April - Synapse
Transcription
April - Synapse
at Professional Opportunities FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The William T. Grant Foundation seeks to fund high quality empirical research with the goal of improving the lives of youth between the ages of 8 and 25 in the U.S. To that end, the foundation has released its fourth Request for Proposals on Understanding the Acquisition, Interpretation, and Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Practice. The purpose of the RFP is to help increase the understanding of how research evidence is acquired, interpreted, and used in policy and practice that affect youth. In 2012, the foundation plans to support research projects with awards ranging from $100,000 to $600,000 over two to three years. Applications are welcome from researchers in various fields and disciplines. There are two opportunities to submit Letters of Inquiry: April 3 and Aug. 1. The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association has issued a Request for Pilot Grant Proposals in orthotic and prosthetic research. For 2012-13, the association is seeking proposals for one-time grants in amounts of up to $15,000 for one year. AOPA is interested in funding original pilot research that will lead to larger trials that may qualify for government or other research funding support. Deadline is April 30. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued a call for proposals for its Roadmaps to Health Community Grants program. The grant supports communities working to implement policy or system changes to address one of the social or economic factors that, as defined by the County Health Rankings, most strongly influence health outcomes in their community. Grantees will be organizations that participate in established coalitions or networks spanning multiple sectors and perspectives. Applicants must secure 100 percent matching support. Up to 20 grants will be awarded. Grantees will receive awards of up to $200,000 each for up to 24 months. A Web conference for applicants will be held April 20. Brief proposals are due May 2. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the NIH, is seeking comments “from all key stakeholders in the scientific and public health communities on how it can further strengthen the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program to meet its broad clinical and translational goals.” Response date is April 6. CALL FOR PAPERS The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is sponsoring the 2012 National Conference on Health Statistics to be held Aug. 6-8, 2012, in Washington DC. This biennial conference focuses on the critical importance of public health data. NCHS is also inviting the submission of abstracts for the Poster Session at this year’s conference. This year, there is special focus on student research. Abstract submissions due April 16. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The 19th International AIDS Conference, taking place July 22-27 in Washington, DC, is calling for volunteers. AIDS 2012 is the world’s largest international meeting on AIDS. Volunteers are given unlimited access to all conference sessions outside their shifts. The conference features abstract-driven breakout sessions; daily plenary sessions; professional development workshops; and components such as the Global Village and the Youth Program. Volunteer applications will be available on the AIDS 2012 website as of April 1: www.aids2012.org/volunteer.aspx or email [email protected]. To see these and other announcements, go to mcaSynapse.org/announcements. While there, you may also subscribe to an RSS feed so you may be alerted every time a new opportunity is posted. Recent life science job openings • Senior Director of Quality - TTUHSC Foster School of Medicine • Lactation Consultant - Sierra Medical Center • Director of IT - Del Sol Medical Ctr • Founding Dean - TTUHSC Hunt School of Nursing • Compensation Analyst - El Paso Children’s Hospital Go to jobs.mcaSynapse.org Synapase is printed by PDX Printing. Synapse® is a registered trademark and publication of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The foundation works to advance the development of the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) campus and the Paso del Norte community research agenda. The vision is to position the region as the global leader of health care delivery, education and research concentrating on issues unique to the Hispanic, border and military populations. The MCA is an integrated complex of medical facilities currently anchored by University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and El Paso Children’s Hospital. It is also site to a developing biomedical research park. m ca Sy na ps Su e. or g ® bs fo cr rf re ib e e em ai APRIL 2012 ld e l Issue 9, Vol. 2 ive ry. Find complete articles at mcaSynapse.org. Alzheimer’s education event William H. Thies, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer with the Alzheimer’s Association, will present “Advances in Alzheimer’s Research.” when noon April 12. Reception to follow at 5 pm with