Howard Dean to speak at Medical Grand Rounds this Friday

The Future of Health Care Reform

Howard Dean, MD

Friday, March 5

8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Davis Auditorium at FAHC

For he's a jolly good fellow!

Rodger Kessler, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, has been elected to Fellowship in the Society of Behavioral Medicine.  Many congratuilations to Rodger for this important recognition!

Ben

[Fwd: AHRQ Releases 2007 Hospital Emergency Department Data in NEDS database]

 
 
AHRQ has released its 2007 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)—the most powerful, all-payer emergency department database in the United States developed from data from over 120 million emergency department (ED) visits at more than 1,000 community hospitals. NEDS can be used be study a range of issues, including the cost of emergency care, medical treatment effectiveness, and the quality of, access to, and use of emergency department care.  For more information about the 2007 NEDS, including technical requirements, support, and how to acquire the database, go to http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/nedsoverview.jsp#used.

NHANES III now linked to mortality

The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988-94, contains data for 33,994 persons ages 2 months and older who participated in the survey. It includes medical history, laboratory testing, physical examination, dietary survey, electrocardiograms, spirometry, audiometry, dental examination, social and economic factors and on and on. It has been the source of hundreds of research articles. It was strictly cross-sectional, with no long-term follow-up...till now. The CDC has updated the mortality linkage of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to death certificate data found in the National Death Index (NDI). The updated NHANES III Linked Mortality File provides mortality follow-up data from the date of NHANES III survey participation (1988-1994) through December 31, 2006. Mortality ascertainment is based upon the results from a probabilistic match between NHANES III and NDI death certificate records. Linkage of the NHANES III survey participants with the NDI provides the opportunity to conduct a vast array of outcome studies designed to investigate the association of a wide variety of health factors with mortality.

Even better, I have downloaded the data, linked the files together, cleaned it up and ported it to STATA. If you want to analyze it, please contact me.

Ben

Department of Medicine Research Day

The Department's Research Day will be held on Friday June 11, 2010. Stay tuned for details.

FW: NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices for February 19, 2010 (The NIH Guide TOC)

These are the basic fellowship grants that will pay for PhD studies or post-doctoral fellowships in research, including CTS.

* Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (Parent F30)
(PA-10-107)
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institute of Mental Health
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-107.html

* Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (Parent F31)
(PA-10-108)
National Institutes of Health
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-108.html

* Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31 - Diversity)
(PA-10-109)
National Institutes of Health
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Cancer Institute
National Center for Research Resources
National Eye Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute of Nursing Research
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-109.html

* Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32)
(PA-10-110)
National Institutes of Health
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Cancer Institute
National Center for Research Resources
National Eye Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute of Nursing Research
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-110.html

* Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (Parent F33)
(PA-10-111)
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
National Eye Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute of Nursing Research
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-111.html

FW: 2010 Invention to Venture (I2V) Conference at UVM

Announcing the 5th Annual Invention to Venture (I2V) Conference at the University of Vermont!

Date: Friday, April 9, 2010

Time: 11:30 to 5 p.m. (with mixer to follow 5 to 7 p.m.)
Location: Grand Maple Ballroom, 4th Floor Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont

The University of Vermont<http://www.uvm.edu/> is pleased to host the Fifth Invention to Venture Conference on Friday, April 9, 2010. I2V is a leading event that pulls together academic researchers, students, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Vermont and from several Colleges and Universities.

The half day event has two great speakers and a few workshops focused on inspiring entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth. We are honored to announce that Briar Alpert, CEO, BioTek Instruments<http://www.biotek.com/> and venture capitalist Peter Feinstein, General Partner, BioVentures<http://www.bioventuresinvestors.com/> have agreed to speak this year. There are also two roundtable discussions planned on Lessons Learned and Finding the Money.

As with all I2V events, our goal is to engage a wide range of participants from the university community as well as members of the surrounding business community. Please encourage your post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students to attend. Presentations will focus on venture capital, marketing, intellectual property, business plans, and related topics. Guest speakers are experts drawn from the region.

The event will provide a fast-paced, half-day of practical information and networking that can help take your ideas to commercialization. I2V is a co-production of the Technology Commercialization Office<http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etechtran/> at the University of Vermont, the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies<http://www.vermonttechnologies.com/>, and with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)<http://www.nciia.org/>.

Register Now<http://reg.nciia.org/1000230>

Cost:

* $5 - Students from any VT institution
* $20 - All other registrations

Participant guide, lunch and a cash bar reception with Hors d'Oeuvres are included in the fee.

