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

Dean's State of the School address, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. in Dow Auditorium, 'Creating the Future of Healthcare Through Discovery'
Much has changed since the last State of the School address in May 2008, including the instability of the international economy. We also face some of our greatest opportunities with new facilities opening soon, the acquisition of the North Campus Research Complex and important recruiting successes. Please plan to attend this event where the Dean will describe the reputation earned by Medical School efforts around the world and his vision for how we will continue to transform the way we achieve our missions and compete on the global stage. 

Research

Call for proposals for Medical Innovation
Application Deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 14
The Medical Innovation Center is pleased to announce its second grant program made possible by the Bud Williamson Innovation Fund and Michigan Institute for Clinical Health Research.

The Medical Innovation Center's innovation awards are intended to help inventors move a medical technology idea to the next step on the path to commercialization. We recommend attending one of our question and answer sessions in Ford Auditorium because the application questions may cover topics that might not be familiar to all PIs:

• 5 - 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21
• 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23

For the application and guidelines, visit the Web site .

Funding available: Nathan Shock Center, Aging Transgenic Rodent/Pathology Core, U-M Geriatric Center
The Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in Aging sponsors an Aging Transgenic Rodent/Pathology Core. The goal is to provide both scientific and or financial assistance to U-M researchers who wish to develop and study aged mice whose genotypes make them valuable for the study of problems in the cell and molecular biology of aging. Studies of spontaneous or induced mutants, knock-outs and transgenic animals are all eligible for consideration. The NSC is funded by the National Institute of Aging, headed by Richard Miller, M.D., Ph.D. The ATRPC Core is directed by Evan Keller.

The ATRPC expects to make two to four such awards annually. Typical support levels are $6K-$10K yearly for one to two years. Applications are accepted on continuous basis; review typically conducted within one month. UCUCA approval is required before receiving funding, but not required prior to application. For more information or questions, e-mail Evan Keller at etkeller@umich.edu. For applications, e-mail Jerry Ratajski at jratajsk@umich.edu.

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

Education

Oct. 12: Fourth Annual Michigan Metabolomic and Obesity Center Symposium
The U-M scientific community is encouraged to attend the Fourth Annual Michigan Metabolomic and Obesity Center Symposium on Monday, Oct. 12, in Palmer Commons Forum Hall. This event will feature speakers from University of Cambridge, Northwestern University, Wayne State University, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, as well as the University of Michigan. There will be seven presentations, and each will be followed by a question and answer session and concurrent poster displays. CME credit is offered.

For more information or to register, visit the Web site or call 734-647-2271. Registration deadline is Thursday, Oct. 1.

Other

• Monday, Sept. 14
  7:30 a.m. - noon University Hospital classroom 2C224
  2 - 6 p.m. University Hospital Ford Auditorium lobby
• Wednesday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. University Hospital Dining Room B
• Friday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. University Hospital Dining Rooms A and B

Sept. 16: Learn about LASIK at a seminar for U-M employees
As a U-M employee, you and your immediate family have many ways to save when it comes to LASIK: payroll deduction, flexible spending accounts and reduced fees.

Learn about your U-M advantage and find out if LASIK is right for you at a seminar with Kellogg's Shahzad I. Mian, M.D., noon - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Michigan League, conference room 4.

You will learn about IntraLase -- or bladeless LASIK, permanent contact lenses and Wavefront/Zyoptix. You also will learn whether you are a good candidate and which procedure is best for you. For more information, visit the Web site.

See who's in the news!
M-News Now! is a Web page with timely information about members of the UMHS community who are in the news. See who is being interviewed or where their comments are being published at M-News Now!

News Releases
To see the latest news about Medical School research and other important Health System developments, visit the Newsroom at www.med.umich.edu/news.

Medical School FAQs
You can find answers to many of your questions pertaining to the U-M Medical School in one place. The FAQ page links to a variety of resources including information and support, educational programs, research and policy information. The site also lists useful U-M resources.

Seminars, lectures, colloquia and events for next week

Monday, Sept. 14, 2009
Noon. Cancer Center Grand Rounds. Stephen P. Ethier, Ph.D., associate cancer director, basic science and deputy director, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, will present "Oncogene networks and the expression of transformed phenotypes in breast cancer," in Ford Auditorium.

Noon. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Science Seminar Series. Dan Eitzman, M.D., associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, will present, "Leukocyte Regulation of Endothelial Cells in Obesity," in the Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium.

3:45 p.m. The Annual Bernard W. Agranoff Lectureship in Neuroscience. Karel Svoboda, Ph.D., group leader, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will present "The Neural Circuits Underlying Somatosensation," in the Biomedical Science Research Building D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium.

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
11 a.m. Casey Lecture on Pain. Frederick Lenz, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, will present "Human Pain Pathways, Processors and Networks," in the Biomedical Science Research Building D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium.

12:15 p.m. The Graduate Program in Immunology Seminar. Matthias Wabl, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology, University of California, San Francisco, will present "Retroelements in Autoimmune Disease," in Med. Sci. II South Lecture Hall.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009
12:10 p.m. Gifts of Art. Old time piano by Jerry Perrine, UH Main Lobby, floor 1.

4 p.m. Pathology Research Seminar Series. Steven F. Ziegler, Ph.D., director, Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason and affiliate professor of immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, will present "TSLP and Allergic Inflammation," in Med. Sci. I Room 4234.