Iowa Postdoc Research Day

The University of Iowa Postdoctoral Association hosted its inaugural Postdoc Research Day on May 14th.  Several institutions were invited to participate in this event, including Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Two postdocs from the University of Chicago, Terrie Vasilopoulos and Sean McConnell, were invited to give oral presentations. At the end of this successful event, Terrie Vasilopoulos was awarded the prize for best oral presentation.

Attending this research day at the University of Iowa was a great experience, providing us a chance to discuss our work with postdocs from diverse research backgrounds. We encourage other postdocs at the University of Chicago to seek out similar opportunities to present their research.

Locally, the University of Chicago Postdoctoral Association will host its second Postdoctoral Research Day in October and plans to invite postdocs from several neighboring universities.

Here are the details from the Postdoc Research day as advertised in our PDA Bulletin:

POSTDOC RESEARCH DAY

When:                May 14, 2012.  9:00am-5:00pm
Where:               The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (CPHB, College of Public Health Building *** NEW LOCATION)

What: An opportunity for postdocs to learn about the exciting research being conducted by your peers.  Registration for this event is FREE and open to all postdocs from the University of Iowa and other nearby institutions.  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.  This event is hosted by the University of Iowa Postdoctoral Association (UIPDA) with support from the UI Office of Postdoctoral Scholars and the Graduate College.
 

Public Affairs Announcements May7th2012

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins admits, ‘it’s a scary time to be a young investigator’

On March 28^th, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on the fiscal year (FY) 2013 funding request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During multiple rounds of questioning following Dr. Collins’ testimony, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) noted that flat funding for NIH is especially troubling because “it sends a message to the next generation, the potential researchers, scientists, and physicians, that the certainty of their career path or the value of what they do is not recognized.” Dr. Collins responded that, “It is indeed a scary time for new investigators because they have seen the likelihood of receiving funding decrease from 25-35 percent to a grim 17 percent.” To read more, see below.

Scary to be a young investigator: http://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs/Publications/Washington-Update-Viewer/tabid/1050/ArticleId/790/SENATORS-EXPRESS-CONCERN-ABOUT-PROPOSAL-TO-FLAT-FUND-NIH-IN-FY-2013.aspx

Increasing Translational Science Opportunities

“Basic scientists play a key role in improving human health and treating disease,” said Richard A. Galbraith, MD, PhD, Chair of the FASEB committee that organized the meeting and developed the report and Associate Dean of Patient Oriented Research at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. “Yet, despite widespread national interest in accelerating the pace at which medical interventions are developed, few initiatives have focused specifically on engaging basic investigators in this process of translation,” Dr. Galbraith added. To read more, see below.

Translational science: http://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs/Publications/Washington-Update-Viewer/tabid/1050/ArticleId/788/FASEB-REPORT-IDENTIFIES-OPPORTUNITIES-TO-ENGAGE-BASIC-SCIENTISTS-IN-TRANSLATIONAL-RESEARCH.aspx

NIH, Companies Team Up to Give Researchers Access to Abandoned Drugs

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced a new plan for boosting drug development: It has reached a deal with three major pharmaceutical companies to share abandoned experimental drugs with academic researchers so they can look for new uses. NIH is putting up $20 million for grants to study the drugs. To read more, see the link below.

Recycling old drugs: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/05/nih-companies-team-up-to-give.html#more

The National Academy of Sciences Gives Itself a Facelift

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is regarded as the most prestigious honorary scientific society in the country. But it also has a reputation for being old, white, and male. Today its members took a big step toward changing their image by inviting a younger and more diverse group of scientists to join them. To read more, see the link below.

Recycling old drugs: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/05/us-national-academy-gives-itself.html#more