The Demographics of Aging: Impacts on Transportation and Mobility

"The Demographics of Aging: Impacts
on Transportation and Mobility"

Joe Coughlin, Director, MIT AgeLab
[Burack Distinguished Lecture Series]
Wednesday, 2/24/10 - 4:00 pm - John Dewey Lounge, Old Mill

In his lecture, Dr. Coughlin will address issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults themselves, as the baby boomers--7 million people born between 1946 and 1964--place new demands on the transportation sector.

Joesph Coughlin is Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He is a well-known authority on the concerns that older adults will face in the coming decades, in particular, the challenges and conflicts concerning transportation. Dr. Coughlin examines questions which face our aging population such as whether to use public transportation, how to understand the new technology, and simply how to continue to drive safely. More information about Joseph Coughlin and the AgeLab: VIDEO: MIT AgeLab & Joe Coughlin Profiled on Fox News WEBSITE: Dr. Coughlin's Website SHORT BIO: Joseph F. Coughlin, Ph.D. is Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He is one of Fast Company Magazine's '100 Most Creative People in Business' and was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of "12 pioneers inventing the future of aging and how we will all live, work and play tomorrow." His research seeks to understand how demographic and social trends, human behavior and technology converge to drive future innovations in business and government. Dr. Coughlin is the 2008 recipient of one of the Gerontological Society of America's highest honors - the Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging for demonstrated excellence in translating research into practical application improving the lives of older people. Based in MIT's Engineering Systems Division, Dr. Coughlin teaches graduate classes in policy and systems innovation offered in both MIT's School of Engineering and Harvard Medical School. He consults on product design, policy development and market strategy to governments, financial services, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, foods, automobile, retailers, IT, travel, and health firms worldwide. (Complete biography here.)

TRC seminars address a variety of topics involving sustainable transportation systems and they are free and open to the public. Please join us if you can. Contact Richard Watts if you would like information about registering for smaller, invitation-only round-table discussions.

CCTS Executive Committee notes

Dear CCTS Education and Career Development Faculty and Friends,

The CCTS Executive Committee met yesterday. They are the leads of the 10 or so units, chaired by Richard Galbraith. I represented our group. There was a lot of discussion about who ought to be official Center faculty and how to appoint them. The overarching issue is that there is no precedent for matrix centers that don't live in a college, so we need to be clear about it for future generations. Right now we are tending towards 2 levels of faculty. Full faculty will be those with major commitments to and possibly funding through CCTS. They will vote on policies, curriculum, etc. Associate faculty may have access to CCTS resources, but not be funded or vote. This issue probably has more theoretical than practical importance for day-to-day operations, but we're trying to get it right.

We discussed changing the name of the center. Most of us don't really like "The Center for Clinical and Translational Science" as too long and klutzy. The leading candidate is VECTOR which is an acronym for something I can't recall right now. If you have an idea, please do toss it in.

Similarly, we can rename our little unit which is currently "Education and Career Development." This also seems a bit long to me. I guess we could go for just "Education" or just "Career Development" or something else. Do we care? Suggestions?

Russ Tracy and Richard Galbraith have drafted a brochure format that they hope each unit will use to describe itself. We would use the same text and graphics on the web site. It calls for a brief description of our unit, the services offered, perhaps a mission statement, etc. I will distribute the sample when I get it.

There is an opening for a "CCTS Safety Officer" to be the on-site expert on human subjects protection with duties to assist faculty and staff in designing and submitting protocols, but also in policing ongoing protocols. This person would review complaints or concerns about patient safety and have the authority to stop a trial that was unsafe. It is related to IRB issues, but an independent task. It is a funded position (part-time) for a faculty member and could be pretty interesting. Nominations?

The CTSA application was reviewed this week. No details are available. We should hear something in the next few months.

That's the news for now. I continue to post notes and news to our shared blog at http://uvmcts.blogspot.com/ You can subscribe to it as an e-mail digest feed. And, you can post to it yourself. It is a good way for us to keep in touch, share ideas, have discussions and generally work together. Our fellows and students also participate. You will find a calendar of coming events on the right hand side along with some valuable web links. Let me know how to improve it, please.

Thanks

Ben

--
Benjamin Littenberg, MD
Henry and Carleen Tufo Professor of Medicine & Professor of Nursing
University of Vermont
89 Beaumont Avenue, Room S459, Burlington, Vermont 05405
802-656-4560 fax 802-656-4576

FW: Call for papers (J Clin Med Res)

 This is a new open access journal. Submission is free. Publication costs CAN$300. 

