Announcements

2015 NIH RESEARCH FESTIVAL

Wednesday, September 16–Friday, September 18
Masur Auditorium, Lipsett Amphitheater, and FAES classrooms (Building 10)
Website: http://researchfestival.nih.gov

This year’s NIH Research Festival will feature the scientific initiatives outlined in the Intramural Research Program’s long-term plan. There will be three plenary sessions, one each morning, on technology development; global-health emergency response; and chronic inflammation. The concurrent workshops, which will take place in the afternoons, will focus on gene- and cell-based therapies; microbiome and drug resistance; RNA biology and therapeutics; vaccines; natural products; and neuroscience and compulsive behaviors. For questions, contact Jacqueline Roberts at researchfest@mail.nih.gov or check the website.

NIH LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, September 17, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Friday, September 18, 9:30 a.m.–Noon
NIH Library (Building 10)
Check for event updates: http://nihlibrary.nih.gov/Pages/openhouse_2015.aspx

Held in conjunction with the NIH Research Festival, the library’s open house will showcase why we truly are “Your Partner in Research.” New this year will be a demonstration of the data-visualization touch screen provided by the NIH Office of the Associate Director for Data Science. This touch screen is a tool that can help drive your team’s research creativity. For NIH authors, two panels of outside experts will discuss editing, scholarly publishing, and open-access issues and provide recommendations to help improve your chances of having a successful publication. Don’t miss the presentations on tools, technology, and services such as three-dimensional printing, bibliometric and portfolio analysis, bioinformatics software, data management, and custom solutions to meet your research challenges.

NAS WORKSHOP ON INTERINDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY

Wednesday, September 30–Thursday, October 1
National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine:
Keck Center, Room 100, 500 5th Street NW, Washington, DC
For more information and to register:
http://nas-sites.org/emergingscience/meetings/interindividual-variability/

The National Academy of Sciences and NIEHS will hold a free workshop to explore factors that affect how an individual responds to environmental stress. Within any population, factors such as heritable characteristics, stress, body weight, and genetics can influence the type and degree of response that people may have to environmental stressors. “Interindividual Variability: New Ways to Study and Implications for Decision Making” will focus on recent scientific advances that could shed light on sources of variation in responses between different people. Accounting for this interindividual variability is a challenge for decision makers tasked with setting chemical safety regulations.

Join researchers, professionals, and policy experts to explore new tools and how they may be used to advance the science behind risk-based decisions. The workshop will address topics such as in-vitro toxicology methods using highly diverse cell lines; in-vivo methods using highly diverse animal populations; and epidemiologic analytical approaches that explore mediators within the causal pathway.

The workshop will be webcast, and registration is required to attend. The event is part of the Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions series. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Kanoko Maeda at pmaeda@nas.edu or 202-334-1952.

“INTRODUCTION TO THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH” COURSE

October 13, 2015–March 22, 2016; 5:00 p.m.
Lipsett Amphitheater (Building 10)
For information and to register: http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/training/training/ippcr.html

You can view the lectures live in person at the NIH or archived on the course website as a registered on-site participant; or view the lectures live online via the NIH Videocast or archived on the course website as a registered remote-site participant.

Course Objectives: To become familiar with the basic biostatistical and epidemiologic methods involved in conducting clinical research; understand the principles involved in the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues in clinical human subjects research, including the role of IRBs; become familiar with the principles and issues involved in monitoring patient-oriented research; understand the infrastructure required in performing clinical research and to have an understanding of the steps involved in developing and funding research studies.

There is no charge for the course; however, the textbook, Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Third Edition, is suggested as supplemental information. The curriculum has been enhanced and will include additional lectures providing more comprehensive content on clinical research infrastructure. A certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of the course, which is based on receiving a passing grade on an open-book final course assessment. This course will be of interest to physicians, scientists, medical students, nurses, public health professionals, and all other health professionals planning a career in clinical research.

For additional information or e-mail the course coordinator, Daniel McAnally at daniel.mcanally@nih.gov or call 301-496-9425. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in this activity, please call the program coordinator at (301) 496-9425 and/or the Federal Relay 1-800-877-8339 at least seven business days prior to the event.

NIH GLOBAL HEALTH INTEREST GROUP’S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, October 15, 2015; 12:30–5:00 p.m.
Pre-Symposium workshop: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Balcony B, Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
To register for main symposium: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1M4ORFKjpwzm58spcORCrwHLjae6EHcEfWKEyV4gsaAw/viewform
To register for pre-symposium workshop: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uD6HnDa41pqp7uQTQefu-29zFybqHLi1gr_4LuoVOK8/viewform

This year’s symposium theme is “The Impact of Climate Change on Global Health.” Weather and climate play significant roles in people’s health. Warmer average temperatures or increases in the frequency/severity of extreme weather events induced by climate change could increase the number of weather-related illnesses and deaths and impact border security over key resources. Join us for a discussion on how climate change affects all of us. Topics, which will be presented by experts from NIH as well as outside organizations, include: NIH Climate Change Portfolio; thinning ozone and risk of cataract; spread of infectious diseases; mental health of displaced persons; security issues.