another presentation open to private physicians at 6 pm. where TTUHSC Foster School of Medicine, Meisenheimer Auditorium, 5001 El Paso Dr. Reception takes place in the Rick & Ginger Francis Classroom. rsvP (915) 544-1799 or [email protected] Avoid malpractice lawsuits Lance Van Deeman, an insurance representative, will present “How to Avoid Medical Malpractice Lawsuits.” The presentation offers CME credit. The session is open to practitioners throughout the community. when noon to 1 p.m. April 19 where Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Clinical Education Building, 4801 Alberta Ave, Auditorium 3500 RSVP Julissa Marquez, (915) 5455760 or julissa.marquez@ttuhsc. edu Spectrum of healthcare The Texas Perinatal Association El Paso Chapter is having its annual Spectrum of Healthcare from Mother to Baby forum. The event will include an ethics panel discussion and scientific session. when April 27 where to be announced register tpaelpaso.org/registration. html California company will commercialize its “suitcase ICU” in El Paso Integrated Medical Systems (IMS), headquartered in California, has been selected by the Texas Emerging Technology Fund for funding and will be commercializing their technology in El Paso. The University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are partnering with IMS on commercialization of LS-1, which is a 40-pound portable unit intended to supply intensive care functionality for adult and pediatric patients. Dubbed as the “suitcase ICU,” the device is intended to be used in hospitals, aircraft, ambulances, field hospitals and extended care facilities. In 2011, Healthcare Design Magazine named the LS-1 among the Most Innovative Products of 2011. This year, the publication, Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry, selected LS-1 as a finalist for the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Award in the category of critical care and emergency medicine products. NMSU honors millionaire researchers Earlier this month, New Mexico State University honored researchers who secured more than half a million dollars in funded research during 2011. NMSU President Barbara Couture and Vice President for Research Vimal Chaitanya held a special reception in recognition of 62 outstanding NMSU researchers who collectively brought in more than $121 million in external research funding in that period. NMSU’s research expenditures in 2011 exceeded $157 million. In that period, 85.8 percent of NMSU’s external awards were from federal sources, such as 14 percent from the Department of Health and Human Services and 6.3 percent from the National Science Foundation. For more detailed numbers and a list of this year’s honored researchers, visit http://research.nmsu.edu/mil12/. UTEP receives $4M to help address nursing shortage UTEP’s School of Nursing has received nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to accelerate the training of future registered nurses and address the nursing shortage in Texas. UTEP is spearheading the efforts to create the Successful Transition and Retention (STaR) Program, a new graduate nurse residency program that provides education, training and job placement assistance in the registered nurse occupation. The goal of the STaR program is to raise the professional and technical skill level of American graduate nurses to reduce the use of temporary skilled foreign professionals in Texas hospitals. STaR consists of two pathways: the New Graduate Nurse Immersion Residency, which provides students with on-the-job training at eight Texas hospitals and enables new graduate nurses to transition to the role of bedside nurses; and the Specialty Nurse Accelerated Program Fellowship, which is accelerated training for new graduate nurses in their field of specialty. Other APRIL 2012 RESEARCH w w w. m c a S y n a p s e . o r g HEALTHCARE …continued from front page academic and clinical partners involved in the effort are Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, along with hospitals from the Hospital Corporation of America, which includes Del Sol and Las Palmas hospitals in El Paso. With an instructor at her side, a nursing student practices her skills in UTEP’s simulation hospital center. NMSU to inventory wildlife and catalog habitats at Holloman Holloman Air Force Base is often booming with F-22s and bustling with pilots and personnel, but does all this activity have an effect on the wildlife? Kenneth Boykin is a research associate professor for the Department of Fish, Wildife and Conservation Ecology at NMSU working with Nicole Harings, a doctoral candidate in NMSU’s biology department. Boykin and Harings are preparing to take an inventory of reptile species on Holloman and catalogue the different habitats on the base. In previous studies, Boykin and other NMSU researchers have only noted a few observations on Holloman of the Texas horned lizard, which is a declining species. Along with the horned lizard, Harings expects to find close to 50 species of snakes and lizards, including whiptail lizards and rattlesnakes. The study’s goal is to identify ways