Vol. 7, No. 8; November 9, 2007
Published
by the Office of the Vice President for Research
Editor: Amy Danielson
Research News Online provides information
about news, policies, procedures, funding opportunities, and events
of interest to our University of Minnesota research community. It
is sent twice a month to faculty, staff, and other interested parties.
To submit an article, see the Research News Online
submission
guidelines. To send comments or questions about the publication,
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| 1.
Mercury Clean-Up and Compliance
in Laboratories
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the
source of most regulations pertaining to mercury use at the University.
Under RCRA, mercury-containing equipment like thermometers, manometers,
barometers, mercury switches, bubblers, and many other commonly
used items in labs are regulated when mercury is spilled or the
item becomes a waste. Careful handling of mercury containing products
is critical due to the extensive environmental damage that results
from mercury releases.
Kolthoff Hall renovation activities exposed mercury contamination
in sink traps, sewer pipes, casework, fume hoods, and chemical storage
cabinets. Mercury contaminated dust was detected on surfaces in
most of the labs. The financial cost for mercury clean up and disposal
are in excess of $125,000. Mercury releases can be prevented by
finding alternative mercury free instruments, always handling mercury
with secondary containment, and moving mercury sources away from
sinks.
For further information on mercury use in laboratories go to http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bnsdocs/hgsbook/labs.pdf.
2.
Research Documentation in the Medical Record
The Clinical Research Coordinator group is offering a presentation
entitled "Research Documentation in the Medical Record"
on December 4, 2007, 7:30-9:00 a.m. in Moos 2-520.
This presentation will focus on the policy for documenting research
in the medical record. The speakers will outline the purpose of
the policy and the potential impact of research documentation on
subjects. Information on the requirements for when, how and what
to document in the medical record will be covered. This presentation
is offered by the Clinical Research Coordinator group and is open
to anyone in the research community.
Speakers will be Adrienne Baranauskas, Director, Fairview Research
Administration; Theresa Nguyen, EHR Clinical Training Analyst, UMPhysicians;
and Cindi Walsh, Clinical Analyst, Fairview Health Services.
3.
University Forum on Research and Professional
Ethics
Join Melissa S. Anderson, Ph.D., Director of the Postsecondary Education
Research Institute, Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Higher
Education, and Associate Professor of Higher Education, for a presentation
and discussion about “Trying to Maintain Integrity in a Contrary
Research Environment.” This OVPR-sponsored event will be held
on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 4 - 5:30 p.m., in the President's
Room at Coffman Memorial Union. For more information go to http://www.research.umn.edu/events/research_ethics.html.
4.
IBC Conducting NIH Compliant Training Sessions
Nationally recognized biological safety expert, Robert J. Hashimoto,
will be offering three training session in November for principal
investigators and laboratory staff on biological safety in the lab
and implementation of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving
Recombinant DNA Molecules.
Attendance at one of these training sessions will satisfy NIH training
requirements and count toward Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
continuing education requirements. Hashimoto will offer three different
sessions in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium:
Session 1: Thursday,
November 15, 2007
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. — Biological Safety in the Laboratory
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. — Implementation of the NIH Guidelines
Session 2: Thursday, November 15, 2007
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. — Biological Safety in the Laboratory
2:45 - 3:45 p.m. — Implementation of the NIH Guidelines
Session 3: Friday, November 16, 2007
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. — Biological Safety in the Laboratory
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. — Implementation of the NIH Guidelines
Contact Institutional
Biosafety Committee (IBC) Research Compliance Supervisor Julie Hawkinson
Quinn at 612.626.2161 if you have any question. RSVPs to ibc@umn.edu
are appreciated, but not required. Please indicate the number of
attendees and which of the three sessions you plan to attend.
5.
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
The NIH Guide is
the official publication for NIH medical and behavioral research
grant policies, guidelines and funding opportunities for the National
Institutes of Health. To subscribe to the Guide’s
weekly listserv or to read it online, go to http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/.
The following institute(s)/center(s) have grant opportunities in
the current Guide: NCIPC. Other information includes:
NINDS
Administrative Supplements for Collaborative Activities to Promote
Translational Research (CAPTR).
6.
Funding Opportunities and Program Announcements
- Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology
(CEIN)
This solicitation requests proposals to create a national Center
to conduct fundamental research and education on the implications
of nanotechnology for the environment and living systems at all
scales. The Center will address interactions of naturally derived,
incidental and engineered nanoparticles and nanostructured materials,
devices and systems (herein called "nanomaterials") with the living
world. Essential elements of this Center will include understanding
the interactions of nanomaterials with organisms, cellular constituents,
metabolic networks and living tissues; understanding environmental
exposure and bioaccumulation and their effects on living systems;
and determining the biological impacts of nanomaterials dispersed
in the environment. A multidisciplinary research approach involving
the biological, chemical, physical, computational, mathematical,
social and behavioral sciences will be needed to understand the
fundamental processes associated with the interaction of nanomaterials
with the environment and living systems. This Center is expected
to interact with other Nanotechnology Science and Engineering
Centers as appropriate. This opportunity limits the number of
applications from an institution. To register interest with the
University, go to http://www.research.umn.edu/opportunities/limited_applications/.
For details, go to http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07590/nsf07590.htm.
U of M Internal Review Deadline: November 19, 2007
Sponsor's Application Deadline: December 10, 2007
- The Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment
& the Life Sciences has issued a call for proposals
addressing the broad societal implications of problems in health,
environment, or the life sciences. Three types of awards are available:
1) for graduate/professional students; 2) for individual faculty;
and 3) for Consortium/JDP members. For details, go to www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/rfps/.
For questions, call 612.626.5624 or e-mail boyle032@umn.edu.
Deadline: February 2008
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