The pre-symposium workshop is on “Challenges and Opportunities in Information Resources for Global Vision Health: A Solution in Sight.” The speakers at this seminar are librarians from ophthalmology and vision research institutions in India and China.

NIH DIGITAL SUMMIT

Optimizing Digital Media to Reach Scientists, Clinicians, Patients, and the Public
Monday, October 19, 2015, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Masur Auditorium (Building 10)
Registration required for in-person attendance
Website: http://www.nih.gov/news/events/digital-summit.htm
Webcast (if you can’t attend in person): http://www.videocast.nih.gov

The summit will explore how digital media are being used by scientists, clinicians, patients, and the public and across government agencies to communicate information on health and science. If you use digital tools to convey your science to or communicate with your scientific peers, or if you’re just generally interested in the topic, register to attend this free event. For up-to-date information, visit the registration website. If you have questions, e-mail Yasmine Kloth at Yasmin.kloth@nih.gov.

PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS IN NEUROSCIENCE: RESEARCH AND APPLICATION

Monday October 26, 2015, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Rooms 620-640, Porter Neuroscience Research Center (Building 35A)
For information and to register: https://meetings.ninds.nih.gov/meetings/PSCinNeuro

The symposium, presented by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will feature talks by Kristen Brennand (Mount Sinai, New York), Kevin Eggan (Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.), Steven Finkbeiner (Gladstone Institute, San Francisco), Ron McKay (Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore), and Edward Wirth (Asterias Biotherapeutics, Menlo Park, Calif.). Contact Barbara Mallon for more information at mallonb@mail.nih.gov or 301-402-8246.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON LECTURES

Wednesdays, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Masur Auditorium (Building 10)
Website: https://oir.nih.gov/wals

September 9: Peter Agre (Johns Hopkins), “Aquaporin Water Channels from Transfusion Medicine to Malaria”
September 30: Timothy Lay (Washington University School of Medicine), “The AML Genome(s): Mutations in Four Dimensions”
October 7: Lalita Ramakrishnan (University of Cambridge), TBD
October 14: Thomas Tuschl (Rockefeller University), “Challenges and Promises of RNA Diagnostics”
October 21: Piali Sengupta (Brandeis University), “Form Meets Function: Structurally Diverse Cilia and Their Roles in Sensory Signaling”
October 28: Clare Fraser (University of Maryland), TBD
November 4: Carlos Zarate (NIMH), “Relief from Severe Depression and Suicidal Ideation Within Hours from Synapses to Symptoms”
November 18: Sanjay Jain (Johns Hopkins University), “Bugs, Drugs, and Star Trek!”

ADVANCING SCIENCE, IMPROVING LIVES

NINR’s 30th Anniversary Scientific Symposium and Poster Session
Tuesday, October 13, 2015, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
For information and to register (required): http://www.ninr.nih.gov/30years

This special event marks the beginning of a yearlong observation of the National Institute of Nursing Research’s first 30 years at NIH. The symposium will highlight many of the accomplishments of NINR and its scientists and showcase the positive impact that NINR’s science has had on the lives of millions of Americans. Note: The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science’s 2015 Special Topics Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (PRAT) PROGRAM

Accepting Applications
Deadline: October 2, 2015
Website: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/Pages/PRAT.aspx

PRAT fellows conduct research in intramural labs. Before applying, applicants must identify a potential preceptor in an NIH intramural lab and develop a research proposal. PRAT fellows receive three years of stipend support and additional benefits such as health insurance, a travel allowance, and professional-development training activities, including a monthly seminar series designed for fellows. For more information, visit the website or contact Jessica Faupel-Badger at badgerje@mail.nih.gov.

PRAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM

Friday, November 6, 2015, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Ruth L. Kirschstein Auditorium, Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
Registration requested (through October 30): https://meetings.nigms.nih.gov/Home/Index/19247

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program will host this event, which is open to the public. The symposium will recognize the research contributions of PRAT alumni, highlight the role of the PRAT program in the careers of alumni, and provide an opportunity for PRAT alumni to network with each other and current fellows. The event will be videocast live at http://www.videocast.nih.gov.

SIG: TRANS-NIH BIOMARKERS IN PEDIATRIC THERAPEUTICS

“Application of Metabolomics to Provide Pediatric Biomarkers”
Monday, January 12, 2016, 12:00 noon
Room 9100/9104 Rockledge II and via webinar

This SIG’s first presentation will feature Susan Sumner (Director of the NIH Eastern Regional Comprehensive Metabolomics Resource Core at RTI International), who will describe potential applications of metabolomics in pediatrics biomarker development. Although the ability of metabolic profiling to provide noninvasive translational biomarkers in adults has become an integral part of the adult drug-development programs, limited research is available in pediatrics. For more information, contact pharmcourse@circlesolutions.com or George Giacola at giacoiag@exchange.nih.gov.

FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER NIH EVENTS, GO TO http://www.nih.gov/news/events.htm