Catherine Delaney Freiman New Conflict of Interest Board Manager
The Medical School's Office of Research and Graduate Studies is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Delaney Freiman as the Conflict of Interest Board Manager. Catherine's responsibilities include administration of the Medical School Outside Employment Disclosure system and support to the Medical School Conflict of Interest Board. She will also advise faculty who need to develop conflict management plans for Board review and will conduct educational sessions regarding the School's policies in this area.

Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Research
This is the third in a series of short articles about issues related to management of potential conflicts of interest in research-related activities. To see the first two articles, visit the Biomedical News on the web at: (http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/biomednews/).

It is important to disclose all potential conflicts of interest. However, an area where researchers must exercise particular care is with potential conflicts in projects involving human research participants. Even the perception of bias on the part of the researcher(s) conducting a study can reduce the public's confidence in the research results. This jeopardizes the value of a human research participant's role in the study, which is especially concerning for projects where they may have accepted some level of personal risk.

The Medical School Conflict of Interest Board (MedCOI) carefully reviews potential conflicts in clinical research and holds clinical researchers to the highest standard of disclosure. Some complex relationships may not be manageable. This is particularly true if 1. the study poses a higher than average risk to human research participants, or 2. the researcher's conflict issues are complex and include involvement in the business interests of the sponsor.

The disclosure mechanisms and management strategies employed by the MedCOI are guided by an interest in ensuring the integrity of research results, which supports our ongoing commitment to the welfare of the human research participants entrusted to our care. The MedCOI's strategies are consistent with national guidance on financial interests in clinical research.(1, 2) The MedCOI also cooperates closely with the IRBMED, providing information for their consideration in reviewing study protocols where the researchers have a potential conflict of interest. The IRBMED can at its discretion choose to increase the restrictions recommended by the MedCOI but may not reduce or eliminate restrictions imposed in a researcher's management plan.(3)

Typical strategies for management of financial conflicts include 1. disclosure of the interest to trainees, staff and faculty who work with the conflicted individual and/or conduct the research, 2. disclosure of the interest in publications and presentations about the research, and 3. oversight by individuals not directly involved in the research project. In clinical research, additional management may include limitations on who may consent research participants and/or disclosure of the financial interest in consent documents. Further detail about management strategies can be found in the April 2003 Biomedical News (http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/biomednews/).(4)

Some of the financial interests reviewed for conflict management by the MedCOI are found in the Table below. These interests are typical of both clinical and basic research projects. Principal investigators (PI) or co-investigators on sponsored research projects where the potential for conflict exists must disclose these potential conflicts to the University. The University also holds PI's responsible for knowing and disclosing any potential conflicts for the key personnel on their projects.

How to Disclose Potential Conflicts of Interest

Completing either the Medical School's online Outside Employment Disclosure (http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/coi.outside.html) or the University’s Significant Financial Interest Disclosure form (http://www.research.umich.edu/policies/um/conflict_procedures.html#form)
provides the initial information needed to ensure the systematic review of potential conflict situations. In the previous two articles in this series, there was an emphasis on the University's commitment to supporting the faculty member's entrepreneurial activity and an emphasis on the value of engaging in outside activities with industry. In clinical research there are management strategies that permit the activity to continue, but there may be less flexibility when protection of the human research participant is of concern.

Researchers with questions about policies in conflict of interest are encouraged to contact the Conflict of Interest Board Manager, Catherine Delaney Freiman, for advice (delaneyc@umich.edu or 5-5958).
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(1) Association of American Medical Colleges Task Force on Financial Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Research - http://www.aamc.org/members/coitf/

(2) Association of American Universities Task Force on Research Accountability: Report on Individual and Institutional Financial Conflict of Interest, October 2001.

(3) See the Medical School's Conflict of Interest Board Organization and Procedures document regarding Board decisions: http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/orgs/ResearchPolicies/policyop.htm#decisions

(4) UM Office of the Vice President for Research: Conflicts of Interest Policy in Sponsored Research and Technology Transfer: http://www.research.umich.edu/policies/um/conflict_procedures.html

(5) Activities in which the faculty member agrees to use his or her professional expertise to benefit the sponsor in return for personal remuneration. Although the value of the remuneration need not be disclosed, the nature (i.e., direct payment, stock, stock options, etc.) must be disclosed.

