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CCTS Digest 10.02 .15 | www.uab.edu/ccts
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In This Issue

Partner Network:
While we invite you to take part in all of our programs, items featuring this icon may be of particular interest. Look for the symbol throughout the Digest. Have news you'd like to share? Send it to: ccts@uab.edu
Inaugural Regional Community 
Engagement Consortium Takes Place in NOLA
The Regional Community Engagement Consortium rounded out a series of Partner Network meetings late last week.

Late last week, members of the CCTS had the pleasure of meeting with several of our colleagues from institutions throughout the Partner Network. These culminated in the first-ever meeting of the Regional Community Engagement Consortium on Friday, September 25.

Researchers and community members from five Southeast institutions came together at Tulane University to present ideas on how to better engage with our respective communities. Dr. John Estrada from Louisiana State University discussed his university's experiences working with community members of New Orleans' lower 9th and 10th wards. Of going into the area to work he said, "It was a daily reliving of the trauma of Hurricane Katrina." He suggested that "capacity-building is a painful process," and spoke about the value of partnering with existing faith-based programs in the area to engage community. Drs. Errol Crook and Martha Arrietta of the University of South Alabama described a successful "Research Apprentice" program implemented over the last several years in Mobile's communities.

Dr. Max Michael, Dean of the UAB School of Public Health, organized the consortium. We look forward to bringing you updates from the groups as they continue to work together toward improved regional community engagement.

Please look for updates from today's SOLD OUT Community Engagement Institute in a future of issue of the Digest, and follow along on Twitter at: #CEIAreYouEngaged

Seminars
Seminars, Symposia and Conferences
Tuesday, October 6
7 th Annual Methods Seminar in Outcomes Research
"Big Data and Clinical Informatics to  Support Patient Care and Research"
8 am-noon
The Edge of Chaos, 4 th Floor, Lister Hill Library

Please register for the seminar at  http://patientcenteredmethodsseminar.eventbrite.com.  

Wednesday, October 7
CCTS Forum: Partner Network Research
4:45-6pm
PCAMS, 1924 7th Avenue South


Join the CCTS for hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and a host of presentations on collaborative research being conducted among researchers and institutions in our Southeastern Partner Network. 

Featuring: "Genomic Identification of Biomarkers in Colon Cancer"
Presented by Brian Roberts, PhD,  Senior Scientist
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
 
Marie Kirby, PhD,  Postdoctoral Fellow
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
 
Richard M. Myers, PhD,  Faculty Investigator, Director and President
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
 
C. Mel Wilcox, MD, MPH,  Professor of Medicine,  Director, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology,  University of Alabama at Birmingham
 
and "Cervical Spinal Injury, Constraint Induced Therapy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging"
Thomas Denney, PhD
Ed and Peggy Reynolds Family Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director, Auburn University MRI Research Center
Auburn University

Edward Taub, MD
Professor of Psychology  
University of Alabama at Birmingham

From cutting edge work cervical spine imaging being conducted at Auburn University, to colonoscopy research at HudsonAlpha, come see the innovative science that our Partner Network is making possible!


Please join us remotely via GoToMeeting: Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/533000725  
You can also dial in using your phone (312) 757-3121 
Access Code: 533-000-725

Thursday, October 8
Professional Skills Development Series
"Designing Pilot Studies"
David Redden, PhD, Chair, Department of Biostatistics
UAB School of Public Health



11am-noon
PCAMS, 1924 7th Avenue South

Attendees will be presented with how to design well focused pilot studies, how to state the aims of a pilot trial, and how to utilize a pilot study in the development of future studies.
 
 

The PSDS program is also available via GoToMeeting. If you cannot join us in PCAMS, please join us from your computer, tablet or smartphone via https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/840329197     
You can also join us by phone. US (long distance): +1 (224) 501-3412   Access Code: 840-329-197
 
Thursday, October 8
Journal Club: Ethics and Research with Alice Howell
12:30-1:30pm
PCAMS, 1924 7th Avenue South

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/930891813
You can also dial in using your phone: (267) 507-0008
Access Code: 
930-891-813

Friday, October 9 ***Note new date***
"First" Friday Mentoring Lunch
Join the CCTS Training Academy Leadership in an informal lunch setting to discuss mentoring opportunities, challenges, and advantages. Featuring Dr. David Chaplin and Ryan Outman, CCTS Training Academy.

Noon-Until
PCAMS, 1924 7th Avenue South

Monday-Friday, October 12-16
"Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Research"  Genomics Immersion Course

8:30 am-12:30pm
Cudworth Hall
1919 University Blvd
Birmingham AL 35233
 
$50- Faculty
$25- Post-Doc
$10- Students
 
This course will review the principles, major technologies, and experimental approaches in genetics and genomics through both lectures and hands-on activities.  Course will be taught by Dept of Genetics and HudsonAlpha faculty.
 
