SUBMITTED BY: HILARY H. RATNER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH DIVISION OF RESEARCH INFORMATIONAL REPORT OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH New Website Launched The Division of Research announced a new website, The Grant Lifecycle, to assist Wayne State University faculty and administrators navigate through the six steps that make up the grant process: Generating your idea Finding funding Developing your proposal Submitting your proposal Awaiting and responding to the decision Managing your award This user friendly website offers guidance and tips as well as step by step tutorial videos on how to develop a proposal on our new electronic proposal development and submission program, E prop (COEUSLite), use our new grants program, Researcher's Dashboard, and more. Input from faculty and administrators, both "veterans" and "novices," was solicited during the development phase of this site to help create the most relevant and useful resource for our faculty, staff and students. The website can be viewed at http://spa.wayne.edu/grant/. New Newsletter Launched The Sponsored Program Administration Newsletter was launched on September 1, 2010. This newsletter will offer guidance, advice and updates on important sponsored program administration information in the areas of contracts, award administration, accounting and more. The newsletter committee includes LaShonda Cooley, associate director SPA; Steve Chatman, accountant SPA; Abdul Daudpota, accountant SPA; Lisa Gruenawald, grant and contract officer SPA ; Patty Yuhas Kieleszewski, manager SPA; and Julie O'Connor, director, research communications OVPR. Without their efforts, this newsletter would not be possible. 2010 World Stem Cell Summit Announcement Wayne State University is co hosting the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit, along with University Research Corridor partners, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and the State of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Genetics Policy Institute, on October 4 6, 2010 at the Detroit Marriot Renaissance Center. The World Stem Cell Summit is the flagship international event uniting the stem cell community by bringing together scientists, students, patients, advocates, business people, investors, educators, ethicists, policy makers, government representatives and others to network and learn from each other. In 2010, the Summit will attract more than 1,200 attendees from 30 nations, 60 exhibitors and more than 200 endorsing organizations and media partners from around the world. The 2010 World Stem Cell Summit offers the largest and most comprehensive multi track stem cell conference, featuring more than 150 international speakers and 50 hours of in depth science, business
Pg. 2 and society presentations. No other stem cell conference produces the breadth of content and 360 degree global view. The mission driven program agenda is designed to unite, educate, and harmonize the global stem cell community and cover the essential macro and subject specific content. This year s diverse 3 day agenda will include morning keynotes and plenary discussions, roundtable lunch conversations with experts, concurrent science, industry and society tracks as well as intimate focus sessions designed to meet the needs of all World Stem Cell Summit attendees. To learn more about the World Stem Cell Summit 2010, visit http://www.worldstemcellsummit.com/ URC Environmental Health Science Funding Opportunity Announced The presidents of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University founded the University Research Corridor to accelerate economic growth in the State by educating students, supporting innovation and encouraging the transfer of technology to the private sector. Michigan s University Research Corridor (URC) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support seed sponsorship of environmental health science research among faculties of the three partner universities to better position our researchers for national competitiveness, as well as to help influence the outcomes of both state and national environmental health policy decisions. This competition requires that proposals reflect the collaboration of two or more URC institutions and that a URC faculty member (or members) serve as Principal Investigator or Co Investigators. In addition, the URC welcomes involvement by other institutions and industries that have unique expertise required to successfully complete the scientific investigation proposed. In January, 2010, the URC sponsored a symposium on Environmental Health Science. One of the outcomes of the symposium was the establishment of four committees that have continued to meet and explore areas of collaboration. Collaborative groups were formed in the following areas: 1. Air Pollution and Adverse Health Outcomes (led by Michigan State University) 2. Epidemiology/Epigenetics/ Biomonitoring/lLarge Tissue Banks in Human Health (led by the University of Michigan) 3. Great Lakes Urban Watersheds and Human Health (Led by Carol Miller, Wayne State University) 4. Human Health Implications of Climate Change (Led by Mary Dereski, Wayne State University) Further details regarding the FOA can be found at http://research.wayne.edu/funding/internalfunding/ehs_urc_funding_opportunity_2010_2011.pdf Research grant writing seminars announced by OVPR The Office of the Vice President for Research aims to offer a comprehensive program of research grant writing training to address various funding agencies and research disciplines. Training is geared toward WSU faculty, post doctoral fellows, and if space permits, senior graduate students. The following are examples of two grant writing training opportunities will be offered in the 2010 2011 academic year: National Science Foundation Funding Opportunities and Grant writing Tips for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Scientists October 14, 2010
