AWARD WINNERS

Steven L. Kunkel, Ph.D., Recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award in Biomedical Research

Every year, the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) has the honor of presenting the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship award to a faculty member in the biomedical sciences identified as making outstanding contributions to the University in the areas of teaching, research, and service. The BMRC is presented annually with a group of colleagues whose contributions to their various fields and to the institution are outstanding.

This year, Steven L. Kunkel, Ph.D. is the 2001 Distinguished Faculty Lectureship recipient. Dr. Kunkel is Endowed Professor in Pathology Research at the U-M Medical School and Associate Dean in the Rackham School of Graduate Studies Administration. The date of his Lectureship and reception will be announced later this summer.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Excellence in Research Awards

U-M Medical Scientist Training Program is very pleased to announce that four of their fellows are winners of the BCBSM Foundation Excellence in Research Awards. The first place award of $1,000 goes to Eric Humke, for "ICEBERG: A Novel Inhibitor of Interleukin-1 Beta Generation." Second place for $750 belongs to Matt Bianchi, for "Structural Determinants of Fast Desensitization and Desensitization-Deactivation Coupling on GABA-A Receptors." There is a three-way tie for the third place award of $500. Two of the third place winners are MSTP fellows: Deb Battaglia, for "Endocrine Alterations that Underlie Endotoxin-Induced Disruption of the Follicular Phase in Ewes" and Phil Schaner, for "Episodic Evolution of Pyrin in Primates: Human Mutations Recapitulate Ancestral Amino Acid States."

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - Limited Submissions

2002 Wilson Medical Research Foundation - Internal Deadline August 6, 2001

The Ralph C. Wilson, Sr. and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Medical Research Foundation's research grant program is designed to foster novel and innovative research in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurosciences and musculoskeletal disorders. Projects may employ multidisciplinary methods involving basic and clinical research as well as populations sciences. Development or use of new technologies is encouraged. The program encourages expansive thinking resulting in proposals that may be difficult to fund in traditional ways due to the high-risk nature of the proposed research. The U-M is one of only six institutions permitted to submit proposals. U-M may submit up to three proposals, one of which will be selected (provided one of the three satisfies the Foundation's criteria). The recipient of the 2001 Award (first year of the program) was Daniel Goldman, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Chemistry and Sr. Research Scientist, MHRI for his research project "Zebrafish Maintenance and Surgery: Model for CAN Development and Regeneration."

The principal investigator must be a full-time faculty member (Assist. to Full Professor or Assist. to Senior Research Scientist). Each grant provides up to $100,000 per year for up to two years. The BMRC will review preproposals to select three institutional nominees. The Foundation deadline is 9/21/01. Required preproposal materials are:

• One page summary in lay language
• 4 pages max. description of research design and methods, including significance and impact of research
• Two pages maximum proposed budget (including justification) (Indirect cost rate=10%)
• Standard NIH-style two-page biographical sketch for the principal investigator

Send 25 sets of nomination materials to the Office of Research & Graduate Studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624. Contact: Camille Mrozowski, 764-3611 or cmrozow@umich.edu.

Searle and Pew Scholars Programs

The 2002 Searle Scholars Program supports the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in the first or second year of their first appointment at the assistant professor level; and whose current appointment is a tenure-track position in the areas of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences. The Searle program adheres absolutely to its definition of eligibility. If potential nominees have doubts or questions about their eligibility, they should contact the program directly at 847-714-1702. Grants are normally $240,000 over a three-year period. The University is allowed to submit two nominees.

The Pew Scholars Program supports young investigators of outstanding promise in basic and clinical sciences relevant to the advancement of human health. The award is intended to provide support for junior members of the faculty as they establish their laboratories. Candidates must hold a doctorate degree in medicine, other health related professions, or biomedical sciences. As of November 1, 2001, candidates must hold full time appointments at the rank of Assistant Professor. On July 1, 2001, candidates shall not have been at the Assistant Professor level for more than three years. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, or in work toward board certification does not count as part of this three year limit. Grants are $240,000 over a four-year period. U-M has been invited to submit two nominees. Further information is available on the Pew web site: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pewscholar.html

Internal deadline - August 13, 2001 for both Searle & Pew

Previous nominees that meet Pew and Searle eligibility may apply again. There will be a preliminary institutional screening of all University of Michigan nominees by the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), whose constituency includes faculty representation University wide. The BMRC welcomes nominations of faculty from all units of the University.