decision makers at Holloman can conserve habitats and maintain the environment. RECRUITING Almost $1M raised for New Mexico cancer research The collective fundraising efforts of Cowboys for Cancer Research and NMSU Aggies Are Tough Enough to Wear Pink (TETWP) raised a combined $954,945 in cash and in-kind contributions this year. The partnership between the two organizations raises money for cancer research that takes place at NMSU and UNM. After operational expenses, the cash raised is invested in the Alma Cohorn Memorial/ Cowboys for Cancer Research Endowment at the University of New Mexico Cancer & Research Center and the Cowboys for Cancer Research Endowed Fund at NMSU. Cowboys for Cancer Research raised $390,590 and TETWP raised $563,956. UTEP seeks volunteers for cancer pain management study The UTEP School of Nursing RidCancerPain Intervention Research Team is looking for volunteers to participate in a pain management program for Hispanic cancer patients. The program will help alleviate volunteers’ symptoms and improve communication with their health care providers. Volunteers must be Spanish speaking, have cancer and must have pain. To volunteer for the study, contact the RidCancerPain Study office at 915747-7228. Las Palmas recognized as ‘Center of Excellence’ Las Palmas Medical Center was recognized as a “Center of Excellence” for its Joint and Spine Center by the Joint Commission Accreditation. The accreditation means Las Palmas’ employees are meeting best practices benchmarks. Currently 78 percent of Las Palmas’ orthopedic nurses are orthopedic-certified, a status recognized by the Joint Commission as being the gold standard in health care. Beaumont Army Medical Center upgrades neonatal ICU Texas horned lizard William Beaumont Army Medical Center recently renovated and upgraded its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Level II. The upgrade means that babies born after 36 weeks of gestation with minor complications will be able to be cared for at Beaumont Army Medical Center. Previ- REAL ESTATE ously, babies born with minor complications were transferred to local hospitals for their care. The upgrade comes at a time when the medical center also enhances its mammography services. Gala raises more than $150,000 for hospital Hundreds of El Pasoans and dignitaries attended the second annual Milagro Gala to raise money for the El Paso Children’s Hospital. About 1,000 attended and more than $150,000 was raised in ticket sales along with more raised through the gala’s silent auction. America Ferrera, guest speaker, said El Paso had a dear place in her heart because her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, was raised here. Ferrera, a native of L.A., has starred in films such as “Real Women Have Curves” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and in the ABC show “Ugly Betty.” Ferrera said, “I cannot even begin to fathom the kind of work that has taken El Paso to go from a dramatically underserved community to now as one that has one of the most advanced children’s hospitals in Texas.” New chief of staff at Beaumont Army Medical Center does Q&A The El Paso Inc. published a Q&A with William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s new chief of staff Col. Michael Amaral. The article read, “So far, the Army has spent close to $200 million overhauling health care at Fort Bliss. But more than $1 billion is still to come. Col. Michael Amaral will oversee much of that spending in his job as William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s new chief of staff. Amaral uses the word “challenge” frequently. The greatest of them all, he says, is recruiting physicians, and he has personal experience as to why. …. But Amaral visited El Paso and fell in love with the city. He has only been here five months, but says he may just stay and retire here, at a later date. But convincing others has been a challenge, he says, and recruitment is slow. Access the complete Q&A article at mcaSynapse.org. UTEP appoints new director to its computing virtual research lab Patricia Teller, Ph.D., has been appointed as the first director of research computing at UTEP. The newly created position comes as the university begins to install hardware for its High Performance MCA NEWS Computing Virtual Research Laboratory, for which Teller is the coordinator. UTEP also continues to take advantage of the University of Texas Research Cyberinfrastructure initiative, which provides opportunities for high-performance computing, networking, data storage, education and training within the UT System. Demand for oncologists increases in Las Cruces The Las Cruces Sun-News reported recently that Memorial Medical CenterUniversity of New Mexico center in Las Cruces may be looking to hire a third full-time physician in its medical oncology unit. This development is in response to an increasing volume of cancer patients, which occurred after last year’s closure of the Southern New Mexico Cancer Center, a privately owned Las Cruces center staffed by two physicians. According to the Sun-News, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) saw