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Research Update readers should have received a message from me last week reminding everyone of a number of university policies in place to protect the institution, its faculty members and those we serve.
As federal funding for research continues to decrease, it is anticipated that our interactions with industry will continue to grow. In this challenging funding environment, it’s important for all of us to be cognizant of and vigilant about our compliance with several key UC policies. I encourage you to take a moment to review policies 10-17-03, 10-17-08, 10-17-09 and 30-21-02. All are available online at uc.edu/trustees/rules.
As you may know, interactions between academia and industry have increasingly drawn the attention of the government and the media. If you have any questions about compliance with the aforementioned policies, please contact the Office of the Provost at (513) 556-2588. UC College of Medicine faculty should contact the Office of General Counsel at the Academic Health Center at (513) 558-2044.
As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to check out research.uc.edu for the latest research magazine, news and announcements.
Sandra Degen, PhD Vice President for Research
NEWS/GRANTS
Office of Research Responds to RGAC Recommendations The Office of Research has responded to recommendations made by the Research Grants Advisory Committee (RGAC)—a group formed in early 2007 to address concerns related to new grant deadlines and Sponsored Research Services (SRS) functions. The RGAC review of the grant-submission process made several key recommendations relating to proposal preparation, the five-day deadline, proposal prioritization, communications and feedback. Log on to Researcher’s Gateway to see the Office of Research’s responses and read about action already taken to address the RGAC report’s nine recommendations.
Undergraduate Research on Display The Undergraduate Research Council is now accepting registrations for the first university-wide Undergraduate Research Poster Session. The week-long event, to be held June 2-6 in Tangeman University Center, will give students the opportunity to display their research to the university community. The week will end with two feedback sessions and a luncheon. Register online for the session at chembus.uc.edu/kimacs/undergradposter.asp. The registration deadline is Friday, May 16, 2008. Space is limited, so register early. Programs and departments are encouraged to support their students by providing resources for poster printing. In addition, faculty are needed to provide feedback to students about their poster presentations. To learn more about volunteering at this event, contact Cheri Westmoreland at cheri.westmoreland@uc.edu.
Chemical Inventory Update The Office of Research would like to thank everyone for their efforts in the successful completion of the campus-wide inventory and assessment of the chemicals newly regulated by the Department of Homeland Security. This was a significant undertaking that required teamwork, communication and the commitment of resources. At this time, the locations and quantities of the particular chemicals at the university were below the quantities that trigger further action on site. Although we do not know what future Department of Homeland Security requirements will be, we plan to ask for yearly updates to your chemical inventory of the compounds on the department’s list sent to you earlier this year. The Office of Research will send out this request at the end 2008.
Bishop Named to NSF Post Paul Bishop, PhD, professor of environmental engineering and associate vice president for research, has accepted a temporary assignment as environmental engineering program director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Va. His duties began April 14, 2008. Bishop is working within the chemical, bioengineering, environmental and transport systems division (CBET) of NSF, which supports research and education in the rapidly evolving fields of bioengineering and environmental engineering and in areas that involve the transformation and/or transport of matter and energy by chemical, thermal, or mechanical means. Read more about Bishop in the Spotlight section of this edition of Research Update.
Lindwall Named FDA Specialist The UC Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (ORCRA) has added online support and specialized staffing for sponsor-investigators performing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated studies. Joanne Lindwall, director of the post-approval monitoring program and senior regulatory analyst, will serve as FDA specialist. Lindwall’s experience includes work with a consulting group specializing in clinical development of pharmaceutical and biological products as well as specialized training at the Food and Drug Law Institute. She will assist with preparation, review and filing of FDA applications and other requirements associated with regulatory issues. Additional information and online support can be found at researchcompliance.uc.edu/fda.
Researcher’s Gateway/eMODs a Success Faculty and staff are frequently logging on to Researcher’s Gateway, the new portal designed as a single point of entry for accessing the myriad sources of research information. The site recorded nearly 200,000 hits as of April 23. In addition, more than 20 electronic modification forms have been sent to the Institutional Review Board office. The last day to submit hard copy modifications was April 30. As of today, all forms must be submitted electronically. To access the electronic modification submission (eMODs) forms, log on to Researcher’s Gateway and click on “My Protocols” and then “Submit a Modification.” For additional information contact Dawn O’Neill, executive director for research programs, at dawn.oneill@uc.edu or (513) 558-6565.