---

From: editor@jocmr.org [mailto:editor@jocmr.org]
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 12:12 PM
Subject: Call for papers (J Clin Med Res)

Dear Prof/Dr. We are pleased to invite you to submit manuscripts to Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, for details please see below, thank you.

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research www.jocmr.org

CALL FOR PAPERS

A peer-reviewed, open access, international journal.  ISSN 1918-3003 (print), 1918-3011 (online), bimonthly. CrossRef enabled.

Areas of interest include: Alldisciplines of medical sciences and clinical practice Nursing Preventive medicine Epidemiology Healthcare research

Types of manuscripts: Original article Review Editorial Case report Letter to the editor Rapid communication Meeting summary Book review

Fast editorial processing Rapid peer-review process, average 3 weeks Free online access to public CrossRef enabled (DOI prefix: 10.4021/) Submit your paper to Journal of Clinical Medicine Research today! Our online submission and peer-review process make submitting your paper easy. Visit  http://www.jocmr.org/index.php/JOCMR/login for details. Visit www.jocmr.org for more information on Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, or to view the most recent issue. Submission email: editor@jocmr.org

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MOST RECENT ISSUE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Office
Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
www.jocmr.org
editor@jocmr.org
An Open Access, Peer-reviewed, International Journal

FW: Brown Lecture

FYI – I’ll be delivering the Donald Brown Memorial Lecture on February 25  at 4:00 p.m. in Memorial Lounge, Waterman.  I won’t be doing research ethics on this occasion, but it actually has implications for what constitutes consent to participate in research.  If you or your colleagues are interested:

 

“Intoxicated Consent to Sexual Relations”

 

 

Alan Wertheimer

Senior Research Scholar

Department of Bioethics

National Institutes of Health

Bethesda, MD 20892

(301)435-8729

(301)496-0760 (fax)

wertheimera@cc.nih.gov

 

An interesting paper

Here is a cit from an interesting paper my colleague Russ Glascow sent. Rodger
Reach and effectiveness of DVD and in-person diabetes
self-management education
RUSSELL E. GLASGOW*, LINDA L. EDWARDS, HOLLY WHITESIDES,
NIKKI CARROLL, TRISTAN J. SANDERS and BARBARA L. MCCRAY
Chronic Illness (2009) 0,1-7

FW: MIT's Joe Coughlin on Transportation in an Aging America

________________________________________
From: Transportation Research Center at UVM [kglitman@uvm.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of Transportation Research Center at UVM [richard.watts@uvm.edu]
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 7:20 AM
To: Littenberg, Benjamin
Subject: MIT's Joe Coughlin on Transportation in an Aging America

[http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etransctr/images/Seminars.jpg]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-ItQTQ7cuAW0AHtVi0UTAXyPbYVtt1ucS_ajz_WU7k3p2yxf5ElMVnzbqZ-2aifEYw6EMscgmmyrOf4SAQ0whywBNb5RS6AUa7PlK1LqueNZhwAykgQUzaUFRZJqAckSPxH4FHY9Dp8EA==>
"The Demographics of Aging: Impacts
on Transportation and Mobility"<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-I-cqxyuf5SYGWhMpsGSqQyeN2B1q3B8k2FuD_R63AUnCuasCKVlRNfgEsMmPMdRe8rAJsSKhdyl1LUYSl_dpOvOzHpSaOadp0sRwqHPlzAzMP8ZkiNoXZkA68N86SXbLmPltp0_XeVBprXoTQzAzbRWAnuQiKSL5gq3oqfdcMsog==>

Joe Coughlin,<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-LUPcklpi8LpYm-K_75ufWfbhh-UjbaB-xxNBKsoNrPGx8N176kBaKX74Rt_-3FcLxHGHVM0PKpoM1dEJp4UnCjs9FHhjqeKkNIxjURvbLx_e5LWLiUzbw54yBSclCXewwSdpn-cPZBLwAIvCWuhCePg7_8P4z5DZfBkFJkIlCQhw==> Director, MIT AgeLab
[Burack Distinguished Lecture Series]
Wednesday, 2/24/10 - 4:00 pm - John Dewey Lounge, Old Mill<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-ISsJXhz54Q-JyeVFsMvwDUfzYe5QNN4lTeYF6G3XsC6lGNfIY8pl7WBUn8hnO4gWP4YLUXgckFqvH0U6AtFvSebjJMclQHLUSPQ1p16No2g1mfBlReXbXf_MA_GZuw3TgJNessOgDxrhXxfCm4yFaa>

In his lecture, Dr. Coughlin will address issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults themselves, as the baby boomers--7 million people born between 1946 and 1964--place new demands on the transportation sector.

