ICTR Focus February 2017 Newsletter

In This Issue

  • CRTP call for application
  • New IRB administrative appointments
  • PMCID citation NIH policy
  • New funding opportunities 
    CRTP Posters, p-Value blogpost, and Sign-up Deadline  

    The Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) is hosting its annual poster presentation exhibition on main street in Forchheimer, featuring posters from many of the enrolled students. This exhibit will be available until February 20th.

    CRTP student Anne Kessler recently published a post entitled "What's in a p-value: science or magic" in the EJBM Blog. She speaks to the notion that for those who use it often, many of her peers could not define the p-value, although it can mean all the difference between chance findings and significant results and hold much influence in their research. Understanding the p-value keeps interpretations statistically scientific and what she deems as almost "magic". To read the full article, click here.

    A call for applications to enroll in the CRTP has just been released. This 2-year program consists of a didactic curriculum, emphasizing epidemiology, biostatistics, data analysis, grant writing, and research ethics; and a faculty mentored experience in clinical research, leading to the preparation of a thesis.  Scholars successfully completing this program will earn a Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods. Applications are due March 1st 2017. For more information, click here. 
    New IRB Administrative Appointments

    Einstein-Montefiore recently announced that Melissa Epstein PhD, has been appointed IRB Director, responsible for the support of IRB operations at both the Einstein (East) and Montefiore (West) campuses.  She has more than 10 years of  IRB experience and has been with Einstein for six years, serving as the Administrator of the IRB for both campuses. Dr. Epstein completed an NIH Postdoctoral Traineeship at the University of Maryland Dental School, and recently completed a Masters in Bioethics in the Einstein-Cardozo joint program.

    Urvashi Arora MA, CIP, CIM has been appointed Associate Director, IRB Management for IRB operations at both campuses. She has been with Einstein since 2013 and assumed the role of Manager of the West Campus IRB in 2016.  She has more than 10 years of IRB experience and a Masters in Psychology.

    Stefanie Juell MA, CIP has joined the IRB as Associate Director, Education and Compliance. She comes to Einstein from the CHI Institute for Research and Innovation in Colorado where she was the National Manager of the Institutional Review Board, with 5 years of  IRB management experience and a Masters in Ethics.  

    For a complete list of IRB staff and contact information, please click here. 
    NIH Policy for PMCIDs
    Anyone submitting an application, proposal or report to the NIH must include the PMC reference number (PMCID) when citing applicable papers that they author or that arise from their NIH-funded research.  It is also vital for users of Einstein’s NIH-funded centers to include PMCIDs so that the centers’ annual reports can be compliant with NIH policy.  The NIH Public Access policy requires investigators to “submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts to PubMed Central upon acceptance for publication.” It is highly recommended that investigators s tart the process as soon as possible and respond to any e-mails you receive from NIHMS immediately.

    Still have questions about the Public Access Policy and how to comply? Click here or contact an Einstein librarian in person, by telephone or email. To register for a workshop taught at the D. Samuel Gottesman Library, click here. 
    Development Training Program Deadline Approaching

    The National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is offering a professional development training program especially for Postdoctoral scientists and Junior Faculty members/ early stage investigators. The program offers Grant Writing Coaching Group training for actively writing NIH-style proposals and aims to increase the number of people from diverse backgrounds successfully obtaining NIH grants.

    The total duration of this novel ‘Pattern-based group process’ training program is 2-4 months (depending on the needs of the subgroups). As per NRMN, individuals selected for the program will be invited to come together for an initial 2-day meeting at Boston College followed by weekly or bi-weekly small group online session scheduled on group need basis (online sessions are 90 -120 minutes) and an in-person final meeting with Mock Study Section. As per their offer, during the course of the meeting, Coaches will meet individually with each person as well to review their Biographical Sketch and discuss any other professional development and mentoring needs, in addition to answering many basic questions about grant writing and NIH grants and review process.

    The final deadline for this application is January 30, 2017. The application deadline, eligibility criteria and a detail description of the program can be found here and the application can be found here. 

    Additional questions can go to Dr. Paul Marantz or the Office of Grant Support. 
    PCORI Funding Announcements Published

    The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has recently published nine new funding announcements. In addition to five announcements under the National Priorities for Research, there are two targeted announcements on chronic low back pain; one on optimized multidisciplinary treatment programs for the condition and another on surgical and nonsurgical options for management. It also published the latest announcement through the Pragmatic Clinical Studies Initiative and is soliciting proposals for the Dissemination and Implementation Awards, which are limited to previous awardees. PCORI will begin accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) on or before Thursday, Jan. 26, and LOIs will be due by Tuesday, Feb. 14.
    Ethical Concerns in the Informed Consent Process  
    The next Lunch & Learn: Ethical Concerns in the Informed Consent Process featuring Marina Tuozova, MD, PhD, QA & Education Coordinator, Einstein IRB, will take place on February 23rd, 2017 from 12-1pm in Price 351 on the East Campus. To learn more and RSVP, click here. 
    Spotlight on Success

    Einstein-Montefiore translational investigators continue to succeed in obtaining funding. One of these investigators with a recent grant award is Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani PhD, Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology & Population Health (Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Population Health) for her R01 titled, Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Multi-ethnic Physical Activity & Sedentary Behavior Study (COMPASS). 
    Funding Opportunities 

    Contact the Office of Grant Support for personalized search opportunities here. 
    Research in the Headlines 
    Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research