UMMS: E-News

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

Annual State of the School presentation
James Woolliscroft

If you were unable to attend the Dean's State of the School presentation on Sept. 15, you can now be view it online.

Dean receives many comments about academic mission to China
The Dean received many comments from faculty about the recent academic mission to China. To continue the dialogue, there will be a town hall meeting this fall to discuss our efforts in China. Other international locales will be the focus of subsequent town hall meetings. More information will be distributed shortly.

Sept. 29: Attend Dean Woolliscroft's office hours program
Since beginning the office hours program, Dean Woolliscroft has met informally with many faculty, staff and students who have provided him with valuable comments and suggestions on how to enhance our efforts and make a great school even better. Faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by with their creative ideas and innovative solutions from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Med. Sci. II room 3813.

Research

Oct. 16: A New Era in Medicine symposium

Ezekiel Emanuel, a key figure in Obama's administration, will be the keynote speaker at a University of Michigan symposium focusing on "A New Era in Medicine." His presentation will look at the future of the physician-patient relationship. Also speaking are U-M medical researchers working on new techniques for clinical treatment for disease.

The symposium will begin at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, in the Towsley Center Dow Auditorium. The symposium is jointly sponsored by U-M's A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. For more information or to register, visit the Web site.

2009 Cancer Center Fall Research Symposium - abstracts
Abstract Deadline: Thursday, Oct. 8

The 2009 Cancer Center Fall Research Symposium will take place Friday, Nov.13, in the Biomedical Science Research Building D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium. The symposium will feature lectures by five internationally recognized experts in the cancer field. More details regarding the speakers will be forthcoming.

We are now calling for abstract submissions. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. For more information regarding the abstract guidelines, visit the Web site. The top three abstract submissions will present at the symposium. Don't delay - submit today. For more information, e-mail Mary Greene at marygree@umich.edu

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:

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.

Cancer research funds available for investigator-initiated proposals
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's Cancer Research Committee invites applications from faculty requesting support for investigator-initiated research proposals that are focused on cancer or that have clear cancer relevance. Deadline is the first Thursday of each month.

Research Grants are available for investigators for cancer-related research, or for any interesting and innovative collaboration between scientists. The fund is available for faculty in any unit of the University. The total amount requested must not exceed $40,000.

IDEA Grants are available for investigators who have novel and innovative ideas for cancer research. Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the proposed studies is not required. However, applicants are encouraged to include preliminary data if available. Funding for the IDEA grants will not exceed $30,000.

Clinical research pricing tool demonstrations
The Medical School Office of Research is pleased to announce the launch of the Clinical Research Pricing Tool, an online application to assist clinical researchers and staff in obtaining research prices for tests and procedures needed for efficient preparation of accurate budgets for their studies. Both hospital and professional fees at federal and non-federal research discounted rates are now available in a single location. To introduce you to this new tool, we are hosting three training demonstrations to occur on Monday, Oct. 5; Wednesday, Oct. 14; and Friday, Oct. 23. For times and locations and to register for a session, please visit the registration form. For questions about these demonstration sessions, e-mail Kathryn Ridner at kridner@umich.edu or call 734-763-4086.

Education

Oct. 5: UM.Sitemaker workshop, Web sites made simple
UM.SiteMaker helps University of Michigan faculty, students and staff quickly create Web sites and Web databases without knowing technical details. In this workshop, we will explore basic UM.Sitemaker functionality for creating pages and assigning access to various online material. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. - noon Monday, Oct. 5, in the Taubman Medical Library. For more information or to register, visit the Web site.

Oct. 6 – Learn how the iPhone is benefiting medical education and research
Medical School Information Services will be giving a presentation about how the iPhone is currently being used in medical education and research. Additionally, some cool medical applications that can be used on the iPhone and some of the services that MSIS provides for Medical School iPhone users will be discussed. The session will take place Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 4-5 p.m. in the Danto Auditorium, Cardiovascular Center. For questions, contact msisiphone@umich.edu.

Administrative

What should you do if you catch the flu?
University Human Resources has summarized some pertinent information related to influenza preparation for managers and staff and placed it on the HR Web site. You may want to bookmark this site so you can find it easily.

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer?
All U-M faculty and staff who are former Peace Corps Volunteers are being sought, to help celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary.

