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Research Faculty and Staff,
It's a challenging, yet exciting time for researchers.Years of flat funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have had an impact on many research projects, but your persistence and ingenuity—along with your willingness to seek alternate funding sources—have had a great impact on UC's overall research-dollar total.
The proposed economic stimulus plan may offer an infusion of dollars to the NIH, and while we'd prefer sustainable, consistent increases, we're pleased that the importance of medical research is not going unnoticed.
Because this is a fast-moving process, it's important that you consider taking action to ensure the funds are invested effectively.
I encourage you to reach out to NIH program officers with whom you have relationships in order to suggest research areas that should be highlighted, or research topics that could be supported through the the "challenge grant" mechanism--a new program currenlty under discussion.
Please contact me at sandra.degen@uc.edu for more information on the proposed stimulus package and details on how the NIH might allocate the funding it receives.
As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to check out research.uc.edu.
Sandra Degen, PhD
Vice President for Research
NEWS/GRANTS
LAMS Per Diem Rate Increase
In an effort to meet rising costs, Laboratory Animal Medical Services (LAMS) has found it necessary to raise per diem rates approximately 5 percent starting July 1, 2009. Some rates will be adjusted higher than 5 percent to better reflect actual costs. The 2009 per diem rates remain less than what they were 10 years ago. Please note that a cage rate implemented many years ago for mice has worked well. This cage rate has been extended to include other rodents. In order to help future fiscal planning, per diem rate increases will now be announced to faculty and business directors by February for rates that go into effect in July of each year. All per diem rate calculations are done in consultation with the LAMS Advisory Committee and are reviewed by the UC Recharge Council. For a complete listing of rates, including cage-rate specifics, contact LAMS at (513) 558-5171.
NIH Begins New Process to Report Detailed Funding Information
On Jan. 15, 2009, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) made public the results of a new process for providing detailed funding information for 215 major areas of research. The Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) process uses standard category definitions, knowledge management principles, and computerized tools to categorize research projects. The RCDC process was initiated at the request of Congress to provide consistent and transparent NIH research funding information to the public. Learn more at www.report.nih.gov/rcdc/categories.
OVALS Conference April 2–3
The Ohio Valley Affiliates for Life Sciences (OVALS) annual conference will be held April 2–3 at the Dayton Marriott Hotel in Dayton. Day one of the conference features a technology poster competition, exhibits and networking opportunities, followed by a dinner and keynote presentation titled “Diseases That Will Drive Future Technology and Opportunity” by Michael Parkinson, MD, executive vice president and chief health and medical officer of Lumenos. Day two includes a full day of presentations on topics related to technology trends and opportunities in the areas of nanoparticles, medical devices, biosafety technologies and stem cell technology. The OVALS Conference is sponsored by UC, Wright State University, University Kentucky, University of Louisville, Ohio University, Air Force Research Laboratory, CincyTechUSA, Bluegrass Business Development Partnership, Edison Biotechnology Institute and the Indiana Health Industry Forum. Faculty and graduate students are encouraged to submit posters for the competition. For more information or to register, visit www.ovalsgroup.org, or contact Dorothy Air at (513) 263-2723. A limited number of complimentary registrations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Employment of International Students
Federal regulations (8CFR214.2(f)) strictly limit the employment of—and the assignment of duties to—international students. If you employ international students, please read and carefully comply with the following guidelines:
On-campus employment: International students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. That work must occur on UC’s premises, including on-location commercial firms that provide services for students on campus, such as the bookstore or dining halls.
Off-campus employment: Off-campus employment refers to employment that entails payment to students from non-UC entities; if the student receives payment directly from the University—regardless the physical location of the student—the employment is considered “on campus.” International students may engage in off-campus employment only (1) if the employment is associated with the university's established curriculum or (2) if the work is related to post-graduate research projects that are funded by grants. In either case, the off-campus employment must meet these qualifications:
• The work must be an integral part of the student's academic program.
