Research Enterprise

RSP Offers Training on SPIN Funding Database

Mark Willis — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:11:11 +0000

WSU’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) has now transitioned away from its previous subscription to the Community of Science (COS) funding database and adopted the new Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN) database. SPIN will provide a quality, Google-style search experience built upon numerous user-identified parameters.

While InfoEd Global, the creators of SPIN, continues to update the database’s capabilities, Wright State University has been provided access to it for active use by all faculty, staff, and students. It can be reached by visiting the following link located at the RSP funding opportunities web page: http://www.wright.edu/rsp/resources.html

Please note the following current, mid-term limitations:

Wright State University faculty, staff, and students can access SPIN while on campus (within the WSU data network) or off campus using Virtual Private Networks (VPN) procedures.
Users can actively search SPIN and download opportunities to MS Word or Excel. (The export function works within all Internet search engines with the exception of Internet Explorer, an issue that is being examined for correction.)

In the coming months, SPIN will allow users to save funding sponsor searches and utilize an email notification system.

Training Schedule: RSP has established the following schedule of hands-on training sessions available for attendance:

Tuesday, April 24, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Library Annex 016)
Wednesday, April 25, 3:00-4:00 p.m. (Russ 355)
Friday, April 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Library Annex 016)
Monday, April 30, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Russ 355)
Tuesday, May 1, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Library Annex 016)
Friday, May 4, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Library Annex 016)

Seating is limited. To attend one of the scheduled sessions, please RSVP at your earliest convenience to Jan Power (rsp@wright.edu or ext. 2425). If you are unable to attend the scheduled trainings, would prefer individualized guidance on navigating the new system, or simply have some questions/concerns, please contact Katie Feldhues (rsp@wright.edu; 775-2425) or Deborah Lundin (deborah.lundin@wright.edu; 775-2423.

Pathology Visiting Professor to Discuss Gene Therapy

Mark Willis — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:59:15 +0000

The WSU Department of Pathology will host the first annual Visiting Professorship in Pathology on Wednesday, April 11. The Visiting Professor will be Kenneth G. Cornetta, M.D., who is Joe C. Christian Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and Director of the Vector Production Facility at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Cornetta will present “Lentiviral Gene Transfer— Moving from Bench to Bedside” on April 11, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., in 101 White Hall (Gandhi Auditorium) on the Wright State University main campus.

That evening, he will present “Gene Therapy—Today’s Clinical Trials,
Tomorrow’s Standard of Care” from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Bieser Auditorium at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

For more information, contact the Department of Pathology at 937-775- 2625.

2012 Medical Student Research Symposium – April 5

Mark Willis — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:00:56 +0000

All BSOM students and faculty are invited to attend the 4th annual Medical Student Research Symposium on Thursday, April 5, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in White Hall on the WSU main campus.

The symposium begins at 6:00 p.m. in 101 White Hall (Gandhi Auditorium) with welcoming remarks and the 2012 Distinguished Scholar Lecture. A poster reception with 48 student research posters follows at 6:30 p.m. in the White Hall Atrium.

The Distinguished Scholar Lecture will be presented by Kelly Miller, an M.D./Ph.D. candidate who graduates this year from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. She completed her Ph.D. research in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2010 in the laboratory of Steven J. Berberich, Ph.D. Her dissertation research examined Induction of p53 Dependent Cellular Senescence through MDMX Inhibition or YPEL3 Expression (see abstratct). After graduation, she will begin residency training in internal medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

The symposium is organized by the Wright State Medical Student Research Club with support from the BSOM Office of Research Affairs. For more information, contact Adam Deardorff (deardorff.2@wright.edu).

Symposium Proceedings are archived in the WSU Libraries CORE (Campus Online Repository). See 2010 Proceedings | 2011 Proceedings.

NIH Establishes Genetic Testing Registry

Mark Willis — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:56:21 +0000

An online tool launched today by the National Institutes of Health will make it easier to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of genetic tests. The free resource, called the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR), is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/.

“I’m delighted that NIH has created this powerful, new tool. It is a tremendous resource for all who are struggling to make sense of the complex world of genetic testing,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who unveiled GTR at NIH’s observance of international Rare Disease Day. “This registry will help a lot of people — from health care professionals looking for answers to their patients’ diseases to researchers seeking to identify gaps in scientific knowledge.”