CACR Monthly Program for New Study Coordinators
The Education and Certification Core (ECC) from the Center for the Advancement of Clinical Research (CACR) announces a new monthly program for NEW study coordinators (less than six months on-the-job experience). Education modules on Good Clinical Practices and Study Coordinators Roles are presented. Helpful aides and tools are provided. Registration information and future class dates may be obtained from http://www.med.umich.edu/cacr/ or from Monica Healy (7-3815
or mhealy@umich.edu).

Biomedical Research Core Facilities News: Transgenic Core Produces Transgenic Rat Models
The production of custom transgenic rats is now available through the Transgenic Animal Model Core Facility in the Biomedical Research Core Facilities. Three demonstration projects have been successfully completed and this service is now available on a recharge basis. Transgenic rats are produced in a Sprague-Dawley genetic background. Other strains can be accommodated. The transgenic rat program is modeled on the very productive transgenic mouse service. The Core guarantees the production of three transgenic rat founders. To our knowledge, we are the only facility that guarantees transgenic rat production. More information on generating transgenic rodents is available on the Core's website (http://www.med.umich.edu/tamc/). For questions about how to initiate a transgenic rodent project contact Thom Saunders (647-2910 or tsaunder@umich.edu).

New Web Site Highlights Important Genetics Research of U-M Faculty
Check out this new web site, http://www.med.umich.edu/genetics, "Genetics: The Symphony of Life – How genetics will change tomorrow's medicine."
The website provides basic information on genetics and medicine for the general public and highlights the important genetics research of U-M faculty. Using music, video, and photographs from the Life Sciences Orchestra, the new site uses the symphony as a metaphor to help people understand interactions among genes, proteins, and cells. Simple answers to basic questions like "What is a gene?" or "What is a protein?" are answered in the Genetics 101 section. Faculty pages provide brief summaries, written for the general public, of current genetics research being conducted by scientists in the U-M Medical School. Every page includes a mini-lesson on genetics and medicine. This web site can be valuable to legislators, donors, students, and teachers – anyone who is interested in genetics, but needs a lay-language explanation of the science.

New Version of UM.SiteMaker Available to the Medical Center Community
Professor Jonathan Maybaum announces version 3.0 of UM.SiteMaker, a program to help University of Michigan faculty, students and staff quickly create websites without having to know about a lot of technical details. UM.SiteMaker 3.0 contains an important new feature called "Data Tables". With "Data Tables", non-technical individuals will be able to create web-enabled databases without the need to involve database administrators. The addition of "Data Tables" may result in a substantial benefit and cost savings to users over contracting for custom database development. For complete details and a look at the new version, visit: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sitemaker.resources/data_tables.

Internal Funding & Award Opportunities
14th Annual James Neubacher Award
Deadline: May 31, 2003
Each October, during Investing in Ability Week, the James Neubacher Award is presented to a University of Michigan faculty, staff member, student, or alumna/alumnus. The Award is for significant achievements in: promoting acceptance and awareness of people with disabilities; advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities; or removing barriers to full participation in programs and services by people with disabilities. The Award is a memorial to Jim Neubacher, an alumnus of the University. It includes a stipend provided by the Office of the President. More information about Jim Neubacher, the Award, on-line nominations and printable nomination forms are available at http://www.umich.edu/~hraa/neubacher.

Center for Advancement of Behavioral and Social Science (CABSS)
Internal Deadline: July 1, 2003 (letters of intent)
http://www.isr.umich.edu
The newly formed Center for the Advancement of Behavioral and Social Science (CABSS) is calling for the submission of letters of intent leading to proposals for the initial phase of collaborative research projects that are consistent with the long-term mission of the Center.

The CABSS was established in January 2003 to strengthen the intellectual and methodological foundations of the social and behavioral sciences. This advancement will be achieved by linking social and behavioral science to other disciplines—e.g., the humanities, natural and life sciences, and professional fields—in interdisciplinary, team-led projects. It will be sought by framing intellectual projects around society’s most pressing problems and abiding dilemmas.

At maturity, CABSS will comprise a portfolio of multi-year projects in various stages of development, each one of which exemplifies, to various degrees, the core values of problem orientation, interdisciplinary collaboration, involvement of practitioners, and a mix of UM and off-campus participants. Two kinds of Phase I projects are envisioned:

Very early, small-scale and short-term exploratory efforts to brainstorm, define, and develop potential future collaborative projects (one year, $10,000 to $25,000).