a 20-30 percent increase in new patients after the private clinic closed. Albuquerque physicians also saw an increase in cancer patients traveling from Las Cruces. According to the SunNews, MMC officials hope to hire a third oncology specialist by this summer. UMC to relocate its Eastside Health Center and expand services University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) will move its Eastside Neighborhood Health Center from its current location on Montwood Drive to the intersection of George Dieter and Pellicano. The new location is nearly five times larger and is part of the Dieter Marketplace shopping center. The new Eastside Health Center will mean expanded services. In addition to providing physician services, the larger center will feature a UMC pharmacy, a laboratory and imaging facility. It will open this fall after contractors finish converting the space from retail space to an outpatient medical facility. UTEP opens research and teaching facility UTEP has opened its new $69.2 million Chemistry and Computer Science Building. The 150,186-square-foot building houses the Department of Chemistry from the university’s College of Science as well as the Department of Computer Science from the College of Engineering. EDUCATION The facilities are designed to promote collaboration between the two colleges with department offices and labs throughout the building. Specifically, the building houses UTEP’s new $1.8 million cryoelectron microscope. The new building also houses a computer science immersion space used for full-body, virtualagent interaction research under David Novick, PhD, Mike Loya Distinguished Chair in Engineering and professor of computer science. In the same laboratory suite are rooms used by Nigel Ward, PhD, chair of the computer science department, and his students for human-computer interactions research. MCA Foundation will organize conferences in El Paso The Medical Center of the Americas Foundation has begun talks around organizing a biomedical conference as well as a life science research symposium. The biomedical conference will highlight the region’s strengths in biomedical innovation and biomanufacturing, while the symposium would focus on the region’s research strengths. No date for the meetings have been set; except it will take place in El Paso in 2013. In preparation, the MCA Foundation recently sent a representative to attend the inaugural Texas Life Science Venture Forum in Houston. Moving forward, the MCA will reach out to scientists, manufacturers, inventors, business people, higher education leaders and others to recieve input. For more information or to become involved, call the MCA at 915-613-2478. Texas Tech at El Paso launches medical toxicology fellowship TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine plans to begin recruiting fellows in July 2013 for its medical toxicology fellowship. The fellowship is a 24-month training program designed to leverage the breadth of pathology endemic on the U.S./Mexico border. Fellows will experience a curriculum that includes active involvement in managing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exposures. Fellows will gain experience with toxicological issues distinctive to the border region. They will also benefit in leading research. Fellows will be recruited from within the medical school as well as from across the U.S. TECH / TECH TRANSFER UT launches technology, commercialization search engine The University of Texas System launched a new portal that allows web visitors to search for information regarding technology commercialization and research capabilities, patents and technologies covering activities at UT institutions. The Research and Technology Search Engine allows people to search for an array of data sources, including research and technology experts, news, centers, facilities and laboratory web pages within the UT System. Users also will be able to search for patent assets at all UT System institutions matched to a contact link to the appropriate UT System institution technology commercialization officer, and access web pages that feature published technologies at UT institutions. Note from the editor For new readers: Synapse news is colorcoded so you can quickly find the topics that matter most to you. Be sure to click on the ribbon online to sort news by topic. Online, you will also find a calendar of industry events, a listing of life science job openings, a page where career-advancing announcements are posted, and an editorial column for guest writers from the life science industry. Synapse is first and foremost an online magazine. Subscribe for free digital delivery to your email inbox once a month. Sign up at mcaSynapse.org. For businesses: Synapse accepts sponsors. A sponsorship offers visibility and publicity reach into the region’s hard-toreach life science community. Synapse is the only media outlet that gives access to this growing niche audience. Call 915613-2478 ext. 2 to learn more. Founding Editor Noemi Rojas 201 East Main, Suite 1514 El Paso, Texas 79901 (915) 613-2478 