NIH FACULTY DIRECTORY MICHAEL A. SESMA, PH.D. HEALTH SCIENTIST ADMINISTRATOR, DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, NIH PHONE: 301-443-5944; E-MAIL: MICHAEL.SESMA@NIH.GOV Dr. Michael Sesma is a Health Scientist Administrator at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the Division of Developmental Translational Research where he currently has responsibility for grants and fellowships in the Research Training and Career Development Programs. Dr. Sesma received his B.A. in biology and psychology from the University of California, San Diego in 1976, and his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 1981. He received postdoctoral training from 1981 1985 in the Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Psychology at Vanderbilt University. From 1985 to 1994, he was a faculty member of the School of Optometry at the University of Missouri, St. Louis where his research focused on the functional organization and development in the visual system. In 1990, as a visiting faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University Medical School his research focused on the role of glutamate and glutamate receptors in normal and neurodegenerative processes in the brain that may underlie neurological and psychiatric illnesses. In 1994, Dr. Sesma joined the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at NIH as a scientific review administrator, primarily responsible for the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program Review Committee. In 1996, he added the duties of program director in the Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology at NIGMS, responsible for the research portfolio in neurogenetics and the genetics of behavior. In 2002 he moved to the NIMH to develop the Research Scientist Development Program in the Office for Special Populations. Dr. Sesma has served on a variety of academic and NIH committees including the Society for Neuroscience Committee for Neuroscience Literacy, the NIH Staff Training in Extramural Programs Committee, which he recently chaired, and is past treasurer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH Hispanic Employee Organizations. BERNARD TALBOT, M.D., PH.D. MEDICAL OFFICER, DIVISION FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH RESOURCES NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES (NCRR), NIH PHONE: 301-435-0793; E-MAIL: BERNARD.TALBOT@NIH.GOV Dr. Bernard Talbot is a Medical Officer in the Division of Clinical Research Resources of the National Center for Research Resources, a position he has held since 1987. Among his current duties, he serves as a program officer for a number of General Clinical Research Centers and Clinical and Translational Science Awards. Dr. Talbot obtained his BA from Columbia College (1958), an MD from Columbia University (1962) and a PhD (biophysics) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1967). He has been at NIH since 1970 including Special Assistant to the Director, NIH (1978-1981) and Deputy Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1981-1987).
NIH FACULTY DIRECTORY FRANCISCO S. SY, M.D., DR.PH DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES AND SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES (NCMHD), NIH PHONE: 301-402-1366; E-MAIL: SYF@MAIL.NIH.GOV Dr. Francisco S. Sy is the Director of the Division of Extramural Activities and Scientific Programs at the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. He was the Chief, Office of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), and the Program Director for the Endowment and Loan Repayment Programs at NCMHD. Prior to joining NIH in 2004, Dr. Sy served as a Senior Health Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia for five years. He was a team leader in the Program Evaluation Research Branch in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. In 2003, Dr. Sy participated in the CDC SARS outbreak investigation and led its community outreach efforts in Asian American communities. Dr. Sy was a tenured professor at the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Public Health in Columbia, SC where he taught infectious disease epidemiology for 15 years. Dr. Sy earned his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from Johns Hopkins University in 1984; Master of Science in Tropical Public Health from Harvard University in 1981; and Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines in 1975. MARY KIRKER CHIEF, GRANTS MANAGEMENT BRANCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES (NIAID), NIH PHONE: 301-401-6400; E-MAIL: MARY.KIRKER@NIH.GOV Mary Kirker received her BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in 1974. She has worked at the NIH in grants management since 1978. She has worked at a variety of NIH Institutes, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and finally the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). She has been the Chief, Grants Management Officer at NIAID since 1994.