Pg. 3 Write Winning Grants (Hypothesis Driven Research) November 3, 2010 on main campus; February 17, 2011 on the medical campus Human Subject Protections Regulations Seminar The Division of Research is planning a seminar, Human Subject Protections Regulations and You: What Everyone Should Know, to be held on Monday, October 25 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Welcome Center Auditorium. Elyse I. Summer, J.D., director of the Division of Education and Development at the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the Department of Health & Human Services, will discuss a variety of hot topics related to human subject protections regulations, including what it means and the regulatory burdens these regulations place on PI s. This seminar is free and open to the public. Faculty and others involved in research with humans are strongly encouraged to attend. National Science Foundation Workshop at U of Toledo WSU s Office the Vice President for Research sponsored WSU faculty in attending the National Science Foundation Day at the University of Toledo on September 21, 2010. The workshop provided an overview of the foundation, its mission, priorities and budget. It covered the NSF proposal and merit review process and NSF programs that cut across disciplines. Additionally, representatives from the seven NSF directorates and the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Office of Cyberinfrastructure made presentations on their programs and will also be available informally and in breakout sessions for discussions of potential research proposals. Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan Announces Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a new region wide network for building and retaining new business in southeast Michigan, today announces the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity. The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan has granted Ann Arbor SPARK $750,000 to launch the competition on behalf of the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, composed of four of the region s key business accelerators Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley, Macomb OU INCubator, and TechTown. Joining the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition as partners for event are the University Research Corridor (Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University) and Business Leaders for Michigan. The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition will uncover the best and brightest new business concepts from local and global entrepreneurs, exposing those opportunities to potential investment capital and fostering their growth within Michigan. Slated to be the world s largest business plan competition with more than $1 million in cash awards, plus in kind awards of services, staffing and software, the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition targets early stage businesses with proven technology and potential to generate an immediate impact on Michigan s economy, as well as student concepts with longer term business viability.
Pg. 4 The business plan competition is open to entrepreneurs in Michigan and worldwide who are willing to establish a business in the state. Participants will submit entries in nine categories including advanced materials, advanced transportation, alternative energy, homeland security and defense, information technology, life science, medical devices, next generation manufacturing and products and services. A separate track designed specifically for students to submit business concepts is open to any undergraduate or graduate student attending a Michigan university or college in fall 2010. The competition kicked off on August 24, 2010, and culminates with a gala awards brunch in Ann Arbor on December 11, 2010. The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition concludes with the University of Michigan vs. Michigan State University Big Chill hockey game at Michigan stadium and includes a pre game tailgate party for all judges and participants. For more information about the Accelerate Michigan Innovation competition, visit www.acceleratemichigan.org, TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION License/Agreements Millipore Corporation licensed Dr. Avraham Raz s technology Galectin 2 single nucleotide polymorphism rs4644 which predicts human cancer risk associated with racial disparity. Arrayit Diagnostics, Inc licensed Dr. Michael Tainsky s diagnostic markers for ovarian cancer. HDH Pharma, Inc. licensed Dr. Goveerdhan Reddy s inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase. Cayman Chemical Company licensed Dr. Audra Skaryd s fluorescence based assays for demethylation. Arbor Assays, LLC licensed Dr. Russell Heart s ATP analogs for chemical tagging phosphorylated proteins. Startup/Entrepreneurship RetroSense Therapeutics LLC licensed Dr. Zhuo Hua Pan s technologies to develop a gene therapy application that hold promise of restoring vision in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa. Interva, Inc. licensed Dr. Steven Ondersma s software technology to create an internet based multidimensional software product that allows behavioral scientists the ability to develop screening, assessment, and computer driven intervention and health promotion. NextCat, Inc. optioned biodiesel technologies developed by Dr. Simon Ng. The technology will allow biodiesel producers to use cost effective raw materials in their production process. The second E2Challenge program was held this summer for four competitively selected student teams to work on launching their business idea. Industry TC hosted nine venture capital and entrepreneur groups on tours of campus labs to meet faculty and discuss potential company opportunities.
Pg. 5 Office processes and Procedures Staff developed guidelines to change the Administrative Patent Committee (APC) process where WSU faculty inventions are reviewed for patent recommendations. The new APC process provides for faculty peer review and provides transparency for faculty inventors. The new invention evaluation process includes the faculty inventor and provides them with market information relative to commercialization. The office has set group and individual goals for performance. TC staff presented at several professional conferences Staff presented at three executive level networking groups in effort to attract interest in WSU technologies and entrepreneur opportunities. Staff participated in hosting Coca Cola Company and have finalized research collaborations.