Joesph Coughlin is Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He is a well-known authority on the concerns that older adults will face in the coming decades, in particular, the challenges and conflicts concerning transportation. Dr. Coughlin examines questions which face our aging population such as whether to use public transportation, how to understand the new technology, and simply how to continue to drive safely.

[http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etransctr/images/JCoughlin3.jpg]

More information about Joseph Coughlin and the AgeLab:

VIDEO: MIT AgeLab & Joe Coughlin Profiled on Fox News<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-KSCzJpmutIuhO4zdOrplE7MgNHeN8tbk8Zz5VhlyUDsOFnIYFKU7397R-LiZFGU_ObWHVVDcY9d8GOQ1w01-mwnh5w8dP8-0gbOpLv7YmHJP_Y4J4R8v4KD60-vOcQ4Q7yr8XjC_nHIg==>
WEBSITE: Dr. Coughlin's Website <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-JwAv_5iQMjmYApgTiCzX2zAM56nUugRg5AoDMRbP5ptF5q2cgDcyC7g4r-dJZCExFROXXjf_NFG2TEoStxUwI4nJJ92eOy9wSICw9P9xqCsA123ixMqQGNJU0PXutY3F_0PYC_Csr74taLkTtukTveByugxiIvFHs=>
SHORT BIO: Joseph F. Coughlin, Ph.D. is Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He is one of Fast Company Magazine's '100 Most Creative People in Business' and was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of "12 pioneers inventing the future of aging and how we will all live, work and play tomorrow." His research seeks to understand how demographic and social trends, human behavior and technology converge to drive future innovations in business and government. Dr. Coughlin is the 2008 recipient of one of the Gerontological Society of America's highest honors - the Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging for demonstrated excellence in translating research into practical application improving the lives of older people. Based in MIT's Engineering Systems Division, Dr. Coughlin teaches graduate classes in policy and systems innovation offered in both MIT's School of Engineering and Harvard Medical School. He consults on product design, policy development and market strategy to governments, financial services, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, foods, automobile, retailers, IT, travel, and health firms worldwide. (Complete biography here.<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-IqucL1yZJSICdJxDwniqRiBw8V5-KFBKg-iyHrkJRsuThHKclSoWS0yFvgpY1DA3mGJSn7QKpApElR4EimWv0LCGO0vO1OT7LZviP-dMnk16Iu0TjKQmgvvLVCbALrRuOwTT8WE0m4_jda1uFGm9vR>)

TRC seminars address a variety of topics involving sustainable transportation systems and they are free and open to the public. Please join us if you can. Contact Richard Watts<mailto:rwatts@uvm.edu> if you would like information about registering for smaller, invitation-only round-table discussions.
[http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etransctr/images/TRCLOGO2-SMALL.jpg]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103053377382&s=2209&e=001x4FzXSa-u-I8GaMkFNtNeuBVhEna0-KBohoALHXNam0KVANNtsGIBlznhvzVsLJI8zkMYSNgO5qvNkYamPstZuIaBKxGfqPR7GNk0ZrpAWJ29YK2A3njIMQztlfV0yjeZhp7ifE4iW4=>

Metered parking, bike parking and CCTA bus service are all available.
The Davis Center and Farrell Hall are wheelchair accessible.

This email is being sent to you because you expressed interest in the events sponsored by the Transportation Research Center. Your suggestions, comments and questions are always welcome. Contact the UVM TRC by writing to transctr@uvm.edu<mailto:transctr@uvm.edu>.

We will never share your email address.
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Transportation Research Center | Transportation Reseach Center | 210 Colchester Avenue | Farrell Hall | Burlington | VT | 05405

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Anne Fadiman, author of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, will be giving the UVM Zeltzerman lecture this Tuesday. The book discusses the case of a young Hmong refugee girl in the US with epilepsy and how health care failed her. It is a gripping story and an excellent book.  This is a wonderful opportunity to hear a writer whose book has become an icon of how culture and science interact ro produce health care.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

530 PM

Silver maple Ballroom

Davis Center

Dana Medical Library Brown Bag Lunch and Learn: Managing References With Endnote.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Learn the basics of Endnote. This demonstration could include creating a list of references in Endnote, downloading records from online databases such as PubMed, creating a bibliography, or adding citations to a paper using Endnote and Microsoft Word. Noon to 1 p.m. Information: donna.omalley@uvm.edu, 656-4415.