Registration information will follow.  Please save your spot by emailing Shaila Handattu at hande@uab.edu

Friday, October 23
Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance Symposium
8am-1pm
Nursing Building - Auditorium (NB 1028)
1701 University Boulevard

Featuring:  A keynote talk about discovering new compounds to treat SARS and MERS, by the eminent experts in the coronavirus field, Mark Denison (Vanderbilt) and Ralph Baric (UNC-Chapel Hill)
 
Presentations from local ADDA grantees, including:
-David Bedwell and Kim Keeling, about developing high throughput screening assays for diseases that have nonsense mutations (Hurler Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, among others)
-Michael Niederweis, about finding molecules that can induce self-poisoning of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and
-Anupam Agarwal, about targeting heme oxygenase-1 as a new strategy to treat kidney disease

A presentation Rob Jordan from Gilead Sciences, about the discovery and development of a new therapy to treat Ebola 

There will be posters of additional drug discovery projects available for viewing and discussion during the coffee and lunch break
 
Registration is not mandatory, but it would greatly appreciated. Please register by Monday October 19.

Thursday, October 29
"Toward Precision Medicine: Informatics Hurdles and Policies Pending"


Presented by Jessica Tenenbaum, PhD
Associate Director for Bioinformatics, Biomedical Informatics Core
Duke University, Duke Translational Medicine Institute, Durham, NC
 
9-10am
Shelby 515
1825 University Blvd
 
Please register to attend  no later than Monday, 10/26/15.  Light breakfast will be served.
 
Questions? Please contact Dr. James Cimino, Director, Informatics Institute (ciminoj@uab.edu; 205.996.1958)
 
FALL SYMPOSIA

Thursday-Friday, October 22-23
Hosted by: UAB Center for Nanoscience Materials and Biointegration
UAB Alumni House and Abroms-Engle Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA)

This third annual summit brings together expertise in a variety of science and engineering disciplines and explores applications of nanotechnology tools and devices in biology and medicine. We have recruited some outstanding speakers from within Alabama and throughout the country (Harvard, UCLA, UNC - Chapel Hill, and University of California -Riverside). Featuring plenary speakers Dr. Paul Weiss, California NanoSystems Institute on "Nanoscience Approaches to Heterogeneity in Biological Sciences" and Dr. Charles Lieber, Harvard University, "Nanoelectric Tools for Brain Science."

For more information contact Charita Cadenhead, (205) 975-8076

Thursday-Friday, October 22-23
UAB Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center-4th Annual Symposium
"Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease"
 
William W. Featheringill Keynote Lecture:
Charles N. Serhan, PhD
Director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury
Brigham and Women's Hospital
The Simon Gelman Professor of Anaesthesia (Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology)
Harvard Institutes of Medicine
Professor, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
 
Taking place at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa, Birmingham, AL
Please visit the CCVC website for more information; Registration and Trainee Abstract Submission are Open.

Friday, October 23
Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging
23rd Annual Symposium
8:30am-1pm
Edge of Chaos, Lister Hill Library, 4th Floor

Call for research abstracts:   The Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging requests abstract submissions from faculty members and their trainees for possible oral or poster presentation at this year's Annual Meeting. Abstracts must be on recent aging-related research. Electronic submission deadline: 4pm, Friday, August 21. Send to: Peter Bosworth at email: bosworth@uab.edu.

Friday, November 13
The 10th Annual Research Scientific Retreat
hosted by  UAB Department of Genetics (Heflin Center) in conjunction with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
UAB Alumni House
Keynote address presented by:

 
Howard Jacob, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Medical Genomics and Chief Medical Genomics Officer
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
 
Accepting abstract submissions (350 words or less for the body of the abstract)
Please E-mail your abstract as a Word document attachment to lwang12@uab.edu  by October 9, 2015

Sunday & Monday, November 15-16
Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) South Regional Meeting 
 

Who attends?
* Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) members
* Underrepresented minority investigators, including post-graduate doctoral students, who are conducting biomedical research in the fields of:
o diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism
o digestive and liver diseases, nutrition
o kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.
 
How do I attend?
 T o attend, fill out and submit the Enrollment Form .
 
What happens at the meeting?
* Mentorship
* Poster Presentation
* Scholarly exchange among field leaders
 
Can I submit an abstract for the poster presentation?
Participants are encouraged to submit abstracts. Visit the meeting page  for more information.
 
Questions? Contact Dr.  Alethea Hill, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing and member of the NMRI  at: ahill@southalabama.edu.

UAB Research Orientation Program - a NEW RESEARCH TRAINING OPPORTUNITY for Faculty, Coordinators, Budget & Regulatory Staff

New to the UAB platform of education offerings for research is a program designed for young investigators and research staff who are new to research (possibly within the first 2 months of starting in research).  
 
The program will be a basic review of how to implement a sponsored- or investigator-initiated study including clinical, regulatory and financial aspects. The intent of this program is to provide a basic overview of implementing a study, familiarize attendees with the language, and hopefully provide guidance on avoiding pitfalls when starting out.  This is not an all-encompassing program, but will provide basic tools and some of the necessary language in order to successfully conduct a research study.
 
We encourage new faculty, coordinators, budget and regulatory staff to attend.  
At this time there is no cost for the program.   Click here for more information.

Fourth Thursday of each month 8am - 12noon in PCAMS (1924 7th Avenue S.).
 