DELLA M. HANN, PH.D. ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH (OER), NIH PHONE: 301-496-1096; E-MAIL: DELLA.HANN@NIH.GOV NIH FACULTY DIRECTORY Dr. Della Hann is the Acting Deputy Director, NIH Office of Extramural Research, where she provides leadership and management for programmatic, peer review, and grants policy and procedures that support the NIH extramural program. In addition, she serves as the Acting Director for the NIMH Office of Autism Research Coordination, where she provides leadership and management for staffing the congressionally mandated Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), its subcommittees, and workgroups. Previously, she served as the Director, Office of Science Policy, Planning and Communications at NIMH where she lead and directed a comprehensive set of programs on science policy, policy and program evaluation, strategic planning, scientific disease coding and analysis, internal and external communications and dissemination. Dr. Hann began her federal career in 1991, serving as a program officer at NIMH for portfolios of research involving developmental psychopathology, family processes, and interpersonal behavior. Before joining the government, Dr. Hann was a research associate at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans where she completed a post-doctoral fellowship from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 1986. MILTON HERNANDEZ, PH.D. DIRECTOR, LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS, OER, NIH PHONE: 301-496-0180; E-MAIL: MILTON.HERNANDEZ@NIH.GOV Education: B.S. in Biology, St. Edward s University, Austin, TX, 1964 Ph.D. in Zoology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 1971 National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, 1971-73 Professional Experience: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Physiology M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, 1973-1981 Associate Professor of Physiology Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, 1981-1988 Grants Associate NIH, 1988-1989 Health Scientist Administrator Transfusion Medicine Branch National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, 1989-1991 Director Office of Science Training and Manpower Development National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, 1991-1998 Director Office of Special Populations and Research Training National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, 1998-2009 Director Division of Loan Repayment Office of Extramural Programs, OER Office of the Director National Institutes of Health, 2009-Present
NIH FACULTY DIRECTORY SHERI CUMMINS CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, ERA COMMONS AND ESUBMISSION OFFICE OF RESEARCH INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ORIS), NIH PHONE: 301-496-3405; E-MAIL: SHERI.CUMMINS@NIH.GOV Ms. Sheri Cummins recently joined NIH as a Customer Relationship Manager for the electronic Research Administration (era) program focusing on era s external services including era Commons and Electronic Application Submission. In this capacity, Ms. Cummins is responsible for initiating and managing era projects to enhance services available to the extramural research community through the era Commons. Ms. Cummins previously served as the Communications Coordinator for NIH's Electronic Submission of Grant Applications Program, on contract from LTS Corporation, in NIH s Office of Extramural Research. Prior to coming to NIH, she worked for GE Global Exchange Services for 13 years in various roles including people and project management, communications, customer support and client advocacy. She is an alumna of the University of Maryland, where she received a B.S. in Computer Science. CYNTHIA DWYER COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST & OUTREACH COORDINATOR, DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH (OER), NIH PHONE: 301-451-9011; E-MAIL: CYNTHIA.DWYER@NIH.GOV Ms. Cynthia Dwyer serves as a coordinator for several projects within the Office of Extramural Research s Division of Communications and Outreach, including the OER Web site, the NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration, and other outreach and training activities. Prior to this position, she served as an Assistant Grants Policy Officer for the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA) at NIH. Ms. Dwyer has worked for the NIH for 10 years, beginning with a position as a Grants Management Specialist for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). While at NCI, she maintained a portfolio of over 150 active grant awards, but also coordinated and presented at internal and external training seminars at NIH and throughout the country on the grants process. Prior to her career with the NIH, Ms. Dwyer s work experiences include teaching 2 nd and 4 th grades, writing grants for the Missouri Public School System, working for a national retail organization as a Regional Sales and Customer Service Trainer, and owning/publishing a regional travel and entertainment magazine. Ms. Dwyer obtained her Bachelor s Degree from the University of North Texas, an Elementary Education Certification from the University of Missouri St. Louis, and her Masters Degree in Elementary School Administration from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO. PAM GILDEN ASSISTANT GRANTS POLICY OFFICER, DIVISION OF GRANTS POLICY OFFICE OF POLICY FOR EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION (OPERA), NIH PHONE: 301-594-6739; E-MAIL: PAMELA.GILDEN@NIH.GOV Pam Gilden is a Grants Policy Analyst in the Division of Grants Policy in the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA) at NIH. Pam is responsible for the interpretation and clarification of grants policy across the NIH extramural research grants community. Before joining OPERA, Pam worked in the policy division of the extramural research office at the HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Prior to joining the Federal government, Pam held a variety of positions in extramural research program administration at comprehensive cancer centers and academic medical centers.
