In September, 2003, the Office of the Vice President for Research issued a request for proposals to establish research priorities at Ohio University. As stated in the RFP, “the university mission statement calls for selectivity in carrying out the institution’s research mission. This new initiative is intended to identify and develop three to five high priority areas of research focus in keeping with that mission. Areas that are selected by the Research Priorities process will be enhanced over five budget years so that they are able to obtain and strengthen national and international prominence in their discipline. Requests should be in the range of $250,000-$1,000,000 per annum. It is expected that enhanced support will help them obtain extramural funds, donations, outstanding faculty and students and enhance their academic reputation. Those areas selected will be expected to move forward aggressively in realizing these goals and there will be yearly milestones to indicate progress.”

A total of 21 proposals were submitted from all areas of the university. A committee formed by combining the members of the Council on Research, Creative, and Scholarly Affairs (CRSCA) and the Associate Deans for Research from all colleges in the university evaluated and ranked the proposals. Ten of the proposals were judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant further evaluation by expert reviewers. Included among the ten proposals remaining in the competition are the following involving COM faculty:

• Appalachian Rural Health Institute Diabetes Center –  Xiao Chen, Ph.D., Ed Gotfried, D.O., Sharon Inman, Ph.D., Richard Klabunde, Ph.D., John Kopchick, Ph.D., Leonard Kohn, M.D., Felicia Nowak, Ph.D., Frank Schwartz, M.D., Chris Simpson, D.O., Jay Shubrook, D.O., Leon Wince, Ph.D. [PI is Brooke Hallowell, Ph.D., School of Hearing & Speech Sciences]

• Ohio University Center of Microbial Biology – Bonita Biegalke, Ph.D., Jack Blazyk, Ph.D. (PI), Peter Coschigano, Ph.D.

• Biomolecular Innovation & Technology Partnership – Xiao Chen, Ph.D., Leonard Kohn, M.D., John Kopchick, Ph.D. [PI is Steve Bergmeier, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry]

• Ohio University Center for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology – Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D., Frank Horodyski, Ph.D., Pat O’Connor, Ph.D., Nancy Stevens, Ph.D., Larry Witmer, Ph.D. [PI is Steve Reilly, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences]

Upon completion of the external reviews, the CRSCA/ADR committee will re-rank the proposals and forward the results to Jack Bantle, Ph.D., VP for Research. Dr. Bantle will present the results of the review process to the college deans. This group, in conjunction with the Provost, will select proposals for funding. The selection process should be completed by this spring so that funding will be available by July 2004.

A pharmaceutical sponsored trial, OCEANS is an open-label, parallel group study, looking at the effects of a combination product as a second line therapy in patients with dyslipidemia and to compare flushing rates between two titration schedules.

There will be three groups of patients with dyslipidemia who will be screened for this study. The first group consists of those who are not taking any lipid modifying medication. The second group is patients who have been taking Zocor 40 mg daily for > 6 weeks, and the third group is patients who are taking any lipid modifying medications other that Zocor 40 mg.

All patients screened must have a mean triglyceride level of < 500mg/dl and agree to be compliant with the TLC diet prior to starting the study. Patients with type I diabetes, uncontrolled type II diabetes, active cancer, a diagnosis of cancer within the last 5 years, active peptic ulcer disease, or those who consume > 14 alcoholic drinks per week will be excluded from the study. The duration of the study will be between 54 and 74 weeks. The patients will be required to come to the clinic for approximately 12 visits during the study period.

Contact Cammie Starner, R.N., CCRC or Lynn Petrik, R.N., at 740-593-2410 if you would like more details, or know of someone who would be interested in participating in this study.

New Addition to the Clinical Research Unit

Lynn Petrik, R.N., B.S.N., joined the staff of the Office of Research & Grants in February as a Research Nurse. Since receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1989, she took employment on the obstetrics unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Milwaukee and then on the LDRP unit at Baptist Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In August of 1992, her life underwent two dramatic changes, both for the better. On August 12th she gave birth to her daughter Rachel and, two weeks later, moved to Athens, Ohio, where her husband, James, joined the philosophy department at Ohio University. Twelve years and a Matthew (age 9) and Helena (age 7) later, Lynn is looking forward to drawing upon her nursing skills in support of the ongoing clinical trials at COM.

Biorepository Created at Ohio University

The ARHI Diabetes/Endocrine Center has recently received IRB approval to develop a serum and white cell sample biorepository from patients and first-degree relatives seen at the Center. The Ohio University Biorepository will be similar to the one at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, MA. The biorepository of specimens will be linked to a specific patient database to allow tracking of disease-specific clinical information and aid in the selection of appropriate specimens for future biochemical analysis. The database created from the ARHI Diabetes/Endocrine Center database and the serum samples maintained in the OU Biorepository will be encrypted assure individual patient confidentiality.

The blood samples will be catalogued and stored in secure freezers at ultra-low (-70 to -80 degree) temperatures for future clinical research. At least 20 separate replicate samples could be obtained from each blood collection. The development of the diabetes/endocrine diseases database and biorepository will create a unique research tool for investigating multiple endocrine diseases and result in a direct link between the clinic to the research bench and back to the clinic.

Ohio University has multiple investigators involved in clinical and basic medical research in the related fields of diabetes, arteriosclerosis, obesity, and autoimmune processes involved in the pathophysiology of many endocrine diseases. The linkage of the patient database to the biorepository will provide a valuable resource of material for investigating genetic links, proteomics (gene products), and immunological processes involved the pathophysiology of endocrine diseases and arteriosclerosis. It will also provide the infrastructure for selecting potential participants for future clinical research trials of new diagnostics, medications, or other treatments developed from the research at the University.

