Drug discovery group, genome browser webinar, grant-writing tips and STEM conference deadline

Triad Drug Discovery Discussion Group at A&T, May 17: The group’s next meeting will be held at N.C. A&T, Thursday, May 17, 6:30 p.m. It will be joint meeting with Central NC ACS.  Topic: Ethics in Scientific Practice. Speaker: Dr. Daniel Vallero of the EPA, an environmental engineer who conducts research in chemical fate and transport of pollutants, especially those that are persistent and accumulate in the food chain. The meeting will be held in the New Science Building.

Genome browser webinar, May 17: The UCSC Bioinformatics Group will hold two free webinars on the UCSC Genome Browser. The webinars will be conducted by OpenHelix, which provides training on free, publicly accessible bioinformatics and genomics resources. The 75-minute webinar will cover the topics needed to effectively use the browser. Thursday, May 17, 1 p.m. ET. Details here.

Grant writing webinar, May 24: “Creating Successful Research Proposals: Tips from the Trenches,” a short, free presentation followed by Q&A with Celia Elliott, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. How to get started writing a proposal, strategies that will increase your chances for success, common mistakes that kill proposals, and other topics.  Thursday, May 24, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET. Part of the ACS Webinar series.

Abstract deadline, STEM conference, May 31: Bridging the Gap: Uniting K–16 STEM Education, October 23-24 in Raleigh, will bring together education, industry, government and informal science groups to strengthen K–12 and college STEM education throughout North Carolina. Presented by the N.C. Association for Biomedical Research.

Scientists from N.C. A&T and N.C. Central identify ginger as possible treatment for anemia

Scientists from N.C. A&T and North Carolina Central University have found a new direction for anemia research through their work with ginger.

Dr. Shengmin Sang of A&T and Dr. TinChung Leung of NCCU were scheduled to present their findings this week at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Chicago.

From an NCCU news release:

“The two researchers have found that ginger extract and its purified component increase red blood cell production (erythropoiesis) in transgenic zebrafish recovering from anemia, as well as in normal non-anemic zebrafish. They also discovered that ginger and its purified component stimulate a signaling pathway that encourages blood stem-cell formation. This finding provides insight for future study of the effect of ginger and its bioactive components in formation of blood cellular components in mammals. It has the potential to lead to development of novel erythropoiesis-promoting agents to treat anemia commonly associated with cancer chemotherapy.”

Both researchers are based at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.  Sang is with A&T’s Center of Excellence for Post-Harvest Research. Leung is with NCCU’s Julius Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute.

Rehabilitation engineering research initiative: DORED to hold interest meeting April 24

Tuesday, April 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Fort IRC, Room 410

Our nation is experiencing growing populations of the elderly, injured veterans as well as a general population that is in need of physical therapy and other rehabilitative services.  We in academia have the opportunity to contribute to the larger community by applying our expertise in the areas associated with physical rehabilitation.

Funding agencies have also recognized the need, as evidenced by the recent investment by the National Institutes of Health of $30 million over five years to fund centers dedicated to developing rehabilitation technologies and resources.

With our state being home to eight military bases, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, new developments in rehabilitation could have a tremendous impact on North Carolina as they are readily applied to injured war veterans.  There are also four Veterans Affairs hospitals in North Carolina along with the Cone Health system that would benefit from a rehabilitation research program.

Other institutions in the Triad have recognized this need.  UNCG, Winston-Salem State, and Wake Forest all have various physical therapy programs, working to fill this need.  Even with the involvement of these great institutions, a significant gap exists, as none of these institutions extensively focuses on rehabilitation engineering and technology.

N.C. A&T’s opportunity

North Carolina A&T is especially well suited to fill this gap because of our resources, reputation, and expertise.  Therefore, our objective is to establish a research cluster focused on rehabilitation engineering that aims to create innovative solutions to the most pressing problems in physical and cognitive impairments.

We look forward to creating an interdisciplinary team of students, faculty, and staff from STEM disciplines as well as the social-behavioral sciences. Some areas of challenge consist of:

• Prosthetics and orthotics,
• Rehabilitation devices such as nano implants for epilepsy control, and
• Rehabilitation robotics and other devices.

N.C. A&T faculty members interested in joining this initiative should contact the DORED office (334-7995 or send an email) and plan to attend our informal meeting Tuesday April 24.

Click here for information on an upcoming symposium in the Research Triangle Park.

Survey for biomedical, biobehavioral researchers

Biomedical and biobehavioral researchers: DORED needs 60 seconds of your time to help us secure NIH funding to enhance our research administration infrastructure, particularly through the development of a biostatistical data analysis unit and a pilot research grant program.