Seminars and networking on more highly developed topics, intended to lead to the establishment of longer-term collaborative projects (one-to-three years at $25,000 to $100,000 per year).

A given project could begin as the initial, preliminary kind and become the second, or it could advance more quickly from a more substantially formed base. Contact: David L. Featherman, Interim Director, CABSS feathrmn@umich.edu, 764-8364. In-depth information about CABSS and its projects is accessible on the Institute for Social Research (ISR) homepage.

Developmental Research Program
Internal Deadline: July 14, 2003
The UM Head and Neck Specialized Program for Research Excellence (SPORE) is seeking applications for new pilot research projects relevant to head and neck cancer. Through its Developmental Research Program, the SPORE provides an opportunity to foster new translational ideas important to the advancement of the field of head and neck cancer research, allow development of preliminary data for future grants and promote high risk research endeavors. The focus of this program is to provide investigators the flexibility to generate data that would become preliminary data for an R01 application.

This program offers $22,500 support per year for two years of research, or $45,000 for one year. In addition, each selected project grantee will be assigned a basic and clinical mentor selected from the SPORE Operating Committee.

Proposals will be reviewed and ranked based on the following criteria: relevance to head and neck cancer; translational strength; innovation; scientific impact; likelihood of success; and potential for enhancing the overall goals of the SPORE. Proposals found to meet criteria will be selected for oral presentation at fall retreat. Final ranking of proposals will follow. Funding will be available January 1, 2004. Contact Caroline Militzer at 998-6757 or caromili@umich.edu to obtain an application packet.

External Funding Opportunities

Limited Submissions

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Scholar Award
Internal Deadline: June 2, 2003
The Damon Runyon Scholar Award program is designed to help young investigators establish independent laboratories. Awards are $100,000 each year for three years. Candidates must be at the assistant professor or equivalent level. The University of Michigan may nominate two scientists: a physician scientist affiliated with a clinical department and a basic scientist. In addition to the nominees, any investigator who was a Damon Runyon Fellow (and meets the eligibility requirements) may also apply. Deadline for submission of applications to Damon Runyon is July 1, 2003.

For consideration as institutional nominees, submit the following by June 2, 2003: a 1-2 page research summary, a CV, and a nominating letter from the department chair. Submit all internal applications to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624. Contact: Denise Swayze at dswayze@umich.edu or 763-4086. Complete details on this award can be found on the Damon Runyon web site.

Culpeper Scholarships in Medical Science
Internal Deadline: July 11, 2003
Rockefeller Brothers Fund announces the continuation of its Charles E. Culpeper Scholarship Program. Up to four awards of $100,000 per year for up to three years will be granted. Applicants must hold a M.D. degree, have at least one year of post-doctoral clinical training, and have not achieved a rank higher than assistant professor. All scientific research relevant to human health is eligible for consideration. Each institution may nominate one candidate. Additional information may be obtained from the Fund’s website.

For consideration as the institutional nominee, submit the following: a 2-3 page research summary, a list of all participants involved (with level of effort), CVs of all involved, and a nominating letter from the department chair. Submit all internal applications to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, 4107 Med Sci I, Box 0624. Contact: Denise Swayze, 763-4086 or dswayze@umich.edu.

Open Submissions

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
Deadline: May 15, 2003
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases seeks nominations for two prestigious awards:

The Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement. This award recognizes scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases or public health.

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind. This award was developed to recognize people who have made outstanding humanitarian contributions to improving the health of humankind. The Awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner in February or March 2004. For complete details and the nomination process, visit the NFID website.

Wilderness Medical Society
Deadline: June 1, 2003
The Wilderness Medical Society is interested in promoting quality research activities relating to environmental, outdoor and wilderness medicine. Funding for original research projects at the medical student, resident or graduate student, fellow and member researcher levels are offered. Grants are awarded annually for up to $5,000 in three different categories. See the website for complete information.

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
Deadline: various
The official guidelines for submission of 2003 CAREER proposals can be found in the Faculty Early Career Development Program Solicitation (NSF 02-111), available on the NSF web site , listed above. The CAREER Program offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards for outstanding faculty early in their independent professional careers.

Changes were made to the CAREER Program Solicitation (NSF 02-111) in the following areas: Eligibility, Award Size, and Departmental Endorsement. Changes were also made in proposal preparation and submission guidelines, including changes in the submission deadline dates. All of these changes are discussed in the FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program For Fiscal Years 2003, 2004, and 2005 (NSF 03-031) on the NSF website.

