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RESEARCH INKLINGS MUSC Research Newsletter
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Award to Retain Clinical Scientists The Medical University of South Carolina is one of the first recommended to receive a 2015 Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF). The Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists will provide supplemental, flexible research funds to increase the retention and career advancement of young physician-scientist faculty members working in clinical research and facing extraprofessional demands of caregiving. This new funding program, directed by Kathleen T. Brady, MD, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Associate Provost for Clinical and Translational Science, presents an exciting opportunity for MUSC to leverage its robust portfolio of mentoring and career development. MUSC recognizes that physician scientists, especially women, face significant challenges that hinder their success in advancing to mid-and senior faculty positions, including balancing work with family responsibilities. The Program to Enhance the Retention of Clinicians (PERK) will provide supplemental funds to support ongoing research efforts of eligible faculty. Coupled with mentoring, the PERK Scholars Program will help to address the needs expressed by our junior faculty. On going activities with the Women’s Scholar Initiative and the ARROWS Program (Advancement, Recruitment and Retention of Women in Science) aim to increase the number of women, including ethnic minorities, in academic medicine and change the trajectory of women’s careers in biomedical research. These important initiatives have propelled adjustments to the campus-wide appointment, promotion and tenure processes to incorporate criteria for recognition and reward that emphasize the value of a diverse clinical research environment. Inside Research INKlings § P2 – Global & Public Health Symposium
§ P2 – MUSC/Clemson Bioengineering Summit
§ P3 - Annual Perry Halushka Research Day
§ P3 – Vertebrate Animals Section § P4/5 – Funding Opportunities
§ P6 – SCresearch.org EXPO § P6 – Women’s Innovation Symposium
§ P7 – HCC Immunotheraphy Researcher Receives NIH Award
§ P8 – Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award Recipients
RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
The MUSC Center for Global Health and the Department of Public Health Sciences are very excited to be co-hosting a two-day global and public health symposium November 3-4, 2015. This two-day event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Michael Merson, Director of the Duke Global Health Institute, as well as panels, presentations and debates with more than 40 presenters from around the world including Croatia, Tanzania, India, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast. Themes for this Global and Public Health symposium include: • • • • • • • •
Facilitating global health research collaborations Intervention in low-resource settings that span disciplines, institutions, and health problems The challenge of sustaining health system strengthening in low-and-middle income countries Emerging issues on global HIV prevention and care How global health engagement benefits the US: the case of Ebola Creative health interventions and global reach Capacity building, global health education and service learning Global surgery in low-and-middle income countries
For more information, visit www.musc.edu/globalhealth.
MUSC-Clemson Bioengineering Summit MUSC will be hosting the MUSC-Clemson Bioengineering Summit on Wednesday, November 11 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in 110 Bioengineering Building. The summit will focus on existing bioengineering initiatives on both campuses, opportunities for collaboration, and the future of the bioengineering program. Drs. Mark Sothmann, MUSC Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Robert Jones, Clemson Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, will kick-off the summit, and presenters from MUSC will include Drs. Robert Adams, Stephen Duncan, Roger Markwald, Vin Pellegrini, Rick Segal, and Paula Traktman. All members of the MUSC community are invited to attend. 2
RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
50th Annual Perry Halushka Research Day The MUSC Research Day will be held on November 12-13, 2015. This year's keynote address will be presented by Perry Halushka, MD, PhD, in honor of the event’s 50th anniversary. Dr. Haluskha’s presentation is entitled, “Thromboxane A2 and TP Receptors: A Trail of Research, Well Traveled." Students and pre-professionals trained in clinical science, basic science and translational research will gather in the Harper Student Wellness Center on November 13th for a chance to showcase their research, meet with others who shared similar interests, and practice their presentation skills. This annual event, renamed in honor of Distinguished University Professor, Perry Halushka, MD, PhD, provides a forum for more than 300 participants from MUSC, hospitals and institutions across the state to present their research findings or project to a multidisciplinary audience of faculty, staff and peers.
