Spring 2014 in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Co- Investigators include faculty in the Colleges of Medicine and Health Professions. The focus of the research in this long-standing program is age- related hearing loss. Hearing loss is one of the most common health concerns in the United States affecting large numbers of older adults, but many do not seek treatment. To meet the challenges of this most common chronic condition of aging, improved diagnostic methods, interventions, and prevention strategies are of great importance. The research being conducted in the program is unique in several respects, including its 25-year longitudinal study of hearing in older RESEARCH INKLINGS A $9.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) was recently awarded to MUSC. With this renewal, the NIH P50 Clinical Research Center grant, “Experimental and Clinical Studies of Presbyacusis” enters its 26 th year. The Program Director is Judy R. Dubno, Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. In addition to Dr. Dubno, subproject Principal Investigators are Mark A. Eckert, Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Bradley A. Schulte, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Hainan Lang, Associate Professor Inside Research INKlings P2 – Research Town Hall P3 – Drug Discovery Symposium P4 - Genomic Medicine Symposium P6 – New Fellowship Requirements P7 – SBIR/STTR Seminar P2 – Center for Drug Discovery P5 – Public Health Research Award P7 – NSF I-CORP Program P8 - Just Symposium P6 – NIH Public Access Policy Clinical Research Center in its 26 th Year of NIH Funding persons, an extensive database of results from more than 1,400 participants, unique interdisciplinary collaborations of basic, translational, and clinical scientists, inclusion of new approaches to the study of age- related hearing loss including neuroimaging, human genetics, and otopathology of human temporal bones, and its focus on a complex disorder of aging that contributes to poor communication abilities and reduced quality of life for millions of older adults. To learn more about this project and other research being conducted in MUSC’s Hearing Research Program, please call 843-792-7977. Dr. Judy Dubno Dr. Mark Eckert Dr. Hainan Lang Dr. Brad Schulte
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Spring 2014
in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Co-Investigators include faculty in the Colleges of Medicine and Health Professions.
The focus of the research in this long-standing program is age-related hearing loss. Hearing loss is one of the most common health concerns in the United States affecting large numbers of older adults, but many do not seek treatment. To meet the challenges of this most common chronic condition of aging, improved diagnostic methods, interventions, and prevention strategies are of great importance.
The research being conducted in the program is unique in several respects, including its 25-year longitudinal study of hearing in older
RESEARCH INKLINGS
A $9.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) was recently awarded to MUSC.
With this renewal, the NIH P50 Clinical Research Center grant, “Experimental and Clinical Studies of Presbyacusis” enters its 26th year. The Program Director is Judy R. Dubno, Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
In addition to Dr. Dubno, subproject Principal Investigators are Mark A. Eckert, Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Bradley A. Schulte, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Hainan Lang, Associate Professor
Inside Research INKlings
§ P2 – Research Town Hall § P3 – Drug Discovery Symposium
§ P4 - Genomic Medicine Symposium § P6 – New Fellowship Requirements
§ P7 – SBIR/STTR Seminar
§ P2 – Center for Drug Discovery
§ P5 – Public Health Research Award
§ P7 – NSF I-CORP Program § P8 - Just Symposium § P6 – NIH Public Access Policy
Clinical Research Center in its 26th Year of NIH Funding
persons, an extensive database of results from more than 1,400 participants, unique interdisciplinary collaborations of basic, translational, and clinical scientists, inclusion of new approaches to the study of age-related hearing loss including neuroimaging, human genetics, and otopathology of human temporal bones, and its focus on a complex disorder of aging that contributes to poor communication abilities and reduced quality of life for millions of older adults.
To learn more about this project and other research being conducted in MUSC’s Hearing Research Program, please call 843-792-7977.
Dr. Judy Dubno Dr. Mark Eckert Dr. Hainan Lang Dr. Brad Schulte
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Research Town Hall The Associate Provost for Research, Dr. Stephen Lanier, and Associate Provost for Clinical & Translational Science, Dr. Kathleen Brady, presented “Updates on the Research Enterprise" at the second Research Town Hall meeting. During the Town Hall, Dr. Lanier provided an update on research funding along with presentations on the Horizon Project (Mr. Michael Maher), Research Bioinformatics (Dr. Les Lenert), Genomic Core Resources (Dr. Steve Ethier) and the Biorepository Initiative (Dr. Craig Crosson). The meeting was held on February 2014 in the Bioengineering Auditorium and was well attended by faculty and staff.
Center for Drug Discovery Director, Karen Lackey Joins MUSC
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has recruited Karen Lackey as director of the MUSC Center for Drug Discovery. An accomplished pharmaceutical research and development executive, Ms. Lackey most recently served as Vice President, Head of Discovery Chemistry and Chair of the Global Chemical Biology Initiative at Hoffman La Roche.
