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Home > News and Events > News Releases > News Releases Archive News Releases: January - March 2003ContentsJanuaryJanuary 8, 2003: NIBIB Releases RFAs for Low-Cost Imaging Devices, Tissue Engineering, and Drug and Gene Delivery The National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has issued three new requests for applications (RFA) for research in the areas of low-cost imaging devices, tissue engineering, and drug and gene delivery. All solicitations are available in the "NIH Guide" and on the For Investigators page of the NIBIB Web site.Low-Cost Medical Imaging Devices (RFA EB-03-006) was released on January 6, 2003. Applications are due at the NIH on March 14, 2003. This RFA uses the R01 and R21 award mechanisms to support research and development of low-cost imaging devices used for detection, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease and injury. This initiative is directed at the invention and development of low-cost imaging devices for more efficient application and worldwide use of medical imaging devices. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-006.html. Research Opportunities in Tissue Engineering (RFA EB-03-010) was released on December 30, 2002. Applications are due to the NIH on March 14, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations which address key research challenges in the field of tissue engineering. The overall goal of this solicitation is to provide resources to address the issues that must be overcome in order to continue to move this field forward rapidly. The program structured to provide an opportunity where clinicians, engineers, and scientists from a variety of disciplines can establish research collaborations that will hasten the development of tissue engineering. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-010.html. Development of Novel Drug and Gene Delivery Systems and Devices (RFA EB-03-011) was released on December 30, 2002. Applications are due to the NIH on March 25, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations. It is aimed at supporting research which will use engineering principles and practice, to design, develop, and introduce novel approaches, technologies, tools, and methods that will result in new drug and gene delivery systems and devices. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-011.html. For specific information about any of these programs, please contact the NIBIB science representative listed in the PA or RFA. January 17, 2003: First NIBIB Advisory Council Meeting Conducted Another milestone was reached in the development of the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) - the first meeting of the Institute's Advisory Council was held on January 16, 2003, in Building 31 on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, NIBIB Director, started the open session of the meeting with a status report that described the history, mission, operating principles, organizational structure. research and training focus areas, and future directions of the Institute. Dr. William Heetderks, who recently joined the NIBIB as Associate Director for Science Programs, outlined the scope of the initial research and training programs. Drs. Richard Swaja, Christine Kelley, and Mary Pastel presented details of the NIBIB's training, bioengineering research, and biomedical imaging research programs, respectively. Dr. Joan T. Harmon, the NIBIB Director of Extramural Activities, served as the Executive Secretary for the advisory committee, and the meeting was coordinated by Ms. Sandra Talley. The next NIBIB Advisory Council Meeting is scheduled for late May 2003.January 17, 2003: Dr. Robert Nerem To Serve as Bioengineering Advisor to the NIBIB Dr. Robert Nerem, an internationally-recognized researcher and professor at Georgia Tech, will serve as Senior Advisor for Bioengineering to the NIBIB on a part-time basis. Dr. Nerem is the Director of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at Georgia Tech, and the Director of the Georgia Tech/Emory Center for the Engineering of Living Tissues. He is also an internationally-recognized researcher in the areas of tissue engineering and biomaterials. In his capacity as Senior Bioengineering Advisor, he will provide consultation and advice to the NIBIB concerning bioengineering research and training program development, will assist with community outreach and communication activities, and will serve as NIBIB representative at technical society meetings and workshops. Dr. Nerem will report to directly to Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, NIBIB Director, and will be at the Institute's offices in Bethesda two or three days per month.January 31, 2003: Chairs Named for BECON 2003 Symposium on Team Science Dr. Janie Fouke of Michigan State University and Dr. Keith Brodie of Duke University have been named Chairs of the BECON 2003 Symposium on "Catalyzing Team Science". This is the sixth in a series of annual symposia coordinated by the NIH's Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) and is scheduled for June 23-24, 2003, at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting is aimed at examining the forces that encourage and discourage team approaches to biomedical research and to explore ways in which the NIH, academia, and other organizations can work together to stimulate and reward team efforts. A preliminary agenda for this meeting has been developed, and a Web site containing program and registration details will be released in the near future. Dr. Daniel Sullivan of the National Cancer Institute is the NIH Chair for this symposium. