News Capsules 11/01/06
November 1 , 2006
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I’m back from India and find that the time away provided an important opportunity to reflect on the benefit of the work we do. What we do at this university matters far beyond the walls and halls of our buildings. Our counterparts in both India and Hong Kong want what we have — a community of bright, committed faculty and staff who are dedicated to improving health by educating the next generation and discovering new treatments and cures. We’ll be exploring what all this means to the AHC in the next few months.
In the meantime, I’d like to encourage all of you to get more involved in our research enterprise here by signing up to help with research review committees. As our productive faculty pursue new studies and research, the review committees of this university play an important oversight role — we need your help to meet the needs of our productive faculty.
– Frank B. Cerra
School of Public Health researchers received a five-year, $3.43 million grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to examine the spectrum of causes of childhood obesity. The Etiology of Childhood Obesity (ECHO) study will be one of the first to consider obesity risk factors at the individual, family, school, and neighborhood levels.
University researchers have found that children who received radiation treatment for cancer face an increased risk for brain and spinal column tumors later in life. The risk for secondary cancers varies depending on the type of original cancer, age at first diagnosis and the primary treatment given, said lead researcher Joseph Meglia (Medical School and Cancer Center). The study appears in the Nov. 1 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The Board of Regents will take action on the 2008-2009 state budget request Nov. 9 and 10. The $192.3 million budget request for additional funds focuses considerable attention on the need for more state funding of AHC programs. State funding provides core support for education and research programs, with additional funds providing key investments in the academic efforts to help the University become a top-three public research university. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=3365&from=umnnews
Allen Levine has been named dean of the new College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). Levine, currently head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and director of the Minnesota Obesity Center, joined the faculty in 1981 and holds joint appointments in the departments of surgery, psychiatry and medicine. Levine will assume his new role Nov. 13 after approval by the Board of Regents. To read more about Levine, visit http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Levine_named_CFANS_dean.html
Lynn Blewett was elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance, a non-profit, non-partisan group comprised of the country's leading experts on social insurance (Medicare, Social Security). The organization strives to promote informed policymaking on social insurance through training, research, and public education.
Stephen Hecht will chair the conference “Chemistry in Cancer Research: A Vital Partnership,” Feb. 4–7 in San Diego, focusing on the promise of transdisciplinary interactions as a pathway to progress.
Russell Luepker was appointed for a second term to the Armed Forces Epidemiology Board (AFEB). The AFEB advises the Department of Defense on health matters.
New members are sought for research review committees. These committees ensure principled research, safeguard proper use of human and animal subjects, and uphold standards mandated by federal and state agencies and the Board of Regents. Interested members of the University and the community are invited to join a committee. Read more at http://www.research.umn.edu/communications/news/review_committees.html
AHC is soliciting nominations for the Academy for Excellence in Health Research. The academy serves as the highest recognition of excellence in AHC faculty research. Four new members will be inducted in September 2007. For more information, contact Mark Paller at palle001@umn.edu
The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview will celebrate 20 years of lung transplantation Monday, Nov. 6, with hors d’oeuvres and dinner at the McNamara Center. For information, call 612-672-7272.
University surgeons performed the first successful pancreas transplant in 1966. To commemorate the 40 th anniversary, the Surgery Department’s Division of Transplantation will present a CME symposium , Dec. 8 and 9, and a series of lectures and discussions. Jean-Michel Dubernard, who co-led the first face transplant in France, will lecture Dec. 7. For more information and to register, go to www.cme.umn.edu or e-mail papas001@umn.edu or call 612-625-5609.
The Gift Gallery opened Oct. 30 in the lobby of University of Minnesota
Medical Center, Fairview. Shoppers during the first five days are eligible for prizes. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The espresso bar is scheduled to open next door Nov. 13.
Classes will be held on election night, Nov. 7. Instructors are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students who can vote only during that time. Read more at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/U_Resources/News2C_Events2C_and_Activities/
The_Record/Record_200610.html
Back-to-back nanotechnology workshops— On Thursday, Nov. 9, the University’s NNIN node and the Canadian Government will co-host a full-day workshop with presentations and discussions on active nanostructures, nano-energy, sensors, nano-bio and more. On Friday, Nov. 10, the University and Mayo Clinic will co-sponsor the 3 rd Annual Minnesota Biomedical Nanotechnology Workshop. Both free workshops are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Ballroom at the Radisson Hotel on Washington Avenue. To register, contact Tricia Conway (conwa012@umn.edu) or Becky Von Dissen (vondi001@umn.edu). Visit http://www.nano.umn.edu/nanobio/ for more information.