Prior to Roche, Karen was Vice President of Discovery Medicine Chemistry at GlaxoSmithKline and a key member of the GSK Molecular Discovery Executive Team where she played an active role in early stage research that spanned over 30 therapeutic areas. While at GSK, she contributed to the discovery of the dual erbB2/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lapatinib, currently marketed as Tykerb® for the treatment of breast cancer. She also is founder and chief scientific officer of Janaush, LLC, which develops
life-saving medicines for targeted diseases. “Karen will bring an immense amount of experience to our efforts for drug discovery at MUSC and will facilitate new strategic partnerships for the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics. We are tremendously excited and fortunate to have her onboard,” said Stephen M. Lanier, PhD, MUSC chief scientific officer and associate provost for research. As director of the MUSC Center for Drug Discovery, Ms. Lackey plans to build a portfolio of innovative drug discovery projects aligned with MUSC research and clinical care expertise that target unmet needs for new therapies and medicines, including a focus on new medicines for cancer, fibrotic and inflammatory diseases and neurological disorders. Broader initiatives include creating strategies that support industry partnership and collaborations for the Lowcountry and beyond.
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Center for Genomic Medicine Research Symposium
Clinics) and Steven Skinner (Greenwood Genetic Center).
The CGM launched its first pilot project initiative with the goal of developing new research in genomic medicine. This request for applications provided funding in two categories. The center funded one new pilot project and four developmental awards. The pilot program recipients provided an overview of their research projects during the afternoon session including: Dr. Paula Ramos and Dr. Melissa Cunningham, Assistant Professors in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Dr. Tilman Heise, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Dr. Sebastiano Gattoni-Celli, Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Ten scientific posters were presented at the research symposium including Dr. Starr Hazard’s poster titled, “Computational Biology Resource Center (CBRC): A Vertsatile Infrastructure Tool.”
Dr. Stephen Ethier, Alicia-Spaulding-Paolozzi Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research, Interim Director for the Center for Genomic Medicine and Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, welcomed faculty to the first annual Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) Symposium.
During his overview, he introduced Gerard (Gary) Hardiman, PhD, Professor in the Department of Medicine, as the new director of the CGM Bioinformatics Core. His plans are to stimulate new research in genomic medicine that makes use of genomics technologies, including next generation sequencing (NGS) and the bioinformatics capabilities at MUSC.
Members of the CGM External Advisory Committee were featured as the morning speakers. They included: Howard Jacobs (Medical College of Wisconsin), Paul Meltzer (National Center for Genome Research, NCI), Geoffrey Ginsburg (Duke University), Howard Edenberg (Indiana University), Stephen Kingsmore (Children’s Mercy Hospitals and
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James E. Clyburn Emerging Leader in Public Health and Health Disparities Research Award
The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Office of Research is pleased to announce that Renata Leite, DDS, MS, is the recipient of the James E. Clyburn Emerging Leader in Public Health and Health Disparities Research Award. The James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Leadership Awards recognize the contributions made by individuals and community organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and protecting the health of the community. Awards are presented to health care policy makers, health disparities researchers, health care professionals, and community leaders committed to eliminating health disparities and
achieving health equity. Awards are presented at the Annual James E. Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture, which is sponsored by the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Partnership to Eliminate Health Disparities and its community partners. Dr. Renata Leite is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Stomatology and co-director of the Center for Oral Health Research Clinical Core. Dr. Leite has training as a basic scientist and periodontist. Her research agenda shifted from clinical applications to health disparities using a Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach when she observed the impact of periodontal disease on Gullah populations with diabetes. The oral health inequities she observed from 2007-10 as a junior investigator in the MUSC College of Dental Medicine's Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) served as a catalyst for re-evaluating her professional purpose. Dr. Leite has developed an intervention research program to ameliorate oral health disparities experienced by residents of the barrier sea island communities of South Carolina. Since 2009, she has served as an investigator on five NIH grants, including one for which she was the PI and used CBPR to address unmet oral health needs in Hollywood, SC. Her research has resulted in numerous scholarly presentations and publications. However, the greatest evidence of her success may be in the transformation that has occurred within the Hollywood community. During the current legislative session, the Town of Hollywood’s mayor and other community leaders were successful in obtaining funds from the SC General Assembly (approximately $120,000) to equip a dental clinic for uninsured and underserved members of their community. She has been very engaged with the project, Hollywood Smiles. A partnership with MUSC’s College of Dental Medicine and the town of Hollywood, SC, this study sought to improve access to dental medicine and improve oral health.
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH)announced in April that Fellowship Funding Opportunities (F30, F31, and F32) have a requirement for “Additional Educational Information” to be included in the ‘Other Attachments’ section of the proposal. The NRSA Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were updated very recently to help describe the new required information. Here’s the information excerpted from the FAQs:
Predoctoral or Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellowships (F30: PA-14-150; F31: PA-14-147)
For Predoctoral fellowships, the required Additional Educational Information provides the reviewers with critical information about the graduate or dual-degree program in which the applicant is enrolled, e.g. the structure of the program,
NIH has New Requirements for Fellowship Applications
required milestones and their usual timing (e.g., number of courses, any teaching and clinical requirements, and qualifying exams), and the average time to degree over the past 10 years.
