McGowan Institute?
April 2003 | VOL. 4 | www.McGowan.pitt.edu
The 2003 Engineering Tissue Growth International Conference and Exposition
(ETG) was held in Pittsburgh March 18-20, 2003. As the many faculty
and students that participated, the Conference was well received with
many exciting papers. The attendance statistics are:
- 609 Attendees from 16 countries and 32 states
- 35% represented researchers
- 27% represented commercial interests
- 16% represented academia
- 11% laboratory professionals
- 11% various biotechnology backgrounds
Over the past three years, many changes have occurred throughout the tissue engineering industry. In response to these changes the Engineering Tissue Growth International Conference and Exposition (ETG) has evolved into an event that represents these changes by becoming the hub for attracting the latest scientific and technological information and business expertise from sources worldwide. The event has grown from a 50 person regional meeting in 1996 to its current state in 2003 of more than 650 delegates from nearly 35 states and 15 countries around the world.
In 2003, the Advisory Committee integrated programming on early stage product development to compliment the highly acclaimed scientific sessions. Keynote sessions featuring Dr. Michael Lysaght, Dr. Terou Okano and Dr. Evan Snyder were featured throughout the four-day conference. In addition, the conference was enhanced by an industry exposition, strategic business discussions, foreign delegation visits and many affiliated societal meetings.
In 2004, ETG will move to Seattle, Washington in June starting a new collaborative agenda with PTEI's partners at the University of Washington. Dr. Buddy Ratner will serve as Chairman of the event. Please check www.etg-online.com for upcoming information on the 2004 event.
Satdarshan P.S. Monga, M.D. has been selected to receive a grant from
the American Cancer Society under their Research Scholar Grant. Dr.
Monga's proposal is entitled "To Investigate the Role of
Wnt/Beta-catenin and HGF in Hepatocarcinogenesis". Anticipated
funding is $958,900 with a start date of July 1, 2003.
The proposal will examine the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis with emphasis on the role of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and also on cooperation of this pathway with HGF in liver cancer induction and progression and will involve studies in in our newly generated beta-catenin transgenic mice and other models that are currently being created. Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has been demonstrated in my laboratory (in collaboration with Dr. George K. Michalopoulos) to be important in liver development and regeneration. We have also discovered a novel association of HGF receptor Met with beta-catenin in hepatocytes suggesting novel mechanisms of liver cancer.
Alan J. Russell has been elected to the office of President Elect of the Tissue Engineering Society International
Mohammed El-Kurdi, a BioE graduate student working in Dr. David Vorp's lab, has had his abstract entitled: "Short-Term Effects of Diminished Pulsatile Perfusion on Arterial Structural Protein Content," accepted for a slide presentation at this June's annual meeting of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs. Ms. Erin Pekarick, a current BioE senior and accepted graduate student for the fall, is a co-author.
BioE graduate student Jonathan Vande Geest is one of 22 graduate students selected nationwide to participate in the 53rd meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany later this year. Mr. Vande Geest will spend mornings attending lectures, and afternoons will be dedicated to informal meetings with Nobel Laureates. Mr. Vande Geet's participation is funded through the Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Dr. Klinzing's office handled the nomination process fir Mr. Vande Geest.
Daniel Debrah, an outstanding undergraduate BioE student, has been awarded an undergraduate NIH research fellowship effective February 1, 2003. Mr. Debrah is undertaking research in Dr. Sanjeev Shroff's lab. Mr. Debrah is mentored by Professor Shroff and Professor Kirk Conrad
The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine is proud to announce the formation of a Biomaterials Group. Based upon the success of the Wound Healing Group, the Biomaterials Group seeks to bring together all students, fellows, and PI's in Pittsburgh working in the area of biomaterials. We will begin meeting this summer, once a month. Our plan is to gain momentum and increase our meeting times to twice a month in the fall. We strongly encourage participation from graduate students. We will discuss journal articles, and entertain both external speakers and research presentations from graduate students. Our goals are to identify potential collaborations, problem-solve, and inform the community of exciting biomaterials research being conducted.
The Group will meet on the last Thursday of the month, beginning in May. Here are the meeting times, dates, and locations:
- Thursday, May 29th, 3:00-5:00, Biomedical Science Tower, Lobby, conference room S121
- Thursday, June 26th, 3:00-5:00, Biomedical Science Tower, Lobby, conference room S123
- Thursday, July 31st, 3:00-5:00, Biomedical Science Tower, Lobby, conference room S121
Please mark your calendars, and encourage anyone you feel is interested in biomaterials to attend. An agenda will be sent in mid-May. Please contact Professor Kacey Marra for additional details at (412) 383-8924 or marrak@msx.upmc.edu
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John Doctor, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural Environmental Sciences at Duquesne University, John has been appointed a member of the McGowan Institute. John’s lab is studying the regenerative properties of human adult stem cells for applications in tissue engineering and wound healing. A variety of biomaterials are under evaluation for use as delivery vehicles for adult stem cells to tissue engineering scaffolds and wound sites, with an emphasis on bone regeneration. Another focus of the lab is the cell biological evaluation of materials for use in nerve guides. |
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Aasha Sinha, Research Assistant Professor of Surgery joined the University in August2002 with over 10 years of veterinary medicine/science background. Dr. Sinha came to us from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Aasha is currently involved with surgical research and clinical applications of the VAD and similar technologies, as well as projects involving surgical applications of novel biomaterials. Dr. Sinha’s research focuses on projects with direct clinical applications and the clinical translation of those technologies. |
McGowan Faculty in UPMC List of Experts in Bioterrorism, Disaster Preparedness and Mental Health
Chemical Weapon Detection and Destruction
Alan J. Russell, Ph.D., internationally renowned for his research on biomaterials and bioengineering. His research has focused on the relationship between enzymes and materials, specifically in biotechnological chemical weapon defense. Dr. Russell's work has been performed in the area of decontamination of chemical weapons using enzymes. He is collaborating with U.S. Army scientists to expand the possible defenses against chemical weapons.