Proposals must be submitted via FastLane by 5:00 p.m., your local time, on or before the applicable deadline date below:

July 23, 2002; July 22, 2003; July 20, 2004
Biological Sciences (BIO)
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Education and Human Resources (EHR)

July 24, 2002; July 23, 2003; July 21, 2004
Engineering (ENG)

July 25, 2002; July 24, 2003; July 22, 2004
Geosciences (GEO)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)
Office of Polar Programs (OPP)

Seminars

Center for Integrative Genomics Symposium

May 7, 2003
1:30-5:30
Ford Auditorium

The featured speakers will be: Jacqueline Crawley, Chief, NIH Section on Behavioral Genomics; Joseph Nadeau, Professor, Genetics Dept, Case Western Reserve Univ; Alcino Silva, Professor, Brain Research Institute, UCLA; Phyllis Wise, Dean, Division of Biological Sciences, UC Davis. Refreshments will be served. Contact: njame@med.umich.edu or 647-6460.

Organogenesis Seminar Series

May 8, 2003
3:30 PM
5915 Buhl Bldg.

John B. Lowe, M.D., Investigator, HHMI and Professor of Pathology, will speak on: "Glycosylation pathways that control mammalian leukocyte biology". Contact: Rebecca Pintar, rpintar@umich.edu or 936-2499.

Nathan Shock Center Workshop, Institute of Gerontology

Stem Cells And Aging
May 8, 2003
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

May 9, 2003
8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Hussey Room, The Michigan League

Each of the three half-day sessions will consist of two talks followed by an in-depth discussion. Visit the seminar information on the IoG website for the complete workshop schedule. Seating is limited. To ensure a spot at the workshop, as well as a free lunch on Thursday, May 8, contact Jane Harlow at the Institute of Gerontology, 764-3493 or jharlow@umich.edu.

Bennett Cohen Memorial Lecture, Institute of Gerontology

May 15, 2003
3:30 p.m.
Room 904, 300 North Ingalls Bldg.

"Insulin Signaling And The Interactions Of Aging, Reproduction And Growth In Drosophila" Presented by: Marc Tatar, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biology, Manning Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI. Refreshments served.

International Symposium On Organogenesis: Development and Disease

May 16, 2003
6:00-9:00 PM
UM Alumni Center

Lewis Wolpert, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, University College, London, will Speak On: "The Evolutionary Biology of Depression".

May 17, 2003
9:30-5:00 PM
Towsley Center, Dow Auditorium

Symposium Speakers:
Elaine Fuchs, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, will Speak On: "Beauty is Skin Deep: The Fascinating Biology of Skin Stem Cells and Their Lineage".

Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California at San Francisco, will Speak On: "Genes and Cells that Regulate the Lifespan of C Elegans".

Gail Martin, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy, University of California at San Francisco, will Speak On: "Genetic Control of Vertebrate Limb Development".

Joan Massague, Ph.D., Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, will Speak On: "TGF-Beta Signaling in Context".

Andrew McMahon, Ph.D., Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, will Speak On: "Molecular and Cellular Analysis of Mammalian Kidney Development".

For more information or for registration fees and materials, contact the Center for Organogenesis at 936-2499 or rpintar@umich.edu. Registration deadline is May 1, 2003

Depression Center Colloquium Series

May 30, 2003
11:45am
Waggoner Cnf Rm MHRI

The presenter is Alexander Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Niculescu is the Chief of the Cognitive Disorders Clinic at the VA San Diego Healthcare System, and Associate Medical Director in the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program. His laboratory focuses on genomic studies in animal models of bipolar and related disorders, and his clinical research focuses on improved delineations of clinical (endo) phenotypes for genetic, pharmacological and imaging purposes.

Dr. Niculescu will speak on "From Convergent Functional Genomics To Convergent Functional Phenomics: Translational Studies In Bipolar And Related Disorders." Margit Burmeister, M.D., Associate Professor of Human Genetics in Psychiatry at UMHS, will then discuss "Genetics of Neuroticism as a marker for depression vulnerability" and will lead a discussion on genetics and endophenotypes and how they might change differential diagnostics in the future.

RSVP with Nicole Stanbridge, 763-8430 or stanbrid@umich.edu.