News Capsules 05/31/06 - Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota

When the final gavel came, the House and Senate had demonstrated strong support for the University’s academic vision. While the legislature did approve an on-campus, 50,000-seat stadium, it also voted to fund the following key initiatives of the Academic Health Center:

The Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority, which asked for $330 million for five new research facilities over the next ten years, didn’t pass, but is expected to receive strong consideration next year.

University researchers pinpointed a group cells in the intestinal systems of mice that are proven to turn on infection-fighting T-cells. The researchers developed a tracking system that allows them to determine when these cells signal the T-cells to activate in response to a salmonella infection. “The connection between the group of cells and immune response will help in studying and developing treatments for disease that affect the gastrointestinal system,” says Stephen McSorley, Medical School. The research appeared in the May issue of Immunity.

The Academic Health Center, in conjunction with Fairview, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, and Allina , announced a planning effort to explore creation of a single, world-class children’s hospital. Planning is underway to work towards an independently operated facility that would consolidate services now offered at the multiple existing facilities. Initial plans show the children’s hospital being built on the Riverside campus of the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

Stephen Hecht, Cancer Center, was selected to chair the National Institutes of Health Chemo/Dietary Prevention Study Section, Center for Scientific Review. His term is from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. Hecht leads the Cancer Center’s Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program and co-directs the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center.

Jon Hallberg and June LaValleur, Medical School, are among 12 named Bush Medical Fellows for 2006. The fellowship provides financial support for professional development. Both Hallberg and LaValleur plan to pursue studies and projects in health communication, outreach and education.

Emeritus faculty Muriel Ryden, School of Nursing, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Universtiy’s College of Education where she earned her doctorate in 1982. One hundred alumni were selected for this award as part of the college’s 100^th anniversary. Ryden was cited for her work on integrating ethics into undergraduate nursing curricula.

As part of the Twin Cities Clinical Research Conference, Peter Scal, Department of Pediatrics, will present on “Access and Quality of Care for Youth with Chronic Conditions during the Transition to Adult Health Care: Recent Finding and Research Project Planning,” Friday, June 2 from 8–9 a.m. in Room 2-101 BSBE (Nils Hasselmo Hall) Room 2-101. A map of the building can be found at: http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/NHH/

The 2006 Summer Public Health Institute will continue through June 9. The institute allows professionals an opportunity to take a single course or immerse themselves in a field of study. It’s not too late to register. Go to http://www.sph.umn.edu//publichealthplanet/events/institute/home.html

The Body on Display: Controversies and Conversations. Join University experts for a free four-part community forum to discuss the scientific, cultural and ethical aspects of anatomy and the preservation of human specimens. The forum, to begin June 28, was inspired by Gunther von Hagen’s BODY WORLDS exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota. For more information and to register for one or more sessions visit: www.ahc.umn.edu/outreach/bodyondisplay

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Transposon Research will host the 4th Annual International Conference on Transposition and Animal Biotechnology, June 22–23 at the McNamara Alumni Center. This forum is for information exchange and the development of transposon tools for genetic applications from functional genomics to molecular medicine. The registration deadline is Friday, June 16. Registration information and conference details are available at http://beckmancenter.ahc.umn.edu.

A four-day introductory course on Tellington TTouch (TTouch), an emerging healing treatment for animals and humans, will be offered by the Center for Spirituality & Healing, June 20–23. For details and registration information, call612-626- 2395 or visit http://www.csh.umn.edu

The School of Dentistry's Program for Advanced Standing Students (PASS) welcomed its inaugural class of six May 16. The PASS program, developed in response to a request from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, provides an educational program for graduates of dental schools outside of the United States who wish to practice dentistry in Minnesota. Successful completion of the two-year program leads to a doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) degree.

The Science & Engineering Library will offer June workshops on SciFinder Scholar and Beilstein, two databases covering the chemistry literature. For more information, go to http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/news/chemclasses.

The Health Sciences Libraries are conducting a trial of BioMedCentral’s "Faculty of 1000 Biology" and "Faculty of 1000 Medicine." These products highlight and review the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences and medicine, based on faculty recommendations. For more information and to access the trial, go to http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/news/faculty1000trial.

The Health Sciences Libraries are sponsoring an NCBI Field Guide short course on molecular biology resources (including hands-on workshop) June 8–9. The course is designed for researchers (faculty, research staff, graduate students) who work with biological sequence data. For more information and to register, go to http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/services/instruction/ncbifieldguide .

The second of the two-part Emergency Readiness Rounds, “Ethical Resource Allocation During a Pandemic,” is June 28 from noon–1 p.m. in Moos Tower 1-450G. This seminar is sponsored by Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and Training (MERET), a program of the Schools of Nursing and Public Health’s Centers for Public Health and Outreach. The seminars are free, but registration is required. Go to http://ustar.ahc.umn.edu/register_event.cfm

School of Public Health Roundtable Series--Monte L. Fox will present “Native Dancer, Honor the Beat and Summer Survivor Camp: Games and Other Health Education Strategies for Youth,” June 7, from 3:30–5 p.m. in the Atrium-Hubert H. Humphrey Center. For more information and registration visit http://www.sph.umn.edu/publichealthplanet/events/roundtable/home.html