Chemical Weapons Defense-Medical Approaches
Brack Hattler, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and William J. Federspiel, Ph.D.(photo at right), associate professor of chemical engineering, surgery and bioengineering. Working at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Drs. Hattler and Federspiel have developed a device that functions like a temporary set of lungs to allow injured organs to rest and heal. Called the Hattler Respiratory Catheter, the device is expected to begin clinical testing in Europe in about a year. It is designed to be implanted internally and could be used by military personnel and civilians who may become victims of chemical warfare or terrorist attack involving toxic gases.
Questions? - Contact Lindsay Rodzwicz, Pre-Award Grants Administrator of the McGowan Institute at rodzwiczlj@msx.upmc.edu or 412-235-5157.
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-077.html
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2003
PA NUMBER: PAR-03-077
EXPIRATION DATE: June 1, 2006, unless reissued
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
(http://www.ncrr.nih.gov)
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) encourages the submission of individual animal resource improvement grant applications from biomedical research institutions. The major objective of this program is to upgrade animal facilities to support the conduct of Public Health Service (PHS) supported biomedical and behavioral research. A related objective is to assist institutions in complying with the USDA Animal Welfare Act and DHHS policies related to the care and use of laboratory animals. Support is limited to alterations and renovations (A&R) to improve laboratory animal facilities, and the purchase of major equipment items for animal resources, diagnostic laboratories, transgenic animal resources, or similar associated activities. This program announcement (PA) replaces PAR-00-124.
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-03-015.html
RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2003
RFA NUMBER: HL-03-015
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
(http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S): 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 12.420
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: April 23, 2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: May 23, 2003
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
This initiative is intended to identify novel methods to improve resuscitation outcomes from severe blood loss and subsequent hypovolemic circulatory collapse. Applications are sought that propose innovative research approaches to identify the molecular, cellular, and pathophysiologic response of the whole organism to hypovolemia and to apply results of such approaches to the identification of potential, new approaches to out-of-hospital resuscitation following severe hypovolemia.
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-032.html
RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2002
PA NUMBER: PAR-03-032
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: January 23, 2003 and August 22, 2003
NOTICE OF INTENT RECEIPT DATES: December 20, 2002 and July 22, 2003
EXPIRATION DATE: August 23, 2003, unless re-issued
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
Participating Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite applications for R01 awards to support Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRPs) for basic and applied multi-disciplinary research that addresses important biological or medical research problems. A BRP is a multi-disciplinary research team applying an integrative, systems approach to develop knowledge and/or methods to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat disease or to understand health and behavior. The partnership must include appropriate bioengineering or allied quantitative sciences in combination with biomedical and/or clinical investigators. A BRP may propose design-directed, developmental, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven research at universities, national laboratories, medical schools, large or small businesses, or other public and private entities or combinations of these entities.
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DC-02-004.html
RELEASE DATE: June 13, 2002
RFA: DC-02-004
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders (NIDCD)
(http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATES: October 1, 2002 and June 1, 2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: October 17, 2002 and June 17, 2003
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The purpose of this request for applications (RFA) is to support multidisciplinary research addressing auditory/perceptual processing in infants with hearing loss.
As many as 33 children with significant hearing impairment are born every day in the United States and newborn hearing screening is now mandated in over 30 states. A new population of infants, i.e. those who have been identified with hearing impairment at a few weeks of age, has rapidly emerged. These infants require clinical decisions regarding assessment and management at ages much younger than previously encountered. Yet there are no tools or techniques that are sufficiently sensitive or developed for measuring/evaluating progress or benefit of various habilitative strategies in these infants. There is little information available on the auditory/perceptual processing abilities of infants with hearing loss. Information is lacking regarding suprathreshold auditory behaviors, perception of complex sounds, acquisition and organization of information necessary for language acquisition, multimodal perceptual processes, and cognitive factors such as learning and memory. Research that characterizes auditory/perceptual performance in infants with hearing loss is needed to guide clinicians as they evaluate and monitor an infant's auditory and linguistic development in order to identify optimal intervention strategies. Such investigations hold great promise for the refinement of clinical assessment and management tools for these pressing issues in this unique population.
