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UAB CCTS Digest
September 13, 2013
Beware One of These Today: It's Friday the 13th! Read more about what makes humans so superstitious.

  

IN THE NEWS

 

CCTS Phase I Unit Featured in New Issue UAB CCC Magazine

The new issue of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center's magazine, available online, features an in-depth article about the CCTS' new Phase I Unit. 

  

 

  

Read the article here. 

  

The CCTS recently expanded its Clinical Research Unit (CRU) by adding a 7,950 square foot Phase I Clinical Trials Unit.  The Unit is located on the 15th floor of Jefferson Tower, adjacent to the existing CRU and the sample processing facility.  It is comprised of five patient rooms for the administration of novel research agents.  Each patient room has the flexibility to be utilized as a private or semi-private room that allows for maximum space utilization and appropriate patient monitoring.  The Phase I Clinical Trials Unit also includes the capacity for the administration of standard of care drugs and routine patient infusions, which enhances the nurses' focus on the care given to the patients receiving Phase I agents.  The Unit is supported by a centrally located nurse's station with pneumatic tube functionality to allow for quick transport of specimens to the hospital lab as well as receipt of some pharmaceuticals. 

  

For more information on how to access the Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, please contact Jolene Lewis (jelewis@uabmc.edu or 205-934-7817).
 
UAB Research About Need for Breakfast Featured in Ladies' Home Journal
 
Image courtesy Ladies Home Journal
 
Breakfast may not be as necessary as previously thought when it comes to losing weight, according to new research by UAB researchers. Krista Casazza, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition Sciences, along with a team of scientists that includes David Allison, PhD, Director, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, conducted research showing that skipping breakfast may not be as detrimental as once thought to weight loss. Much of Casazza's work was conducted in the CCTS'  Clinical Research Unit and the Bionutrition Unit. The article, "Myths, Presumptions, and Facts About Obesity," was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Casazza was featured in the September issue of Ladies' Home Journal, in an article titled, "Go Ahead Blow It Off! 6 Health Rules You can Break."
  
CCTS EVENTS

 

Tuesday, September 17

Coordinated Works in Progress Seminar in Health Services, Outcomes, and Policy Research

11 a.m.-Noon (lunch provided)

Medical Towers, Room 634

Featuring: David W. Bates, MD, MSc on "Improving Medication-related Decision Support"

  

 

Chief Quality Officer and Senior Vice President, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Medical Director of Clinical and Quality Analysis, Partners Healthcare

  

 

Call for Applications: Clinical and Translational Science Training Program
 

 

We are currently accepting applications for the Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Training Program. Application deadline is November 12, 2013. Junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows who are interested in an academic career in clinical and translational research are invited to apply.


The CTS program is a 6-month certificate program that includes approximately 50 hours of didactic instruction and interactive experience. Classes will be held Wednesday mornings, 8-10 a.m., beginning January 2014. For more information on the program and how to apply, click here, or contact Audrey Wrenn, awrenn@uab.edu or 205-978-8333.

 
 
Call for Nominations: The 2014 Passano Foundation Awards 

 

The CCTS needs your help: The Passano Foundation, established in 1945, is seeking nominations for its annual Passano Award, to be given to an established investigator in recognition of his or her research which leads to clinical medical applications. The CCTS is facilitating the review of nominations on UAB's behalf. To nominate, complete the one-page application and email to us at: ccts@uab.edu.

 

We urge you to consider your colleagues and mentors at UAB and nominate those who you feel deserve this honor. The Passano Foundation provides an annual award of $100,000 to any research scientist whose work is thought to have immediate practical benefits. Many Passano laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.
  
 

Thursday, Sept. 26-Friday, Sept. 27

3rd annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference (i3)

Students and Faculty: Don't miss the 3rd annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference (i3), the only statewide event focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Hear national speakers, visit with top Alabama startups, and learn from thought leaders as we celebrate Alabama's innovative ecosystem.The conference will be held at the Birmingham Wynfrey hotel on September 26 and 27. This event will include the finale of the current round of the Launchpad startup competition. The $100,000 in cash grants that the competition awards each round has provided proof-of-concept and seed funding for UAB start-ups in the past.