For more information about the biorepository, how to contribute specimens, or its utilization for research purposes, contact Frank Schwartz, M.D., schwartzf@ohio.edu, or Len Kohn, M.D., kohnl@ohio.edu. 

 

Save time with Endnote software, manufactured by ISI Researchsoft. EndNote allows users to do the following:

• Create and manage a database of references, including adding annotations and locator information (for those who keep physical copies of articles).
• Use EndNote as a uniform interface to connect to and search a variety of on-line sources, including PubMed Download citations from an online source directly into a personal EndNote database
• Format references in practically any style (MLA, APA, AMA, etc.) for insertion into documents. Works with most word processors.

Ohio University has a site license for purchase of the software available for $105. Information on purchase of this software is available at http://www.ohiou.edu/software/endnote.html.

Last fall Brian Phillips applied for the first time to the National Institutes of Health to a program in the National Library of Medicine. The specific program is the Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS), which assists organizations in planning and implementing new information systems.

Because this was his first approach to a research funding agency, Brian thought there would be a great benefit in an internal review from OUCOM faculty who serve on the Research & Scholarly Affairs Committee (RSAC). Two members of RSAC reviewed the proposal, met with Brian and suggested revisions. The final proposal was awarded a $271, 220 planning grant by the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

OUCOM has the only planning proposal (nationwide) approved for this new initiative, entitled IAIMS, the Next Generation, which is a powerful statement about the value of an internal review for proposals. Special thanks to the Research and Scholarly Affairs Committee, especially Dr. Bonita Biegalke for her constructive comments.

Additional information about the OUCOM project – Appalachian Regional Informatics Consortium (ARIC) Planning Project is located at: http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/aric/ Additional information about the Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS) Program at National Library of Medicine (NLM) can be found at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/iaims.html

Additional information about how you can arrange for internal review of YOUR proposal is simple – just contact anyone in the OUCOM Office of Research and Grants (593-2336) or the current Chair of the RSAC Committee, Dr. Gillian Ice. We must receive the proposal 30 days before the funding agency deadline.

 

Jottings from Joy

Research Protocols

by Joy Matthews-López

So what exactly is a research protocol? Protocols can be thought of as blue prints for research studies. Everything that will drive or impact the study must be included in the protocol. Typically, protocols consist of three content areas: an Introduction, a section dedicated to methodology, and a bibliography. The introduction should present an analysis (and subsequent synthesis) of available literature. This not only gives context to a study, but it also establishes the researcher as a person of knowledge. The introduction is also used to present and anchor the study’s main research question. Methodology, on the other hand, spells out exactly HOW the study will take place. For example, information regarding study design, consent/assent procedures to be followed, the sampling plan (including sample size and target composition), location, time frame, proposed analyses, data collection and storage plans, known or anticipated benefits, all known or reasonably probable risks, and inclusion/exclusion criteria, are included in the methodology section of a protocol. The third section, the bibliography, should include citations for all sources, whether direct or indirect, used to produce the protocol. This rule does not apply to a final report, however, where only directly used references are included. Whatever project you are thinking about designing, be sure to invest heavily in the front-end of the project: your protocol.

I am always open to questions, comments, and/or suggestions. You may reach me by email at joy.matthews-lopez.1@ohio.edu or by phone at 740-593-2380.

 

Research Grants

PI:  John Kopchick, Ph.D.

Agency:  NIH/University of Illinois subcontract

Title:  Role of the growth hormone in breast cancer

Amount:  $15,235

PI:  Bill Romoser, Ph.D.

Agency:  NIH/UC Davis subcontract

Title:  Host competence factors that affect arbovirus transmission

Amount:  $10,000

PI:  Larry Witmer, Ph.D.

Agency:  NSF

Title:  The ear regions of archosaurs: The transition to the modern avian and crocodilian conditions

Amount:  $280,293

Program Grants

PI:  Kathy Trace

Agency:  Athens City

Title:  TB Contact

Amount:  $41,568

PI:  Kathy Trace

Agency:  Athens County/City Health Department

Title:  Ohio tobacco use prevention and control

Amount:  $5,227 

PI:  Keith Watson, D.O.

Agency:  O’Bleness Memorial Hospital

Title:  Faculty service provider agreement

Amount:  $65,995

 

National Institutes of Health

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

Research Project Grants (R01)
Research project grants are awarded to institutions on behalf of a principal investigator to facilitate pursuit of a scientific focus or objective in the area of the investigator's interest and competence. Institutional sponsorship assures the NIH that the institution will provide facilities necessary to accomplish the research and will be accountable for the grant funds. Applications are accepted for health-related research and development in all areas within the scope of NIH's mission.
Deadline:  June 1, 2004
Awarded:  April 1, 2005
Amount: Up to $500,000 direct costs per year for up to 5 years

AREA -- Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15)
The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) is designed to enhance the research environment of educational institutions that have not been traditional recipients of NIH research funds. This award provides limited funds for faculty members of these institutions to develop new research projects or expand ongoing research activities in areas related to the health sciences and to encourage students to participate in the research activity.
Deadline:  May 25, 2004
Award:  April 1, 2005
Amount: Up to $150,000 total direct costs over 1 to 3 years

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-053.html

North American Spine Society
Grants & fellowships for research on the spine.
Deadline:  May 25, 2004
Award:  April 1, 2005
Amount: no limit, generally up to $50,000 for one to two years and fellowships range from $3,000-$5,000

http://www.spine.org