Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program. The program assists students financially in return for the student’s agreement to work for the U.S. Public Health Service after graduation.
Margaret Moss, School of Nursing, has been appointed to the Minnesota Board on Aging by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The board was established in 1956 to plan for and meet the needs of Minnesota's seniors. Her appointment begins immediately and will end January 2008. For more information, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/agingappt041205
Tim Tracy, College of Pharmacy, will receive a five-year, $982,000 renewal grant from the NIH grant for this study, "Mechanisms of Atypical Drug Kinetics and Interactions.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kick off Beautiful U Day April 21 with the Wellness Walk, which begins at 9 a.m. on the East Bank Plaza at the Washington Avenue bridge (the walk continues all day). You’ll receive a guide map to all Beautiful U Day events. For more information, go to http://www.buday.umn.edu/BUD2005.html
The Cancer Benefit Fund is hosting a winetasting event Saturday, April 16, at the downtown Minneapolis Radisson. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by visiting http://www.cancerbenefitfund.org or calling 651-464-6049. Proceeds benefit the University’s Cancer Center and HealthEast Cancer Care. Doors open at 7 p.m.
“Publication, the Public University, and the Public Interest,” a conference sponsored by the University of Minnesota Libraries, will take place April 19, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Coffman Memorial Union. For more information, go to http://www.lib.umn.edu/ppp/ppp-03-01.phtml
Alta Charo, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present “From Stem Cells to Jail Cells” April 20, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in the Mississippi Room, Coffman Memorial Union. Commentators include the University’s Timothy Mulcahy, vice president for research, Bryan Dowd, School of Public Health, health services research and policy, and John Wagner, Medical School, director of clinical research of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. For more information, call 612-625-0055 or visit http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu.
Yoga is being offered to Academic Health Center employees on Thursdays from April 14 through June 16. One-hour sessions are held at 11:30 a.m. (beginners) and 12:30 p.m. (intermediate). The cost is $65 for the 10-week session. Bring your check to class. For location and/or more information, contact Jane Pederson at mailto:peder010@umn.edu or 612-624-2490.
Author and historian David Oshinsky will discuss his new book “Polio: An American Story” at the University of Minnesota Bookstore at Coffman Union on April 19, 7 p.m. Oshinsky will sign books following the discussion. For more information, or to order a signed copy, visit http://www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html.
The Minnesota Lions Macular Degeneration Center and the Vision Foundation present the sixth annual Macular Degeneration Symposium on Saturday, April 30, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Presenters will give updates on the latest research and treatment options for macular degeneration. Vendors will be on hand to demonstrate tools for people with low vision. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., followed by the program from 9 a.m. to noon. The symposium is free and open to the public. Please call 612-625-8992 to register.
Get ready for Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society fund-raising event that celebrates and honors the memory of those whose lives have been touched by cancer. The events begins at 7 a.m., April 22 and continues through 7 a.m., April 23.
--Encourage cancer survivors to participate in Relay for Life’s Survivor Lap--the very first lap of the relay. Those interested should contact Janet at 612 626-2873 or mailto:shane010@umn.edu. There is no fee to participate.
--Purchase luminaria bags to honor those who have died of cancer, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 20 and 21 in the Phillips-Wangensteen concourse (adjacent to Outside Inn); and at Coffman Memorial Union, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 19, and from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 20. For more information, contact Candy Holmbo at 612-624-9967 or mailto:holmb006@umn.edu.
Volunteers are sought to help care for large animal newborns at the Veterinary Medical Center. Under this new program, volunteers will assist veterinarians, technicians, and veterinary students in the nursing care of these animals. An evening training session is planned for late April. For more information, visit http://www.cvm.umn.edu/vmc/volunteers/Large_Animal_Neonatal_Volunteer.html
CLINICAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
For information on other clinical research opportunities, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/campusnews/trials.
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