2010 Instructional Incentive Grants

2010 Instructional Incentive Grants

The Instructional Incentive Grant Program, established in 1974 and funded by the Provost’s Office, seeks to encourage and support innovative and creative improvements in instruction and learning at the University of Vermont. Proposals from all instructional programs are encouraged. Each year, approximately $40,000 in grant funds are available to faculty members for innovations and creative improvement of courses. The Office of the Provost encourages proposals that support University strategic curricular initiatives.

While the Instructional Incentive Grant Committee welcomes all proposals, the Provost's Office will especially welcome those that contribute to the University’s efforts to:

·     Develop rigorous course offerings in fulfillment of the six-credit Diversity Graduation Requirement

·     Further the institutional goal of becoming the nation’s premier environmental university

 For more information, please go to http://www.uvm.edu/ctl/grants-awards

2010 Proposals are Due March 19, 2010

ARRA OS Recovery Act 2009 Limited Competition: Comparative Effectiveness Delivery System Evaluation Grants (R01)

This AHRQ Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), supported by funds provided to AHRQ under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act” or “ARRA”), Public Law 111-5, invites Research Project Grant (R01) applications from investigators seeking to conduct rigorous comparative evaluations of alternative system designs, change strategies, and interventions that have already been implemented in healthcare and are likely to improve quality and other outcomes.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-10-012.html

This seems like an opportunity to study formal quality improvement interventions on outcomes in "real world" settings.

ARRA OS Recovery Act 2009 Limited Competition: Comparative Effectiveness Delivery System Evaluation Grants (R01)

The hits keep rolling in. This RFA seems to be right in our faculty's wheelhouse!

* ARRA OS Recovery Act 2009 Limited Competition: Comparative Effectiveness Delivery System Evaluation Grants (R01)
(RFA-HS-10-012)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
Application Receipt Date(s): March 18, 2010
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-10-012.html

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: Feb 5, 2010

Present: Kairn Kelley, Amanda Kennedy, Rodger Kessler, Ben Littenberg, Charlie MacLean, Connie van Eeghen
Absent: Matt Bovee, Abby Crocker, Kim Dittus, Liz Chen, Maria Ramos, Alan Rubin

1. Start up: IRB proposal review day; NOTE NEW TIME NEXT WEEK: 10 – 11 on 2/12

2. Roundtable, with update, short term goals, long term goals

a. Connie: Review of Common Protocol Cover Form and Human Subjects Research Protocol for second study. Key points:
i. Criteria for an expedited review, rather than a waived review, likely includes data collection of subject names and dates of birth. The subjects are not patients, so protections around PHI are not necessary.
ii. This study is not multi-institutional. The fact that the graduate program is at UNC is not relevant to the study.
iii. Key personnel include anyone that might be asked to help review the data. It’s polite to ask them first.
iv. Err on the high side in terms of estimating the number of subjects and the length of time of the study.
v. Answer questions literally – what they say, not what you think they say or should say. Do not provide more information than is asked; keep it on point.
vi. Write simply; this is not the research proposal nor its write up
b. Rodger: Does the card study qualify as multi-institutional? No, it’s all under one institution, with low risk to participants. FAHC site includes Aesculapius, which is not considered a separate site. Expect a response to take 4-6 weeks for an expedited review.
c. Ben: Updates/suggestions:
i. Proposed that the Workshop start a book club with “Checklist Manifesto.” Participation requires at least one comment/observation about the assigned section of the reading.
ii. Welcome new CTS student: Helen Smith (Debi to add to PRIMO list)

3. Next Fellows Meeting(s): Feb 5, 2010 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., at Given Courtyard Level 4
a. Feb 12: Kim update (no Matt, Rodger or Kairn)
b. Feb 19: Peter Callas on data entry of results; (no Connie, Matt)
c. Feb 26: cancel – winter holiday
d. Mar 5: Book club starts: Ben to assign first section of “the Checklist Manifesto”; Workshop self-assessment (students and faculty scholars only) (no Rodger)
e. Mar 12: Kim Luebbers; book club
f. Mar 19: Book club
g. Mar 26: Book club
h. Future agenda to consider:
i. Skype demo: Connie & Matt? Wait until Amanda K is back. Or do twice?
ii. Future: Review of different types of journal articles (lit review, case study, original article, letter to editor…), when each is appropriate, tips on planning/writing (Abby)
iii. Future: Informed consent QI: Connie to follow up with Nancy Stalnaker, Alan Rubin will follow up with Alan Wortheimer or Rob McCauly

4. Fellows document – nothing new this time
Recorder: Connie van Eeghen

Fw: Vermont Biosciences February Event

-Benjamin Littenberg

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From: Vermont Biosciences Alliance
To: Littenberg, Benjamin
Sent: Tue Feb 09 13:08:44 2010
Subject: Vermont Biosciences February Event