Genetic tests currently exist for about 2,500 diseases, and the field continues to grow at an astonishing rate. To keep pace, GTR will be updated frequently, using data voluntarily submitted by genetic test providers. Such information will include the purpose of each genetic test and its limitations; the name and location of the test provider; whether it is a clinical or research test; what methods are used; and what is measured. GTR will contain no confidential information about people who receive genetic tests or individual test results.

Genetic tests that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared or approved as safe and effective are identified in the GTR. However, most laboratory developed tests currently do not require FDA premarket review. Genetic test providers will be solely responsible for the content and quality of the data they submit to GTR. NIH will not verify the content, but will require submitters to agree to a code of conduct that stipulates that the information they provide is accurate and updated on an annual basis. If submitters do not adhere to this code, NIH can take action, including requiring submitters to correct any inaccuracies or to remove such information from GTR.

In addition to basic facts, GTR will offer detailed information on analytic validity, which assesses how accurately and reliably the test measures the genetic target; clinical validity, which assesses how consistently and accurately the test detects or predicts the outcome of interest; and information relating to the test’s clinical utility, or how likely the test is to improve patient outcomes.

“Our new registry features a versatile search interface that allows users to search by tests, conditions, genes, genetic mutations and laboratories,” said Wendy Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., director of GTR. “What’s more, we designed this tool to serve as a portal to other medical genetics information, with context-specific links to practice guidelines and a variety of genetic, scientific and literature resources available through the National Library of Medicine at NIH.”

GTR is built upon data pulled from the laboratory directory of GeneTests, a pioneering NIH-funded resource that will be phased out over the coming year. GTR is designed to contain more detailed information than its predecessor, as well as to encompass a much broader range of testing approaches, such as complex tests for genetic variations associated with common diseases and with differing responses to drugs. GeneReviews, which is the section of GeneTests that contains peer-reviewed, clinical descriptions of more than 500 conditions, is also now available through GTR.

The GTR database was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of NIH’s National Library of Medicine, under the oversight of the NIH Office of the Director and with extensive input from researchers, testing labs, health care providers, patients and other stakeholders. To view video tutorials on how to use GTR, go to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1C4A2AFF811F6F0B.

Source: NIH News Release

Feb. 28 Lecture Highlights Medical Education Research

Mark Willis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:25:57 +0000

The next lecture in the 2011-2012 Translational Research Lecture Series is scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Room 120 White Hall. The series is presented by the WSU Medical Student Research Club. All BSOM faculty and students are invited to attend.

The lecture will survey “Medical Education Research at WSU” with a panel of faculty and medical student investigators led by Nicole Borges, Ph.D. (above left), professor of community health and assistant dean of medical education research and evaluation. Faculty presenters also include Brenda Roman, M.D., professor and director of medical student education in psychiatry and assistant dean for curriculum development; Barbara Kraszpulska, Ph.D., assistant Professor of neuroscience, cell biology and physiology; and Raymond P. Ten Eyck, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.E.P., professor of emergency medicine and Simulation Center director. Student presenters include Ryan Whitt (M4), Julie Popritkin M4), and Robbie Beaulieu M2). Download the agenda (MS Word).

Dinner will be provided on Feb. 23. Please RSVP to Adam Deardorff (deardorff.2@wright.edu) if you plan to attend.

NIH Launches New Website About “Clinical Research Trials and You”

Mark Willis — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000

The National Institutes of Health has created a new website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. From the first cure of a solid tumor with chemotherapy to the use of nitroglycerin in response to heart attacks, clinical research trials — or research studies involving people — have played a vital role in improving health and quality of life for people around the globe.

Clinical trials are essential for identifying and understanding ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Research has shown that among the greatest challenges to recruitment of volunteers is the lack of general knowledge about what trials involve, where they are carried out, and who may participate.

“The ability to recruit the necessary number of volunteers is vital to carrying out clinical research that leads to health and medical advances,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. “This new, centralized resource will make it much easier for the public and health professionals to learn about clinical trials and how people can participate in them.”

Visitors to the website will find information about:

The basics of clinical trial participation
First hand experiences from actual clinical trial volunteers
Explanations from researchers
Links on how to search for a trial or enroll in a research matching program

In addition, health care professionals can read about evidence-based strategies for talking with patients about trials, print audience-tested posters to help promote trials in clinics and offices, and find other educational materials.