NIH has simplified the Vertebrate Animals Section (VAS) of grant applications, cooperative agreements, and contract proposals to remove redundancy with IACUC review while meeting the requirements of the PHS Policy. Changes include: v v v v
Guidance on criteria to be addressed has been updated Description of veterinary care is no longer required Justification for the number of animals has been eliminated Description and justification of the method of euthanasia is required only if the method is not consistent with AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals
See NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-16-006 to learn more about the updated VAS requirements, the implementation schedule, and what has changed. See also, the Vertebrate Animals Section webpage – a new resource where you can find more information on the requirements, a checklist, detailed instructions plus links to worksheets. 3
RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
Funding Opportunities MUSC Internal Funding Opportunities
Request for Pilot Project Proposals Focused on Sex and GenderRelated Issues in Neuroscience Applications are due by November 2, 2015 The Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women’s Health is pleased to announce a request for pilot project proposals focused on a neuroscience-related topic exploring either sex/gender differences or disorders/treatments as they uniquely relate to women. The pilot program will provide short-term start-up funds (up to $15,000) to promising postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty (less than 5 years from post-doctoral training/terminal degree) to collect initial data for an RO3, R21, or R01 submission. The project can be either clinical or basic science, but consistent with the NIH Roadmap Initiative and the vision of MUSC's South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Projects involving multidisciplinary teams and/or translational research efforts are especially encouraged. For more information visit www.musc.edu/scor or contact Sarah Gainey (smithsar@musc.edu).
Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center (MCRC) Request for Applications for Pilot Project Program Grants Mandatory Letter of Intent Due: November 18 @ 5:00 pm Full Applications Due: December 18 @ 5:00 pm MCRC’s Pilot Project Program aims to facilitate innovative, meaningful clinical and translational research with emphasis on lupus and scleroderma although meritorious grants in other rheumatic diseases will be considered. Research into health disparities in rheumatic diseases is also encouraged. The MCRC also aims to provide research support for highly promising junior faculty to shorten the time to research independence. Underrepresented minority (URM) faculty also are encouraged to apply. For more information, including the Request for Applications (RFA), please visit our website or contact Gary Gilkeson at gilkeson@musc.edu.
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RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
SCTR Institute & College of Medicine Clinician Scientist K12 Program: Accepting Applications Applications are due by November 16 @ 12:00pm EST The SCTR Institute and College of Medicine are currently accepting applications for an institutionallyfunded K12 Mentored Career Development Program in clinical and translational science. This K12 program supports the career development of scholars holding a research or health professional doctoral degree or its equivalent. The goal of the program is to transition scholars from a mentored training program to an independent research career. The program includes a supportive environment, start--up research funds and access to program faculty who will provide expertise and guidance in research design, measurement and questionnaire design, study coordination, data management, biostatistical analysis, publishing and presenting research, and grant writing. For more information, including the Request for Applications (RFA), please visit the SCTR website or contact Diana Barrett at barretd@musc.edu.
OAPR Research Equipment Enhancement Fund (REEF) Application Due: March 1, 2016 The Office of the Associate Provost for Research (OAPR) REEF program is designed for active investigators and/or departments to replace aging, obsolete or damaged research equipment, or to acquire new research equipment that represents the latest technology. The overall goal of the program is to assist MUSC faculty in purchasing instrumentation necessary to attain their research goals. The program will provide up to $50,000 per successful application and a total of 5-6 awards are anticipated for the 2015-2016 academic year.
College of Medicine Faculty Bridge Funding Program Application Due: December 15, 2015 A primary goal of the College of Medicine is to support and strengthen research capabilities of our faculty. One mechanism utilized to facilitate this goal is our Bridge Funding Program. The purpose of this program is to support investigators with established clinical or basic research programs during periods when a competitive renewal was not funded. Program details and the application format are available at http://www.musc.edu/com/research/bridgefunding.htm. Faculty with questions about this program should contact Senior Associate Dean for Research Craig Crosson.
More Internal Funding Opportunities Available MUSC Internal Funding Opportunities are designed to support faculty members in turning unique concepts into research projects, and to assist them in obtaining additional external funding for their professional development and research. For a complete listing of open opportunities click here. 5
RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
Annual SCresearch.org EXPO The South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) Institute SCTR Institute held its fifth research recruitment fair - the SCResearch.org Expo on October 6, 2015. SCResearch.org Expo is a research event that increases awareness of both general and studyspecific research; energizes MUSC staff, patients, and public to partner with research as study participants; and celebrates research study volunteers as partners. This celebration of research was an opportunity to engage the public, provide education about MUSC’s research topic, promote studies, recruit, and share research results. Over the past few years, thousands of people have attended this event that highlights research contributions by researchers, research teams, research volunteers, and the staff that make research possible. The Expo promotes the state-wide, lay-friendly, online recruitment resource SCresearch.org, with a searchable database of currently recruiting clinical trials throughout the state of South Carolina. The Expo provided a great opportunity for research teams to share research opportunities, education and resources with patients, families, visitors, employees, and students. In addition to the research-related activities held on the day of the event, the event also had food trucks, door prizes, Zumba classes and TEDx Charleston speakers adding energy and excitement.