• You must develop an Educational Collaboration Agreement (ECA) between UC and the employer for each student. The ECA must describe, among other things, the nature of the work to be performed and how the work relates to the student’s educational program. The Office of Sponsored Research Services can help you develop ECAs.
Without exception, you may not employ an international student—nor may you assign any uncompensated duties to an international student—in any outside organization in which you hold a financial interest. Such employment or assignments would constitute a conflict of interest. Employing international students in ways contrary to federal regulations or UC rules endangers these students’ visas and their academic progress. Doing so may also put you at risk of academic misconduct.
Direct questions as follows:
About employment regulations for international students to Ron Cushing in UC International Services (ronald.cushing@uc.edu).
About Educational Collaboration agreements for off-campus locations to Diane Sparks in Sponsored Research Services (diane.sparks@uc.edu).
About conflicts of interest or academic misconduct to John Bryan in the Provost’s Office (john.bryan@uc.edu).
REMINDER: 2008–09 Entrepreneurial Faculty Achievement Awards
The UC Office of Entrepreneurial Affairs is soliciting nominations for the 2008–09 Entrepreneurial Achievement Awards. To review selection criteria, visit www.uc.edu/facultyawards/awards.htm. The deadline for applications is Friday, Feb. 13. Faculty members from all colleges are eligible to apply. The electronic application form can be accessed at webcentral.uc.edu/eaward/apply.cfm. Winners will be notified by mid-March. For more information, contact Dorothy Air, PhD, associate senior vice president for entrepreneurial affairs, at (513) 558-6054 or dorothy.air@uc.edu.
New Grants Awarded in January
Writing winning grants is tough. We understand the hard work that goes into preparing a proposal and want to make sure that effort doesn’t go unnoticed. Check out your great work—and that of your colleagues—at uc.edu/ucresearch/new_grant_winners.html.
2009 Grant-Writing Workshops
More than 250 people participated in grant-writing workshops offered in 2008. Application deadlines for 2009 sessions begin in March. Information about 2009 grant-writing workshops is available at http://www.uc.edu/ucResearch/GrantWritingWorkshop.html.
GREEN BITS
The university, as part of the Green Partnership for Greater Cincinnati, is working collaboratively with four other major organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to reduce its carbon footprint. There are several things you can do in labs and offices to improve energy and waste management. Research Update—with the help of Eric Gruenstein, PhD, professor of molecular genetics—provides monthly “greening” tips for research faculty and staff.
Tip #11: An Open Letter to the Tsars
I thought I had a pretty good vocabulary, but this one stumped me. It was many years ago and I was taking a test as part of an interview for a radio news show. The word was “ukase” and not only did I not know what it meant, but I hadn’t ever seen it before and had no idea how to pronounce it. (It’s you-case, by the way, with the emphasis on the first syllable and it means an edict from the tsar having the force of law).
So this month I’m making a plea for a ukase from the University’s tsars, by whom I mean those administrators at the college and university level who can, with the stroke of a pen, issue edicts that we poor peasants must (more or less) follow.
The edict that I have in mind was suggested in an e-mail I received form Melanie Cushion in response to last month’s Green Bit. She wrote that UC should “require all catering and food service vendors to use environmentally friendly packaging. This will result in a two-fold gain: 1) the clamshells and other plastics or styrofoam that most boxed lunches come in will be eliminated, thereby reducing the garbage generated and keeping our costs down and 2) the environmentally friendly packaging that is leftover should be biodegradable thus helping the overall community environment. The vendors will not change unless they are asked to do so.” To this list I would add no more bottled water.
So, Dr. Stern, if you’re reading this, how about a ukase for the medical school. And President Zimpher, if you’re listening, how about a ukase for the entire university. It won’t cost anything and all it has to say is that from now on it is our official policy that departmental and college functions involving food are to use environmentally friendly products. Come on, what’s the point of being a tsar if you don’t issue good edicts!
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