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Vermont Bioscience Alliance invites you to join business and research leaders for our February event:  Bioscience Policy and Legislative Priorities for 2010    When: Tuesday, February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. Where: Given Building Atrium,                 University of Vermont, Burlington. Contribution: $10 members, $15 non-members,                             payable at the event. We'll learn from bioscience leaders in public policy, business and research about the major public policy and legislative issues that could affect Vermont's vibrant bioscience business and research community in 2010 and beyond.  Help VBSA set priorities for 2010. Your comments and feedback will be welcomed during an open forum discussion at this event.                             Please register now at:   http://www.vtbiosciences.org/event_registration_form.html

You'll have opportunities to talk with colleagues and friends...and to make lots of new ones.   We welcome your help in growing the Alliance's programs and other activities.  Please join us! Join VBSA now: vtbiosciences.org

Copyright (C)  2010  Vermont Biosciences Alliance  All rights reserved.

Sent to Benjamin.Littenberg@vtmednet.org. Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Forward to a Friend

Fw: Apply Now! NHLBI-Northwestern University Population Studies Workshop

-Benjamin Littenberg

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From: NUCATS Institute
To: Littenberg, Benjamin
Sent: Tue Feb 09 10:59:13 2010
Subject: Apply Now! NHLBI-Northwestern University Population Studies Workshop

 

NHLBI-Northwestern University Population Studies Workshop Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL July 11—14, 2010   Featuring: Women's Health Initiative (WHI)    Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC)     Workshop Objectives: · To make data from NHLBI-sponsored population studies more accessible and understandable to investigators not currently involved in these long term studies · To increase opportunities for collaborations among investigators · To enable each participant to draft a manuscript proposal by the end of the workshop using data from one or more of the population studies presented    Participants: Junior investigators (K-awardees; junior faculty; new Investigators; post-doctoral fellows with previous research experience) are specifically invited to attend.   Presenters include NHLBI staff, senior investigators and data analysis staff from WHI and ARIC.  Registration fee for the workshop is $300 (includes tuition, hotel accommodations, & some meals).  Some financial assistance available. Inquiries are invited.   Additional Information: For more details regarding the Population Studies Workshop please visit:  http://www.nucats.northwestern.edu/education/CRPT/NHLBI/EventInfo.html                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    NUCATS Institute                                                                                   750 N. Lake Shore Drive                                                                                        Chicago, IL 60611                                                                                      Phone: 312.503.7952                                                                          Email: nucats-ed@northwestern.edu

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FW: Grad students: funding available

This is an excellent opportunity....
________________________________________
From: Transportation Research Center at UVM [kglitman@uvm.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of Transportation Research Center at UVM [lisa.aultman-hall@uvm.edu]
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 2:25 PM
To: Littenberg, Benjamin
Subject: Grad students: funding available

Graduate Assistantships

Transportation Research Center will award $28,000 stipends for UVM transdisciplinary graduate study in 2010-2011

>> APPLY NOW <<<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103007498466&s=2209&e=001C6sa7RPwy2-jcQfhg-rM7Z7Y0gT5hLODiiP1cVdAU-ELTH17do-WUzAG6ap6cOri70Y55nIcGXkYIn86zyHI69-K93ZPSNQorn3uajfAW98yGmsJ-xs1s8ozwBGOLCzysGyB0G0g7qbAPo2hhUxCsMNc8YjaCPTSkHOHR4PSPrFNGh8vOR-lVNjaQ7TVBZ8R7YuILibj0xCBon3r32yG0A==>

The UVM Transportation Research Center (TRC) brings together graduate students from colleges across the university to study and research different aspects of the transportation system.

[http://www.uvm.edu/%7Etransctr/images/DianaC.jpg]
"The environment at the TRC is very supportive and collaborative. Everybody has their own skill sets, which they're willing to share with others in their research. There are also lots of seminars and lectures that are relevant to our research."

- Diana Colangelo, MPA candidate

Applications are now being reviewed! [ Find out more.<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103007498466&s=2209&e=001C6sa7RPwy2-jcQfhg-rM7Z7Y0gT5hLODiiP1cVdAU-ELTH17do-WUzAG6ap6cOri70Y55nIcGXkYIn86zyHI69-K93ZPSNQorn3uajfAW98yGmsJ-xs1s8ozwBGOLCzysGyB0G0g7qbAPo2hhUxCsMNc8YjaCPTSkHOHR4PSPrFNGh8vOR-lVNjaQ7TVBZ8R7YuILibj0xCBon3r32yG0A==> ]

Please forward this email to your colleagues who may be interested in this opportunity.

