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Home > News and Events > News Releases > News Releases Archive News Releases: April - June 2003ContentsAprilApril 4, 2003: NIBIB Futures Workshop Summary Report Issued The summary report (Adobe PDF [219K]) for the "NIBIB Workshop on Future Research Directions" (NIBIB "Futures" Workshop) has been released and is available in the Previous Workshops section of the News and Events page of this Web site. This workshop was conducted on December 16-17, 2002, at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The objective of the meeting was to obtain scientific community input on where the NIBIB can make a major impact in healthcare and biomedical research during the next five to ten years. Questions addressed by 34 extramural (non-NIBIB) participants included (1) what are the highest priority research focus areas for the NIBIB to consider that are appropriate for its mission and support national priorities and (2) what are promising technologies or high-impact projects that the NIBIB can consider to address these focus areas. Results of this workshop will be considered by NIBIB staff in the development and evaluation of its future research programs. April 7, 2003: Registration Open for WTEC Biosensing Workshop Registration is open for a U.S. Government-sponsored World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) Workshop on “International Research and Development in Biosensing” to be held May 13, 2003 at the Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop will feature discussions of current U.S., European, and Japanese research in biosensing by a panel of American experts that recently visited sites of excellence abroad. The study was sponsored by the NIH, NSF, NASA, USDA and Army Research Office and was chaired by Dr. Jerome Shultz, Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. The panel members include Drs. Milan Mrksich (panel vice-chair), Sangeeta Bhatia, David Brady, Antonio Ricco, David Walt, and Charlie Wilkins. The main areas in biosensing that were evaluated were sensing for biomedicine, food production and processing, and detection of bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins for biowarfare defense. Discussion topics include cell- and tissue-based sensors, electrochemically based sensors, optical sensing, mass spectroscopy, MEMS, microfluidics, informatics and systems integration, sensor/systems fusion, array technologies, DNA methods, and technology transfer. Information concerning the program, registration, and lodgings are available at http://www.wtec.org/biosensing/workshop.htm. April 8, 2003: NIBIB Offers K01, K08, and K23 Research Training Opportunities The NIBIB has joined three NIH-wide research training solicitations at the career (K) level - the K01, K08, and K23 programs. Announcements of these opportunities including funding mechanisms, levels of support, and NIH-wide program announcement references were released in the "NIH Guide" on April 8 as the following notices:
April 10, 2003: Web Site Released for NIBIB Futures Workshop The website has been released for the "NIBIB Workshop on Future Research Directions" (NIBIB "Futures" Workshop) which was held on December 16-17, 2002 at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The website can be accessed under the PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS section on the News and Events page of this website. The Futures website includes (1) the workshop agenda, (2) the list of participants, (3) individual slides and summaries of all slides used for participant perspectives on the research focus areas (Groups 1-3) and high-impact projects (Groups 4-6) breakout sessions, and (4) the detailed workshop report. The results of this workshop will be considered by NIBIB staff in the development and evaluation of its future research programs. April 25, 2003: Final Report Released From Image-Guided Interventions Workshop The final report from the Image-Guided Interventions (IGI) Workshop held September 12-13 in Bethesda, MD has been released. The IGI Workshop was a trans-agency effort coordinated by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Ferenc Jolesz from Harvard University, Dr. Russell Taylor from Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Michael Vannier from the University of Iowa served as co-chairs for this event. Over 60 researchers, engineers, clinicians and federal officials were in attendance to discuss advances in basic imaging science and engineering as they relate to minimally invasive treatments, biopsies, and surgical procedures that improve human health. The recommendations outlined in this report will be used by the NIBIB, NCI, and NSF to enhance existing programs associated with image-guided interventions. MayMay 13, 2003: New NIBIB Organization Announced On May 9, Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), announced a new organizational structure and management plan for the Institute. The broad mission of the NIBIB is to improve health by developing and translating technologies and methods that enable fundamental discoveries and facilitate disease diagnosis, management, and prevention. This involves supporting and conducting focused and multi-disciplinary research and research training based on collaborations between the biomedical sciences and the allied disciplines. The new structure and management plan are designed to provide an infrastructure that supports the NIBIB's mission and operational precepts, define organizational component responsibilities and management hierarchy, facilitate internal checks and balances, and support staff cooperation and interaction. The new organization has a "modular" structure based on the four primary aspects of Institute activities and