Welcome to the University of Michigan Medical School E-News, your source for quick and current news from the medical school community.

From the Dean's Office

Nov. 5: Faculty Town Hall on global engagement
Joe Kolars, M.D., the senior associate dean for education and global iInitiatives, invites you to a Faculty Town Hall and discussion about the vision of the Medical School's global involvement. The meeting will take place from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in the Towsley Center Sheldon.

Research

Distinguished University Innovator Award, 2010
The Office of the Vice President for Research is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Innovator Award, 2010. This award recognizes a faculty member or small team led by a faculty member who have demonstrated a noteworthy accomplishment through the development of a transformational innovation, movement of an innovation to market-readiness or creation of new means for moving innovations from the university into the private sector. The Distinguished University Innovator receives a $5000 honorarium and is invited to give a public lecture followed by a reception. The winner will be announced in January 2010. Previous recipients are:

• Mohammed Islam, 2007
• James Baker, 2008
• Farnam Jahanian, 2009

Details and forms are available on the Web site. For more information call Jane Ritter at 763-1290 or e-mail ritterj@umich.edu. Application deadline is Friday, Nov. 13.

Funds available for subsidized use of U-M research resource cores for problems in aging research
The Nathan Shock Center for the Biology of Aging announces the availability of subsidy funds to help U-M faculty members purchase services from the University's family of research resource cores. The funds can be used to help pay up to 40 percent of costs at any U-M core that has published user fees or recharge rates. Some examples of these cores include:

• Center for Integrative Genomics
• Metabolomics and Obesity Center
• Protein Structure Facility
• DNA Sequencing Core
• Center for Molecular Imaging
• Center for Chemical Genomics
• Affymetrix and DNA Microarray Core
• shRNA Library Core
  

Outstanding posters selected during New Era in Medicine symposium
The annual New Era in Medicine Symposium featured talks by nationally known healthcare and science experts, but the Oct. 16 event also included a poster session of promising work by U-M faculty and students. Outstanding poster award winners include:

• Reshma Jagsi, first place, and Roland Kwok, second place in the faculty category
• Paul Bozyk, first place, and Eric Waldorff, second place in the post doctoral category
• Adam Gadzinski, first place, and Katherine Gast, second place, in the pre-doctoral category

The symposium was jointly sponsored by the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research.

Two from U-M elected to Institute of Medicine
Two University of Michigan faculty members have been elected to the Institute of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. They are:

• Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Michigan Center for
  Translational Pathology and S.P. Hicks Professor of Pathology at the U-M
  Medical School
• Ana Diez Roux, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., professor of epidemiology,
  director of the Center for Integrative Approaches to Health Disparities,
  and associate director of the Center for Social Epidemiology and
  Population Health at the U-M School of Public Health
  

The IOM recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding
professional achievement and commitment to service. Chinnaiyan and Diez
Roux are among 65 new members. Altogether, the IOM has 1,778 members.

See the UMHS press release for more information.

Nov. 4 - Open house to showcase SOLiD™ 3 Plus -Next-Generation Sequencing & Gene Expression Analysis
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center Microarray Core and Applied Biosystems presents an open house to showcase the newest services available to Med School Investigators, including SOLiD™ 3 Plus, the new next generation sequencer. Key program elements:

• 8:30 - 10 a.m., The genome in high definition: DNA, RNA and Whole Transcriptome applications using SOLiD™ 3+ Next Generation Sequencing (at BSRB Lobby conference rooms)
• 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., UMMCC Microarray Core open house: meet SOLiD in person. Lunch is provided (please RSVP), door prizes and raffle (at UMMCC Microarray Core, 7410 CCGC)
•  2 - 3 p.m., The genome in high definition: DNA, RNA and Whole Transcriptome applications using SOLiD Next Generation Sequencing (at Med. Sci. II North Lecture Hall, Rm. 3695)
•  3 - 4 p.m., Using SOLiD Next Generation Sequencing to Profile microRNA in cancer samples (at Med. Sci. II North Lecture Hall, Rm. 3695)

Please RSVP by Tuesday, Nov. 3 to Joe Washburn, joewashb@umich.edu or David Miller, david.miller@lifetech.com. Also please send e-mail if you'd like to schedule a consultation appointment and indicate your desired 30 minute time slot. Individual SOLiD 3 Plus expert project consultations are available throughout the day.

Nov. 9 - 10: 20th annual Pediatric Research Symposium
The Department of Pediatrics celebrates its 20th annual Pediatric Research Symposium on Monday, Nov 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Towsley Center. The symposium will kick off with a poster session and reception from 4 - 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Towsley Lobby showcasing over 120 abstracts in pediatric research.

The symposium continues on Tuesday, Nov. 10, featuring guest lecturers Susan J. Hayflick, M.D., Oregon Health and Science University; Russell E. Ware, M.D., Ph.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospita;l and platform presentations from abstract awardees. Breakout sessions will highlight a range of topics in pediatric research.

For more information, visit the Web site or e-mail jjtorres@umich.edu.