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This email is being sent to you because you expressed interest in the events sponsored by the Transportation Research Center. Your suggestions, comments and questions are always welcome. Contact the UVM TRC by writing to transctr@uvm.edu<mailto:transctr@uvm.edu>.

We will never share your email address.
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Transportation Research Center | Transportation Reseach Center | 210 Colchester Avenue | Farrell Hall | Burlington | VT | 05405

UVM Student Research Conference

Dear UVM Faculty:

Please continue encouraging your students to apply to the 2010 UVM Student Research Conference that will be held April 22nd in the Davis Center.  Your students may apply on-line and submit abstracts by February 16th at our website: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmsrc/

Next week, on February 8th & 9th, the UVM Center for Teaching and Learning is holding two "Writing Your Abstract" Workshops for students from 12PM-1PM with free pizza.  Students may register on-line.


We hope you will continue encouraging all students to participate in the 2010 SRC!

*  *  *  *  *


The 2010 UVM Student Research Conference is being made possible by early and generous support from the UVM Office of the Vice President for Research, the Graduate College, Academic Support Programs, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Graduate Student Senate, the Honors College, the Living/Learning Director's Office, the Living/Learning SURF Suite, the McNair Scholars Program, the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the School of Business Administration.

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VT NSF EPSCoR Annual Conference

We invite you to join us for the 2010 Vermont National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VT NSF EPSCoR) Annual Conference on March 11, 2010 at the Hilton Hotel on the Burlington Waterfront. Each year, the VT EPSCoR program hosts a state-wide meeting to highlight our accomplishments, encourage networking and showcase new knowledge.

• We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stuart Kauffman, one of the world's most eminent scientists - a founder of the field of complex systems science, pioneer of biocomplexity research, and MacArthur "Genius" Fellow as our keynote speaker.   http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/?Page=News&storyID=15044
  
• Leadership from the National Science Foundation,  and the University of Vermont will also be in attendance 
  
• Morning sessions will include presentations from our current and emerging research initiatives, followed by lunch, and engaging panel sessions featuring graduate students on the frontiers of learning and private sector first-hand accounts of their funding experiences, chaired by Mr. Mark Blanchard, from the Vermont Small Business Development Center.
• Dinner and poster session begin at 6:00 p.m.
• No registration fee required!
  

For Agenda, Registration and Poster Information visit:
http://www.uvm.edu/~epscor/events/annual_conference

Questions?
email epscor@uvm.edu

Thank you!
Lillian Gamache
Project Administrator, VT EPSCoR
Don't forget to watch our award winning television series Emerging Science on VPT every Tuesday night at 9 p.m.!  http://www.vpt.org/programs/emergingscience_episodes.html

CTS Book club: The Checklist Manifesto

It's official: Book Club will read The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande.  The first session will be at the Clinical Research Workshop on Friday March 5 at 9:30 in FRED (S457).  All you have to do is read a few chapters and be prepared to say at least one thing about them - a comment, a question, a Haiku, anything.

For the first session, read Chapters 1 and 2.

Here is Gawande on the Daily Show.

Debi is planning to order a bunch of copies, so let her know if you want one.

Laurie Hurowitz poster

Laurie Hurowitz, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Medicine and alumna of our fellowship will present a poster this spring:

Laurie Hurowitz, PhD, Brian Flynn, ScD and Mildred Reardon, MD, MACP, Assessment of Program Impact on Trends in Choice of Practice in a Rural State, Sixth Annual AAMC Physician Workforce Research Conference, May 6-7, 2010, Alexandria, VA.

 Congrats to Laurie!

Fw: University Scholar - William Mann - Correction

-Benjamin Littenberg

---

From: UVM Faculty
To: UVMFACULTY@LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Wed Feb 03 13:06:19 2010
Subject: University Scholar - William Mann - Correction

UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR SEMINAR

Presented by

William E. Mann, PhD
Marsh Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy

Dramas of Disaster and Dreams of Dalliance

Oedipus, Antigone, King Lear, Anna Karenina, Floria Tosca, and Willy Loman have two properties in common: their fates have inspired feelings of anxiety and sorrow among their audiences, and none of them ever existed. Yet knowledge of their nonexistence does not seem to lessen the emotions felt by members of those audiences. How can what we know to be mere fictions nonetheless affect us?  This is one component of the paradox of tragedy: There are two other components that are even more central to the paradox. But you'll have to come to the lecture to find out what they are.