AGENDA 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. REGISTRATION/CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (TOMÁS RIVERA CONFERENCE CENTER - RM. 308, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. MASTER OF CEREMONIES Roberto Osegueda, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, UTEP WELCOME Diana Natalicio, Ph.D., President, UTEP 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. NIH AND YOU: MISSION POSSIBLE 2010 AND BEYOND Della Hann, Ph.D., (NIH/OER) Kick-starting the seminar, Della Hann, Ph.D., NIH Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Extramural Research, shares information on the NIH funding, the five themes for NIH research endeavors, and the role of NIH in encouraging and supporting biomedical and behavioral research across the globe. 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. NIH GRANTS PROCESS: THE BIG PICTURE Cynthia Dwyer (OER) & Pam Gilden (OER) Trying to grasp the NIH Grants Process? Where does it start What happens during Peer Review How long until I get my award...who do I call at NIH? This overview of the NIH Grants Process provides the basics: NIH structure, NIH staff roles and responsibilities, mechanisms of support, as well as general contact information, and more. 9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. MINORITY HEALTH & HEALTH DISPARITIES Francisco S. Sy, M.D., DR.PH, (NCMHD) The NIH is seeking to improve the visibility of minority health disparities research and other health disparities research as well as expand the role of such research in learning why some groups have disproportionately high rates of disease. NCMHD serves as the focal point for coordinating and focusing these particular research programs at the NIH into a national health research agenda. This session provides valuable information into NIH and NCMHD s efforts and how it impacts your research and your community. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. A PEER INTO THE NIH REVIEW PROCESS Michael Sesma, Ph.D., (NIMH) Join us for this insightful presentation to gain a better understanding of how the NIH peer review process works and how to improve your chance of getting funded. This NIH expert will provide information on the peer review process, including recent and upcoming enhancements to the process, clarification of common misconceptions, providing insights and helpful hints on preparing an application, and offering tips on avoiding common mistakes when writing a grant application. 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. LUNCH TOMÁS RIVERA CONFERENCE CENTER
AGENDA 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2:00 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. BREAK 2:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS GRANT WRITING FOR SUCCESS (UNIVERSITY SUITE- RM. 312, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Milton Hernandez, Ph.D., (OER/LRP) & Michael Sesma, Ph.D., (NIMH) Don t miss a moment of this information-filled session on how NIH Program Officials can assist investigators at every step in the granting process. NIH experts will provide insights and helpful hints on preparing an application for submission. Topics include: finding out the general missions and specific scientific emphases of the different NIH Institutes, developing viable research ideas and questions for a strong grant application, addressing issues that may arise before and after the grant review meeting, utilizing RePORTER (formerly CRISP), and interacting with the Program Official after an award has been made. CURRENT ISSUES AT NIH (TEMPLETON SUITE- RM. 313, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Pam Gilden (OER) Don t miss the opportunity to hear the latest administrative and policy changes important to NIH and its grantees, including guidelines on stem cells, conflict of interest, public access, research involving humans and animals, etc. Designed for administrators and investigators interested in specific new or updated policies. INTERACTING ELECTRONICALLY WITH NIH (UNIVERSITY SUITE- RM. 312, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Sheri Cummins (OER) Learn how to utilize the NIH resources available for finding grant opportunities, applying for opportunities, tracking applications and awards, and meeting reporting requirements electronically. New application changes will be addressed. This session provides a high level overview geared towards less experienced users. ADVANCED GRANTS TOPICS ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES FOR PIS & ADMINISTRATORS (TEMPLETON SUITE- RM. 313, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Mary Kirker (NIAID) & Michael Sesma, Ph.D., (NIMH) Come learn the ins and outs of managing research grants in an increasingly complex environment, and how to address less common situations such as changes in PI, scope, institution; sabbaticals, etc. Don t miss the discussions on oversight and coordination of complex award mechanisms, including clinical trials, multi-site projects, program projects, etc. which add additional responsibilities for PIs, administrators, and NIH staff. Ensuring the integrity of your research and tips for avoiding financial conflict of interest.
AGENDA 3:10 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. BREAK 3:20 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS MAPPING YOUR CAREER WITH NIH (UNIVERSITY SUITE- RM. 312, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Milton Hernandez, Ph.D., (OER/LRP) & Michael Sesma, Ph.D., (NIMH) What does NIH offer in terms of NIH Training Grants, Fellowships, and Career Development Awards? What are Research Project Grants (RPGs)? Early Stage and New Investigators what s new for you? Where do you start and what are the differences in the award types? In addition, receive an overview of the NIH Loan Repayment Programs. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS (TEMPLETON SUITE- RM. 313, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR) Mary Kirker (NIAID) As research becomes more global, international collaborations become more necessary. Research administrators are being faced with issues and concerns in which they have little experience. This session will answer such questions as What are possible issues when a collaborator is foreign? Are there issues that may be unique to resource poor countries? 4:20 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. FACE-to-FACE with NIH: Small Group Discussions (TOMÁS RIVERA CONFERENCE CENTER - RM. 308, UNION BUILDING EAST, 3RD FLOOR (NCMHD, NCRR, NIAID, NIMH, OER, LRP & OPERA) Join us for a more intimate discussion with individual NIH experts in order to get your final questions answered. Whether it relates to application submission, policy questions, finding funding, specific Institute/Center funding opportunities, etc., you ll be able to choose which NIH expert can answer your question best.