Nominations for the BMRC's preliminary screening for both the Searle and Pew awards should include the following:

• A 1-5 page statement with an overview of current areas of research, and their significance that the nominee would like to carry out with Searle or Pew funding
• A CV for the nominee
• A nominating letter from a department chair
• Any recent letter of support that would attest to the outstanding potential of the nominee and the quality and scope of their research.

Send 25 sets of nomination materials to the Office of Research & Graduate Studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624. Contact: Camille Mrozowski, 764-3611 or cmrozow@umich.edu.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Internal deadline September 3, 2001

http://www.bwfund.org

Burroughs Wellcome Fund announces a request for proposals for Career Awards in the Biomedical Sciences. The purpose of these awards is to help researchers who are early in their careers make the transition to independent investigators. Researchers may be involved in any of the basic biomedical sciences with 80 percent of their time devoted to research-related activities. Candidates must have completed at least 12 months but not more than 48 months of postdoctoral research training by the application deadline. The Awards furnish $500,000 over five years. U-M may nominate up to six candidates.

Internal applications to the Medical School require:

• A 1-2 page research summary
• A CV for the nominee
• A nominating letter from a department chair

Please submit all internal applications to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624 by September 3, 2001. Contact: Denise Swayze, 763-4086 or dswayze@umich.edu.

2001 Graduate Student Awards - Internal Deadline - August 1, 2001

The Office of Research and Graduate Studies is pleased to announce two new Graduate Student Awards: Excellence in Teaching and Overall Excellence in Research and Service. Graduate students who are actively pursuing a degree in one of the graduate programs within the Medical School can be nominated for these awards. The awards are $500 each. Up to two awards for Excellence in Teaching and two awards for Overall Excellence in Research and Service will be made at the annual Fall Gathering on September 13, 2001. Nominations may originate from directors, department chairs, program directors, faculty, and peers (students). A faculty committee will review the nominations and determine the recipient(s). Deadline for applications is August 1, 2001. For complete details, instructions, and nomination forms, please visit the web site at:

http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/gradawards/Gradawards.html or contact Patti Mackmiller, Assistant Director, PIBS; 2960 Taubman Medical Library; 647-7005.

Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation - Internal deadline July 13, 2001

The Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation furnishes grants for the improvement of the public health through the advancement and promotion of medicine and pharmacy. The grants are $75,000 for a period of one year with requests for renewal for up to two additional years. Institutions wishing to apply for a grant should send a letter of inquiry to the Foundation first. Three letters of inquiry are allowed per institution. Deadline for the letters of inquiry to the Foundation is July 25, 2001. For additional information, contact Matthew G. Herold Jr., Secretary, at the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation, (973) 983-0480. For consideration as the three institutional nominees, please send a copy of your letter of inquiry to the Office of Research and Graduate studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624 by July 13, 2001. Contact: Denise Swayze, 763-4086 or dswayze@umich.edu.

Pfizer Visiting Professorship Program - Internal deadline July 31, 2001

http://www.physicianscientist.com/visiting_professors/asthma.html

Pfizer invites you to apply for a Visiting Professorship award in Allergic Diseases and Asthma. Awards of $7,500 each will be made to host a prominent scholar-scientist for a three day visit. Two applications per institution are allowed from separate divisions. One award will be given per institution. For complete information, visit Pfizer's web site. For consideration as the two institutional nominees, please e-mail or call Denise Swayze (dswayze@umich.edu), 763-4086) before July 31.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Charles A. Dana Foundation

http://www.dana.org/grants

The Charles A. Dana Foundation is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Clinical Hypotheses in Neuroimmunology Program. This program will support research on the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system. Only applications involving collaborative research by immunologists and neuroscientists/neurologists/psychiatrists will be considered. Grants awarded are up to $300,000 for a three year period. Deadline for proposals is July 27, 2001 at noon. For complete information on the program and applying, please see the Foundation web site.