On Oct. 14, 2010, the University and the world will celebrate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's speech on the steps of the Michigan Union -- when he first spoke about his idea that would become the Peace Corps. According to Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps, it "might still be just another idea, but for the affirmative response of those Michigan students and faculty."

To celebrate and recognize the enormous success of the Peace Corps and the role our students and faculty played in creating it, U-M is co-sponsoring a national symposium in 2010 with the Brookings Institution and the National Peace Corps Association. In preparation for this, any faculty or staff who are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are asked to e-mail jegreis@umich.edu and nharnold@umich.edu.

GreenIT, Phase 3 begins Tuesday, Sept. 29
Phase 3 of the U-M Health System's GreenIT program will begin on September 29, 2009. MCIT will wake computers before the beginning of business and also shut them down at the end of the business day. On average, the computers will be turned on approximately 30 minutes before business begins and scheduled to shutdown approximately 30 minutes after the end of business.

Phase 3 introduces Wake-on-LAN technology that provides for remote computer start up. This technology will allow UMHS to shutdown the computers at end of business and turn them back on again before the beginning of business the next day. Nightly maintenance and software distribution activities on the CoreImage computers will not be affected, as this technology permits MCIT to remotely turn them on to perform these tasks and then turn them back off again. It is estimated that Phase 3 will save an additional $280,000 in electrical expenses each year.

For more information, including areas that operate 7x24 and how beginning and end of the business day are determined, check the Web site. If you have questions, please contact greenIT@med.umich.edu.

Other

Sept. 30: 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., 6 - 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Kellogg Eye Center, Faculty Dining Room.

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.

Donate your old eyeglasses and hearing aids for people in Third World countries
The Ann Arbor Lions Club has collected its 100,000th pair of recycled glasses which are distributed to individuals in Third World countries. The UMHS community has contributed many of these eyeglasses to the Lions Club during the past four years.

The Health Sciences Libraries are a collection point for recycled eyeglasses and now used hearing aids as well. Please deposit your contributions in the designated box at Taubman Medical Library or send them to: Schnitzer, Reference Office, Taubman Medical Library 48109-2038. For more information, e-mail schnitzr@umich.edu.

Temporary space closures at Green Road commuter lot until Oct. 16
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Green Road Park & Ride lot will begin a project to expand its capacity by 100 additional spaces. The work will be done in three one-week phases, depending on the weather. From Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, there will be 47 spaces closed on the south side of the south drive lane adjacent to the Auxiliary Services Building.

Details about which spaces will be closed during the rest of the project and other options for parking during this three week period can be found on the U-M Parking & Transportation Web site. Your understanding and flexibility during this short expansion project is greatly appreciated.

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. 28, 2009
Noon. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Science Seminar Series. Todd J. Herron, Ph.D., assistant research professor, molecular and integrative physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of Michigan, will present, "Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Failure and Fatal Ventricular Arrhythmias," in Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009
Noon.The Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar Series. F. Peter Guengerich, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, director, Center for Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, will present "Interactions of DNA Polymerases with Damaged DNA: Interpreting the Details of Mutation Errors," in Med. Sci. I room 6311.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
10:30 a.m. Seventh Annual Todd Ouida Lecture on Childhood Depression and Anxiety. Joan Asarnow, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, director of Youth Stress and Mood Program, UCLA, will present "Pediatric Depression: Strategies for Improving Treatment and Youth Outcomes," in the Rachel Upjohn Building garden level auditorium.

4 p.m. Department of Surgery Visiting Assistant Professor. Todd E. Rasmussen, M.D., FACS, will present "Wartime Vascular Injury 2009: Rapid Translational Research, Novel Technology Applications and Historic Rates and Outcomes Studies," in the Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium.

5 p.m. Radiology Grand Rounds. Gaurang Shah, M.D., assistant professor, Neuroradiology, will present, "Clinical Functional MRI," in the MCHC Auditorium.

Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
12:10 p.m. Gifts of Art. Broadway Divas, Two Tenors on the Edge, UH Main Lobby, floor 1.

4 p.m. Pathology Research Seminar Series. Nicholas Lukacs, Ph.D., professor of Pathology, assistant dean for Research Faculty, University of Michigan Medical School, will present "Viral-induced innate immune responses dictate the severity of chronic pulmonary disease," in Med. Sci. I room 4234.