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.becon.nih.gov/symposium2003.htm.MarchMarch 27, 2003: NIBIB/NIDDK Workshop on Imaging the Pancreatic Beta Cell Planned for April 21-22 The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) are conducting a workshop titled "Imaging the Pancreatic Beta Cell" on April 21-22 at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. This workshop is aimed at reporting on work in the area of beta cell imaging using MRI, PET, ultrasound, or optical technologies and to help the NIH identify obstacles and opportunities concerning measurement of pancreatic cell mass, number, function, and inflammation. The deadline for registration is April 11. A registration fee of $75 is required of all attendees. Poster abstracts can be submitted through the website, and the deadline is March 31. Details concerning the program, abstract submission and registration are available at http://nibib.nih.gov/NewsEvents/SympReports/2003Apr21.March 27, 2003: NIBIB Workshop on Future Biomedical Imaging Research Needs Held in Jackson, MS The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) held a conference on "Defining the State-of-the-Art in Biomedical Imaging: Research Needs for the Future" on March 16-18, 2003, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, MS. The objective of the workshop was to identify problems and associated research needs that should be addressed to maximize the impact of biomedical imaging on healthcare. This information will be used as scientific community input by the NIBIB to evaluate and develop its research programs. The workshop program consisted of plenary presentations aimed at providing overviews of imaging research in general, clinical needs, research needs, and multi-disciplinary approaches to research; five topical sessions which addressed different components of biomedical imaging (sensors and sources, targeted agents, data reconstruction, data evaluation, and emerging technologies and applications); and a closing presentation on the future of biomedical imaging research. Approximately fifty people participated in this workshop including extramural biomedical imaging researchers and clinicians, representatives of federal agencies and technical societies, investigators from local universities, and NIBIB program staff. General chairs of the workshop were Drs. Harrison Barrett (University of Arizona) and Kirby Vosburgh (CIMIT). Workshop coordinators were Dr. Richard Swaja (NIBIB) and David Dzielak (UMMC). A Web site is being prepared that will include the workshop program, a list of attendees, a collection of PowerPoint files of the presentations, and a summary report.March 27, 2003: NIBIB Conducts Workshop on Future Research Needs (NIBIB Futures) A "Workshop on Future Research Directions" was conducted by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) on December 16-17, 2002, at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting represented a "NIBIB Futures" workshop and was aimed at obtaining scientific community input on where the Institute can make a major impact on healthcare or biomedical research in the next five to ten years. To address this issue, participants were requested to answer two questions:
Approximately 50 people attended this workshop including 23 extramural participants with expertise in a variety of areas associated with biomedical imaging and bioengineering research, 11 senior NIH (non-NIBIB) program staff from other institutes and centers, six observers from other agencies and societies, and ten NIBIB program and science administration staff. Ten high-priority research focus areas were identified along with several high-impact projects and emerging technologies associated with each area. Related issues concerning inter-disciplinary research, inter-agency and inter-institute collaborations, technology translation, and the importance of information technology were also discussed. This information will be used as scientific community input by the NIBIB in the evaluation and development of its research programs. A summary report for this workshop is being prepared and will be released on this Web site in the near future. March 27, 2003: NIBIB Staff Honored by the AIMBE Two NIBIB staff members were recently inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) at their annual meeting on February 20-23 in Washington, DC. Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, Director of the NIBIB, was inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows in recognition of his contributions to research in magnetic resonance imaging. Dr. Donna Dean, Deputy Director of the NIBIB, was inducted in recognition of directing the initial establishment of the Institute and for major contributions to the field of bioengineering. AIMBE fellows are nominated, reviewed, and elected by the general membership of the society. March 28, 2003: Web Site Released for NSF/NIBIB Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institutes A Web site containing information and links for the nine grantee institutions for the NSF and NIBIB Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institutes (BBSI) program has been released and is available at http://bbsi.eeicom.com/. The BBSI Program is a joint effort between the National Science Foundation and the NIH's National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to support ten-week summer biomedical research experiences for undergraduate (rising juniors and seniors) and early graduate (first two years of graduate school) students with quantitative science majors. Nine grants for bioengineering and bioinformatics summer institutes were awarded to institutions located throughout the United States. The first institutes are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2003. The Web site provides information about the BBSI Program and links to the BBSI Web sites for all nine grantee institutions. A grantee meeting is scheduled for late 2003 to discuss results of the first institutes. The NSF and NIBIB BBSI Program Coordinators are Drs. Mary Poats and Richard Swaja, respectively. |
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