Please complete this survey. It really should take just a minute.

The results of this survey are anonymous.  If you have any questions, contact Nora Shively at nshivelyncatsu@gmail.com.

Chinese scientists to speak on magnesium alloys and their biodegradability in biomedical devices

Two scientists from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, will visit the NSF Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials at N.C. A&T on Wednesday.  Drs. Jian Xu and Ling-ling Shi will give a presentation followed by discussion and a lab tour. The research institute is one of the leading research centers for biomedical magnesium alloy research in China.

Their talk will begin at 10 a.m. in the Fort Interdisciplinary Research Center, Room 328.

Topic: Biodegradable Mg-Zn-Y alloys with long-period stacking ordered structure for orthopedic applications

Abstract: Due to their degradability in physiological environments, magnesium alloys exhibit significant advantages in promoting bone growth and avoiding secondary surgery. Thus, they are highly expected as new generation of biodegradable orthopedic devices. However, fast degradable rate, hydrogen release and lower strength remain current challenges. Mg-Zn-Y alloys with long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase were claimed to have high yield strength. Their potential for orthopedic application is investigated from the perspective of mechanical properties and in vitro assessment of biodegradable rate. Ternary Mg_100-3x(Zn₁Y₂)_x (x=1, 2, 3) alloys were studied to evaluate the effect of volume fraction of LPSO phase on mechanical properties and degradability. As indicated, volume fraction of the LPSO structure increases with increasing the Zn/Y concentration. It results in an increase of yield strength and decrease in plasticity, together with the promoted degrading in physiological condition. Minor addition of Zr plays a role of grain size refinement. The alloy with Zr exhibits not only higher strength (~165 MPa) but also mitigates the degradable rate.  Half-life time of alloy corrosion measured by in vitro assessment can be used as a parameter to evaluate the degradability of alloy, which scales with electrochemical passivity behavior.

NSF, FDA, A&T organize international workshop on biodegradable metals for medical implants

The National Science Foundation and the Food and Drug Administration are teaming up with N.C. A&T and Germany’s Hannover Medical School to hold a daylong public workshop on the emerging field of biodegradable metals.

“State of the Art in Biodegradable Metals: A Think-Tank Workshop” will be held Friday, March 30, at the FDA’s White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is expected to draw researchers from around the world. The agenda and registration information are available at the event’s website, http://erc.ncat.edu/biodegradablemetals/.

“This conference provides a unique opportunity for global experts in the field of biodegradable metals to come together to review the current status of the field, to identify key challenges remaining, and to explore opportunities to meet those challenges through collaboration,” said Dr. Jagannathan Sankar, director of the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials at N.C. A&T.

“We hope this session will be the first of many that will help accelerate access to this technology, which promises better outcomes for patients.”

Biodegradable metal implants have potential in certain types of surgery, including orthopedic, craniofacial and cardiovascular, through the use of devices that safely degrade once they are no longer needed. This could eliminate the need for surgical removal of devices.

The conference will cover the breadth of current knowledge in the field, especially regarding magnesium-based systems such as those being developed by the ERC.  Hannover is an ERC research partner, as are the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Cincinnati.

Sessions will cover such topics as in vivo studies of magnesium implants in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular applications, corrosion control, cytotoxicity, alloy design and characterization, sensor technology, and biodegradable iron.

Presenters will include a select group of global experts from academia, large industries, small entrepreneurial networks, and the FDA. A panel discussion will cover current views on this technology.

Students invited to FBI Bioterroism workshop

From the N.C. Association for Biomedical Research in regard to their previously announced event on Tuesday, February 28:

“NCABR’s Academic Biosecurity Workshop, presented in partnership with the FBI, will address potential biosecurity risks, information and skills needed for a successful attack on a research institution, and warning signs to look for. It will promote the early reporting of suspicious activities and will solidify relationships between law enforcement, research institutions, community stakeholders and academia.

“To ensure an optimal workshop experience, we’d like a cross section of participants that is as broad as possible. Would you please invite appropriate students from your institution by sharing this email? The workshop is completely free to attend.

“For more information and to register, please visit the workshop webpage: ncabr.org/fbi.”

A quick weekend read: ERC wins SBIR grant

The NSF Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials is starting the commercialization process for its biodegradable implant technology for reconstruction and regeneration.  A front-page story in today’s edition of The Business Journal details the work now being funded by an SBIR grant to develop a magnesium-alloy device that aims to make spinal fusion easier and less painful.

Seminar: Research tools and RNA purification

Ag Research Seminars set for October 20

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