Registration is limited, so please REGISTER early by contacting   Dharti Patel :  Dpatel80@uab.edu.

This workshop will provide research staff (study coordinators, billing staff, regulatory coordinators, etc.) with the basics of implementing and managing a clinical trial with emphasis on good clinical practices (GCPs), research compliance, and other key topics. It is recommended for people who are starting out in research careers or those who would like to receive updates on the various UAB departments and programs that are on campus.  The program is provided on the UAB campus twice a year, as well as online.

 Register Now!  
This seven week course will take place Tuesdays on:  October 6, 13, 20, 27 and November 3, 10, 17.  View a PDF of the agenda here.  

We are currently in the process of accepting registration on a first-come, first-served basis.   All classes will be in the  Children's Harbor Building , 4th Floor, Bradley Conference Center in Birmingham, AL. Questions? Contact Sara Davis: 205-934-5316 sadavis@peds.uab.edu 

Biostatistics
BIOSTATISTICS & BIOREPOSITORY (*new!)

Mondays
Epidemiology/Biostatistics Clinic in The Edge of Chaos
  
This clinic provides the UAB community access to epidemiology and biostatistics resources.  Available most Mondays, 10am-2pm in The Edge of Chaos (Lister Hill Library, 4th floor).  Check the Edge of Chaos calendar   for confirmation of meeting dates and times. 
 

*NEW!*  UAB CCTS Biostatistics & Biorepository Clinic                                                    
Weekly on Wednesdays, 11:30am-1pm
PCAMS Building 1924 7th Avenue South

We've expanded our Biostats Clinic to include members of our CCTS Biorepository Team. Experts from our CCTS Core Lab will join the CCTS Biostats experts to answer questions and provide consultative services on any aspect of specimen collection, specimen management, specimen processing and biorepository needs.

The Biostatistics & Biorepository Clinic is open to all faculty members, post-docs, fellows, residents, and students. Attendees are invited to bring statistical and methodological questions about on-going research projects, projects being planned, manuscripts in progress, responses to peer reviewers, and published articles. They are also invited to bring their laptops. Assistance will be provided by members of the  CCTS BERD & Biorepository groups. A light lunch is served.  

 
BERD Design Consultation Available Today
In support of Pilot & Feasibility Projects, the CCTS is offering design consultation through its Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Division (BERD).  A team of methodologists, including experts in Epidemiology (Gerald McGwin, Russell Griffin), Biostatistics (Robert Oster, David Redden, Leslie McClure, Paul Lin), and Statistical Genetics (Hemant Tiwari, Xiangqin Cui) are available to collaborate in the design of  the pilot proposals as well as in their review.  If other methodological expertise is required in the project design, the BERD will recruit the required expertise from among the network of UAB methodologists.
 
If you can't visit the clinic, please contact the BERD  or the Core Lab at your convenience  by emailing ccts@uab.edu,  calling  (205) 934-7442, or connecting through  Research Commons on the CCTS home page. 

Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Training Program

The CTS Training Program is a six-month certificate program that includes approximately 50 hours of didactic instruction and interactive experience.

STARTS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

Our program provides training in clinical and translational research over a six-month period (January to June) with class on Wednesday mornings, 8-10 am. Videoconference access is available for those away from UAB.

Course content represents the following modules: Clinical Trials, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Ethics, Clinical Genetics Research, Behavioral Research, Outcomes Research, Dissemination of Results, and Grant Writing and Funding Opportunities.

Trainees from Partner Network institutions may attend via videoconference from schools outside of driving range to UAB.  Please contact Wendy Price to access the meeting code.

All of the sessions are presented by experienced clinical and translational researchers or individuals with special expertise in areas such as grants and contracts and regulatory issues. Preceptors include faculty and research staff from across the Partner Network.

For more  information about participation in the program, or if you are interested in presenting, contact Jean Lambert, Training Academy, at:  jeanl@uab.edu .

UAB Homecoming Week Kicks Off Oct. 4-9
It's more than a week.  It's the excitement you bring and the Blazer pride you share.  Don't miss out on being a part of Homecoming 2015.

This year, the UAB National Alumni Society is excited to be able to have Hoops on the Haasephalt as the featured Homecoming event.  Hoops on the Haasephalt will tip off on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. on the Campus Green.

Other athletic events that week include:
  • October 4 - Volleyball vs. Southern Miss, 1:00 p.m.
  • October 8 - Hoops on the Haasephalt, 7:00 p.m. - Campus Green
  • October 9 - Women's Soccer vs. Marshall, 7:00 p.m.
  • October 10 - Men's Soccer vs. Florida International, 7:00 p.m.
  • October 11 - Women's Soccer vs. Western Kentucky, 1:00 p.m.
This year, the National Alumni Society will host events throughout the week along with the rest of the UAB community.  We are looking forward to this amazing opportunity to connect with UAB alumni, students, faculty, staff, fans and friends.

The week's annual Building Decoration Competition takes place Tuesday, October 6; judging begins at 11am. Full Schedule of Events.


UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science |   ccts@uab.edu | www.uab.edu/ccts
 Pittman Center for Advanced Medical Sciences
1924 Seventh Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294