ext. 2 [email protected] APRIL 2012 RESEARCH w w w. m c a S y n a p s e . o r g HEALTHCARE …continued from front page academic and clinical partners involved in the effort are Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, along with hospitals from the Hospital Corporation of America, which includes Del Sol and Las Palmas hospitals in El Paso. With an instructor at her side, a nursing student practices her skills in UTEP’s simulation hospital center. NMSU to inventory wildlife and catalog habitats at Holloman Holloman Air Force Base is often booming with F-22s and bustling with pilots and personnel, but does all this activity have an effect on the wildlife? Kenneth Boykin is a research associate professor for the Department of Fish, Wildife and Conservation Ecology at NMSU working with Nicole Harings, a doctoral candidate in NMSU’s biology department. Boykin and Harings are preparing to take an inventory of reptile species on Holloman and catalogue the different habitats on the base. In previous studies, Boykin and other NMSU researchers have only noted a few observations on Holloman of the Texas horned lizard, which is a declining species. Along with the horned lizard, Harings expects to find close to 50 species of snakes and lizards, including whiptail lizards and rattlesnakes. The study’s goal is to identify ways decision makers at Holloman can conserve habitats and maintain the environment. RECRUITING Almost $1M raised for New Mexico cancer research The collective fundraising efforts of Cowboys for Cancer Research and NMSU Aggies Are Tough Enough to Wear Pink (TETWP) raised a combined $954,945 in cash and in-kind contributions this year. The partnership between the two organizations raises money for cancer research that takes place at NMSU and UNM. After operational expenses, the cash raised is invested in the Alma Cohorn Memorial/ Cowboys for Cancer Research Endowment at the University of New Mexico Cancer & Research Center and the Cowboys for Cancer Research Endowed Fund at NMSU. Cowboys for Cancer Research raised $390,590 and TETWP raised $563,956. UTEP seeks volunteers for cancer pain management study The UTEP School of Nursing RidCancerPain Intervention Research Team is looking for volunteers to participate in a pain management program for Hispanic cancer patients. The program will help alleviate volunteers’ symptoms and improve communication with their health care providers. Volunteers must be Spanish speaking, have cancer and must have pain. To volunteer for the study, contact the RidCancerPain Study office at 915747-7228. Las Palmas recognized as ‘Center of Excellence’ Las Palmas Medical Center was recognized as a “Center of Excellence” for its Joint and Spine Center by the Joint Commission Accreditation. The accreditation means Las Palmas’ employees are meeting best practices benchmarks. Currently 78 percent of Las Palmas’ orthopedic nurses are orthopedic-certified, a status recognized by the Joint Commission as being the gold standard in health care. Beaumont Army Medical Center upgrades neonatal ICU Texas horned lizard William Beaumont Army Medical Center recently renovated and upgraded its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Level II. The upgrade means that babies born after 36 weeks of gestation with minor complications will be able to be cared for at Beaumont Army Medical Center. Previ- REAL ESTATE ously, babies born with minor complications were transferred to local hospitals for their care. The upgrade comes at a time when the medical center also enhances its mammography services. Gala raises more than $150,000 for hospital Hundreds of El Pasoans and dignitaries attended the second annual Milagro Gala to raise money for the El Paso Children’s Hospital. About 1,000 attended and more than $150,000 was raised in ticket sales along with more raised through the gala’s silent auction. America Ferrera, guest speaker, said El Paso had a dear place in her heart because her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, was raised here. Ferrera, a native of L.A., has starred in films such as “Real Women Have Curves” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and in the ABC show “Ugly Betty.” Ferrera said, “I cannot even begin to fathom the kind of work that has taken El Paso to go from a dramatically underserved community to now as one that has one of the most advanced children’s hospitals in Texas.” New chief of staff at Beaumont Army Medical Center does Q&A The El Paso Inc. published a Q&A with William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s new chief of staff Col. Michael Amaral. The article read, “So far, the Army has spent close to $200 million overhauling health care at Fort Bliss. But more than $1 billion is still to come. Col. Michael Amaral will oversee much of that spending in his job as William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s new chief of staff. Amaral uses the word “challenge” frequently. The greatest of them all, he says, is recruiting physicians, and he has personal experience as to why. …. But Amaral visited El Paso and fell in love with the