Nov. 13: Cancer Center Fall Research Symposium
The Cancer Research Committee is hosting The Cancer Center Fall Research Symposium, Friday, Nov 13, in the Biomedical Science Research Building D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium. The symposium will feature five lectures by internationally recognized experts in the cancer field. A platform presentation from the top three abstracts, along with a lunch time poster session is scheduled. Breakfast and lunch served. CME credits given for this symposium. For more information or to register, visit the Web site or e-mail marygree@umich.

Nov. 17 - 18: Introductory course for emerging clinical and translational scholars
An introductory course for emerging clinical and translational scholars will take place from 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 in Palmer Commons, Forum Hall. Attendees will be provided with an overview of clinical translational research and pathways to develop an academic career focused on clinical research. Content includes an orientation into the skills required for successful research design and analysis, requirements for protection of human research participants, how to successfully apply for research funding and the critical importance of optimal mentoring. Through breakout sessions, the course will provide opportunity for hands-on application.

For more information or to register, visit the Web site.

Nov. 19: Getting started in clinical research career development awards
Junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and scientists interested in clinical and translational research are invited to join Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research and the Medical School Grants Review and Analysis office for an introduction to submitting clinical research career development awards. Learn all you need to know to get started on a proposal including advice on finding great mentors, the importance of methods, completing budgets, the personal statement, didactic program and more.

The workshop will take place from noon - 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in Palmer Commons Forum Hall. For more information or to register, visit the Web site.

Education

Nov. 11: Third Annual Women's Health Retreat
The UMHS Women's Health Program is hosting the third Annual Women's Health Retreat from 1 - 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium. The half day event will explore the most current programs, research and services focusing on women's health at Michigan and around the globe. For more information and to register, call the Women's Health Resource Center at 734-936-8886, e-mail UMHS-WHRC@med.umich.edu or visit the Web site.

Clinical

Town Halls to discuss flu to be held Nov. 2, 4 and 6
The current H1N1 flu pandemic is affecting nearly all areas of UMHS. To help provide updated information and a chance to ask questions and raise issues, all faculty, staff, students and volunteers are invited to Town Halls on flu during the week of Nov. 2. Each meeting will also be broadcast to certain satellite locations outside the medical campus. Each Town Hall will feature leaders who are helping UMHS handle the impact of the pandemic on our patients and employees. A video of one of the Town Halls will be streamed online later in the month; watch the Bulletin for an announcement when it is available.

Town Hall dates and times:

• Monday, Nov. 2 from 4 - 5 p.m.,  in the MCHC Auditorium in Mott Hospital, (Broadcast locations: Brighton Health Center, Chelsea Health Center, KMS and NCAC)
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, noon - 1 p.m., in the Danto Auditorium, floor 2, Cardiovascular Center (Broadcast locations: to be announced)
• Friday, Nov. 6, noon - 1 p.m., in the MCHC Auditorium in Mott Hospital, (Broadcast locations: Brighton Health Center, Canton Health Center, KMS and NCAC)

Nov. 3: Division of Health Services Research grand opening
Please join us at a reception for the Department of Urology as we celebrate the grand opening of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation Division of Health Services Research from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, located in Michigan House, 2301 Commonwealth Blvd.

Enjoy the opportunity to see our beautiful new facility and learn how our research ensures that patients receive the best care at the right time.

Administrative

Daylight Saving Time: change your clock and change your password
Main campus Information and Technology Services recommends changing your UMICH Kerberos password twice a year, at the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time. So as you set your clocks back an hour on Sunday, Nov.1 (remember, we "fall back"), change your password, too. ITS has provided some guidelines for secure passwords on its Web site.

Other

Michigan Visiting Nurses celebrate 100 years of caring and commitment
Michigan Visiting Nurses has served the community of Ann Arbor under various names and affiliations since May 1909. It began as a philanthropic volunteer organization to serve patients going home from the University Hospital and needy people in the city. It continued to grow in size and importance during the past century of significant medical and cultural changes. The organization was acquired in 1998 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Michigan Health System's Michigan Health Corporation. MVN personnel became employees of the University of Michigan in 2003. Throughout the many changes, the Michigan Visiting Nurses has maintained its commitment and continued to provide home care services for patients being discharged from the University of Michigan Hospitals.

Learn about Michigan Visiting Nurses at its Web site.

Nov. 4: Paws with a Cause
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, at approximately 10 a.m., the Health Sciences Libraries will host a representative from Paws with a Cause, who will explain the upbringing and training of a service dog. The presentation will take place in the Reference Area of Taubman Medical Library. It will be an educational session in which staff from Paws share the process of how they analyze needs through a video tape of the client; assess which dog has the temperament, work ethic, ability and strength for this assignment; and custom train for the client's needs. A client and service dog will be present to demonstrate the essential tasks and encourage discussion.

Paws is the leader in custom-training service dogs in the United States. Paws also is the only service dog training organization that has an on-site research and development office which produces state of the art adaptive devices based on an in-depth understanding of human and dog anatomy. For more information, e-mail Anna Ercoli Schnitzer at schnitzr@umich.edu or call 734-936-1402. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Seminars, lectures, colloquia and events

Basic Science Seminars

Clinical Seminars

Major Events and Conferences

Student Seminars and Thesis Defense