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-033.html
RELEASE DATE: November 21, 2002
PA NUMBER: PAR-03-033
EXPIRATION DATE: After October 1, 2005, unless reissued.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
(http://www.niddk.nih.gov/)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
(http://www.nci.nih.gov/)
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (DDDN) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute encourage innovative clinical and epidemiological research into the role of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and other endoscopic and imaging techniques. Acute and chronic pancreatic and biliary diseases are common in the United States and account for considerable morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The spectrum of conditions includes those due to cancer of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, gallstones, sludge, pancreatic and biliary malignancy, trauma, anatomic problems (pancreas divisum), alcohol and drugs and idiopathic syndromes such as idiopathic pancreatitis and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. The recently held National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on ERCP indicated that while ERCP and other advanced endoscopic and imaging techniques have gained widespread application in clinical practice, there is little evidence based on rigorous clinical trials to guide the use of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in clinical practice decisions. The small grants (R03) may be used as planning grants for full-scale multi-center clinical trials or for pilot studies that could lead to full-scale multi-center clinical trials designed to provide evidence for or against changes in the current standard of care. Pilot epidemiological studies are encouraged that could lead to more extended research that would provide evidence for or against changes in health policy, especially as related to disease and cancer prevention. It is expected that these R03 grants will serve as a basis for planning future multi-center research project grant applications (R01) or cooperative agreement (U01) awards. New and experienced investigators in relevant fields and disciplines may apply for these small grants. Investigators are encouraged to take advantage of recent endoscopic and laboratory developments. In addition, the small grant is a good mechanism for new and experienced investigators to become better equipped.
http://grants1.nih.gov//grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-075.html
RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2003
PA NUMBER: PAR-03-075
EXPIRATION DATE: November 1, 2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: June 1, and October 1
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
This PA replaces PAR-02-091.
The purpose of this program announcement (PA) is
to invite innovative applications for (1) the development of new and
improved instruments or devices, (2) the development of new methodologies
using existing instruments, or (3) the development of software related
to instrumentation. Any of these projects should propose tools, methodologies,
or software that can be used by a wide range of biomedical or clinical
researchers; projects that focus on specific organs or diseases are
not responsive to this announcement. Awards made for applications
received in response to this announcement will employ the R21 and
the R21/R33 mechanisms that are designed to support high-risk applications
for which few if any preliminary findings are available. Investigators
with substantial preliminary data should seek an R01 grant by submitting
an unsolicited application at the standard receipt date or by responding
to a particular program announcement. Questions about the suitability
of proposals should be addressed to program staff listed in the "Where
to Send Inquiries" section well before submission. Proposals
that are focused on a specific organ or disease will be returned without
review; however, proposals may use a specific organ or disease as
a model system. Investigators may also want to look at the NIBIB
(http://www.nibib1.nih.gov/research/investigators.htm)
and BECON
(http://www.becon.nih.gov/becon_funding.htm)
web pages for funding opportunities in bioengineering research or
biomedical imaging research.
The proposed research may involve conceptualization, design, fabrication, and/or testing of new instruments or devices. Applications to develop new experimental techniques and protocols using existing instrumentation are also welcome. Applications to develop new software related to instrumentation are encouraged, with the exception of proposals with a primary focus in the area of medical informatics. The overall objective of applications for new instruments, techniques, or software should be the development of more powerful and more precise technology with broad applicability to biomedical research.
National Center Programs
Deadline: July 14, 2003
Award Activation: January 1, 2004
- National Established Investigator Award
Objective
To support mid-term investigators with unusual promise
and an established record of accomplishments; candidates have a demonstrated
commitment to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular science as indicated
by prior publication history and scientific accomplishments. A candidate's
career is expected to be in a rapid growth phase.
Science Focus
Research broadly related to cardiovascular function
and disease, stroke, or to related basic science, clinical, bioengineering/biotechnology,
and public health problems.
GRANTS TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2002
The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA), a non-profit educational initiative, is seeking proposals for the development and support of innovation, invention, and technological entrepreneurship at U.S. colleges and universities.
The NCIIA is interested in proposals for courses and projects which incorporate opportunities for open-ended, commercially focused team based work in E-Teams. E-Teams are groups of students, faculty, and professionals who join together to pursue the development of an idea, product, or invention, or to solve a problem in a way that has the promise of developing a product or enterprise that will generate jobs and social benefits. The "E"stands for "excellence" and "entrepreneurship."
Two types of grants are offered:
COURSE AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. Grants ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 will be awarded to projects that support the development, implementation, and institutionalization of new courses and programs in which student teams will develop innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to real-world problems. Funding can be used for course planning, stipends (maximum of $5,000), supplies, equipment, or expenses directly related to the project development.
ADVANCED E-TEAM GRANTS. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 will be awarded to advanced E-Teams for further development and steps leading to commercialization of their ideas. Funding can be used for project expenses, legal fees, or student internships. Graduate and undergraduate students can apply for these grants with the assistance of a faculty sponsor.
Additional information on the NCIIA: http://www.nciia.org
Email amickelsen@nciia.org or call 413-587-2172 with questions or concerns.