operations - extramural science programs, intramural science programs, science administration, and administrative management - and are led by associate directors who report directly to the NIBIB Director. The main organizational components include: Extramural Science Programs (Associate Director - Dr. William Heetderks, Deputy Associate Director - Dr. Mary Pastel) consists of the Division of Discovery Science and Technology (Dr. Christine Kelley, Director), the Division of Applied Science and Technology (Dr. Edward Staab, Acting Director), and the Division of Inter-Disciplinary Training (Dr. Meredith Temple, Acting Director). Intramural Science Programs (Dr. Peter Kirchner, Acting Director). This is a new activity that is expected to grow significantly in the near future. Office of Science Administration (Associate Director - Dr. Donna Dean) consists of the Office of Scientific Review (Dr. David George, Director), the Office of Grants Management (Ms. Annette Hanopole, Director), and the Office of Extramural Policy (Dr. Joan Harmon, Director). Office of Administrative Management (Associate Director to be named) includes the Office of Science Policy and Public Liaison (Ms. Colleen Guay-Broder, Science Policy Officer), the Office of Financial Management (Ms. Christine Hollingsworth, Finance Officer), and the Office of Operational Management (Mr. Charles Best, Executive Officer). Dr. Donna Dean remains as Deputy Director, Dr. Richard Swaja is the Senior Science Advisor, and Dr. Robert Nerem is the Senior Advisor for Bioengineering. A list of staff and contacts for the new organization is included in the "About NIBIB" portion of this Web site. NIBIB staff offices are currently located in Suites 200, 202, and 900 at 6707 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda, Maryland. Recognizing that the Institute will continue to grow and develop and that national biomedical priorities will change, the organizational structure and management plan are dynamic and will need to be periodically evaluated and revised as necessary to ensure an efficient and viable organization with relevant programs. JuneJune 2, 2003: Second NIBIB Advisory Council Meeting Conducted on May 29-20, 2003 The second meeting of the National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NACBIB) was held on May 29-20, 2003, at the NIH's Neuroscience Center on Executive Boulevard in Bethesda, Maryland. The open session of the meeting began with a "state-of-the-institute" presentation by Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, Director of the NIBIB, who discussed the new organization, the FY03 budget, accomplishments since the January NACBIB meeting, and near-future plans. Presentations on inter-disciplinary training programs and opportunities were provided by Drs. Rebecca Richards-Kortum (University of Texas), Jennifer West (Rice), and Paul Jennings (NSF). Two recently established NACBIB subcommittees also met for the first time - Strategic Planning and Training. The next NIBIB Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled for September 11-12, 2003, in Bethesda, Maryland. June 2, 2003: New Solicitations Released for NCI/NIBIB In Vivo Imaging Research The Novel Imaging Technologies Program Announcements previously released by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NIBIB have been re-issued. Both announcements apply to in-vivo imaging technologies with one using the R21/R33 mechanism (PAR-03-124) and the other using the SBIR mechanism (PAR-03-125). Titles and links for these announcements are:
Details are available in the "NIH Guide" or at the above urls. June 26, 2003: BECON 2003 Symposium on Team Science Conducted on June 23-24 The BECON 2003 Symposium on "Catalyzing Team Science" was held June 23-24, 2003, at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This was the sixth in a series of annual meetings coordinated by the BECON on topics of emerging national interest. The goal of the symposium was to examine the forces encouraging and discouraging team approaches to biomedical research and to explore ways in which the NIH, academia, and others can stimulate and reward team efforts. About 350 attendees participated in the plenary presentations, topical breakout sessions, and case studies of effective team science. Drs. Janie Fouke of Michigan State University and Keith Brodie of Duke University were the extramural co-chairs for the meeting. Dr. Daniel Sullivan of the National Cancer Institute was the NIH Chair. BECON presented an award to Dr. John Watson of the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in appreciation of his contributions to the Consortium and the field of bioengineering. A web site featuring materials presented in the plenary sessions will be available in the near future. When completed, a final report summarizing the symposium results will also be available on the Symposium page of the BECON Web site. June 26, 2003: Third BRP Grantee Meeting Conducted on June 24-25 The Third Bioengineering Research Partnership (BRP) Grantee Meeting was held June 24-25, 2003, at the Bethesda Marriott (Pooks Hill) Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. Approximately 150 people attended the meeting including 105 BRP grantees, 40 NIH representatives, and 5 representatives from other Federal agencies. The program included summary presentations of each BRP project; updates from NIH staff on extramural programs, technology transfer, bioengineering activities, and data sharing; and group discussions on the BRP program and team research issues. The meeting was chaired by Drs. Jeff Schloss (BECON Chair) and Richard Swaja (NIBIB) and was coordinated by Ms. Mariaileen Sourwine (NIBIB) and Mr. Todd Merchak (NIBIB). |
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