inforMED Robert R. Rich, M.D. School of Medicine Senior Vice President & April 15, 2006, Volume 2, Issue 4 HOW TO…GRANTS.GOV Taking Notice WORKSHOP
The Birmingham News recently reported that during a meeting of the
Presented by the Office of Grants
Leadership Birmingham Members Association discussions focused on whether
the community has taken full advantage of UAB’s research enterprise as it
relates to the state’s economy and reputation. The community has always
acknowledged and enjoyed UAB’s economic influences as the state’s largest
employer. But it appears an outside competitor has a different appreciation of
CONGRATULATIONS!
UAB’s influence. During the meeting Mike Cassidy, president and chief executive officer of
Endowed Chairs
the Georgia Research Alliance expressed envy of the various resources
W. Timothy Garvey was appointed to the Charles E. Butterworth, Jr., M.D.
available in Birmingham, namely UAB. Yet, he also mentioned that the Atlanta
area is enjoying $500 million in benefits from the private-state government
partnership that the Georgia Research Alliance represents in comparison to
$11 million that the Alabama Research Alliance has only been able to
accumulate since its inception in 2002. Georgia’s alliance has been successful
Rehabilitation Neuroscience Research
in leveraging monies, recruiting eminent scholars to Georgia research
Professor Emeriti Appointments
universities (including my previous institution – Emory School of Medicine) and
Herbert C. Cheung, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
attracting new business ventures. UAB’s muscle is the intellectual base. That
proof is reflected in the growth of the campus boundaries, research funding,
quality of the students and postdocs and outstanding patient care.
Birmingham area business leaders have taken notice and have debated the
Annual Extramural Awards Over
issue of how to capitalize on UAB and the city’s future. In fact, business
$200,000 1/1/03-3/31/06
leaders are looking to fund a study to determine what a Birmingham-area
Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
research alliance could accomplish, if substantial funds are available. Governor
Igor Chesnokov-“The Role of Origin
Bob Riley is an outstanding advocate of UAB’s research enterprise and is
Recognition Complex in the Cell Cycle”
actively looking for ways to increase support. The state, the city of Birmingham
Medicine
and local private supporters have been generous with contributions as
Graciela Alarcon-“Aspreva Lupus
evidenced in the Shelby Biomedical Research Building construction.
Management Study (ALMS) Protocol No. Strategic planning initiatives at the university, SOM and Health System
levels are defining the necessary measures needed to improve the education,
Philip D. Bell-“Calcium Entry Regulated
patient care and research missions. This month, the SOM executive committee
By Cilia in Polycystic Disease”
will convene during a small retreat to present the proposed implementation
Philip D. Bell-“Cellular Mechanisms for Tubuloglomerular Feedback System”
committee and to discuss implementation strategies, such as prioritization and
Yiu-Fai Chen-“ANP Modulates Cardiac
funding, for each of the thirty recommendations outlined in the research
Remodeling via Cardiac Fibroblasts”
strategic plan. The new chairs of Anesthesiology, Medicine, Neurobiology and
Qiang Ding-“The Role of FAK Related
Psychiatry will give presentations outlining their departmental visions and
Health System leaders will update us on the progress of the Health System
strategic plan. The proposed new curriculum of medical student education,
Advisors in Action Program (CHAAP)”
scheduled for implementation in 2007, will also be discussed in detail.
Kevin W. Harris-“Breast Cancer Microvesicles as a Novel Plasma
Last month, I had the opportunity to present a brief version of the research
Biomarker and Therapeutic Target”
strategic plan to members of the Rotary Club. I sensed in the response of many
Raymond E. Ideker-“Computer Assisted
audience members, who posed excellent questions at the conclusion of my
Mapping of Ventricular Fibrillation”
presentation and privately afterwards, genuine enthusiasm and support for
Peter Komlosi-“Paramacular Signaling to
what we hope to accomplish in our research mission over the next several
the Juxtaglomerular Vasculature”
Richard D. Lopez-“Innate Anti-Breast Cancer Activity of Gamma/Delta T-Cells: A Novel Biological and Clinical Approach Center Updates
The UA Board of Trustees recently approved the establishment of the
Mucosal HIV and Immunobiology Center in the Department of Medicine.