Source: NIH News Release

Robert Fyffe Appointed Wright State VP for Research

Mark Willis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:52:38 +0000

Robert E. W. Fyffe, Ph.D. (left), formerly Associate Dean in the BSOM Office of Research Affairs, has been named Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Wright State University effective February 6, 2012. He holds a faculty appointment as professor of neuroscience, cell biology, and physiology at WSU.

He will replace Jack Bantle, Ph.D., who has retired.

“Dr. Fyffe has a proven record of administering programs that support research activities and will provide the leadership necessary to maintain our excellence in research, scholarship, and graduate programs,” said Provost Steven Angle. “He will also be a strong advocate for the diverse constituencies involved in the university’s research enterprise.”

Fyffe was appointed associate dean for Research Affairs at the Boonshoft School of Medicine in April 2001. He was responsible for overseeing programs that supported the medical school’s research activities in the basic and clinical sciences. Read more.

WSU & PHP Announce Clinical Trials Research Alliance (CTRA)

Mark Willis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:12:20 +0000

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State Research Institute and Premier Health Partners announced today the formation of the Wright State University & Premier Health Partners Clinical Trials Research Alliance to increase medical research opportunities for physicians and clinicians and boost access to clinical trials in the Dayton region.

This major public-private initiative partners the Dayton region’s strongest biomedical research institution with the clinical resources of the region’s leading hospital system. Premier Health Partners is making a major investment of $4 million over five years to support the infrastructure of the alliance. It is expected to build a $5 million to $7 million annual clinical research portfolio over five years, roughly doubling the total of what the medical school and Premier have today.

The National Institutes of Health, other federal sources and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies spent $94 billion on research and development in 2008, according to Center Watch, the leading source of clinical trials information for both clinical research professionals and patients.

The Wright State Research Institute will lead the alliance’s development, providing business infrastructure and administrative support, as well as building a pipeline for new research projects. The administrative support will free doctors and researchers at both Wright State and Premier from much of the extensive paperwork and bureaucracy that can discourage doctors from pursuing clinical research projects, said Ryan Fendley, institute director.

The alliance will be established from existing facilities at Wright State and initially with Miami Valley Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital as the Premier hospitals, but will be available to all PHP hospitals and practices in the future.

Arthur S. Pickoff, M.D., professor and chair of the medical school’s Departments of Community Health and Pediatrics, and assistant dean for clinical research, will direct the alliance.

“We anticipate this will be a game-changer for clinical research in the Dayton region,” Pickoff said. “This research alliance will give the residents of the Dayton region and beyond the opportunity to participate in a large number of cutting-edge clinical trials, which will result in the development of the medical treatments and cures of tomorrow.” Read more.

For more information about clinical trials, see ClinicalTrials.gov.

Neuroscience Chapter Announces 2012 Events

Mark Willis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:24:20 +0000

The Ohio-Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (OMV-SfN) has announced dates for its 2012 programming.

OMV-SfN’s Winter Business Meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 17, at Miami University. The meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. with 20-minute research presentations from the chapter’s participating institutions. The business meeting will follow. Joyce Fernandes, Ph.D., of Miami University will be inducted as the chapter’s 2012 president, and a new officer-at-large from Wright State University will be nominated. The meeting is expected to end no later than 3:30 p.m. Meeting details (room/map/agenda) to follow.

Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D. (above left), will be the keynote speaker at OMV-SfN’s 2012 Neuroscience Day on Friday, May 18, at Miami University. Dr. Tolbert is Regents Professor and Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology & Anatomy at the University of Arizona, where she also is vice president for research, graduate studies, and economic development.

The Ohio Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (OMV-SfN) is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes neuroscience research and education in the southwest Ohio region. The chapter’s sponsoring institutions include Miami University, the University of Cincinnati, and Wright State University.

WSU Internists Present Jan. 26 Translational Research Lecture

Mark Willis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:52:22 +0000

The next lecture in the 2011-2012 Translational Research Lecture Series will be held Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Room 120 White Hall on the WSU main campus. The lecture is sponsored by the WSU Medical Student Research Club and the Internal Medicine Interest Group. All BSOM faculty and students are invited to attend.

The lecture will be given by two faculty from WSU’s Department of Internal Medicine, Charlie Abraham, M.D., and Thomas Herchline, M.D. They will discuss current internal medicine research projects. See related readings.

Dinner will be provided on Jan. 26. Please RSVP to Adam Deardorff (deardorff.2@wright.edu) if you plan to attend.