city. He has only been here five months, but says he may just stay and retire here, at a later date. But convincing others has been a challenge, he says, and recruitment is slow. Access the complete Q&A article at mcaSynapse.org. UTEP appoints new director to its computing virtual research lab Patricia Teller, Ph.D., has been appointed as the first director of research computing at UTEP. The newly created position comes as the university begins to install hardware for its High Performance MCA NEWS Computing Virtual Research Laboratory, for which Teller is the coordinator. UTEP also continues to take advantage of the University of Texas Research Cyberinfrastructure initiative, which provides opportunities for high-performance computing, networking, data storage, education and training within the UT System. Demand for oncologists increases in Las Cruces The Las Cruces Sun-News reported recently that Memorial Medical CenterUniversity of New Mexico center in Las Cruces may be looking to hire a third full-time physician in its medical oncology unit. This development is in response to an increasing volume of cancer patients, which occurred after last year’s closure of the Southern New Mexico Cancer Center, a privately owned Las Cruces center staffed by two physicians. According to the Sun-News, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) saw a 20-30 percent increase in new patients after the private clinic closed. Albuquerque physicians also saw an increase in cancer patients traveling from Las Cruces. According to the SunNews, MMC officials hope to hire a third oncology specialist by this summer. UMC to relocate its Eastside Health Center and expand services University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) will move its Eastside Neighborhood Health Center from its current location on Montwood Drive to the intersection of George Dieter and Pellicano. The new location is nearly five times larger and is part of the Dieter Marketplace shopping center. The new Eastside Health Center will mean expanded services. In addition to providing physician services, the larger center will feature a UMC pharmacy, a laboratory and imaging facility. It will open this fall after contractors finish converting the space from retail space to an outpatient medical facility. UTEP opens research and teaching facility UTEP has opened its new $69.2 million Chemistry and Computer Science Building. The 150,186-square-foot building houses the Department of Chemistry from the university’s College of Science as well as the Department of Computer Science from the College of Engineering. EDUCATION The facilities are designed to promote collaboration between the two colleges with department offices and labs throughout the building. Specifically, the building houses UTEP’s new $1.8 million cryoelectron microscope. The new building also houses a computer science immersion space used for full-body, virtualagent interaction research under David Novick, PhD, Mike Loya Distinguished Chair in Engineering and professor of computer science. In the same laboratory suite are rooms used by Nigel Ward, PhD, chair of the computer science department, and his students for human-computer interactions research. MCA Foundation will organize conferences in El Paso The Medical Center of the Americas Foundation has begun talks around organizing a biomedical conference as well as a life science research symposium. The biomedical conference will highlight the region’s strengths in biomedical innovation and biomanufacturing, while the symposium would focus on the region’s research strengths. No date for the meetings have been set; except it will take place in El Paso in 2013. In preparation, the MCA Foundation recently sent a representative to attend the inaugural Texas Life Science Venture Forum in Houston. Moving forward, the MCA will reach out to scientists, manufacturers, inventors, business people, higher education leaders and others to recieve input. For more information or to become involved, call the MCA at 915-613-2478. Texas Tech at El Paso launches medical toxicology fellowship TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine plans to begin recruiting fellows in July 2013 for its medical toxicology fellowship. The fellowship is a 24-month training program designed to leverage the breadth of pathology endemic on the U.S./Mexico border. Fellows will experience a curriculum that includes active involvement in managing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exposures. Fellows will gain experience with toxicological issues distinctive to the border region. They will also benefit in leading research. Fellows will be recruited from within the medical school as well as from across the U.S. TECH / TECH TRANSFER UT launches technology, commercialization search engine The University of Texas System launched a new portal that allows web visitors to search for information regarding technology commercialization and research capabilities, patents and technologies covering activities at UT institutions. The Research and Technology Search Engine allows people