The Fall 2006 Mini Medical School will be all about cancer. This popular University program is taught by leading faculty of the Academic Health Center and is designed to engage and educate Minnesotans on health-related issues. The program, which requires registration, is open to the public. It will run Monday nights, November 6–27, from 6–8:30 p.m. in the Coffman Memorial Union Theater. For more information, see http://www.ahc.umn.edu/minimed
Mini Medical School will go on the road to Hibbing (Nov. 27) and Marshall (Nov. 29). The Mini Medical School in Hibbing will be hosted by Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Frank B. Cerra and in Marshall by Medical School Dean Deborah Powell. For more information and to register for the Hibbing Mini Medical School, call the Northeast Minnesota Area Health Education Center at 218-362-6153, and for the Marshall session, call the Southeast Minnesota Area Health Education Center at 320-231-8944.
Open enrollment for benefits begins Nov. 1. The annual opportunity to make changes in your benefits runs through November. Employee benefits fairs will be held 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Nov. 8 in Coffman Union and Nov. 9 in the St. Paul Student Center. The fairs provide an opportunity to obtain benefit information and a free flu shot. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/ohr/benefits.
Grant-writing seminar on Nov. 14. The University will hold a one-day grant writing seminar for junior faculty, postdoctoral research fellows, research staff and graduate assistants who are beginning research careers. For more information and to register, contact Barb Hartman at 612-626-2095 or b-hart@umn.edu
An opportunity to improve your smile. To receive high quality cosmetic dentistry at greatly reduced fees, contact Sara Hulke in the School of Dentistry at e-mail: hulke003@umn.edu. For more information, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/smile
Bring your lunch and enjoy a noon concert. The Health Sciences Orchestra will perform its fall concert Monday, Nov. 13, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Grace University Lutheran Church ( 324 Harvard Street S.E.).
There's still time to give to the Community Fund Drive! Each gift will make a difference for the Minnesota charities serving the community. You can give online at http://www.umn.edu/cfd .
The Health Careers Center will host "Scrubs, Gloves, and Microscopes: A Hands-On Exploration of Health Careers" for high school students. It will feature veterinary medicine (Nov. 16), and physical therapy (Jan. 26). For more information, see http://www.healthcareers.umn.edu/hcc/highschool/SGM.html
Free flu shots. View a schedule of times and places at http://www.bhs.umn.edu/services/flushot.htm
Lunch Series on the Societal Implications of the Life Sciences. Holly Doremus, (University of California Davis School of Law, Member Scholar of the Center for Progressive Reform) will speak Nov. 14 in Coffman Union from 12:15–1:30 p.m. on “The Relationship of Science and Politics in Environmental Policy Making: Can This Marriage Be Saved?” For more information, go to http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/news_and_events/events.php?id=205
Emergency Readiness Rounds. Seminar 3 of this series will be on“Planning for and Engaging Special Populations in Emergency Preparedness,” Nov. 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m., in Coffman Memorial Union. For more information, see http://www.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/meret/rounds/rounds_110806.html
Center for Bioethics Fall 2006 Seminar Series will feature Stephen Miles speaking on “Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity and the War on Terror” on Nov. 3, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in MCB 2-122. Continuing Medical Education credit (CME) is available. Call 612-624-8478 to register.
The 1st Norma K.C. Ramsay, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professor Lectureship will present Stella Davies, director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, speaking on “ Human Polymorphism And Childhood Cancer: How We Are Different and How We Are The Same,” Nov. 17, from noon to 1 p.m., in 450 CCRB.
Distinguished Visiting Scholar Series. JoAnn Manson, chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Elizabeth F. Brigham Professor of Women's Health at the Harvard Medical School, will talk on "When Results of Large Studies are Divergent: Hormone Therapy as a Case Study," Thursday, Nov. 9, 12:05 to 1:05 p.m. in Moos 2-690. For more information, contact Susan Jackson at sjackson@umn.edu. Light lunch will be served.
Children's Cancer Research Fund 2006 Dawn of a Dream Benefit, "Journey to the Ends of the Earth," will be Nov. 4 and feature silent and live auctions, a dinner, and entertainment by Los Lobos. For tickets and more information, go to
http://www.childrenscancer.org/DawnofaDream/index.html.
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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