For dual-degree applicants, the sequencing of the applicant's graduate and medical (or other health professional) school years should also be described. Describe the progress/status of the applicant in relation to the program's time line, indicating when the applicant matriculated into the program and, if applicable, when the applicant is likely to transition to clinical years of the dual-degree program. Describe the frequency and method by which the program formally monitors and evaluates a student's progress. The director of the graduate program or the department chair typically
provides this information.
Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32: PA-14-149)
For Postdoctoral fellowships, the required Additional Educational Information provides the reviewers with critical information about the Postdoctoral program in which the applicant is enrolled, e.g. the structure of the program, required milestones and their usual timing (e.g., any teaching and clinical requirements). Describe the frequency and method by which the program formally monitors and evaluates a Postdoc’s progress. Describe the resources available to the applicant including the availability of such resources as might be associated with an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. The mentor or department chair may provide this information.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has delayed non-competing continuation grant awards when publications arising from the award have not been in full compliance with the Public Access Policy. In order to avoid delays, please update all citations to include the PubMed Central reference number (PMCID) when preparing NIH grant applications and/or progress reports.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) has posted guidance to assist the MUSC Research Community with the processes and procedures involved and how to remain compliant: http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/research/orsp/PublicAccess. Please share this information with everyone involved with grant proposal submissions (including progress report submissions) or grant proposal administration in your areas. For more assistance, please contact your assigned Grant Administrator in ORSP or call 792-3838 for assistance.
Review NIH Public Access Policy to Avoid Funding Delays
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Seminar
The Biotechnology Innovation Group (BIG) in conjunction with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Foundation for Research Development (FRD) hosted a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 101 seminar in April. Jim Heitner, MBA, the founding principal of Ripple Management, Inc., provided first-hand knowledge of how to be competitive with the SBIR/STTR programs. Mr. Heitner has evaluated, funded or commercialized breakthroughs in biopharmaceuticals, research tools, instrumentation, medical devices, nanotechnology, and bioenergy. In addition, Mr. Heitner reviewed the SBIR/STTR grant application process, including application components, guidelines, the review process -- and what makes a winning proposal. Dr. Kelvin Brockbank, President and Chief Science Officer at Cell & Tissue Systems, Inc., presented, “My SBIR Experience.” Cell & Tissue Systems, Inc, is a Biopreservation Company™ focused on the preservation of biological materials for restoration of patient health. Dr. Brockbank serves as an Adjunct Professor, Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at MUSC, and has written numerous successful SBIR and STTR proposals. SBIR/STTR programs are offered through a variety of federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education. SBIR/STTR grants are awarded to fund research and development of new technologies and innovations that have the potential for commercialization. Project topics, funding amounts and deadlines vary by federal agency. Additional workshops and seminars are planned to foster and build an innovation/commercialization ecosystem at MUSC. They include: Drug Discovery Symposium2, Commercializing Devices, Fundraising 101, Commercialization and Patenting.
These funding opportunities require advance planning so if you are interested in applying for a SBIR/STTR, please contact Michael Rusnak, Foundation for Research Development or Tom Finnegan, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
During the SBIR/STTR workshop, Mr. Jim Heitner suggested at faculty review the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps Teams Program. The program was created to jumpstart the national innovation ecosystem with the purpose to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of mentoring and funding.
The outcomes of I-Corps Teams projects will be threefold: 1) a clear go or no go decision regarding viability of products and services, 2) should the decision be to move the effort forward, a transition plan for those projects to move forward, and 3) a technology demonstration for potential partners.
A webinar is held the first Tuesday of every month to answer questions about this program.
Research INKlings is an on-line newsletter prepared by the Office of Research Development providing research news, policy changes and
other relevant information for MUSC faculty, staff and students.
(l-r) Dr. Titus Reaves (MUSC), Michael Dumas (3rd place award), Joceyln Smith (2nd place award), Cassie Hobbs (1st place award), Sybil Prince-Nelson, PhD Candidate, Reginald Brown, Basileus Mu Alpha Chapter
The Just Symposium celebrates the life and scientific achievements of Dr. Ernest E. Just, a prominent African American marine biologist and Charleston native.
The College of Graduate Studies hosted undergraduate and graduate students and their advisors from throughout the state to participate in the seminar. Dr. Stephon Alexander, Professor and EE Just Program Director at Dartmouth College, introduced the life of Dr. Just and presented the “The Importance of the Liberal Arts in a Scientific Education and Career.”
Dr. James Jackson, Professor and Director of Social Research Institute at the University of Michigan, provided the keynote address titled, “Understanding Racial Group and Education Differences in Obesity.”
While at the symposium students have an opportunity to take guided tours of MUSC’s various colleges and to meet for a breakout session with representatives of their college of interest. Prior to the tours, undergraduate students Cassie Hobbs and Michael Dumas of Florida A&M University and Jocelyn Smith of Benedict College gave oral presentations. Sybil Prince-Nelson, PhD candidate, at MUSC presented “Genetic and Environmental Factors Leading to Lupus in the South Carolina Gullah Population.” The undergraduate students were presented with cash awards that were sponsored by the Mu Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Titus Reaves, Assistant Professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine, serves as the coordinator for this annual event.