Whitaker Foundation

http://www.whitaker.org/grants/rganc.html

The Whitaker Foundation announces their Biomedical Engineering Research Grants. This grant program supports research projects that enable researchers to establish academic careers in biomedical engineering. The grant is $240,000 over three years. The next deadline for preliminary applications is August 1, 2001. Full applications are due October 1, 2001. Please see the Foundation web site for complete details.

National Cancer Institute

http://dcp.nci.nih.gov/pob

The National Cancer Institute presents their 2002 Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program. The Program offers postdoctoral training in the field of cancer prevention and control and provides Master of Public Health training, participation in the NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention, and research into ethe ethics of prevention. Aplication Deadline is September 1, 2001. Please visit their web site for complete details and registration material or contact Barbara Redding at phone: (301) 496-8640, fax: (301) 402-4863 or e-mail: br24v@nih.gov.

Thrasher Research Fund

http://www.thrasherresearch.org

The Thrasher Research Fund invites researchers to inquire about their Fund. Over 30 million has been awarded for more than 425 projects that support research geared toward the understanding, prevention and treatment of childrens diseases. Applicants are expected to consult with the Fund before submitting a proposal. Please visit the Thrasher Fund web site for information on funding opportunities.

National Center for Research Resources

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-01-004.html

The National Center for Research Resources announces a High End Instrumentation Program. The program will provide twelve month, non-renewable awards up to a maximum $2 million in direct costs for one major item of advanced equipment. Matching funds are not required. The equipment can include structural and functional imaging systems, macromolecular NMR spectrometers, high-resolution mass spectrometers, electron microscopes, and super computers. The instrument must be utilized by a minimum of three Principal investigators on NIH peer reviewed research grants at the time of application and award. Please send a letter of intent by August 14, 2001. Deadline for applications is September 14, 2001.

Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Foundation Cancer Research Fund

http://www.cancerresearchfund.org/fellowship/fellow_frame.htm

The Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Foundation announces their Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for Basic and Physician Scientists. Award stipends range from $35,000 to $57,000 over three years. The next deadline is August 15, 2001. Please check their web site for complete information.

Fulbright

Competition has begun for the 2002-2003 Department of State/IIE Fulbright grants for research or graduate study abroad in academic fields. The Fulbright grants encourage mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and hold a bachelor's degree by the beginning date of the grant. Applicants need to have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country to carry out their proposed study or research.

Deadline for applications is September 24, 2001. For more information, application forms and booklets, contact Kirsten Willis, Fulbright Program Adviser, at kbakke@umich.edu or 763-3297.

OSEH ADVISORIES

Lab Safety

A fire took place in a biological safety cabinet within a lab on 5-19-01. A student lit a Bunsen burner to flame the opening of a container of sterile media. The rubber hosing connecting the Bunsen burner to the gas line caught on fire. The fire was contained to the safety cabinet and extinguished by Hospital Security. The safety cabinet and HEPA filters were evaluated by OSEH. The OSEH report states that air flow turbulence inside the cabinets caused by open flames may compromise sterility and worker protection. Heat buildup can damage the HEPA filters. OSEH suggests that the use of a Bunsen burner to sterilize instruments or media containers is not necessary because of the sterile field in a biological safety cabinet. OSEH recommends discontinuance of this procedure. If you have questions regarding the report, you may contact Janet Follo at 7-3133 or at follo@umich.edu.

Office Safety

File cabinets are produced with a safety interlock system that doesn't allow more than one drawer to be opened at the same time. This interlock system eliminates the problem of weight shifting and forward tipping of the cabinets. OSEH suggests that you check your file cabinets to make sure the safety interlock systems are working to prevent a cabinet from falling forward and injuring someone. Please contact Barb Price, Workplace Integrators at (800) 550-2197 if you find a Steelcase cabinet with a defective mechanism. For file cabinets other than Steelcase, contact the manufacturer's representative or the company. Contact information is available through Interior Design Services at 674-8294 or Debbie Hill in Purchasing at 936-2512.

Lab Boutique

http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/biomednews/

To post an item in the Lab Boutique, please write to: biomednews@umich.edu