to search for an array of data sources, including research and technology experts, news, centers, facilities and laboratory web pages within the UT System. Users also will be able to search for patent assets at all UT System institutions matched to a contact link to the appropriate UT System institution technology commercialization officer, and access web pages that feature published technologies at UT institutions. Note from the editor For new readers: Synapse news is colorcoded so you can quickly find the topics that matter most to you. Be sure to click on the ribbon online to sort news by topic. Online, you will also find a calendar of industry events, a listing of life science job openings, a page where career-advancing announcements are posted, and an editorial column for guest writers from the life science industry. Synapse is first and foremost an online magazine. Subscribe for free digital delivery to your email inbox once a month. Sign up at mcaSynapse.org. For businesses: Synapse accepts sponsors. A sponsorship offers visibility and publicity reach into the region’s hard-toreach life science community. Synapse is the only media outlet that gives access to this growing niche audience. Call 915613-2478 ext. 2 to learn more. Founding Editor Noemi Rojas 201 East Main, Suite 1514 El Paso, Texas 79901 (915) 613-2478 ext. 2 [email protected] at Professional Opportunities FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The William T. Grant Foundation seeks to fund high quality empirical research with the goal of improving the lives of youth between the ages of 8 and 25 in the U.S. To that end, the foundation has released its fourth Request for Proposals on Understanding the Acquisition, Interpretation, and Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Practice. The purpose of the RFP is to help increase the understanding of how research evidence is acquired, interpreted, and used in policy and practice that affect youth. In 2012, the foundation plans to support research projects with awards ranging from $100,000 to $600,000 over two to three years. Applications are welcome from researchers in various fields and disciplines. There are two opportunities to submit Letters of Inquiry: April 3 and Aug. 1. The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association has issued a Request for Pilot Grant Proposals in orthotic and prosthetic research. For 2012-13, the association is seeking proposals for one-time grants in amounts of up to $15,000 for one year. AOPA is interested in funding original pilot research that will lead to larger trials that may qualify for government or other research funding support. Deadline is April 30. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued a call for proposals for its Roadmaps to Health Community Grants program. The grant supports communities working to implement policy or system changes to address one of the social or economic factors that, as defined by the County Health Rankings, most strongly influence health outcomes in their community. Grantees will be organizations that participate in established coalitions or networks spanning multiple sectors and perspectives. Applicants must secure 100 percent matching support. Up to 20 grants will be awarded. Grantees will receive awards of up to $200,000 each for up to 24 months. A Web conference for applicants will be held April 20. Brief proposals are due May 2. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the NIH, is seeking comments “from all key stakeholders in the scientific and public health communities on how it can further strengthen the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program to meet its broad clinical and translational goals.” Response date is April 6. CALL FOR PAPERS The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is sponsoring the 2012 National Conference on Health Statistics to be held Aug. 6-8, 2012, in Washington DC. This biennial conference focuses on the critical importance of public health data. NCHS is also inviting the submission of abstracts for the Poster Session at this year’s conference. This year, there is special focus on student research. Abstract submissions due April 16. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The 19th International AIDS Conference, taking place July 22-27 in Washington, DC, is calling for volunteers. AIDS 2012 is the world’s largest international meeting on AIDS. Volunteers are given unlimited access to all conference sessions outside their shifts. The conference features abstract-driven breakout sessions; daily plenary sessions; professional development workshops; and components such as the Global Village and the Youth Program. Volunteer applications will be available on the AIDS 2012 website as of April 1: www.aids2012.org/volunteer.aspx or email [email protected]. To see these and other announcements, go to mcaSynapse.org/announcements. While there, you may also subscribe to an RSS feed so you may be alerted every time a new opportunity is posted. Recent life science job openings • Senior Director of Quality - TTUHSC Foster School of