The first person to express puzzlement about the paradox is Augustine (354-430). It is surprising, then, that he has no interest in resolving it. I'll offer some speculation about his lack of interest. The paradox has not gone away. I'll discuss briefly one contemporary attempt to resolve it, an attempt that has some bearing on a second case of puzzlement for Augustine.

The second case is this: Augustine takes seriously the possibility that people can do something morally wrong in a dream – not merely that they dream of wrongdoing, but that they do something wrong while dreaming. He worries, moreover, that he is one of those people. I'll suggest that given various philosophical doctrines to which he is committed, he has reason to worry.

It may have already occurred to you that there are analogies – but also disanalogies – between dramas and dreams. And so we will return to the paradox of tragedy to see what light it may have to shed on Augustine's dream problem.

Homework assignment: I'll be using Puccini's Tosca as an example, and referring explicitly to

Scarpia's aria, Va Tosca. Check out Ruggero Raimondi's version of the aria, which you can find by googling Va Tosca.

4:00 PM, Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building

The University Scholar Awards Program annually recognizes distinguished faculty members for sustained excellence in research and scholarly activities.  The Scholars are selected by a panel of distinguished faculty, based upon nominations submitted by UVM colleagues.

Refreshments at 3:45 and after the Seminar Sponsored by the Graduate College

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Just wondering if anyone has read this book? If so, would you recommend it? I heard an interview with the author on NPR yesterday and thought it sounded interesting. It's about the origin of HELA cells - cells that have been used for thousands of research projects without the consent of the donor or her family. It sounds like it's sparked some interesting debate and controversy around the use of tissue banks. In particular, a recent court ruling in Texas to destroy over 5 million samples that were obtained without consent.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Hope all is well, Abby

Rodger Takes a Trip

Congratulations to Rodger Kessler, who has been invited to attend Advancing the Science of Effective Behavioral Treatments of Complex Disorders in Primary-Care presented by the NIH Integrated Health Improvement Strategies in Medical Care Workgroup.

Conference Purpose: Identify research issues and highlight a future scientific agenda regarding common approaches to behavioral aspects of primary medical care practice.

Nice going!

This Friday: Ethan Berke, MD from the Dartmouth Population Health Research Center

On Friday Feb 5th from 12-1 in the Given Courtyard 3rd floor conference room  S359 , we welcome Ethan Berke, MD from the Dartmouth Population Health Research Center.

He will be describing collaborative opportunities available to UVM researchers as part of this CDC program. UNH is also a partner in this project.

 

For more information on the CDC Prevention Research Center program see this link. http://www.cdc.gov/prc/center-descriptions/index.htm

The website contains more detailed information about each of the programs.

 

Facts About the PRC Program (from the CDC website)

What is the PRC Program?

Funds community-based research projects at 35 academic research centers across the United States; 5 developmental and 30 comprehensive centers

Allocated approximately $31 million in FY09 for infrastructure and core research

Authorized by Congress in 1984

Selects PRCs through a competitive peer-review process

Managed by CDC as a set of cooperative agreements

What PRCs do

Conduct research projects that promote health and prevent disease

Build research teams of multidisciplinary faculty

Seek solutions, strategies, and policies that address public health problems

Participate in research networks that addess priority health issues, such as healthy aging, cancer prevention & control, and obesity prevention

Build long-term relationships for engaging communities as partners in research

Conduct research in directions guided by advisory boards of community leaders

Develop and deliver trainings that enhance the public health workforce

Conduct additional research funded by other federal agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations

AHRQ Training Grants

Here are some possible funding sources for folks pursuing research training. More details are available at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/training/trainix.htm

Individual-level Grants

Pre-doctoral

• Health Services Research Dissertation Awards (R36)
  Dissertation grants for doctoral candidates.
  Note: New Receipt Dates for Dissertation Applications—February, May, August, and November 1 annually (beginning November 1, 2009).

Post-doctoral

• Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards (F32)
  Available to applicants who have completed their clinical or research doctoral degrees.
• Career Development Awards — FOAs for these programs have been updated to reflect the new requirements from NIH's Enhancing Peer Review Initiative. The new requirements are effective for submissions intended for due dates January 25, 2010 and beyond. If submitting an application intended for a due date of January 25, 2010 and beyond, follow the guidance and be sure to use the Adobe-Forms-B version of the application forms and instructions.
  • Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
    Health services research career preparation support for emerging scientists with research doctorates.
  • Independent Scientist Awards (K02)
    Career development support for newly-minted clinical and research investigators.
  • Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08)
    Health services research career preparation support for emerging clinical scientists.