NIH Delaying Switch to Adobe Forms The National Institutes of Health will delay its transition to Adobe forms for Grants.gov submissions until the end of calendar year 2008. Read more at srs.uc.edu.
SSTI Supplement Available Online The weekly digest of funding opportunities sent by the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) can now be accessed on Researcher’s Gateway. Look for this weekly round-up in the “Announcements” section or under the “Grants/Funding” link.
New Grants Awarded in April 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.
GREEN BITS
The university 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 provides monthly “greening” tips for research faculty and staff. This month we look at one faculty member’s action to go green at lunch.
Tip #5—Greening Your Lunch Melanie Cushion, PhD, professor in the infectious disease division of the department of internal medicine, saw a great opportunity for internal medicine to “go green” at lunchtime. During one recent staff meeting, Cushion began to notice the many plastic clamshell containers filled with sandwiches, the Styrofoam containers holding various salads and the plastic utensils that get tossed after each use. She decided to dial Winklers Custom Catering to find out if they could help internal medicine to become a bit more environmentally friendly.
To Cushion’s delight, the owner of Winklers was happy to accommodate this request and offered to package lunches in recyclable brown bags, paper containers and could perhaps even provide bamboo forks. Cushion’s work with Winklers is just one example of a simple way UC can “go green.” She says it proves that even small steps can make a difference.
Read more about UC’s green efforts at http://www.uc.edu/af/sustainability/.
SPOTLIGHT Paul Bishop, PhD Paul Bishop, PhD, is associate vice president for research and professor of environmental engineering. He has also held a secondary appointment as professor of environmental health in the UC College of Medicine. Bishop came to UC in 1988 after 16 years as professor and head of the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire. Bishop received his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Northeastern University and his master’s and PhD in environmental engineering from Purdue University. Bishop previously served as a department chairman at UC and was associate dean for graduate studies and research. He was the director of the National Institutes of Health-funded Superfund Basic Research Program. He has directed more than $16 million of environmental research and is the author or co-author of five textbooks and over 400 technical publications.
Bishop is an associate editor of several international research journals and is past president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP). Bishop’s research interests include biological treatment of water and hazardous wastes using biofilms, contaminated soil bioremediation, development of environmental microsensors, solidification/stabilization of hazardous wastes, and pollution prevention technologies. He is the inventor or co-inventor of a number of environmental microelectrodes that he is currently using to study biofilm development and pathogen survival in drinking water distribution pipes. He is also co-holder of four patents.
In 2005, Bishop was awarded the Frontiers in Research Award by AEESP and in 2006 received the Outstanding Service Award from the International Water Association. In 2007, he received the UC College of Engineering Distinguished Research Award. He has mentored 70 master’s graduates and 27 PhD recipients—of whom 14 now hold tenured faculty positions
EVENTS Grant Writing: Write Winning Grants Seminar Presented by Stephen Russell, PhD Monday, May 5, 2008 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tangeman University Center (TUC), Great Hall Register online
Grant Writing: NIH Career Development Award Seminar (NIH K Awards and F32s) Presented by Stephen Russell, PhD Tuesday, May 6, 2008 8:30 a.m. to noon Rieveschl Auditorium, Vontz Center for Molecular Studies Register online
Grant Writing: NSF CAREER Award Seminar Presented by Stephen Russell, PhD Tuesday, May 6, 2008 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rieveschl Auditorium, Vontz Center for Molecular Studies Register online
Intensive Grant-Writing Workshop Presented by Stephen Russell, PhD Pre-proposal due July 3, 2008 Onsite meeting Aug. 6-7, 2008 Grants due after Jan. 1, 2009 This workshop is free, but participants are required to attend the Write Winning Grants Seminar on May 5, 2008, or must have completed this seminar given in spring 2007. Those chosen to participate are required to submit their grant applications after Jan. 1, 2009. Apply online
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