Medicine • Lactation Consultant - Sierra Medical Center • Director of IT - Del Sol Medical Ctr • Founding Dean - TTUHSC Hunt School of Nursing • Compensation Analyst - El Paso Children’s Hospital Go to jobs.mcaSynapse.org Synapase is printed by PDX Printing. Synapse® is a registered trademark and publication of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The foundation works to advance the development of the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) campus and the Paso del Norte community research agenda. The vision is to position the region as the global leader of health care delivery, education and research concentrating on issues unique to the Hispanic, border and military populations. The MCA is an integrated complex of medical facilities currently anchored by University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and El Paso Children’s Hospital. It is also site to a developing biomedical research park. m ca Sy na ps Su e. or g ® bs fo cr rf re ib e e em ai APRIL 2012 ld e l Issue 9, Vol. 2 ive ry. Find complete articles at mcaSynapse.org. Alzheimer’s education event William H. Thies, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer with the Alzheimer’s Association, will present “Advances in Alzheimer’s Research.” when noon April 12. Reception to follow at 5 pm with another presentation open to private physicians at 6 pm. where TTUHSC Foster School of Medicine, Meisenheimer Auditorium, 5001 El Paso Dr. Reception takes place in the Rick & Ginger Francis Classroom. rsvP (915) 544-1799 or [email protected] Avoid malpractice lawsuits Lance Van Deeman, an insurance representative, will present “How to Avoid Medical Malpractice Lawsuits.” The presentation offers CME credit. The session is open to practitioners throughout the community. when noon to 1 p.m. April 19 where Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Clinical Education Building, 4801 Alberta Ave, Auditorium 3500 RSVP Julissa Marquez, (915) 5455760 or julissa.marquez@ttuhsc. edu Spectrum of healthcare The Texas Perinatal Association El Paso Chapter is having its annual Spectrum of Healthcare from Mother to Baby forum. The event will include an ethics panel discussion and scientific session. when April 27 where to be announced register tpaelpaso.org/registration. html California company will commercialize its “suitcase ICU” in El Paso Integrated Medical Systems (IMS), headquartered in California, has been selected by the Texas Emerging Technology Fund for funding and will be commercializing their technology in El Paso. The University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are partnering with IMS on commercialization of LS-1, which is a 40-pound portable unit intended to supply intensive care functionality for adult and pediatric patients. Dubbed as the “suitcase ICU,” the device is intended to be used in hospitals, aircraft, ambulances, field hospitals and extended care facilities. In 2011, Healthcare Design Magazine named the LS-1 among the Most Innovative Products of 2011. This year, the publication, Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry, selected LS-1 as a finalist for the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Award in the category of critical care and emergency medicine products. NMSU honors millionaire researchers Earlier this month, New Mexico State University honored researchers who secured more than half a million dollars in funded research during 2011. NMSU President Barbara Couture and Vice President for Research Vimal Chaitanya held a special reception in recognition of 62 outstanding NMSU researchers who collectively brought in more than $121 million in external research funding in that period. NMSU’s research expenditures in 2011 exceeded $157 million. In that period, 85.8 percent of NMSU’s external awards were from federal sources, such as 14 percent from the Department of Health and Human Services and 6.3 percent from the National Science Foundation. For more detailed numbers and a list of this year’s honored researchers, visit http://research.nmsu.edu/mil12/. UTEP receives $4M to help address nursing shortage UTEP’s School of Nursing has received nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to accelerate the training of future registered nurses and address the nursing shortage in Texas. UTEP is spearheading the efforts to create the Successful Transition and Retention (STaR) Program, a new graduate nurse residency program that provides education, training and job placement assistance in the registered nurse occupation. The goal of the STaR program is to raise the professional and technical skill level of American graduate nurses to reduce the use of temporary skilled foreign professionals in Texas hospitals. STaR consists of two pathways: the New Graduate Nurse Immersion Residency, which provides students with on-the-job training at eight Texas hospitals and enables new graduate nurses to transition to the role of bedside nurses; and the Specialty Nurse Accelerated Program Fellowship, which is accelerated training for new graduate nurses in their field of specialty. Other