Women’s Innovation Symposium Join the Women’s Innovation Symposium for presentations on invention and entrepreneurship from top female clinicians and investigators. Learn how to recognize innovation in your own work and receive tips on resources to move your projects forward. The event is planned for Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 9:00 am to 1:45 pm in the Drug Discovery Auditorium, room 110. Please register by November 17 to claim your space. Sponsored by the Foundation for Research Development (FRD), South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, Advancement, Recruitment and Retention of Women in Science (ARROWS), and the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).
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RESEARCH INKLINGS
FALL 2015
Hollings Cancer Center Immunotherapy Researcher Awarded $6.8 Million Grant Zihai Li, M.D., Ph.D., cancer immunology program leader and chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, has been awarded a five-year NIH-funded P01 grant totaling $6,8 million. This prestigious award will bring some of the best minds in cancer research together from across three institutions to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer research and drug discoveries. Dr. Zihai Li will serve as overall principal investigator for the grant and leader of the two MUSC-based components. The other two projects will be led by chemical biologist and medicinal chemist Gabriela Chiosis, Ph.D., at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and structural biologist Daniel Gewirth, Ph.D., at Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute in Buffalo, New York. “We are excited about the potential of this work to provide major breakthroughs in novel cancer therapies,” said Anthony J. Alberg, Ph.D., interim director for the Hollings Cancer Center. “Dr. Li’s leadership skills as a scientist and as a research team leader have led to him earning such an impactful and prestigious grant, and we are confident his work will lead to more breakthroughs in understanding and combatting cancer.” The grant focuses on the heat shock protein (HSP) grp94, a molecule that is highly expressed in cancer cells and whose “drug-like” inhibitors have been identified by the researchers on this project. The collaborative team is working to learn more about grp94, uncover its cancer-specific roles and refine its targeted inhibitors for eventual clinical development of new cancer therapies. This multi-project initiative brings together cancer researchers from multiple disciplines across the three institutions. Li’s group has played a leading role in demonstrating that grp94 is a master regulator for toll-like receptors (TLRs), integrins, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) and glycoprotein a repetitions predominant (GARP). It is believed that these molecules drive cancer development. Targeting grp94 will allow the researchers to shut down these molecules and thus be effective against cancer. Alberg added, “Throughout his career, Dr. Li has demonstrated boundless energy, extraordinary work ethic, and significant success in his pursuit of advancing scientific breakthroughs for cancer patients. We are fortunate to have him on the Hollings Cancer Center team. This grant demonstrates how important the South Carolina SmartState® program is in allowing us to recruit the brightest and best to our state.” Li received his medical degree from Henan Medical University and Peking Union Medical College, and his doctorate in immunology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and completed his clinical fellowship in medical oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle. 7
Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award Recipients
Dennis K. Watson, PhD
Michael R. Zile, MD
Dennis k. Watson, PhD, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Associate Director of Education and Training, Hollings Cancer Center in the College of Medicine, and Michael R. Zile, MD, Professor in the Department of Medicine, were recipients of the 2015 Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award. They were honored at the annual Faculty Convocation on August 25, 2015. Dr. Dennis Watson has served as a mentor for more than 20 years. In varying capacities, he has worked with countless students and junior investigators, including more than 25 predoctoral students, 25 postdoctoral researchers and 10 junior faculty members. In addition, he has served on thesis committees for 52 graduate students. Many of his trainees have gone on to prominent careers in academia and industry. Dr. Watson also has coordinated the Hollings Cancer Center Annual Retreat, the center’s major research event with hundreds of attendees. He also represents the cancer center in the Cancer Biology Training Consortium, a duty he has had since 2007. The consortium works with more than 50 scientific institutions in the United States in its mission to train future generations of cancer researchers. A physician/scientist, Dr. Michael Zile has been a prolific contributor to the body of knowledge for cardiology, serving as author of approximately 248 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 45 book chapters and reviews. In addition, he also has busy clinic and academic obligations. Despite the demands on his time and knowledge, Dr. Zile finds time and makes it a point to seek out junior faculty to encourage them. He has mentored more than 30 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows and served on, if not supervised, many doctoral thesis committees throughout his tenure. Many of his mentees have gone on to become successful independent investigators in their own right. In addition to the Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award, faculty awards were give to honorees in four categories: distinguished faculty service, teaching excellence, outstanding clinician and developing scholar. Marc Chimowitz, MD, University Eminent Scholar, Professor Neurology and Associate Dean of Faculty Development, gave the keynote address, elaborating on the challenges of working in a 21st Century academic medical center.