This year's keynote speakers are William Taylor, founding editor, Fast Company; Brad Feld, founder, The Foundry and Techstars. Other scheduled speakers include: Ted Alling, CEO, Access America Transport; Andrew Chang, director of marketing, UPS.
 
Any faculty or student interested in actively developing or commercializing their research may attend. 

For more info: http://alabamalaunchpad.com/i3/registration/

Questions about i3 can be addressed to Greg Sheek (gsheek@edpa.org / 205.943.4724)

 


 

 

Register Now: Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Genetics & Genomics in Clinical Research Immersion Course for Investigators at UAB

  

 

Save the Date: November 5 UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Cancer Center Research Retreat
 

 NIH NEWS & VIEWS

 
NIH Announcement: Applications to Loan Repayment Programs Accepted Sept. 1-Nov. 15
NIH logo  
On July 16 NIH announced the next application cycle for the NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). If you are a researcher who has incurred significant educational debt, then the NIH LRPs are for you. Click here to visit the NIH page and learn more about qualifications and other details. 
 
Also: Check out this helpful Q&A from NIH Office of Extramural Research on: "How Can My Institution Support Public Access Compliance and Prevent Delays in Funding Due to Public Access Issues?" posted July 31, 2013. For more information visit the CCTS Training Academy page on the topic.
 

NIH Announcement: Opportunity to Submit Proposals for the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) Program

Notice Number: NOT-TR-13-007

Key Dates
Release Date: July 22, 2013
Letter of Intent/Pre-Application Call Due: No later than September 16, 2013 
Final Proposal Submission Date: September 30, 2013

 

  

NIH Funds Research to Explore Cell-to-Cell Communication   

Researchers will investigate the emerging field of extracellular RNA and its role in human health conditions  

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced $17 million in awards on August 13, 2013, for the Extracellular RNA (exRNA) Communication program. This trans-NIH initiative is designed to advance research in a newly discovered type of cell-to-cell communication that may play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of health conditions.

Through 24 awarded research projects, scientists will explore basic exRNA biology and develop tools and technologies that apply new knowledge about exRNA to the research, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including many types of cancer, bone marrow disorders, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Of these projects, NCATS will administer 18 awards

 through which researchers will develop biomarkers from exRNA and design new ways to use exRNA in treatments.

  

Click here to read more about this initiative.

 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
 
Registration Now Open: UAB Center for Exercise Medicine Symposium, October 23
 
UCEM logo  

  

Free registration and trainee abstract submission for the upcoming inaugural UAB Center for Exercise Medicine symposium, October 23, is now available. The symposium agenda is also online. There are several easy options to reach the "Register" button.  Click the Symposium banner announcement, the options in the left side grey box or SYMPOSIUM on the top bar.  Each will take you to the Registration and Abstract submission.

  

*Trainee Poster Competition*

3 Travel Awards

Abstract deadline: September 5

Please encourage your trainees to present.

Scott K. Powers, Ed.D., PhD, UAA Endowed Professor and Distinguished Professor of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology will be our Keynote Speaker for this event. 

 

Learn more about the Center and training program at:  www.uab.edu/exercise.

  

  

Coming Up: UAB Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center Announces Second Annual Symposium: "Focus on Cardiovascular Repair and Regeneration" 

October 25-26, Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

Registration is free by signing up at:  uab.edu/medicine/cardiovascularcenter

   

  

2013 Community Health Scholars Announces Pilot Grant Program

CSCH  

  

An initiative by the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health to encourage and facilitate community based participatory research of a community organization with UAB faculty.

  

Tuesday, September 3rd           Letter of Intent due

Tuesday, October 1st               Applications are due

Friday, November 15th             Award notifications made

January 1, 2014                      Projects begin   

Two (2) awards of $20,000 each will be made.

  

 http://www.soph.uab.edu/csch/research/chs/pilotgrant

    

For more events and opportunities in September and beyond, visit our Announcements page.

 

 

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