With $2.5 million in initial funding from the NIH, the center’s main focus is to
advance knowledge and develop strategies for combating various mucosal
diseases such as HIV-1, H. pylori infection, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
James A. Posey, III-“A Phase I/II Open
colitis. The director of the center is Phillip Smith. The Board has also Label Study of Capecitabine with Concurrent Radiotherapy for Patients
approved changing the name of the Center for Research in Women’s Health with Locally Advanced, Unresctable
to the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health to reflect women’s
reproductive health over the life span as well as the long term implications for
Barry K. Rayburn-“A Randomized,
their children. The center is under the direction of John Hauth. Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study of th Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) Inhibitor Tadalafil in the Treatment of Patients with Pulmonary
UAB continues to garner national and international recognition. Without your
Ashita Tolwani-“A Multi-Center, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind,
efforts, UAB could never gain the recognition that we have seen in the past
Phase II Study to Assess Safety and Efficacy With The Renal Assist Device
• the #19 position ofBest Places to Work for Postdocsaccording to (RAD) in Patients With Acute Renal Failure”
the hospital’s recertification as aMagnet Hospital for Nursing Encephalitis Viruses in the USA” Excellenceby the American Nurses Credentialing Center – one of only
C. Mel Wilcox-“Long-Term Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Lanzoprazole in
• the SOM’s ranking of 22nd among America’s Best, according to U.S. the Treatment of Zollinger-Ellison and Other Acid Hypersecretors” News and World Report – its highest ranking in UAB history.
Microbiology
• the School of Dentistry ranking 10th in research funding from the
John F. Kearney-“Regulation of B Cell
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research – a jump from
Suzanne Michalek-“Development of a Mucosal Vaccine Against F. Tularensis” Fund-raising Events
Peter Prevelige-“Biophysical Studies of HIV Assembly and Maturation”
For those of you looking for ways to incorporate some community service
Neurology
into your exercise regime consider participating in some of the fund-raising
activities benefiting UAB and the community. Below is a calendar of
Optimization of Anticoagulation Therapy”
scheduled events for the month of April.
Louis Burt Nabors-“Post-Transcriptional
• April 17 – Second Annual Golf Tournament – benefiting the Regulation Requires Phosphorylation of HuR in Gliomas”
establishment of a Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Visit
Obstetrics & Gynecology
http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=91497 for more information.
Benjamin Chi-“Evaluation of Antiretroviral
• April 22 – Alabama Kidney Foundation Annual Walk – benefiting
kidney disease research and treatment. Contact Norma Stewart
([email protected] or 934-3589) for more information.
Antiretroviral Therapy for Children and Families (HEART)”
• April 28 - Eighth Annual Sporting Clays Classic - benefiting the UAB Pathology
Comprehensive Cancer Center. Visit www3.ccc.uab.edu for more
Joanne T. Douglas-“Armed Replicating Ad for Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis”
• April 29 – March of Dime WalkAmerica – benefiting research and
William Grizzle-“Biomarker Reference Laboratory, EDRN”
clinical programs at UAB and elsewhere aimed at fighting infant
William Grizzle-“Prognostic And
prematurity in Alabama and across America. Visit
Diagnostic Factors In Epithelial Cancers”
www.walkamerica.org for more information.
Pediatrics
Craig Wilson-“ATN Coordinating Center” Physiology & Biophysics
Ahsan Husain-“The Vascular Chymase-
Qin Wang-“The functional Relevance of Alpha2A - Versus Alpha2B - AR Trafficking Itineraries in Alpha2AR Modulation of CV Function” Psychiatry
Xiaohua Li-“GSK3: Neural Modulators and Mood Disorders”
∗Hadassah Medical Organization, [email protected]†Rutgers University, Newark N.J., [email protected] c 2006 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved. Abstract Increased global terrorism has given rise to unique medical requirements that may be de-scribed as terror medicine. Using Israeli experience as a reference base, this paper notes fourbroad areas of ter